The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

-Grayson’s POV-

There was a time, so long ago, when I had clung to the idea of miracles, even dared to believe in happy endings. But that hope had long faded, worn away by years of cold reality and los. And yet, this moment felt different–darker, heavier. My wolf stirred inside me, an unfamiliar warmth laced with a quiet urgency, urging me to reach out, to make contact. It was a strange feeling, foreign even, but undeniable.

I extended a hand, and just as my fingers brushed her skin, Ava gasped, a sharp intake of breath breaking the silence. In an instant, she shot up, wide–eyed and trembling. “Get away from me!” she shrieked, her voice raw with terror.

I let out a breath of relive. It wasn’t exactly thesame.

She was alive.

I immediately tried to reach for her again, to calm her, but she recoiled, scrambling back as if my touch would burn her. Panic flared in her eyes, wild and unsering

“Ava,” I said, my voice steady but low, as if I could will her to listen. “Ava, it’s me. You’re safe.”

But my words didn’t reach her. She kept backing away, the fear in her eyes cutting through me. Reluctantly, I released a sigh and called on my Alpha aura, letting it ripple over her, commanding, “Stop.”

At once, her body stilled, a puppet momentarily released from its strings. I pulled back my aura, trying to soften my gaze as Hooked at her, hoping the familiarity would ground her. “It’s me I said gently. “You’re fine, Ava. Can you hear me?”

She blinked, a shiver of clarity returning to her gaze as she looked up, still uncertain, but slowly recognizing me. “Grayson“” The tension eased slightly, but her face remained pale. Her shouliers slumped as she looked at me, and without a word, she sank forward, burying her head against my chest. The weight of ber–fragile, trembling–settled over me, and for a long moment, I didn’t move. My hand hesitated before finally settling on her back, providing a silent reassurance I hadn’t knowny I was capable of giving. I sighed, more out of habit than relief, and slid one arm beneath her legs, lifting her carefully.

As I turned, Maria stepped into view, her mouth opening with some apology or another, but I didn’t let her speak. “I don’t want to hear it,” I said coldly, my voice leaving no room for argument.

1 carried Ava outside and settled her gently in the passenger seat of the car. She sank into the seat, eyes unfocused, almost like she was drifting somewhere far from here. I went around to the driver’s side, slid in, and started the engine. The sile wrapped around us as I drove, but even in her quiet, I could feel the weight of whatever she’d been through pressing down on her.

After a few minutes, the quiet grew too thick, too suffocating. I couldn’t help myself. “Ava,” I asked, my tone as neutral as I could manage, “what happened to you in there?”

But there was no reply. She didn’t move, didn’t even flinch at the sound of my voice. I glanced over and realized she’d fallen asleep, her head leaning slightly to the side, the faint lines of tension still etched around her eyes,

I focused back on the road, but Maria’s words kept replaying in my head. I forced them away, telling myself she didn’t know what she was talking about. Nothing she’d said mattered. The drive blurred as I navigated the familiar streets, letting the rhythm of the road drown out the noise in my head.

Finally, we reached the mansion, and I parked in silence. I glanced over at her again, still sleeping, and without much. thought, I slid out of the driver’s seat and went around to her side. I gathered her in my arms, the memory surfacing of the night I’d first carried her, the night I had thought, just for a second, that maybe she could help me find a way forward. My hold tightened slightly, unbidden, as I moved through the house

ne was ever

to take her to the room I’d assigned her, but my feet

Dec 17

Chapter 71

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strength she usually held. I stared at her for a moment longer

had to remember

else out of my mind and focus on the only thing I could

I stopped in my tracks. Rickon was sitting at my desk, grinning, clearly pleased with himself. He looked

eyes narrowed. “What do you think you’re doing

after all. It seemed they were more incompetent than I’d thought

see you’re not exactly thrilled to see me,” he began, but

make me

innocence. “Alright, fine. I told your guards we

they were stupid enough to believe

I played a recording I pieced together from things you’ve said over the years. You’d be amazed at

a deep,

“I came to show you what I’ve found on the recent

slightly, though I kept my expression cold. “You’re actually taking this seriously?” I asked, raising an

nodded. “I told you I would. Now, do you want to see

“Would you leave if

over to the table and sank into the

“Not a chance.”

“Then why bother asking?”

from me. “Alright, here’s what I’ve got: three Alphas dead, all seemingly unrelated No alliances, no shared territory disputes. To the human investigators, it’s just three men dead in random attacks. Only

out a few documents, listing names and connections. made a list of everyone with a possible motive to kill them, but there’s no link

the influence they held in our world,There has to be a link,” I said, a hard edge in my voice “Even if they weren’t allles, whoever’s doing this has a reason–pattern. If it’s about power,

small, amused