The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 82

-Grayson’s POV-

The room fell into an unnatural silence, the kind that pressed against your ears and made your pulse thrum louder in the quiet. Luther’s words echoed in my mind: I was responsible? A ridiculous claim, but the weight of it hung heavy in the air. My thoughts were interrupted by Ava’s sharp voice breaking through the tension.

“The man said Grayson was responsible? That’s a load of bullshit Someone is clearly trying to frame him,” she said, her voice steady but laced with anger.

Luther’s glare didn’t wäver as he turned his full attention to Ava And you’re sure of this because you know him so well?” he sneered. “The man with enough blood on his hands to start an entire pack?”

I felt Ava’s touch on my arm, grounding me, tethering me to reason. But I didn’t want that. Not now. I pulled away from her, my wolf pacing inside me, restless and seething. My voice, when I spoke, was cold and measured, laced with the kind of quiet fury that made people take a step back.

“I’ll say this only once,” I began, my tone even but threatening. did not kill any Alpha or send anyone after you, Luther. But if you start spreading this nonsense, I’ll make sure you know exactly who’s responsible for ending you. Test me, and you’ll find out.”

Luther’s jaw tightened, his defiance burning in his eyes, but he didn’t respond. Instead, his gaze shifted, sliding to Evelyn Pierce, who stood silently opposite him. They exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them, before Luther turned back to me.

“This is my home,” he said curtly. “And you’re intruding on my territory. You might be king, but that doesn’t give you the right to barge in here uninvited. Use the door.

1 ignored his words, stepping closer instead. “I want to speak to the man you caught.”

Luther’s lips curled into a mockery of a smile, his eyes glinting with barely concealed satisfaction. “Te’s dead,” he said. Clawed out his own throat the moment he confessed. He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle heavily between us. “After he admitted you ordered the attack”

I felt my wolf surge within me, a raw fury clawing to the surface was ready to call Luther out on his lies, to rip through his thinly veiled accusation, but then Ava reached for me again. Her hand, warm and steady, slipped into mine, and when I glanced down at her, her eyes pleaded for restraint.

Let it go, they seemed to say.

I let out a long breath, forcing the anger to recede, even though it simmered just beneath the surface. My grip on Ava’s hand tightened as I shot Luther one last warning glare before turning to leave.

The night air outside was crisp, biting against my skin as I stepped out of the house. Ava’s voice cut through the silence. “Someone’s not only killing Alphas but trying to frame you. That’s just… messed up.”

I stopped, surprised by her words. I had assumed her defense of me inside was performative, something done out of necessity in front of her parents.

“You really believe I didn’t do it?” I asked, watching her closely.

She rolled her eyes as though the answer was obvious, “Of course, you didn’t. If you wanted someone dead, you’d handle it yourself. You wouldn’t send assassins and leave a trail that points directly back to you. That’s not your style.”

Her blunt honesty startled me, but there was an edge of admiration in her voice that I didn’t know what to do with. Before I could respond, her expression shifted, concern darkening her features.

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Chapter 821

pacing a few steps ahead. “My father won’t keep his mouth shut about this. The rumors will spread

opened my mouth to speak, but she cut

think. You’re their king, Grayson. If they believe you’re ordering their deaths instead of protecting them, they’ll turn on you. Alphas will band together, and even

matter.”

The wolf in me chafed at the idea of defending myself

to every Alpha–aligned with you or not–and get ahead of this mess before my father starts spreading his

the way she moved, her

finally stopped, she turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. “Why are you looking at me

spread across my face, slow and unbidden. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I realized why. I

a mix of curiosity

low, almost amused. “I’ll do it. I’ll

up

“Does that surprise you?”

listen to me, nod, and then do whatever you were originally

holding her gaze. “You’re my Luna, Ava. Of course,

a moment, she said nothing, just staring at me as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of my words. Then, slowly, a faint blush crept across her cheeks. She quickly turned away, hiding her face, but

toward my car when something suddenly clicked in my mind. The letter. The one that convinced

caught the subtle stiffening in her

But when it came time to finalize deals or show my face publicly, Dylan sure I didn’t. He needed the credit, of course. I hated every second of it, hated that I

stopped me from killing him

finally glanced up at me, then sighed, “Because of the optics, Dylan is expecting a child, and my history with him is messy enough without adding bloodshed into the mix. If you killed him, rumors would spread. People would twist it into some

a place–it was something I hadn’t realized I craved

Tue, Dec

Chapter 82

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car door for her, and she slid inside, glancing up at me with a faint smile. It was brief, barely there, but it left its

the car wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind that let thoughts breathe, that allowed reflection to take root. As the city lights blurred past us, I kept my focus on the road, letting plans for tomorrow take shape in

had softened. She’d fallen asleep, her head tilted slightly against the window. The sight brought an unbidden smile

turned my world upside down without

console. Ava stirred, her eyelids fluttering open, and I cursed under my breath. I

up

on the

that he’d