The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 84

-Ava’s POV

Be Careful What You Wish For.

They say to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. In my case, it wasn’t so much a wish as a desperate question–one I now wished I’d never asked.

The words Grayson had spoken. “I killed them, still echoed in my mind like a haunting melody that refused to fade. Whatever fragile connection we had built in those fleeting moments shattered in an instant, leaving behind an aching silence. Without another word, he had left.

“Why did you have to ask that, Ava?” I muttered to myself for the hundredth time. My frustration surged as I thought of my impulsiveness.

For five days now, I hadn’t seen Grayson. He’d sent a curt text each day, informing me he was busy handling pack business- namely, the grisly string of murders that had shaken the werewolf community. Thankfully, there hadn’t been any new incidents, and to my surprise, he seemed to be taking my advice to get ahead of things. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had pushed him away

Did I even have the right to be mad at him? After all, I was the one who had caused this. But that didn’t make me hate the situation any less.

And what did it say about me that I hadn’t packed my things and led after learning the truth about him? A man who had admitted to killing his parents. A man I had watched kill Luca in way so brutal I couldn’t stop replaying the scene in my nightmares.

Shouldn’t I be running as far and as fast as I could? Instead, here was, clinging to some threadbare hope that Grayson would return and offer me the answers 1 craved. Answers that might help me understand why he did it.

A sigh escaped my lips as I flung the book I’d been pretending to read across the room. The thud of its spine hitting the floor was unsatisfying, much like my efforts to distract myself. Reading wasn’t helping. And with Tessa doing well in her recovery, I didn’t need to be at the hospital unless there was an emergency

I needed something–anything–to occupy my mind. Without thinking, I grabbed a sweater and decided to explore the

mansion.

The halls of Grayson’s sprawling estate were grand but eerily quiet. Omegas moved silently, bowing their heads in deference as I passed. I offered them polite smiles, but the gesture felt hollow.

It struck me then: I hadn’t made any effort to get to know these people. Whether or not my marriage to Grayson was genuine, I was their Luna now. Yet I’d been so caught up in his stormy orbit that I’d overlooked the lives swirling around us.

A memory surfaced of the kind man who had driven me to Isabella’s house. He’d been so gentle and welcoming. I owed it to him–and all of them–to do better.

Determined, I stopped one of the omegas, a petite girl who looked no older than sixteen, “Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Her wide eyes shot up to meet mine before she quickly bowed her head. “I–I’m sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to stare. Please have mercy.”

“What?” I blinked in confusion.

“I shouldn’t have looked at you,” she stammered. “It’s not my place. I deserve to be punished.”

and my chest tightened. “No, no,

Dec

Chapter 84

at me I just wanted to ask you

her head, her eyes filled

“There’s no

93%E

like to meet everyone. I realize I’ve been here for a while, and I haven’t had the chance to introduce myself properly. I’m

of surprise, then confusion. “You you want to meet

would you think you’re in trouble just for looking at

laine. She doesn’t like it when we look at her. Omegas get punished if

The name made my stomach churn. I had almost forgotten about her, which was probably a blessing. But hearing

said earnestly. “That’s going to stop, I promise. So, is there a place where

for the pack gathering later tonight.

safe with me.

she smiled back. “Thank you, Luna. I have to get back to my duties now, but it

she turned to leave. “What’s

with

“It was

then added, “If you’d like, you can come to the kitchen. Maybe later, you could join us for the gathering.

her invitation softening the edges of my restless thoughts. “I’d love to,” I

up with

Luna.

her, my mind occupied with the strange tension I’d felt earlier. What had I walked into with this pack?

underneath.

light and quick. She glanced over her shoulder occasionally, as if to check that I was still there. We reached a large double door, slightly ajar, and the hum of voices filtered out into the

with activity. Long counters were laden with bowls of vegetables, trays of prepared dishes, and steaming pots. Omegas moved in a coordinated rhythm, charting

turned toward me, and an almost tangible shift in the air occurred. It was as though I had brought a storm into a peaceful

me, his expression alarmed, his graying hair disheveled. He reached me and immediately bowed his head low, wringing his hands nervously. “Luna,” he stammered, his voice shaking slightly. “I apologize if Brianna has done anything wrong. Please, she’s just

Tue, Dec

Chapter 81

gently at his sleeve. “Calm down!

the back at me, his brows

a reassuring smile. “Yes. I’ve been here for some time now,

the tension in his shoulders remained.