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.”

a slap, and my chest tightened. “No, no, “I said quickly,

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Chapter 84

I just wanted

her head,

“There’s no

93%E

I assured her. “I just wanted to know if there’s a place where omegas usually gather. I’d like to meet everyone. I realize I’ve been here for a while, and I haven’t had

shifted to one of surprise, then confusion. “You you want to

think you’re in

Miss laine. She doesn’t like it when we look at

I had almost forgotten about her, which was probably a blessing. But hearing this nonsense made my

to stop, I promise. So, is there

us are in the kitchen right now, preparing food for the pack gathering later tonight. It’s nothing formal, just a small feast. The Alpha king doesn’t know about it, though.

worry, your secret’s safe with me. I’m not a

“Thank you, Luna. I have to get back

as she turned

with a

was nice

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

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

with excitement. “Great! Follow

Luna.

pack? Grayson had so many layers, and every day it felt like I was peeling back another, only to find more

underneath.

as if to check that I was still there. We reached a large double door, slightly ajar, and

of vegetables, trays of prepared dishes, and steaming pots. Omegas moved in a coordinated rhythm, charting softly,

of eyes turned toward me, and an almost tangible shift in the air

his graying hair disheveled. He reached me and immediately bowed his head low, wringing his

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Chapter 81

at his sleeve. “Calm down! The Lama is

had called “Grandpa,” looked at her, the back at

offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yes. I’ve been here for some time now, and I realize I haven’t had the chance to

straightened up, though the tension in his