The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 90

-Grayson’s POV

The door to my car slammed shut as Ava slid in, slumping again the seat. I let a few seconds pass before asking her, “Is she okay?

Not that I really cared.

My wolf growled low, an almost primal warning, and I shot himone back just as sharp. Yes, I could admit–at least to myself -that something had shifted in me last night. Something I hadn’t thought possible. But that didn’t mean I was going to start acting like I was some saint or suddenly cared about a stranger.

And, frankly, her emergency had ruined my morning plans for Ava.

I knew exactly what I was. An asshole. That was a fact I never denied or tried to sugarcoat.

Ava let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing as she stared out the windshield. Her sigh pulled me out of my internal monologue, and, as my gaze lingered on her, memories of last night came crashing down like a tidal wave.

I had neverthought much about sex before–hever really cared about it. The only reason I had even sought a solution to my “problem” was because I couldn’t stand the idea of being bad at something. Of being incapable. It wasn’t about need or desire–it was about pride.

But last night

I hadn’t known what to expect. Perfection wasn’t the right word to describe it. Explosive. Consuming. More than I’d thought it could be. If I’d ever envisioned what sex might feel like, it would have fallen short compared to what happened with Ava.

I’d wanted to give her the perfect day. That had been the plan. And then it had been ruined.

My irritation toward the other woman was well–deserved.

“She’s fine,” Ava said finally, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Suble now, at least, but her daughter–Mikayla–she’s pretty mad at me.” She exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair. “I’m just glad Tessa’s okay. I don’t know how I’d live with myself if something happened just because…”

She trailed off, her words hanging heavy in the air.

I opened my mouth to say something–probably something stupid, like reminding her it had been on a Sunday–but I bit it back. It wasn’t the time for my particular brand of insensitivity. If things between Ava and me were going to progress, I’d need to be smart about when I let my true colors show.

“I can’t leave yet,” Ava added softly. “I have to-”

And there went my entire day.

“I’ll stay with you,” I heard myself say before my brain could catch up.

Ava turned her head toward me, surprise flickering in her tired eyes. “Are you sure?”

I wanted to snatch the words back. Hospitals weren’t my thing–cold, sterile, suffocating. It was almost ironic that the woman I… loved for was a doctor.

froze mid–thought. The woman ! what?

No. That couldn’t be right. Love wasn’t something I understood, let alone felt. Where had that even come from?

08:53 Tue, Dec 1/

Chapter 90

voice pulled me

my throat, shifting uncomfortably in the driver’s

unconvinced. “I was just saying I don’t know how long this is going to take, and I’d feel bad keeping

I’ll wait inside the hospital,” I

Seriously?

clearly enjoying my predicament, but

lips curved into a small, shy smile. “Really? You’d do

No. I hate hospitals.

“Yes,” I said instead.

detach my own lips because they were starting to operate

car, and I followed her back into the hospital. The moment we stepped inside, I felt the stares.

the halls, Ava slowed, turning toward me. Before

lips barely registered the warmth of hers

stood there for

muttered to

my head and made my way to the waiting area, sinking into one of the uncomfortable chairs. My wolf growled sofily, but I ignored him, pulling out my phone to distract myself. Time dragged on, and eventually, I grew restless. Hospitals had

sit still any longer. I got up and

I saw

maybe in her late teens or early twenties, stood in front of a vending machine, kicking it repeatedly. Her face was a mix of frustration and anger, and she muttered curses under her breath as she aimed another solid kick at the

to walk past her–because, honestly, not my problem–but something made me pause. Maybe it was the sheer force of

my hair.

voice cutting through the sound

glare made me think she was about to tell me to mind my business. But then her eyes widened slightly, recognition

asked

stupid machine ate my money she muttered,

glanced at the machine, then back at her. “Kicking it isn’t going to fix

Tue, Dec

Chapter 90

1492%

chin jutting out stubbornly. “What else am supposed to do? It’s not like there’s anyone around

into my pocket and pulled out a dollar bill, slipping them into the machine. I

holding it

cheeks flushed as she took the

to walk away, but her voice

said, hesitating. “You’re… Grayson

right?”

first thought that came to my mind was how irritating it was to hear her being referred to as a Pie by someone else. We were married now. She should take

this point, I’d soon force her to embed my name into her

her

So it was her mother that ruined my plans. She took a step backward, and it took me a moment to realize my aura, which had subtly faded aroun Ava,

had

that you upset my…”