The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 94

-Ava’s POV-

The moment Grayson told me about the attack, I texted Isabella. Rickon was the target this time, and from the panic in Isabella’s reply, I knew she was already on her way to his house. That alone told me how bad things were.

Unrelated to the current chaos, I made a mental note: *Play matchmaker.* Isabella and Rickon were practically made for each other–if only they could see it. As confident as Isabella liked to appear, deep down, she was a hopeless romantic who longed for a true mate bond. Maybe it was my duty to nudge fate in the right direction. And fate being Rickon. She hated womanizers so he needed to learn how not to project that that was who he was.

We arrived at Rickon’s mansion, and I had to stifle a groan. Why do all the Alphas get the mansions? Seriously, was it writte into some unspoken rule that power had to come with sprawling estates?

Before I could dwell on the injustice of it all, Grayson took my hand and led me inside. The warmth of his grip made it impossible not to smile, even as I reminded myself that this wasn’t the time for inappropriate grins. This was serious.

As we walked through the grand hall, heads bowed respectfully in Grayson’s direction. He pulled me a little closer, and my stomach fluttered despite the gravity of the situation.

Focus, Ava. Serious situation, remember?

But the smile slipped from my face entirely when we stepped into the living room. Rickon sat on the couch, covered in bruises, arguing with Isabella, who was pressing an ice pack to his arm.

“I told you, I’ll heal on my own!” Rickon groaned, shifting uncomfortably.

“And I told you,” Isabella snapped, her glare sharp enough to make even Rickon flinch, “that until then, this will help with the pain. But if you don’t want my help-” She tossed the ice pack at his leg, making him wince.

“My whole body hurts!” Rickon protested.

“Which is why I told you to use the ice pack in the first place!”

I glanced at Grayson, unsure if we should intervene. “Should we step in?”

Grayson surprised me with his response. “Is that what we look like when we argue?”

I laughed, unable to help myself. “No, that’s what I look like. Rickon seems to enjoy the banter. You, on the other hand, always look like you’re five seconds away from committing murder.”

Grayson’s lip twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile. I nudged his hand playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ve decided to put up with it.”

Without waiting for a response, I moved toward Rickon and Isabella. “Rickon, I’m really glad you’re okay” Then I turned to Isabella, grinning. “And there she is my favorite best friend who somehow magically reappeared here first.”

Isabella glared at me, narrowing her eyes.

“Now you see how annoying you are when you

do that.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Grayson stepped forward, cutting her off. “Why did you call me here?”

Okay, clearly someone needed a lesson in compassion. I sighed. What Grayson meant to say was that he’s glad you survived the attack, and now he would like to know why you asked him to come. Right, Grayson?”

Grayson

shot me a glare, his default reaction whenever I spoke for him, but then his expression softened. He sighed. “Yes.”

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Wed, Dec 18

Chapter 94

Q

hell right now, but this is so for the

that sentence,” Grayson warned,

rolled his eyes but pushed himself to his feet, grimacing Come on, I’ll

I instinctively moved to follow, but Rickon turned, fixing us both with a stern look. “I

to protest, but Grayson’s voice cut through the air like

as the two of them disappeared down the hall. “What do you think

me.

replied, though even I could hear the

the queen of doing as you

“But-”

Lilian,” she snapped, already moving toward the

sprang to my

mansion was even larger than I’d realized. “This place is huge,” I whispered as we

smirked. “Of course it is. Alphas and their oversized egos always

just attacked, and you still rushed here. Maybe his oversized ego isn’t

her cheeks tinged

approached a door left slightly ajar. Rickon’s voice drifted through

sure about this?” he

for me to stop.

catch three of them this time. Two killed themselves before we could question

stomach twisted at the thought. Isabella’s grip on my arm tightened, and I could feel the same dread I

his voice heavy.

hard and whispered to Isabella, “Maybe

“You two do realize we have werewolf senses,

heart leapt into my throat as Isabella

was frozen, her lips parted in a silent curse. Before I could scramble for an excuse or a clever retort, the door swung open,

09:20 Wed, Dec 18

Chapter 94

staring down at us.

G

as ever, his expression a mixture of irritation and mild exasperation. Rickon, on the other han looked more amused than angry, though the tight set of his jaw hinted at his lingering

drawled, folding his arms across his chest. “This is

jeans in an effort to appear composed. “We weren’t sneaking,” said

to Isabella, who still hadn’t moved from her crouched position.

stood, her chin tilted defiantly. “We were… looking for

him off, his voice low and commanding. “Enough.” His eyes locked or mine, and

swallowed hard. “We were

leaving soon,” Grayson said, his tone

of movement beyond the two men, behind the mirrored glass in the room they had been

I froze.

but because of the

Blood.

So much blood.