The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

-Ava’s POV-

I really should have chosen my words more carefully. What I should have said was, He used to be one of men.But no, I had to blurt out something vague and open–ended like a fool.

my

father’s

The thing was, my parents never let me associate with most pack members, especially not the omegas or warriors. They were insistent on maintaining some ridiculous notion of superiority, telling me that as the Alpha’s daughter, I had to hold myself high at all times. I wasn’t supposed to mingle with those they deemed beneath me.

For most of my life, I did exactly as they said, too afraid to push back against their strict, suffocating rules. It wasn’t until I met Isabella and started to find my own voice–my own backbone–that I dared to defy them. I began to get to know the pack members, realizing that they weren’t “beneath” me. They were people–strong, capable, and often kinder than my parents ever were.

That’s how I vaguely remembered the man. I’d seen him around a handful of times when I was younger, but it had been years since then. The memory of his face was fuzzy, buried under layers of time and my parents‘ attempts to keep me disconnected from everyone.

And yet, here I was, standing in front of Grayson, trying to explain that he was making a mistake.

The moment those words left my lips–I know that man. He’s one of my father’s men–I saw Grayson’s expression shift. The cold, calculated anger he carried morphed into something far more dangerous. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened like storm clouds ready to unleash fury.

In that instant, I knew what he was thinking. He was going to go after my father.

“Grayson, you’re not listening to me!” I practically shouted, yanking at my hair in frustration. My voice echoed in the tense, blood–scented room. “My father didn’t do this. For the hundredth time, he didn’t do this!”

Grayson’s glare didn’t waver. “And how do you know that, Ava? Are you sure you’re not just blinded by loyalty?”

“I’m sure,” I snapped back, stepping closer to him, close enough to see the tension in his shoulders. “My father has an obsession with appearances. You know that. He’s not going to stage an attack, get himself nearly killed, and then go on a murder spree just to throw people off his trail. What could he possibly stand to gain?”

Grayson didn’t flinch. His voice was low, deadly. “You’re not thinking this through. If your father isn’t behind this, then why does his man turn up here in the middle of this bloodbath?“.

“And you’re not thinking it through either!” I shouted back, my voice breaking slightly. “Just because he used to work for my father doesn’t mean my father sent him!”

Rickon, standing off to the side, cleared his throat. “Maybe we should all just… take a minute to calm down. My chef is world- class, by the way. He could whip something up real quick to ease the tension.”

I turned to him, incredulous. “Rickon, are you serious right now

“What?” he said with a shrug, completely unfazed. “I’m trying to help.”

everything? Couldn’t you just say, my

turning to her. “Do you have to

toward

said, his voice like ice. “Maybe I should just let you go back to him if you’re so determined to

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Dec 19 G.

Chapter 95

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must have shown on my

“Damn it, Ava,” he muttered under his breath. Then, realizing that

He glanced at Isabella, who reluctantly followed him out of the room, though she shot

alone, Grayson exhaled sharply

my head, crossing my arms.

now. He reached

go anywhere with you right now,” I

tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might let me have my way. But then, in

as he dragged me out

the cool night air, I pulled my hand free, glaring at him. “Stop it,

My heart pounded in my chest, frustration and hurt swirling together into a suffocating knot. Grayson’s glare bore into me, and I refused to back down, even

been chained to that chair. His presence didn’t add up. I couldn’t see how my father could be connected to this. It wasn’t just blind loyalty; it genuinely didn’t make sense: My father, as obsessed with appearances as he was, wouldn’t risk his reputation, let alone his life, orchestrating something like

would Grayson listen? Of

tone was flat, laced with exasperation. “I’m

a hollow one, made in the heat

climbed inside, slamming it shut behind me with enough force to rattle the windows. My hands clenched into fists on my lap as I stared out of

thunderclap in the tense silence between

the trees blur together as we sped down the road. The night felt colder now, the dark sky pressing

passed, each one stretching out longer than the last. I could feel Grayson’s glances, quick and fleeting,

softer now but still laced with tension. “I hate arguing with

caught me off guard. My head turned slightly, though I still didn’t look at him. “I don’t like it either,” I admitted

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Thu, Dec 19