The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 126

-Grayson’s POV-

The buzzing of my phone finally broke through my concentration, dragging me away from the solitude I had been clinging to. My eyes flicked to the screen, Ava’s name glaring back at me let out a long sigh before turning off the screen without answering.

Rickon, sitting across from me with his usual smirk plastered on his face, raised a brow. “Are you sure you don’t want to take it? I promise I won’t make smoochy noises.”

I leveled a flat look at him, lacking the energy to muster a proper glare. “Do you ever stop?”

Leaning back in his seat, he lifted his glass to his lips, shrugging casually. “Didn’t get a lot of attention growing up. So, Í figure I’ll keep doing everything I can to get it now,” he said, a faint smile touching his lips. For a moment, I thought that was the end of it, but then I caught the shadow in his eyes. “If you want to blame someone for how I act, blame my parents.”

I stayed silent, caught off guard by the unexpected admission. Rickon, always quick with a sarcastic remark or a grin, had let something slip that felt… raw. It wasn’t what I expected, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Somewhere in his flippant comment, I saw a reflection of my own damaged past, the ghosts of a childhood neither of us could escape.

Before I could decide whether to say anything, my phone buzzed again, shattering the moment. I silenced it without looking at the screen.

Rickon’s tone shifted slightly, a hint of seriousness creeping in. “Why aren’t you taking her call?”

I didn’t answer immediately, leaning back in my seat and running a hand through my hair. Finally, I said, “For the same reason I told you not to mention this to Isabella. And I hope you didn’t.”

His raised hand, the one not holding his glass, was a gesture of mock surrender. “I didn’t say a word. You know, I’m quite honored. Out of everyone you could’ve dragged on this little adventure, you chose me.” He grinned, the familiar teasing glint returning to his eyes.

I shook my head, already regretting the decision. The moment I called him to join me on this trip to Italy, I knew I’d made a mistake. But I needed someone I could trust to accompany me to Ricardo’s pack. Whatever trouble they were stirring up needed to be curbed because I wasn’t in the mood to let things escalate into a full–blown war. Not when I already had too

fires to put out. many

It had been two days since Carter informed me about the situation, and I’d spent that time putting everything in place for my departure. I hadn’t told Ava about my plans, nor had I mentioned the curse. Things between us were good–no arguments, no tension–and I wanted to keep it that way. Bringing up issues I could handle myself would only complicate things. That’s why I left Liam in charge and called Rickon.

The phone buzzed again, and I sighed heavily.

not going to stop calling, you know. Why don’t

me. “I’ve already told her I’m at the office and

liquid in his glass, “that lying is a slippery slope, right? One lie turns into two, then three, and before you know it, you’ve dug a hole so deep, you can’t

of peace. The silence stretched between us, but it didn’t

མ་ང་ང་ང་ང་ང་ད་ན་བ་

Jan

Chapter 120

eye, glaring at

expression

what,” I growled, shutting my eye again.

sigh, and I could practically feel him grinning. “Fine, fine. But you can’t expect me to sit here quietly for a six–hour flight. I’m not exactly the ‘silent and brooding‘ type like

muttered, already dreading whatever suggestion was about to come out of his mouth, “Tell you a story.”

opened my eyes to glare at him

at this whole travel companion‘ thing. I’m trying to make the time pass, and you’re just sitting there, scowling at me. How about a game? Something simple.”

“No.”

leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, the grin never leaving his face. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We

“No.”

“Twenty Questions?”

“No.”

in his seat and crossing his arms. “You’re no fun.

have fun,” I said

overgrown pup–restless and incapable of sitting still for

what I think?”

don’t care,” I said without opening

not as bad as