The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 157

-Grayson’s POV-

The silence that followed after my words was deafening before he walked over and handed me a glass, his band lingering just a second too long before he let go. I took it, even though the anger burning in my chest hadn’t worked Mape it was habit, or maybe it was the faint glimmer of sincerity in his eyes that kept me from letting the pass fall to the foxx

“You should know,” he started, stepping back and gesturing for me to sit, “that I’ve always been on your side. From the start No matter what?

I glanced between him and the couch, debating whether to sit or stay standing. My instinct told me to stay on my feet, to keep my guard up, but the weight of everything pressed down on me. With a sharp exhale, 1 sat, the leather creating withy under my weight. Liam took the seat across from me, his own glass cradled in his hands

He studied me for a moment, his gaze steady but wary, before speaking agam, “What would you have done?” His voice was calm but pointed. “Given us your blessing? Or would you have stopped us?”

I raised the glass to my lips, taking a small sip to buy myself time, though the burn of the whiskey did little to dull the fire in my veins. “You didn’t even give me the chance.”

Liam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, the glass dangling loosely in his hands. I know. And I admit–I should have. But Grayson…He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. “I love Elaine. I really do.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I’d known Liam for most of my life, but hearing him say it out loud made it feel real in a way it hadn’t before. Still it did nothing to quell the sting of betrayal.

continued, his voice softening. “But when I brought it up–casually. I swear I didn’t expect her to jump at the idea. I thought she’d shut it down immediately but she didn’t and when I said you were missing and there was many things to worry about,

family in the truest sense of the word. We’d been through too much together for her to dismiss me like that. I didn’t think she actually meant what she said

on another level I don’t know if it was to spite you

I tried to process what he was saying. Leaning back against the couch, I let out a bitter laugh. “So what, you just went along with

I love her. And because I thought–maybe foolishly–that it would all make sense when you came back. That you’d see it wasn’t just some rash decision.

even a hint of sadness. “You’re asking me to understand a decision that was made behind my back,” I said, my voice

mine. “I’m asking for you to try to see it from where

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Chapter 157

watched me worth tried to process everything that had just

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