The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

-Ava’s POV

I didn’t understand what happened in the span of a second. Grayson had been his usual composed self, though his death glare at the food vendor had been intense enough to make the poor man shrink. He didn’t seem the least bit fazed as he caught up to me after I practically skipped away with my dumplings. I’d barely bitten into one when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me, his grip firm but not rough, dragging me away from the carnival stalls.

“Grayson… what is-”

I didn’t get to finish.

The sharp crack of a gunshot rang out, loud and startling enough to make me stumble. For a fleeting moment, I thought it might be from one of the carnival games–those old booths with the fake rifles and cheap prizes–but the sound wasn’t quite right.

Then the screaming started.

A wave of chaos erupted around us. People’s laughter turned into shrieks of panic as they scattered like startled birds. I froze for half a second, my body reacting slower than my mind.

Grayson didn’t freeze.

He yanked me closer, his hand wrapping protectively around my arm as his body pressed against mine, shielding me. “We have to get out of here. Now.” His tone was low, urgent, and sharp enough to cut through the noise.

“What’s going on?” I yelled over the chaos, but he didn’t answer.

Another gunshot echoed through the air, closer this time. More screams.

“Run,” Grayson growled, pulling me harder. He was steering me toward the edge of the carnival, where the exit gates stood The crowd was surging in the same direction, people screaming and shoving in blind panic.

“What the hell is happening?” I screamed again, my voice cracking as the sound of another shot sent my heart into a frenzy.

He still didn’t answer me. His jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the area with razor–sharp focus. The crowd around us was becoming a writhing, chaotic mass.

I tripped over something–a discarded soda cup, maybe–but Grayson caught me before I could fall, his arm wrapping around my waist and hauling me upright.

“Keep moving,” he barked.

And then I saw it.

A man collapsed a few feet ahead of us. At first, I thought he’d tripped, but as we pushed closer, I saw the blood pooling beneath him. My gaze locked on the hole in his forehead, and I froze.

“Oh my Goddess,” I whispered, my stomach lurching.

“Don’t look,” Grayson ordered, his voice harsh as he physically turned me away from the sight. But it was too late. The image was burned into my mind.

11:18 Sun, Jan 26 G

Chapter 172

People were shoving past us, their screams filling the air as more shots rang out. I stumbled age, my legs barely cooperating as my brain struggled to process the chaos. The smell of sweat, fear, and gunpowder was suffocating.

voice shaky. My wolf was stirring inside me, growling

his body a solid shield

us.

is someone shooting people?!” I yelled, my voice

His hands gripped my shoulders tightly as his gray eyes locked onto mine. “Listen to

heart

here. Once we leave, they’ll stop targeting random people.”

my mind racing to keep up. “Why?

that,” he interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

and I flinched, my instincts screaming at me to run or fight. My wolf growled louder, urging me

a chance to act on it. He grabbed my hand again, pulling me

pale with terror as she clawed at the ground, trying to get back up A man to my right was yelling at someone

said, his voice a steady anchor in the madness.

trying,” I snapped, nearly losing my balance as

the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave. I was almost knocked

our path, clutching his side. Blood seeped between his fingers, his face contorted in pain. He looked up at us, his eyes wide with

gaze locked on the growing pool of

Grayson’s voice snapped

“I–he-”

we can do for him,” he said firmly, pulling me forward.

my feet

now, but the crowd was Bottlenecking there, people screaming and shoving in

to escape.

said, my voice shaking. “We’re not going to make it out of

L

will,” he said, his tone leaving no

Sun, Jan 26

Chapter 172

the shooter–a figure in black perched on the roof of

up there!” I yelled, pointing.

“Don’t look. Just focus on getting to the exit.”

“But-”

barked, his tone snapping me into

+13

of bodies almost unbearable. A child nearby was crying, clinging to his mother

let her through. A man was yelling at another man to move faster, his face twisted

the screams blending into a deafening cacophony.

said, my voice barely audible over the noise.

his grip on my

could get us out of this. But the chaos around us felt suffocating, and the image of the man with the hole in his head was still seared into my mind.

rang out, closer than ever. The crowd surged again, and I was nearly ripped away from Grayson as

reaching for him.

back to him. “I’ve got you,” he said, his voice steady despite the chaos.