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.

wolf was stirring inside me, growling and clawing at my control, ready

crowd, his body a solid shield between me and

us.

people?!” I yelled, my voice breaking.

booths. His hands gripped my shoulders tightly as his gray eyes locked onto mine. “Listen to me,” he said, his

I breathed, my heart hammering in my

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

mind racing to keep up. “Why?

tone brooking no argument. “Right now,

rang out, closer than before. The sound jolted me, and I flinched, my instincts screaming at me to run or fight. My wolf growled louder, urging me to

give me a chance to act on it. He grabbed

overwhelming. People were screaming, shoving, trampling over anything and anyone in their way. A woman to my left fell, her face pale with terror as she clawed at the ground, trying to get back up A man to

Grayson said, his voice a steady anchor

my balance

the air, and the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave. I

a man stumbled into our path, clutching his side. Blood seeped between his fingers, his face contorted in pain. He looked up

again, my gaze locked on the growing pool of

moving!” Grayson’s voice snapped

“I–he-”

him,” he said firmly,

my feet

gates were in sight now, but the crowd was Bottlenecking there, people screaming and

to escape.

this is insane,” I said, my voice shaking. “We’re not going to make it out

L

his tone leaving

Jan 26

Chapter 172

a glimpse of the shooter–a figure in black perched on the roof of a nearby booth, a rifle in hand. My wolf growled louder, demanding to be

I

look. Just focus on getting

“But-”

tone snapping me

+13

pushed closer to the gates, the crush of bodies almost unbearable. A child nearby was crying, clinging to his mother as

to let her through. A man was yelling at another man

into a deafening cacophony. My head was

over the noise. “What if we don’t-”

grip on my hand tightening. “I promise.”

the chaos around us felt suffocating, and the image of the man

shot rang out, closer than ever. The crowd surged again, and I was nearly ripped

screamed, reaching for him.

to him. “I’ve got you,” he said, his voice