The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 177

Chapter 177

-Ava’s POV

I wasn’t even going to pretend I wasn’t panicking or scared. This person–whoever they were–had killed Alphas. They’d slaughtered multiple people just to get to Grayson. And now, after shooting him, I was next. The thought churned in my stomach, making me feel sick.

I didn’t want to die.

“Ava, are you even listening to me?”

His calm but firm voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I blinked, turning my gaze to him. For a second, I considered lying, but there was no point. “No,” I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

That was when I noticed my hands trembling uncontrollably in my lap. We’d left the hospital an hour ago and were now sitting in the back of one of Grayson’s cars. The driver was silent, focused on the road, while the soft hum of the engine filled the space between us.

Grayson reached out, his larger hand covering mine. The warmth and steady pressure grounded me, and I looked up to find his sharp, piercing eyes on mine. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Do you understand?” His voice was low, but it carried a weight that settled in my chest.

For some reason, I believed him instantly. Maybe it was the certainty in his tone or the way his touch steadied my hands. I nodded, murmuring, “Okay.”

But the next words out of his mouth threw me off completely. “When we get back to the estate, we’re grabbing your things. I’m transferring you to my safe house.”

I whipped my head toward him so fast it made me dizzy. “What

“You heard me,” he said evenly, leaning back against the seat. His expression didn’t falter, calm and composed as ever, like this was already decided and I had no say in the matter.

“No,” I said firmly. The trembling in my hands was gone now, replaced by something fiercer–determination. “I might be scared, Grayson, but I’m not going to let some psychopath with a vendetta force me into hiding like some kind of animal. I’m not running away.”

He sighed, a long, slow exhale as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Ava, listen to me-”

out before I could stop them. “I know this situation is dangerous. I know you’re just trying to protect me, but I can’t–I won’t–be locked up in

unyielding. “I cannot risk it. If they’re willing to kill random people just to get to me, what do you think will happen if you go back to work? You’d be putting yourself in harm’s way, and you’d be

a punch to the gut because I knew he was right, Deep down, I knew going back to the hospital would put more lives at risk. But the thought of being hidden away, cut off from the world, was unbearable. “I understand

in, his voice hardening. “You just don’t want to. And I get it, Ava, I do. But this isn’t about what you want. It’s about what’s necessary. You think I want

Jan 29 AB

Chapter 177

trapped? No. But I’ll do it if it means keeping

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up in a safe house, I’ll go mad. I can’t just sit there, waiting for something to

do you think I feel every second you’re out there, knowing you could be next on their list?” His voice didn’t rise, but there was an edge to it now, a quiet intensity that made the air between us feel heavier. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to know

want to hide,” I said softly, my voice breaking

don’t want to lose you,” he replied, his gaze steady and

the tension between us thick and suffocating. I looked down at my hands, his words replaying in my head. I didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. If I went back to work, I wouldn’t just be putting myself at

silence. “I understand why you want to do this, and I know you’re right about

you can’t handle being in a safe house, then we’ll do it another way. I’ll hire more men–ones whose sole purpose will be to protect you. If you need to go out,

frowned. “That feels like overkill.”

You’re the target of someone who’s proven they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. If you’re out in the open, I want you to be surrounded by people who can keep

thought of being shadowed by a team of guards everywhere I went

his voice remained steady. “You can’t go back. Not now. It’s too dangerous–not just for you,

again, this time more

neither of us said anything. The tension between us eased just a little, and I felt the tightness

Ava,” he said quietly. “I

“I know. And I’m not trying to fight you on

he said, his gaze

felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension. This wasn’t the life I

turned to me.