The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 193

Chapter 193

-Ava’s POV-

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The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Eighteen long seconds passed before Monica finally broke it with a sigh, her gaze shifting from Isabella to me. Her eyes flickered down to my stomach, and she spoke, her tone surprisingly soft. “I guess congratulations are in order?”

The words caught me off guard–not just their content but the sincerity in her voice. I blinked, stunned, unable to respond for a moment.

Isabella, however, didn’t miss a beat. “I know you have an obsession with Lilian,” she shot back, her voice sharp as a blade, “but following her here? That’s just another level of crazy, even for you.”

Monica’s irritated expression hardened as she turned her attention to Isabella. “Do you always have to be so aggressive?”

“Do you always have to be a bitch?” Isabella snapped.

I opened my mouth to intervene, to put an end to the back–and–forth before it escalated, but I just couldn’t summon the strength. Whatever Monica was here for, whatever plan or scheme she had in mind, I didn’t have the energy for it. “I have to get back to the food truck,” I said instead, turning to leave.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Isabella said quickly, stepping forward to block my path. “We’re not done talking, and we’re definitely not done discussing the fact that you’re-” she waved a hand vaguely toward my stomach, “with child.”

Eliza, still chewing on a muffin she’d somehow procured, chimed in, “Saying ‘with child‘ is just plain weird.”

Isabella turned to glare at her. “When did you take that from me, and why are you eating it?”

Eliza shrugged, completely unfazed. “Because you dragged me from work all the way here. You’re lucky Grayson-” The air seemed to crackle the moment his name slipped out. The tension in the space tightened like a coiled spring. Eliza stopped mid–sentence, her face turning pale as she looked at me apologetically. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine,” I cut her off quickly, though my voice wavered. I forced myself to take a steadying breath, then turned to Isabella “I really am sorry, but I can’t do this right now. I promise I’ll call you once I’m done with the day. Please, I just can’t handle all of this right now.”

Isabella opened her mouth, probably to argue, but then she stopped. Her jaw tightened, but she nodded reluctantly.

I turned to Eliza, gave her a small nod, and began walking away.

“Excuse me?” Monica’s voice called after me.

“Can you not see that we’re ignoring you?” Isabella said, spinning on her heel to face her. “We’re pretending like you don’t exist.”

I heard Monica click her tongue, then she spoke again, her voice softer. “I need your help with something, Ava.”

tracks. I didn’t turn around, though, not

here to fight,” Monica continued, her words quick and rushed like she was trying to get them all out before Isabella could

interjected, crossing her arms. “I made a list. Do you want me to read it out loud?”

Chapter 193

them, my eyes

considering helping her with whatever this is. This is probably a scheme from The Threesome of Evil. Or wait–what

supplied, stuffing the last bit of muffin into her

looking downright betrayed. “You didn’t even save me a

broke out between the two of them. Monica sighed and stepped closer to me, her voice low so only I could hear, “Something bad happened to Elaine and Grayson and no one

name. It had been so long since I let myself think about him, since I’d even spoken his name aloud I had locked

my head firmly. “That’s not my business

“Ava, please-”

“It’s not my

truck. The line had grown longer in my absence, and I rushed inside to help Tessa.

earlier. Isabella is just…” I

friend who would follow you to the

would follow me to the depths

where I could shove everything–Grayson, my mother, and Monica’s bizarre arrival–to the back of my mind. I focused on each customer, each order, each second that passed, ignoring the gnawing

ease beside me, but I could feel her curious glances. Not until the rush finally died down, and the last customer walked

take a breather. The cold air hit my skin, and I took in a deep breath, hoping it would cleanse me, ease the heaviness in my chest. But I barely

her scent did. My eyes snapped

away.

dragging my hand down my face. How did they find me? First Isabella then Monica, now her. What part of leave

ready to walk away, when

through the quiet. “It is time for

Permitted me?

whipped around, glaring at her. “You have permitted me to be

Chapter 198

line. “I didn’t come here to be on the receiving end of your tantrum. This is no place for you to be, especially in your

me laugh.” I shook my head, my voice sharpening with every word. “I told you I didn’t want you in my life anymore. Don’t make

expression faltered, just for a moment, before she let out another

I interrupted, shaking my head again. “You don’t understand

I was tired. Tired of the pain that consumed me, the ache that I couldn’t escape no matter how hard I tried. I was tired of pretending I was okay

be left alone. To not have my wounds ripped open every time someone dragged me back into the chaos I’d been

I said, my voice softening. “Just

turned back toward the food truck, hoping this time she’d listen, but before I could reach the door,

“Lilian!”

again, clenching my fists.