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.”

in my tracks. I

words quick and rushed like she was trying to get them all out before Isabella could cut her off. “I really didn’t. I know I’ve done some terrible things to

crossing her arms. “I made a list. Do you want me to read it

Chapter 193

turned back to face them, my eyes narrowing at Monica, “You need

“Lilian, you cannot seriously be considering helping her with whatever this is. This is probably a scheme from

stuffing the last bit of muffin

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

stepped closer to me, her voice low so only I could hear, “Something bad happened to Elaine and Grayson and

name aloud I had locked

away from her, shaking my head firmly.

“Ava, please-”

I said sharply. “It’s

heel and walked back to the food truck. The line had grown longer in

earlier. Isabella is just…” I trailed off, not even sure

“A friend who would follow you to the ends

friend who would follow me to the depths of the earth. That is what

a place 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

her curious glances. Not until the rush finally died down, and the last customer walked away with a smile and a bag

deep breath, hoping it would cleanse me, ease the heaviness in my chest. But I barely had a moment of reprieve before

hit me before her scent did. My eyes snapped up, and there she was–my

away.

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

her, ready to walk away, when she spoke.

Ava,” she said, her voice calm yet sharp, cutting through the quiet. “It is time for you to stop whatever this thing you’re doing and

Permitted

her. “You have permitted me to be angry?” My voice

Chapter 198

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

be maternal? Don’t make me laugh.” I shook my head, my voice sharpening with every

faltered, just for a moment, before she let out another sigh. “I understand that

my head again. “You don’t understand

consumed me, the ache that I couldn’t escape no matter how hard I tried. I was tired of pretending I was okay when every night, I cried into

was to be left alone. To not have my wounds ripped open every time someone dragged me back into the

“Just leave me alone,

time she’d listen, but

“Lilian!”

again, clenching my fists. I