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.”

my tracks. I didn’t turn

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

a list. Do

Chapter 193

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

be considering helping her with whatever this is. This

Threesome Alliance of Doom,” Eliza supplied, stuffing the last bit of muffin into

groaned, looking downright betrayed. “You didn’t

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

spoken his name aloud I had locked all of it–him, the pain, the heartbreak–into a box and shoved it into the deepest recesses of

backed away from her, shaking my head

“Ava, please-”

I said sharply. “It’s not my problem, Monica.”

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

turned to her, guilt gnawing at me. “I’m really sorry about earlier. Isabella is just…” I trailed off, not even sure how to explain

“A friend who would follow you to the ends of the earth, no

friend who would follow me to

and noise of the food truck became my sanctuary, 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 passed,

could feel her curious glances. Not until the rush

stepped outside to take a breather. The cold air hit my skin, and I took in a deep breath, hoping it would cleanse me,

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

away.

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

turned my back to her, ready to walk away, when she

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

Permitted

glaring at her. “You have permitted me to be

Chapter 198

as if my reaction was the one out of line. “I didn’t come here to be on the receiving end

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

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

my head again. “You don’t understand anything”

how hard I tried. I was tired of pretending I was okay when every night, I cried

not have my wounds ripped open every

I said, my voice softening. “Just leave me

this time she’d listen, but before I could reach the

“Lilian!”

clenching my fists. I thought