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

continued, her words quick and rushed like she was trying to get them all out before Isabella could cut her off.

“I made a list. Do you want me

Chapter 193

to face them, my eyes narrowing at Monica,

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

the last bit of muffin into her mouth.

looking downright betrayed. “You

and stepped closer to me, her voice low so only I could hear, “Something bad happened to Elaine and Grayson and no one will

been so long since I let myself think about him, since I’d even spoken his name aloud I had locked all of it–him, the pain,

her, shaking my head firmly. “That’s not my business anymore.”

“Ava, please-”

I said sharply. “It’s not my

the food truck. The line had grown longer in my absence, and I

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

friend who would follow you to the ends of

my mind. A friend who would follow me to the depths of the earth.

became my sanctuary, a place where I could shove everything–Grayson,

the rush finally died down, and

a deep breath, hoping it would cleanse me,

me before her scent did. My eyes snapped up, and there she

away.

my hand down my face. How did they find me? First Isabella then

my back to her, ready

yet sharp, cutting through the

Permitted

permitted me to be angry?” My voice dripped

Chapter 198

be on the receiving end of your tantrum. This is no place for you to

head, my voice sharpening with every word. “I told

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

I interrupted, shaking my head

angry, 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 when every night, I cried into the silence, feeling my heart

I wanted was to be left alone. To not have my wounds ripped open every time someone

softening. “Just leave me alone, Mother.

the food truck, hoping this time she’d listen, but before I could reach the door, Isabella’s voice rang

“Lilian!”

clenching my fists. I thought they’d