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.”

me stop in my tracks. I didn’t turn around, though, not

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

“I made a list. Do you want me to

Chapter 193

them, my eyes narrowing at Monica, “You need my help?”

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.

betrayed. “You didn’t even save

me, her voice low so only

spoken his name aloud I had locked all

from her, shaking my head

“Ava, please-”

“It’s not my problem,

my heel and walked back to the food truck. The line had grown longer in my absence, and I

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

smiled knowingly. “A friend who would follow you to

words echoing in my mind. A friend who would follow me

hustle 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

curious glances. Not until the rush finally died down, and the last customer walked

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 had a moment of reprieve before my wolf growled in

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

away.

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

calm yet sharp, cutting through the quiet. “It is time for you to stop whatever

Permitted

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

Chapter 198

line. “I didn’t come here to be on the receiving end of your tantrum. This is no

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 sigh. “I understand

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

that I couldn’t escape no matter how hard I tried. I was tired of

wounds ripped open every time someone dragged me back into the chaos I’d

my voice softening. “Just leave me

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

“Lilian!”

groaned again, clenching my fists. I thought