The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

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Chapter 195

Chapter 195

-Ava’s POV-

“I really don’t care,” I said finally, my voice cold as the realization settled in that Liam was the one behind everything. It all made sense now, didn’t it? Why hadn’t I pieced it together before?

Liam had always been there–the perfect friend, the one no one would suspect because he was Liam. The nice guy who stuck by Grayson’s side like a shadow. But shadows hid things, didn’t they? He had the perfect agenda, and as the pieces clicked into place, something else hit me.

That day Grayson was shot.

I had seen it in Liam’s eyes. The anger. At the time, I’d thought it was because my orders to take Grayson to the hospital were overriding his. But no. It wasn’t just anger–it was frustration. Frustration because I’d ruined his plan. He hadn’t wanted Grayson to survive. Grayson didn’t have his wolf then, and Liam knew. He knew Grayson wouldn’t heal, and he’d counted on it.

That meant Liam had known about Grayson’s wolf being gone. He was in the perfect position to exploit it. To destabilize Grayson. The messages Grayson had found? They had to be Liam’s doing. Planted there deliberately.

“What do you mean you don’t care?!” Isabella’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. “Did you not just hear what we said? What Eliza said? Grayson’s practically a zombie right now! If he’s in danger, he’s not thinking straight enough to pull off an Alpha King move to save himself. And let’s not forget–he’s wolfless. Only the moon goddess knows how many people Liam has working for him.”

Her voice barely registered as the crushing weight of realization bore down on me. Grayson had believed those messages because, deep down, he couldn’t bring himself to trust me. And if we didn’t have trust, what did we have? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“Ava!” Isabella snapped again, her voice sharp and demanding.

I finally looked at her, but my resolve didn’t waver. My words didn’t change. “I really don’t care. And if you’ll excuse me,” I turned, gesturing to the line of people approaching the food truck, “I have to get back to it.”

“You cannot be serious right now,” Isabella said, her tone thick with disbelief.

I didn’t respond. I just walked away, stepping back into the food truck. Tessa’s eyes met mine, curious but cautious.

With my heightened senses, I heard Isabella mutter some very colorful curses under her breath, and then Eliza suggested they give me a moment to cool off. But Isabella wasn’t having it.

“She’s not going to help,” she said firmly. “I need to call Rickon.”

“Who’s Rickon?” Monica asked, her voice curious.

“My mate,” Isabella answered shortly, “and an Alpha.”

Their footsteps shuffled as they moved away, and then Isabella’s voice hit me through our psychic link. “This is bullshit, Lilian,” she said, her tone cold and cutting. Then she slammed a mental door in my head so hard I flinched.

I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my temples as I tried to push away the frustration boiling inside me.

okay?” Tessa asked gently.

C

Chapter 195

fake smile on my face and nodded. “Fine,” I lied, turning my attention

couldn’t. If I let even a single thought slip in, everything would come crashing down. So I shot everything out–every single thing–and focused on the

out of my bleak haze. I turned to see Mikayla stomping into the truck, her arms

glaring at the wall like it

exchanged a look, both of us

going to ask me

an eyebrow at me before turning to Mikayla. “Okay, fine,” she said, her tone light. “What’s wrong? Why

Q! Can you believe it? Two days until prom, and he still hasn’t

dramatic rush,

he’s just looking for the right way to ask,” she suggested. “Or

eyes. “He’s not nervous. And what do you know? You’re

offense. “Old? Excuse me, but I’m

storm of emotions raging inside me, a laugh escaped

I should do? Should I just

some of the heaviness in my chest. “Honestly? If you really want him to ask you, just give him a little nudge. Guys can be clueless sometimes.” I paused, considering her

she leaned forward, placing her hands flat on the counter. “Me? Ask

dramatics. “Oh, the horror! Imagine the scandal, Mikayla. A girl asking a

expression somewhere between betrayal and indignation. “That’s not how it works, Ava! He’s supposed to ask me! That’s how it’s done! If I ask him, it’s going to look like I’m desperate. Or worse, like I don’t

it better to get what you want instead of waiting around for someone else to figure it out? I mean, if you like him and you want to go with him,

too. If I have to force it

sinking in. “So what you’re really saying is… you don’t just want him to ask you. You

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Chapter 195

so hard to understand? I don’t want to feel like I’m chasing him. I want to know that he’s thinking about me, that I’m important enough to him to take the initiative. I

nodded slowly, her words circling in my mind and stirring something I didn’t want to acknowledge. “You want to

a moment as she noticed the change in my tone. “Yeah,” she said,

bricks, and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe. I straightened up, my hands gripping the edge of the counter as my chest

thought about Grayson. About everything we’d been through, about the messages he’d found, and how

he didn’t think I

I hadn’t done enough to show him that he mattered. That I would fight for him. That no matter what happened, I would always

You okay?” she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.