The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 216

-Ava’s POV-

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“You can’t be serious!” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. But my mother’s face remained impassive, unbothered, which only meant one thing–she was serious.

I turned toward Ricardo, narrowing my eyes. He was standing there, arms crossed, looking far too pleased with himself, “What did you say to her?”

My mother let out a sharp click of her tongue, as if my question was the most absurd thing she’d ever heard, “He didn’t say anything to me,” She replied, her tone even,”And no one can make me do something I don’t want to do under normal circumstances.”

Normal circumstances. What a joke. Nothing about this situation was normal.

“Fine then,” I bit out. “It was your idea. If you want to stay in his house, go ahead. I’m out of here.”

Without another word, I turned on my heel and started walking, my suitcase dragging behind me. The wheels rattled agains

the uneven pavement, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get away from them–away from this.

I had only made it a few steps when I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

I stopped abruptly, spinning around. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Isabella sighed, exasperation clear in her expression, “Come on, Lilian. You’ve been mad at me since we were on the plane. I already said I was sorry.”

I didn’t say anything.

She sighed again, her shoulders slumping, “I don’t have any excuse. I messed up. I know I messed up. But right now, let’s focus on the bigger picture. I don’t think storming off in a foreign country is the best idea. Remember what happened last time you went off on your

own?”

My jaw clenched. Of course, I remembered.

I turned slightly, my eyes darting to Ricardo, who was still standing there, still too calm, still too collected. The mere sight of him made my blood boil.

“Yeah,” I said coldly, pointing at him. “And the last time I went off on my own, he had me kidnapped. And now you expect me to just waltz into his house like it’s nothing? Like I’m safe there?”

Isabella opened her mouth, but I didn’t give her a chance to speak.

“No way,” I spat. “No. Way.”

“Lilian-”

I turned to her, my patience hanging on by a thread. “No, Isabella! I am mad at you. And why the hell are you even talking to

Monica?”

She hesitated.

I let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t even bother answering. I don’t care if she’s the reason they found me. I don’t care what her reasons were. Have you forgotten all the horrible things she did? All of them? Do you really think I can just forget?”

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Chapter 216

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Silence stretched between us.

“And now-” I sucked in a sharp breath, my throat tightening. “And now Grayson, the one person I never wanted to find ou about this child, is coming here. To Italy. And I have to sit here and just wait for him to show up?” My voice cracked, but I refused to let it falter. “I do not want to see him. I don’t want to see him. Do understand?!”

you

for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she let out a

“Ava-”

flinched at the sound of my mother’s voice cutting in. She had walked up

said simply.

handle of my suitcase. “A tantrum?” I echoed, my voice dripping with

We don’t know what he’s planning. Staying in a pack is strategic. And if you let yourself see past

sharp, humorless

she said evenly. “You’re mad at everyone right now, and

for your advice

her face betraying no

didn’t know how to contain, “Save it for your other daughter–the one who probably hates

cutting through the air like a blade and for the first time, my mother faltered.

took a step back, like I had physically struck her. Her face remained blank, but for a split

Pain.

Regret.

didn’t care.

said softly, placing a hand

was quieter

word,

me, my footsteps echoing against the pavement. My heart was pounding in my chest, but

kept

just from anger but from the weight of everything pressing down on me. The cold night air bit at my skin, but I barely noticed. My legs kept moving, even though

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a tourist area–1 knew that much–but beyond that, I didn’t have a clue. I

Stupid.

hadn’t bothered to take a second to figure out where I

now, as the streets grew darker and the buildings started looking less

I was alone.

a foreign country.

With no plan.

No destination.

very quickly, I was realizing just

shadows. The few people I had passed

I swallowed hard.

turn around. Maybe I

sound behind me

Footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate.

just enough to glance

A man.

Too close.

Too deliberate.

forced myself to breathe, to act natural. Maybe he wasn’t following me. Maybe he just happened

picked up my

footsteps behind me did

Shit.

an open shop, a restaurant–anything–but this street was mostly residential. The buildings were tall, with iron–wrought balconies and darkened windows. No one to

gritted my teeth.

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around my phone. But before I could unlock it, the

Hey-*

wait to hear the