The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 239

-Grayson’s POV-

I was wrong.

It wasn’t an execution–well, it couldn’t be if I could still hear the pounding in my head as I pushed myself up from wherever it was that I was now. My limbs ached like I had been dragged through fire and ice, my senses slowly sharpening as I fought off the disorientation.

I blinked my eyes open, expecting to see Evelyn because we had been attacked together but instead, I saw Rickon lying still. Unconscious. His chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, but unmoving.

How did he get here?

A rustling sound pulled my attention away, my gaze shifting across the dimly lit space. Maria was there, her form still and quiet, and then Luther–his massive frame undisturbed, locked in an unnatural sleep. Evelyn was next. Elaine. Isabella. And then-

Ava.

The moment my eyes landed on her, the pain in my head became insignificant. Or maybe it didn’t, but my focus had shifted completely. Nothing else mattered in that instant but getting to Ava. I pushed myself up, shaking off the sluggishness in my limbs as I moved toward her.

At least I wasn’t numb this time.

Then, like a sharp crack in the otherwise eerie silence, a voice filtered through the air–light, mocking, familiar.

“Somehow, I knew you would be the first to awaken.”

I stilled for half a second, my eyes scanning the room before I realized something–Crystal wasn’t here with us. Her voice surrounded me, but she wasn’t among the unconscious bodies.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t waste time searching for her either. She wasn’t important–not now. Ava was.

“You know,” Crystal’s voice carried that same saccharine sweetness that had always felt like nails on a chalkboard, “you and I have never really gotten the chance to talk. Actually, you and I have never officially met.”

I reached Ava, kneeling beside her. My fingers pressed against her pulse point, the steady beat beneath my touch releasing a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. She was breathing fine. Alive. I carefully turned her body so she wasn’t putting too much pressure on her stomach.

She looked so–peaceful. It was unnerving.

“I’m Crystal, by the way,” She continued, unfazed by my lack of response. “Not sure if I can be called Crystal Cross. I usually went Myers just for show. Damien never really–well, he never actually adopted me, so it’s just Crystal. In case you needed a recap, I’m your precious Ava’s long lost sister.”

I ignored her. My attention remained solely on Ava, studying her face, the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

Crystal sighed, dramatic and exaggerated. “Oh, you really do love her, don’t you?” She let out a light laugh, like this was amusing to her. “Seems like only yesterday when she did that whole scene to get you to get her out of that marriage with Dylan. Ah, how time flies.”

Still, I refused to acknowledge her.

how we

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Chapter 239

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I turned in the direction her voice seemed strongest. My patience was already thin, and if she thought

why don’t you just skip all the theatrics that I have zero interest in

mate, you know?” Her voice was still teasing, but there was something sharper underneath

Silence.

take the bait.

I suppose I’ll just

game itching beneath my skin, but I forced myself to stay grounded. Ava

thick with anticipation. Then, slowly, a shift. A breath. A

were starting to stir.

the ground, her brow furrowing before her eyelids fluttered open. She groaned softly, disoriented. Then Isabella let

by one, they

her side, confusion flickering across her face. Maria gasped softly, her hand instinctively

however, remained

the

forehead as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. His gaze flickered around the

He muttered, voice hoarse.

my attention snapping back to Ava as she let out the softest sigh. Her fingers twitched, then her breathing changed, deeper, more

her eyelids fluttered

loosening in my

see the questions

I said her name first,

voice softer than usual. Then, a flicker of

I glanced around at the others, all of them

Sat, 1 Mar

Chapter 239

I said simply. “And Crystal and by extension Damien is playing games.”

her gaze darting around the

she’s watching. And she wants

said darkly from where she sat, her eyes still slightly unfocused but filled with the same steel determination that

waiting for everyone to wake up,” I added. “For the ‘real fun‘ to

“That doesn’t

+5

and instinctively, I reached out, steadying her. She

me, “When does