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.

as to how we

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Chapter 239

Mar

strongest. My patience was already thin, and

have kept us here,” I said coldly. “So why don’t you just skip all the theatrics that I have zero interest

“Come on now, Grayson. If circumstances were different, I could have been your mate, you know?” Her voice was still teasing, but there was something sharper underneath it. “I heard you were looking

Silence.

take the bait.

suppose I’ll just wait for everyone else to wake up. That’s

beneath my skin, but

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

others were starting to stir.

before her eyelids fluttered open. She groaned softly, disoriented. Then

by one, they began to

face. Maria gasped softly, her hand

remained still.

trapped under the sleep spell.

rubbing his forehead as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. His gaze flickered around the room before landing on

He muttered, voice

as she let out the softest sigh. Her fingers twitched, then her breathing changed, deeper, more

finally, her eyelids fluttered

something loosening in my chest.

confused. I could see the questions forming behind her

name first, low,

voice softer

immediately. I glanced around at the others, all of them slowly regaining their

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Chapter 239

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

gaze darting around the room. “Where is

she’s watching. And

does,” Evelyn said darkly from where she sat, her eyes still slightly unfocused but filled with the

said she’s waiting for everyone to wake up,”

out a humorless laugh, “That doesn’t

+5

out, steadying her. She didn’t protest. Instead, she glanced toward Luther’s unmoving

She murmured then let out a sigh scanning everyone’s face before her eyes landed on me, “When does it ever end?