The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 251

Chapter 251

-Grayson’s POV-

“What the hell are you doing here?”

I said the moment I pulled away but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t let go. My grip on her wrist was tight, almost desperate, my fingers pressing into her skin as if making sure she was real. Because if I did–if I loosened my hold even a fraction–I was sure she would vanish, swallowed by the mist, taken by the wind just like I almost had been.

But Ava didn’t answer right away. She just stared at me, her wide, disbelieving eyes reflecting the swirling gray of this cursed place. Her lips parted, but no sound came out, her breath shuddering, breaking apart in a way that made something inside me tighten.

And then–her voice, barely above a whisper, yet so full of emotion it knocked the air from my lungs.

“You died.”

Her free hand pressed against her mouth like she couldn’t believe the words had actually left her. Like saying them made them real all over again.

“I know,” I wanted to say. I know I did.

But I couldn’t. Because right now, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that she was here—and she shouldn’t be.

She took a shaky step closer, her entire body trembling.

“I—” She inhaled sharply, eyes darting over my face, as if trying to memorize me, as if terrified I would disappear in the next second, “I can’t believe it is actually true. That you are actually here.

Her hands suddenly reached for me, grasping at my torn shirt, my arms–anywhere, everywhere–like she was trying to ground herself in this impossible reality. Her breaths came fast and uneven, her chest rising and falling too quickly.

“Grayson, I-” Her voice broke. “I’m so sorry.”

Her face twisted in pain, her fingers tightening in the fabric of my shirt, “This is all my fault.”

Then the dam broke.

Her body wracked with sobs as she collapsed against me, gripping me like I was the only thing keeping her upright. My arms instinctively wrapped around her, holding her close as her tears soaked into my shirt.

I clenched my jaw, pressing my chin against her hair, breathing her in.

The weight of her. The warmth.

Goddess, I had thought I would never feel this again.

I swallowed against the tightness in my throat, my own emotions clawing at me from the inside.

“Ava-”

She shook her head against me, her sobs muffled but relentless. “No, Grayson–if I had just–if I hadn’t-” She hiccupped, her fingers fisting into my shirt even tighter, “You wouldn’t have died.”

coming up to cradle the back of her head. “Ava, stop. You

red, her face wet with grief. “I should have not gone back, I should have done

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Chapter 251

to stop her, I should’ve-

B

My voice was firm, but not unkind. “I am still here. That’s what matters

her breath still shaking and then–something flickered across her face. A realization.

flew to her stomach.

stilled. A heavy silence fell between us, thick and suffocating and then, without

sucked in

glossing over again. “I don’t know

her stomach, to where her hands clutched

My children.

thought had died with me–stirred. I let out a slow exhale, pressing my palm over hers, feeling the warmth of her, the reality of this moment. She was here. They were here and I had to get them out.

jaw clenching as I forced myself to snap back into

before looking up at me, “Grayson, what was

hungry howling. “It’s the wind,” I said darkly. “But not just any wind.” I met her gaze. “It’s what pushes people into the

gripping her stomach again, like she was trying to shield herself from even the idea of

grip tightening

to get out of here?” Her voice was steadier now, but I could still hear

then back at the mist, where the howling wind prowled like a beast waiting

plan,” I said

plan that had formed the moment I realized Jonah told me why he didn’t get taken by the wind before pushing me right into it

hand tightened,

on the swirling mist, the endless gray stretching beyond us. The wind carried whispers–hungry, insidious, waiting. Ava’s hand was tight in mine, her knuckles white. I could still feel the

for me to explain.

been here for a while.” My voice came out low, edged

do you mean ‘been here for a while“? I thought-” She hesitated, glancing around at

don’t. That’s the thing.” My jaw clenched, my grip on her hand tightening. “The wind

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Chapter 251

afterlife, and no one fights it. No one

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her free hand will protectively over her stomach, “Then why

charp. Because he made a dext. He doesn’t get

take other

horror dawning in her eyes,

to fight. He pretends to want them to say just like him—but in the end, he pushes them in My lips curled in disgust “That’s how he stays. The wind lets him because he feeds it var rifices others to save himself and that’s exactly what he

wind. A twisted, unnatural link that lets him stay here. But if we can break that connection–if we can twist it can use it

furrowed, “How?”