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.”

my hand coming up to cradle the back of her head. “Ava,

her face wet with grief. “I should have not gone

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Chapter 251

stop her, I

B

skin, “Stop it.” My voice was firm, but not unkind. “I am still here. That’s what matters and I am not

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

flew to her

stilled. A heavy silence fell between us, thick and suffocating and then, without me even having to

sucked in

glossing over again. “I don’t know how, but I

gaze dropped to her stomach, to where her hands clutched protectively over the tiny lives growing

My children.

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

pulled away suddenly, my jaw clenching as I forced myself to snap

at her face, sniffing before looking up

shifting mist, listening to the distant, 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

was trying to shield herself from even the idea of it. I exhaled sharply and reached for her, pulling her up beside

nodded, her grip tightening around my arm.

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

the mist, where the howling wind prowled like

plan,” I

me why he didn’t get taken by the wind before pushing me right into it and this time, it had taken me fighting

grip on my hand

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 warmth of her skin through my fingers, a stark contrast to the

was waiting for

“There’s someone here. Someone who’s been here for a while.” My voice came out low, edged with something

hesitated, glancing around

grip on her hand tightening. “The wind takes them. It drags them

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Chapter 251

no one fights it. No one can fight it?

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shivered beside me, her free hand will protectively over her stomach, “Then why is

a

take other

stiffened, horror dawning in her eyes,

to meet her gaze, my expression grim. “He plays the right cards. He finds the ones who don’t want to go. the ones who try to fight. He pretends to want them to say just like him—but

use him, Jonah has a connection to the wind. A twisted, unnatural link that lets him stay here. But if we can break

brows furrowed, “How?”