The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 257

Chapter 257

-Ava’s POV-

A bitter laugh slipped past my lips before I could stop it. The right thing? My hands curled into fists against my thighs, my nails digging into my palms.

“You thought caging me was the right thing?” I turned to face her fully now, my anger coming in hot waves, years of resentment clawing their way to the surface, “You thought controlling every single aspect of my life was the right thing? Making sure I never stepped out of line, never questioned you, never lived?”

She flinched, just barely, but I caught it. And for some reason, it only made me angrier.

“I spent my whole childhood trying to be perfect for you,” I went on, my voice rising, “I did everything you asked. I followed your rules. I stayed quiet when I wanted to scream, I let you mold me into whatever version of a daughter you wanted. And still, somehow, it was never enough.”

She let out a shaky breath but didn’t turn to look at me. I could see the way her shoulders trembled slightly, but I didn’t care. Not yet.

“You acted like you were perfect, like you had all the answers. Like you were the only one who knew what was best. But you weren’t, were you?” I shook my head, the weight of all the things she had hidden from me pressing against my chest like a crushing force.

“You kept secrets, Mother. You built an entire life on them. Crystal, your mother, your sister–you never told me about any of them. You let me walk around thinking I knew my own family when I didn’t even know half of it.”

She let out a slow, shuddering breath, but still, she didn’t speak.

“And then there was the curse,” I whispered, my voice shaking now, but not from sadness. From rage. “You let me be part of something I didn’t even understand from the moment I was born. I was part of a curse, and you never even warned me. Never prepared me.”

Finally, she turned to me. Her eyes were glossy, her expression almost hollow. But I didn’t care. Not right now.

“You made me hate who I was,” I whispered. “Because I didn’t have a wolf. You let me believe I was less. You watched me struggle, you watched me question myself, and you said nothing.”

Her lips parted slightly, but I didn’t stop.

“I spent my entire life feeling like I had to earn your love. Like I had to be more for you to accept me. And you just― you just let me.”

She inhaled sharply like my words physically hurt her, but good. They should hurt.

“You and Father pushed me right into Damien’s hands.”

This time, her breath hitched.

“You made me trust him. You made me prefer him. I let him into my life, let him take up space where my father should have been, and all the while, he was a psychopath. And you-” my throat burned, my vision blurred slightly. “You let it happen. You both did. You let me turn to him instead of you.”

thick and suffocating. And then she finally whispered, “I

something

cracking. “You knew everything, Mother. You always

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10 Mar MM

Chapter 257

a brief moment before looking at me again.

know he was like that. I

out another bitter laugh, my chest aching

protecting me,” I said. “You were

she didn’t

at her, and I saw something I never

She looked defeated.

of the strong, unyielding mother I had always known. She looked…

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“Even now, when you sit here looking so lost, so hopeless, you still make me feel like I’m the

Her breath caught.

my voice thick with emotion, “you make me feel guilty

turned back to the lake, my hands gripping the fabric of my pants to keep them

hate you,” I murmured. “I never wanted to resent you.

anything. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind, the distant ripple of the

after what felt like an

I blinked. Afraid?

my sister. I thought that if I kept the truth from you about everything. I thought if I kept you safe–if I kept you controlled–then maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t lose you. Just like I had lost your

rawness in her voice, “But I did lose you, didn’t I?” she whispered,

hard. My throat felt tight, my chest aching with something I

hoarsely. “You should have let

gripping the

time,

out a slow breath, tilting my head back

I can forgive you,” I admitted,

don’t

herself. She didn’t try to make

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