The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 277

-Ava’s POV

I had spent the better part of my life putting up a facade and had lived as Ava Lilian Pierce.

She was the perfect daughter. The obedient one. The one who followed orders, swallowed her pride, and let herself be molded into whatever was expected of her. For a little while, she had tried to fight, tried to run, tried to fly–but when she failed at all of them, she simply gave up and became someone she didn’t want to be.

Someone without a will. Someone who could be pushed around, broken, discarded.

But I wasn’t Ava Lilian Pierce anymore.

I had learned to fight again. And this time, I was going to keep fighting.

Because now, more than ever, I had something worth fighting for.

The thought alone sent a surge of strength through me as I rushed down the dimly lit corridor of the ship, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The walls groaned around me with every tilt of the vessel, the metal floors slick with water leaking in from the storm raging outside. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the distant sound of waves crashing against the hull.

And then another shot.

A bullet whizzed past me, slamming into the metal wall just inches from my head. Sparks flew. The scent of gunpowder filled the air, thick and sharp.

I ducked, my pulse racing.

In any other situation, I would have thought of how much of a good shot she actually was.

From behind me, her voice echoed through the narrow hallway, her tone light, almost playful.

“There’s nowhere to hide, Ava,” She taunted, her shoe splashing through the water pooling on the floor, “You might as well give up now. You know how this ends.”

I gritted my teeth, darting behind a stack of overturned crates near the engine room. My mind was running through every possible escape, every possible way out–but I knew there was none. Not unless I stopped her.

She wasn’t going to stop until she killed me.

I pressed a hand against my stomach, steadying my breath before calling out, “Are you really so full of hate that you won’t even consider the fact that we’re both carrying children? That you’d rather kill me than even think about what that means?”

Crystal let out a sharp, humorless laugh, the sound bouncing off the walls.

“Children?” she sneered. “You think that matters? You think I care? I should have ripped those things out of you when I had the chance before Dylan convinced me otherwise.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay still, to keep her talking. She was unraveling, her hatred making her reckless.

And I could use that.

“You don’t have to do this, Crystal,” I said, my voice even. “This isn’t going to end well for either of us if you don’t stop now.”

The ship rocked violently, and I heard her stumble.

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another gunshot.

off the metal pipe beside me, sending a sharp ringing through

know exactly where I was.

She was guessing.

Good.

kind that sent

you think?” she mocked. “Oh, Ava, you really are stupid. Dylan

My stomach twisted.

no surviving this. Not for you, not for him. Dylan and I will be the only one leaving here alive. This is Grayson Blackwood’s execution and

a breath, my fingers

closer. I could hear her reloading. The metallic click of the gun echoed through the narrow

was my chance.

the sake of the fact that we once shared the same womb,” I said, my voice

laughter was instant, sharp and

when you’re dead,” She spat.

all

I moved.

me, I lunged forward, slamming into her before she had a chance

us both crashing against the metal floor, water splashing around us as the ship rocked violently. The gun flew from her grip, skidding across the slick floor. For a split second, we both froze, eyes locking

scrambled

as hers did, but the ship lurched again, and the gun slipped away,

but she recovered

lights. I barely had time to react before she slashed at me,

searing pain shot

clutching my bleeding hand to my chest.

all the

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Chapter 277

she shoved me, sending me sprawling onto my back. My breath punched out of my lungs as I hit the floor. The

Black.

Completely black.

was nothing there–no hesitation, no doubt, just

knew then that truly, there was

one of the things that annoyed Isabella the most, the fact that Crystal had a

the hell was I thinking about that now?

at

dodged in time, her claws grazing my arm instead of my face. The sharp sting made my wolf who had been quiet growl deep inside me, and I felt it–power

the ship shook.

Loudly.

rattled through my bones. The distant echoes of growls and gunfire rumbled through the corridors. The storm outside was raging, but the real battle was happening in here.

I had to

Crystal again, this time with everything I had. My fist connected with her

staggered but didn’t

struck back, clawing at my shoulder, her movements sharp, fueled by rage. I gritted my teeth against the pain and swung again, driving

on a gasp,