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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came another gunshot.

bullet ricocheted off the metal pipe beside me, sending a sharp ringing through my ears. She was still firing, but she wasn’t hitting me.

exactly where I

She was guessing.

Good.

out a low chuckle, the kind that sent chills down my spine.

mocked. “Oh, Ava, you really are stupid. Dylan

My stomach twisted.

end Grayson’s life once and for all. And this time, there’s 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 Dylan is going to make

my fingers curling into

moving, her voice growing louder, closer. I could hear her reloading. The metallic click of the

my chance.

same womb,” I said, my voice steady, “I’ll

was instant,

you’re dead,” She spat.

all

I moved.

everything in me, I lunged forward, slamming into her

impact sent 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

we scrambled for it.

brushed against the cold metal just as hers did, but the ship lurched again, and the gun

hissed in frustration, but she

sharp and gleaming under the dim lights. I barely had time to react before she slashed at me,

pain

jerking back instinctively, clutching my bleeding hand to my

the opportunity

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Chapter 277

my back. My breath punched out of my lungs as I hit the floor. The ship

Black.

Completely black.

nothing there–no hesitation, no doubt, just raw, consuming

I knew then that truly, there was nothing

had been one of the things that annoyed Isabella the most, the fact that Crystal had a flawless pregnancy even though she was the

hell was I

at me

my face. The sharp sting made my wolf who had been quiet growl deep inside me, and I felt it–power surging, instincts sharpening.

then suddenly the

Loudly.

growls and gunfire rumbled through the corridors. The storm outside was

I had to

at Crystal again, this time with everything I had. My fist connected with her jaw, snapping her head

staggered but didn’t go

I gritted my teeth against the pain and swung again,

choked on a gasp,