The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

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Chapter 285

Chapter 285

-Ava's POV-

I didn't know what to expect when I walked into the hospital.

Eliza had driven me, and I had convinced both her and Isabella that whatever this was, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I had told them to go home, insisting I'd be fine. But standing here now, staring through the glass at the tiny form in the incubator, I realized I had been wrong.

I wasn't fine.

My heart pounded in my chest, my breathing uneven as I tried to wrap my head around what I was seeing.

I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper, "I don't understand... How is this possible? It's been a week. Why did they call you? I just... I don't..." I trailed off, unable to form the words because none of this made sense.

Grayson stood beside me, his gaze also fixed on the incubator. "I didn't want to take any chances, so I gave an order to be notified of anything unusual-like Dylan coming back to life," He said dryly before his expression darkened. "Then, earlier today, I got a call. They found the body of a pregnant woman washed up on the shore. I knew it was Crystal. Somehow.....she was still alive when they brought her in."

I tore my gaze away from the incubator to look at him.

"She didn't make it," He continued after a moment. "But the baby... she did."

My eyes flickered back to the tiny girl lying in the incubator, covered in wires and tubes, so small it didn't seem real. Crystal and Dylan's daughter.

I felt my throat tighten. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel. Shock? Guilt? Pity? All I knew was that I needed air because suddenly, the hospital mask I had on was suffocating me.

I exhaled a shaky breath, "Can we talk outside?"

Grayson nodded, leading the way out of the NICU, and the moment we stepped into the hallway, I felt like I could breathe again.

Before I could speak, he did.

"Are you

still angry with me?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question, "No. I'm not," I sighed, running a hand over my face, “It's just... everything has been a lot. I haven't been handling it well. It's over, but it doesn't feel like it's over, and I don't know why everything still feels... wrong."

He studied me for a long moment before he asked, "So being with me feels wrong?"

I frowned, "That's not what I said, Grayson."

"Then what are you saying, Ava?"

I exhaled sharply. "I don't know! Everything is sinking in all at once-the threats, the chaos—and it's overwhelming. And you've been staying away, too, so don't start pinning this all on me."

His jaw tensed, "I've been staying away because visiting the old house is the only thing you've agreed to do with me since everything ended. And after that, you shut me out."

His words struck a nerve, frustration bubbling up inside me, "Well, I'm sorry I'm not dealing well with the fact that I just

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Chapter 285

went through hell"

a hand over his face, "You're trying to start a fight. I'm not going to fighs

stubborn, "I'm

space, I'll

"No."

as I looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time in

to keep staying away," I whispered, stepping forward, "I'm sorry, Grayson I didn't mean to push you aw I just... I

my voice breaking. "Everything has

me for a moment, his

second-guess myself-l closed the distance between us, wrapping my

slowly, his arms came around me, pulling

me as if he was afraid I might slip away again.

was comforting, grounding and my hands

had happened, everything we

be angry, to be confused, to feel

my

you don't have to go through it alone," He continued, his voice softer now. "You don't have to push me away. You don't have to figure this

against his chest, my emotions spilling over before I could stop them. My fingers found the soft fabric of his jacket, and I used it to wipe my face, sniffling

head down to look at me, "You know that's

a small laugh, muffled against his chest. "I

I could hear the smile in

meet his gaze, my hands

out a soft sigh, his fingers brushing a stray strand of

at his words, the

my voice barely audible. "I didn't mean

eyes softened,

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Chapter 285

pulled back, my fingers lingering against the

moment before I finally

head, my gaze drifting back toward the NICU, where the tiny

to do

his pockets

was,

destruction. And even though Crystal had been my twin sister, there was

maybe... maybe this was a way to

a long moment before

to him, startled by the certainty in his voice, "I didn't say

a look, the corner of his mouth lifting in

caught in my throat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. The thought of leaving her, of letting fate decide what happened to her, made my chest ache in a

him as much as you do. I could never ask that

was calm, but there was an edge of conviction behind it. "She hasn't done anything wrong. And as much as you're trying to fight the idea, you know

hard, my

and Dylan were," Grayson continued, his voice softer now, "And I know you don't want

floor as my