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"

his face, "You're trying to start

crossed my arms, stubborn, "I'm

you need space,

"No."

looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time in weeks, I saw him. Not just the composed, controlled Grayson everyone else saw-bor the man who

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

voice breaking. "Everything

for a moment, his

distance between

moment, he didn't move then, slowly, his arms came around me, pulling

afraid I might slip away again. I pressed my face into his chest, inhaling his familiar scent-a mix of cedar and

grounding and my hands reached out and grabbed

long moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of everything that had happened, everything we

angry, to be confused, to feel lost. After

my grip on

have to push me away. You

stop them. My fingers found the soft fabric of his jacket, and I

tilting his head down to look

let out a small laugh,

I could hear the smile in his voice. "You're

pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, my hands still gripping the lapels of his jacket, "I love

out a soft sigh, his fingers brushing a stray strand

cracked at his words, the last of my

sorry," I whispered again, my voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to shut

eyes softened, "I

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Chapter 285

pulled back, my fingers lingering against the fabric of Grayson's jacket

before I finally

gaze drifting back toward the

to do about her?"

hands sliding into his pockets as he followed my gaze, "I

truth was, I didn't know

two people who knew only pain and destruction. And even though Crystal had been my twin sister, there was no bond between us, no warmth,

maybe... maybe this was a

quiet for a long moment before he finally spoke, "You want to keep

to him, startled by the certainty in

his mouth lifting in that

words 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

voice 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,

swallowed hard, my

both Crystal and Dylan were,"

floor