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"

"You're trying to start a fight. I'm not going

crossed my arms, stubborn, "I'm not trying to

space, I'll continue

"No."

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

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

breaking. "Everything has

me for a moment, his

could second-guess myself-l closed the distance between us,

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

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

my hands reached

weight of everything that had happened, everything we had been through. hung between us. Then, his voice, low and steady, broke

to be confused, to feel lost. After everything

hard, my grip

now. "You don't have to push me away. You don't have to figure this out all at once. I just need you to let me be

his chest, my emotions spilling over before I could stop them. My fingers found the

lightly, tilting his head down to look

small laugh,

head, and I could hear the smile in

meet his gaze, my hands still gripping the lapels of his jacket, "I love

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

cracked at his words, the last of my resistance

I whispered again, my voice barely

eyes softened,

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Chapter 285

my fingers lingering against the

moment before I finally

the NICU, where the tiny baby lay in

we going to do about

pockets as he followed my gaze, "I

was, I didn't

created by 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, no love and I would forever regret that I

maybe this was a way to right

a long moment before he

by the certainty in his voice, "I didn't

of his mouth lifting in that knowing way of his, "You didn't need

mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. The thought of leaving her, of letting

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

turned to face me fully, his expression unreadable, "She's just a baby, Ava." His voice was calm, but there was an edge of conviction behind it. "She hasn't done anything wrong.

hard,

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

to the floor as my thoughts tangled