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

crossed my arms, stubborn, "I'm not

you need space,

"No."

lips before I even realized I had spoken. My heart clenched painfully in my chest as I 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

whispered, stepping forward, "I'm sorry, Grayson I didn't mean to

my voice breaking. "Everything

at me for a moment, his

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

then, slowly, his arms

was afraid I might slip away again. I pressed my face into his

my hands reached out and grabbed his

neither of us spoke. The weight of everything that had happened, everything we had been through. hung between us. Then, his voice, low and steady, broke the

Ava. You're allowed to. You're allowed to be angry, to be confused, to feel lost. After everything you've been through, I'd be worried if you

my

push me away. You don't have to figure this out all at once. I just

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

laugh, muffled against

his head, and I could hear the smile in

just enough to meet his gaze, my hands still gripping

soft sigh, his fingers brushing a stray strand

me cracked at his words, the last of my resistance

my voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to shut you

softened, "I

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Chapter 285

my fingers lingering against the

before I finally

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

are we going to do about her?"

his hands sliding into his pockets as

was,

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

was a way to right

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

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

corner of his mouth lifting in that knowing way

argue, but the words caught in my throat. Because deep down, I knew he was right. The thought

daughter, Grayson. I hate him as much as you do. I could never

Ava." His voice was calm, but there was an edge of conviction behind it. "She hasn't done anything wrong. And as much as

hard, my chest

risk her becoming what both Crystal and Dylan were," Grayson continued, his voice softer now, "And I know you don't want

floor