The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 286

Chapter 286

-Grayson's POV-

"Remember when you didn't like me?"

I didn't answer.

I didn't even look at Rickon as he stood a few feet away, casually twirling his tie around his fingers like he had nothing better to do. I had made the mistake of acknowledging his presence earlier, and I wasn't about to do it again. Maybe if I ignored him long enough, he'd get the hint and leave me alone.

Unfortunately, Rickon had never been the kind of person to take hints.

"Well," He continued, undeterred by my silence, "I wouldn't say you didn't like me. You were just really scary, and it was hard to tell with you. We thank the Moon Goddess for sending Ava your way."

Still, I said nothing.

"Actually you should be thanking me, really, for throwing that ball."

That finally made me turn, my patience wearing thin, "I should be thanking you for throwing a ball on a Tuesday and disrupting my entire week?" I muttered dryly, adjusting my tie in the mirror.

Rickon grinned like the proudest idiot in the world, "Yes. Because that was the first time I saw you smile, and it was because of her. Which meant that was the first time you realized you really liked her."

I scoffed, "Whatever."

I turned back to the mirror, focusing on the crisp knot of my tie. I still couldn't believe I had agreed to this-to a double wedding of all things. And worse, I had agreed to get ready in the same room as Rickon, who still hadn't learned that silence was an acceptable thing.

But Ava had been excited about it. And for her, I would do anything.

As if she knew I was thinking about her, her voice brushed against my mind, soft and familiar.

'Hey.'

The moment I heard her, the tension in my shoulders eased. The warmth of her voice seeped into me, and before I could stop myself, I was already smiling.

Rickon, being the absolute menace that he was, made a dramatic, "Uhhhhhhh" sound from behind me. I ignored him.

'Hey.' I answered, reaching for the cufflinks on the dresser.

There was a brief pause before she spoke again, 'Are you almost done? They're starting soon.

'Yeah,' I sighed, running a hand through my hair before adding, 'Why did I have to get ready in the same place as Rickon?'

Her laughter echoed in my head, bright and teasing, 'Because you two have been through a lot together, and you promised to practice being nicer to people that aren't me.'

'Well, he won't shut up.'

She laughed again, 'Grayson, be nice'

I exhaled sharply, 'Fine. I'll be nice.

I can't wait to remarry you,

just like that,

when I turned back to the

let out an exaggerated groan. "Uhhhh, someone

was it.

phone, and walked out of the room without another

stepped outside, the cool

into the estate. Cars rolled up one after another, people dressed in elegant attire

many people into my estate. The first wedding we staged as large as it was had been what I had

it was real and the number of people

"Getting cold feet?"

turn to know it

her fingers. From the corner of my eye, I saw her raise it to her lips, sipping slowly. I debated telling her it was too early to be drinking but decided against

I watched the crowd below, feeling the weight of

me.

you feel at peace,

caught me off

didn't answer right away. I let the silence stretch between

the people moving across the estate. And then, finally, I said,

a small smile. "It's good to know I

I didn't respond.

gaze thoughtful. Then, softly, she said, "I wish I had been strong enough to undo

"I never should have asked you to do it in the first place," I admitted. "And I never should have started that fire to

for a reason. Maybe you needed to experience it all to get to where you are now. To find your

what

silence. Then she shook her empty glass

if debating whether

more of this in me," She said with a wry

6

as she reached the

"Maria"

looked back

you. And for what

she just looked

knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

still hanging loosely in her fingers, but

birth...” I hesitated for only a second before continuing, "And with Crystal's daughter, it

stopped, turning slightly, her

a good idea to ask for help sometimes," I went on, watching her expression closely,

her face-something like surprise-before her lips curled into a soft, genuine smile. "I would really love that,

else, a deep, resonating sound echoed through the estate. It

toward the sky. I had never been a man who got nervous, but there was something about this moment-this day-that

down on me, but it wasn't suffocating.

Real.

my expression because her smile didn't

hesitate this