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.

you soon. I can't wait

that, she

was still smiling when I

exaggerated

it.

a glare, grabbed my phone, and walked out of the room

followed me as I made my way to the balcony. The moment I stepped outside, the cool morning air hit

guests poured into the estate. Cars rolled up one after another,

allowed this many people into my estate. The first wedding we staged as large as

and the number of

"Getting cold feet?"

didn't need to turn

saw her raise it to her lips, sipping slowly. I debated telling her it was too early to be drinking but decided

watched the crowd below, feeling

me.

feel at

caught me

right away. I let the silence stretch between us

the estate. And

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

I didn't respond.

her drink in one slow sip, her gaze thoughtful. Then, softly, she said, "I wish I had been strong enough to undo

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

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

didn't know what to say

long moment, we stood in silence. Then she shook her empty

debating whether to get a

little more of this in me," She said with a wry smile, already turning

6

reached the

"Maria"

stopped and looked

And for what you did with the humans-it must have taken a

she just looked at

knowing smile tugged at the

again, the empty glass still hanging loosely in her fingers, but before she could step through the

I hesitated for only a second before continuing, "And with Crystal's daughter, it might be a lot of work for

turning slightly, her brows arching in

sometimes," I went on, watching her expression closely, "Would

like surprise-before her lips curled into a soft, genuine

say anything 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

me, but it wasn't suffocating. It was

Real.

something shift in my expression because her

didn't hesitate this