The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 289

-Grayson's POV-

Six months later

"We came as fast as we could!" Isabella burst into the waiting room, panting as if she had just run a marathon.

Rickon appeared seconds later, slightly disheveled, his shirt buttoned wrong, and his hair looking like someone had aggressively tugged at it.

Everyone stared.

There was no hiding what they had been doing before getting here.

But honestly? I didn't care.

I didn't care about anything right now except the fact that Ava was in labor, and I was about to meet my children.

Daniella, as if sensing just how tense I was, started crying in my arms. I had been holding her for the past ten minutes, but the moment the shrill wail hit my ears, I knew I was done.

Elaine, who had been extremely helpful over the last few months stretched her hands toward me, and I handed Daniella over without hesitation.

Isabella, still catching her breath, looked around, "Are they here yet?"

Silence.

Then Evelyn, who never ever missed an opportunity to be passive-aggressive toward Isabella, narrowed her eyes at her, "If they were here, would we still be sitting out here waiting?"

"Hey, don't start-"

"Not now," I cut in before things spiraled, and to my relief, they both dropped it- though Isabella did huff dramatically before extending her hands to take Daniella from Elaine.

Rickon sighed beside her, "Oh great, the fight over who gets to hold the baby begins again."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. No one had told me that having a baby around meant every adult would suddenly become obsessed with holding her. The moment I handed Daniella to one person, another would stretch their hands like an eager beggar, waiting for their turn.

It was exhausting but I really hoped they extended the same to the twins because again no one told me just how exhausting babies were.

I don't even remember the last time I slept and I guess I couldn't push all the blame to Daniella, a heavily pregnant Ava could be likened to an evil monster.

Evelyn, who had taken on the role of self-appointed child-handling expert, crossed her arms, "Hold my granddaughter properly, and-"

Luther, who had become remarkably more patient in the past months, shook his head before Evelyn could launch into a lecture. Begrudgingly, she looked away. This was the new normal.

Evelyn needed someone to scold-it was just who she was. And since she couldn't do it to Ava anymore, that energy

had to

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be redirected.

Unfortunately, that meant Isabella had become her new favorite target.

To be fair, Isabella had earned that spot by being naturally and intentionally annoying, so I wasn't particularly sympathetic to her complaints.

Rickon, who had been unusually quiet until now, turned to me, "Aren't you supposed to be in there with her?"

Before I could answer, a loud, blood-curdling scream rang through the hospital halls.

Ava.

This was followed by an angry burst of Italian, laced with a string of curses.

Rickon blinked, "Well, that doesn't sound good."

Then another scream.

Then Ava's voice, sharp and furious:

"CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT I AM PUSHING ALREADY?! STOP TELLING ME

WHAT I ALREADY KNOW!!"

Everyone in the waiting room went silent.

moment, there was nothing but the distant sound of Ava

another wave of cursing,

throat, turning back to

breath and exhaled,

-Silence again.

Isabella, still holding Daniella, turned

of those is never

without missing a

for a second, fighting the urge to

there was nothing I could do. Every scream that came from that room made my instincts go haywire, but the

been uncharacteristically

own this hospital. And you're

Rickon's antics slide, answered calmly, "Because we don't specialize in

narrowed his eyes, "Still

long, tired sigh. "She also told us

Rickon stared, "You're kidding.",

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Chapter 289

rang out from the

yet another string

went

"Yeah, okay.

eyes amd let out a sigh and hoped this would

were

97%8

had eased a little-well, as much as it

been sitting beside me, frowned, "Is

long?"

up, "Sometimes, it takes a

A whole day?

down

had tried to sit still. I had tried

that Ava was still in there,

let out a breath

up.

just need a

one stopped me as I walked out of the

just knew

hall, my hands

know where I was going-maybe just away from all the noise, away

the

had just left behind. The walls were too white, too sterile,

there, bringing our children into

Our children.

of reading parenting books (that were a complete waste of time, by the way). Six months of watching Ava grow rounder, more beautiful, more exhausted. Six months of

this.

the truth was-I wasn't sure

one thing.

made me feel

run. She was mine, too, in every way

her, paced the halls when she wouldn't stop

her when

babies... these

different. were

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Chapter 289

were Ava's

made

They were pieces of

what if I ruined

parts of who I was-and for the first time, I truly understood

was.

still the same man I

if I failed

messed up so badly that they ended

day, and instead of being a man about it, I

like he did?

pressing my hands against the

deeply.

I am not him.