The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 11

Ava’s POV-

“What do you mean you can’t fix her?” My mother’s voice was rd, like ice cutting through the air. It echoed

through the room and beyond the door, where | sat. My hands shook, and Ibis my lip, struggling to keep the tears

from spilling over.

“I've tried every spell, Mrs. Pierce. Just as you've tried everything you could medically. The man’s tired voice

followed. heavy with defeat. He had been brought here for one purpose, to repair what | was about to break-to

fixbefore | ruined their perfect image of a flawless family.

“I will not have a latent daughter!” Her voice rose again, sharper han before, biting through the walls and

stabbing at my chest. “What do you think people will say?”

The words hitlike a slap. | felt the first tear escape, sliding down my cheek, Latent. That word swirled in my

head, lodging itself deep in my heart like a blade, tearingapart

My eighteenth birthday was supposed to be the day I finally got my wolf. The companion that would be with me

forever. Instead, it becthe day my world shattered.

“Latent wolves can feel their wolves, but they just can’t shift,” the man explained softly, almost like he was

trying to be gentle with the truth. Then cthe words that truly broke me. “But Ava’s case is different.. | can’t

feel her wolf at all. It’s like it

doesn’t even exist

| snapped out of the memory, my heart pounding as Isabella’s face cinto focus.

| blinked. “What's happening? Where am 12”

Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. “That's exactly what | want to know. What is happening, Lilian? Why

did the Alpha King-emphasis on Alpha King-walk into a burning building to save you, Lilian? Why did the Alpha

King say you're his Luna, Lilian? And why, Lilian-"

“Okay, okay! | get it!” | groaned, pressing a hand to my head as struggled to sit up. My body still ached from the

flames. “You are mad atbut | was going to tell you, | swear, but things... things got complicated.”

“Complicated?” she shot back, her voice rising. “You leave Dylan one day, and the next, you're suddenly Luna to

the most powerful man in the werewolf world?”

“Isabella, I'm really-

“Don’t you dare try to brush this off. We are having this conversation right now. | don’t care if your head hurts. |

don’t care if you're confused.”

She stalked over to the table, grabbed something, and tossed it at me. “The Alpha King had ice packs sent to

you, by the way. Now start explaining”

| caught the ice pack and sighed. | knew | should have started the conversation in the restaurant with this

because Isabella hated being kept in the dark more then anything. | wasn’t Grayson’s real Luna but that was a

part even Isabella couldn't know for now and I didn’t think Grayson would appreciate anyone else knowing about

his...

Issue

| pressed the ice pack to my forehead and muttered, “After | went through with the plan to expose Dylan,

Grayson was... impressed. He said | was a part of his pack, and then he asked if | wanted to be his Luna.”

Her eyes narrowed further, her glare sharp as a knife. “Do I look like I'm smiling. Lilian? You think this is funny?”

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Chapter 11

pouted, trying to soften the tension. “No, but you look really pretty when you do smile.”

Lilianl

“Okay, fine!” | groaned, exasperated. “But that's what happened!

Technically, it was the truth. | just wasn’t telling her the whole toth, | trusted Isabella-more than anyone-but

there were things about Grayson that she didn’t need to know. Not yet. | needed to understand what | had gotten

myself into before dragging her into it.

She shook her head, the hurt evident in her eyes. “It's like 1 don” even know you anymore. After all these years,

you still don’t trust me? First, you don’t tellabout Dylan. Then, | find put you left him and not from you. And

now... this?” Her voice cracked as she fought back the emotions. “You're Luna to Grayson Blackwood, and you

didn’t think | deserved to

know?”

She stepped back, ready to leave, her hands shaking. “T’ll see myself out.”

“Wait.” The word left my lips before I could stop it. “I'm not his real Luna.”

She froze but didn’t turn around. I let out a sigh and continued, | didn’t tell you about Dylan because because |

was ashamed. | was supposed to have everything figured out. | was supposed to have the perfect life, the

perfect marriage, but..

1 hesitated, feeling the weight of the truth. “Everything fell apart so fast after Grayson intervened. | didn’t know

where I'd go. You know my parents would've forcedback to Dylan. But then Grayson said | was part of his

pack, and when he broughtback here... he proposed a contract.

Jibella’s silence hung in the air like a noose. | swallowed hard and pushed through. “He askedto pretend to

be his Luna for a year. Just to get the high-ranking members off his back about finding a mate.”

There. That was the truth, mostly. | couldn't tell her about Grayson'’s other reasons-about why he really needed a

fake

Luna

| walked over to her and turned her around, forcing her to look at me. “I swear, once | got my head straight, you

would've been the first person | told. | just needed tto process... to figure out what the hell was happening.

And I'm sorry | didn’t tell you about how bad things were with Dylan.”

Isabella’s eyes softened as she took a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around me. pretend with the whole

world, Lilian. But not with me.”

“I know,” | whispered back. “I know.”

pullinginto a tight hug. “You can

We stood there for a moment, holding onto each other. Then | pulled away, taking her hands in mine. “Bels, no

one can

understand?” know this is a contract. No one. Do you

She gavea small nod, her expression still torn. “Okay. But Lilian what have you gotten yourself into?”

I sighed deeply, running a hand through my tangled hair, trying to make sense of everything. “Honestly, | have

no clue, Bels. There's something alarmingly dangerous about how calm Grayson is. But... | don’t have much of a

choice.”

Before | could continue, the door suddenly creaked open, and my breath caught in my throat.

Liam

He stood there, tall and imposing, his presence filling the room instantly. His eyes immediately flickered to

Isabella, lingering on her for a brief moment longer than necessary. There was something unreadable in his gaze,

something that made my stomach tighten. He quickly cleared his throat, breaking the moment of tension.

“I cto see if you were awake,” he said, his voice low, almost cautious.

Chapter II

I nodded, glancing overat-labella, who remained silent but ten Llam’s gaze shifted back to her, a brief flicker of

something crossing his face before he snapped out of It, his explosion going cold and professional once again.

1 inferm Grayson that you're fine,” he added, his tone clipped as if he couldn't leave the room fast enough.

“No, wait,” | blurted out before he could turn away, my heart pounding faster. “Can L... Can | have an audience

with Grayson!”

Liam's reaction wasn’t what | expected. His shoulders stiffened, and for a moment, | thought | saw a flash of

hesitation in his eyes. He glanced at Isabella again, then back at me, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“That wouldn't be a good idea right now.”

“Why?” | pressed, feeling the frustration and confusion rise inside me. | hadn't actually spoken to Crayson since

he basically threwout of his study for reasons | couldn't understand. And now, after he'd savedfrom the

fire, | owed him at least a thank you. He'd risked his life for mine, and | was still alive because of him.

Why was he avoiding me?

Liam's eyes darkened slightly, and | could tell he was trying to tread lightly. “Grayson... he’s not in the best mood

right now. Your father just left.”

My stomach dropped. “What? My father was here?”

Liam nodded, his gaze becoming wary. “He cto see Grayson And... he threatened him.”

linked, feeling a sharp pang of anxiety spike through me. My father? Threatening Grayson? That was a death

wish. My father was a powerful Alpha with pride but even he knew better than to provoke the Alpha King.

“What did my father want?” My voice was barely steady, my heart already hammering in anticipation of what

Liam was going to tell me.

Liam glanced at Isabella again, as if debating whether to share the rest in front of her, but then he exhaled

heavily. “Your father gave Grayson an ultimatum. He has three days to end his relationship with you, or he'll

declare war.”

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