The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 12

Grayson’s POV-

1 sat behind my desk, watching Luther Pierce as he stood in front of me, lus presence demanding attention. |

knew power when | saw it, recognized it in the posture, in the way someone carried themselves Pierce was no

different. But it didn’t faze me. It never did | had been born into power, molded by it. | had never needed to

shout or lift a finger to command the kind of respect that kept nations in line. Fear did the talking for me, a quiet,

controlled fear that bled through every interaction

But today, staring into Luther's eyes, | didn’t see that fear. He wasn’t bowing. No submission. And that made my

wolf stir. irritated, just under the surface.

“Are you not going to offera seat?” Luther's voice cut through the room, a thread of irritation Laced through

his words He was used to respect. Used to people acknowledging his power, just like | was.

i

| didn’t move, didn’t even blink. “I didn’t invite you here, Pierce So, | see no reason for courtesy

His eyes darkened, flashing to black for a brief moment, before he masked his anger. A small smile tugged at my

lips. He prided himself on control, just like | did. Maybe, under different circumstances, | might have respected

that.

He sat down anyway, uninvited. “I didn’t chere to exchange pleasantries. I'm here for one reason and one

reason only He leaned forward, his voice low, almost a growl. “You will end your relationship with Ava and send

her back to her husband. Where she belongs.”

| raised an eyebrow, my lips twitching in amusement. “Is that so?”

Silence filled the room. The kind of silence that hung heavy, charged. Neither of us moved, just staring at each

other. My wolf growled low, pushing at the edges of my control. He didn’t like the lack of deference. Didn't like

the challenge in Luther's gaze. | was the Alpha King, placed above all of them. Yet here was Luther Pierce, sitting

in front of me, refusing to acknowledge what that meant.

The smile on my face grew. “You know what | find interesting, Pierce? How you suddenly want to play the

protective father now. When, in fact, I'm the one who saved your daughter from the very person you should have

been protecting her from in the first place.”

For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes-guilt, maybe. But it was gone just as fast, replaced by the

shard look. This conversation is over,” he said, voice clipped. “I'm taking my daughter, and I'm leaving. You

won't like the consequences if you try to stop me.

| leaned back in my chair, letting the amusement wash over me. This was almost too easy. “Is that a threat!”

Luther's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “It’s not a threat. It's a fact. Ava doesn’t need someone

like you in her

life

“Someone like me?” | repeated, my voice dripping with mockery.

“A monster,” he spat, venom coating every word. “You think I don’t know what you are? You think | can’t see

what you hide underneath that expensive suit and all the power you pretend to control? You might fool others,

Grayson, but not me.”

| felt my wolf push harder against my control, wanting to rip him apart for the insult but | stayed calm, leaning

forward slightly, letting my voice drop to a dangerous low. “What | am isnone of your concern. What matters is

that Ava is under my protection now. She is MY Luna”

Luther's nostrils flared, and his voice rose. “She doesn’t need your protection. She’s my daughter. I've kept her

safe for years. and I'll continue to do so without you.”

A short, humorless laugh escaped my lips. “Safe?” | said, shaking my head. “Is that what you call letting her stay

in a marriage that nearly killed her? Or are you referring to tonight, when your daughter was almost burned

alive? That's your idea of

Chapter 12

keeping her safe

His face twitched, a tiny crack in his tough facade, but his eyes never left mine. “If she had been where she was

supposed to be, this wouldn't have happened”

That did it. My amusement vanished, replaced by cold fury. “And that is exactly why she won't be going

anywhere with you.” | growled, my voice like ice.

Luther opened his mouth to argue, but | didn’t give him the chance. “Id say you've overstayed your welcome,

but the truth is you were never welchere.”

His fists clenched even tighter, his knuckles turning white, barely able to contain the rage simmering just below

the surface.

“This isn’t over,” he hissed.

“For your sake, | hope it is.” | replied, my tone colder, deadlier. “Because if you interfere with what | have with

Ava, you'll wish a monster was all | am.”

The tension in the room was thick, crackling between us like electricity. For a moment, | thought he might

actually try something but then he stood up, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and hatred, glaring down at me.

“Let it be known that | tried to settle this civilly, he said, voice shaking with barely-contained fury. “You have

three days, Grayson. Three days to end this relationship and send her back to her husband. Or I'll declare war.”

My wolf surged to the surface, snarling, ready to tear him apart, but | held back. Barely. Instead, | smiled, slow

and dangerous. “Then 171 count the hours until your death

Luther's face twisted, the anger rolling off him in waves as he stormed out of the room. The moment the door

clicked shut, I Jet out a breath | didn’t realize I'd been holding.

Three days. | had three days to figure this out. Not that | cared about his ultimatum. He could declare all the

wars he wanted. It wouldn't change the fact that Ava was mine, at least for the next year and | wasn’t letting her

go.

But there was a part of me-deep down-that recognized the danger. Not to me, but to her. This wasn’t just about

power or territory. It was about the one thing that had always eluded me. The one thing that I'd never thought |

would have.

A weakness.

Once | made the official announcement, it didn’t matter that in between us it was just a contract. She would

becmy Luna, a title would cwith a target on her back because while | was powerful, I had also made a

lot of enemies over the years and | just managed to add another to the list

My fingers drummed against the desk, the weight of the situation settling in. | wasn’t afraid of Luther Pierce. |

had never had to associate with him before even though cordial words had been exchanged out of necessity. He

was a man with pride, not that | cared for it but | wasn’t blind to the risks he posed. The man wasn’t bluffing. He

had resources, connections, and an ego big enough to follow through on his threat..

Luther could declare war. He could bring his entire pack if he wanted to. I'd burn the whole world down before |

let anyone take what | had deemed mine.

The thought cemented in my head when there was a sudden knock on the door of my study. | didn’t answer.

Whoever it was should have known better than to disturbwithout being called for. The knock cagain,

more insistent this time, grating on my nerves.

| gritted my teeth, the weight of the previous conversation still pressing on my mind. Luther Pierce's threats, the

audacity of him thinking he could command me, an Alpha King, it was enough to make my wolf stir with

irritation.

The door creaked open, cautious, hesitant. My eyes snapped to the entrance, my wolf bristling as the scent hit