The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 19

-Ava‘ POV-

“Really? That's how you're going to play this? You're going to stoop so low just to make sure | don’t get a job?” |

yelled, storming into my mother’s office, my heels slamming against the cold marble floors. The pit of anger that

had been dimering insidefor hours finally exploded.

The nurse, Gloria, who had tried to stopwhen | asked if my her face pale. “I'm really sorry, Mrs. Pierce. | told

her you were

other was available, darted out of the office behind me. sy

| didn’t bother looking at her. “Gloria,” | snapped, my voice shaking with barely-contained rage. “I like you a lot,

but don’t pissoff right now. | want to talk to my mother.”

Gloria stammered, unsure whether to stand her ground or leave, but my mother saved her from further

discomfort. Without looking up from the book she was leisurely reading, she waved her hand dismissively. “It's

fine, Gloria. You can go

| stood there, my fists clenched, watching as Gloria hastily exited shutting the door softly behind her. The

moment we were alone, my mother calmly set down the book she had been reading, removed her glasses, and

folded them neatly on the

desk.

The silence that followed felt like a taunt.

“Really, Ava?” She finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice. “After everything I did to train you, to mold you into

something respectable, you choose to throw it all away in two days?”

1 felt the sting of her words but refused to back down. “I'm not a dog, mother.” | hissed, my throat tightening.

“And havingblacklisted so | can’t work? That's low, even for you.”

Her sharp gaze snapped to mine. “Watch your tone,” she warned, her voice still controlled, but now there was an

edge. The real Evelyn Pierce was slipping through the cracks. “You've done more than enough to insult this

family, and worst of all, you're associating with him. Do you even understand what people are saying? What they

will say if this continues?”

| almost laughed at how predictable she was. “That's all you care about, isn’t it? Your perfect image. Do you even

know that Dylan hits me? That every bruise, every mark, | had to cover up with scarves, makeup, and fake

smiles just to keep up your precious facade?”

For a second, a flicker of something passed through her eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. “And you think

jumping from Dylan to Grayson Blackwood will solve your problems! You are tarnishing our reputation not just

with this scandal, but with that association. The Pierce family does not mix with the Blackwoods. They are

parasites posing as royalty”

let out a bitter snort. “I don’t even know why I'm trying to talk to you. You're not listening. You never do.” My

voice cracked, but | stood my ground, my body trembling with exhaustion. T'm done. Done with you. Done with

father. Done with both of you dictating my life.”

My mother’s gaze hardened. “Is that so? You've decided to spread your wings?” Her voice was chillingly calm,

calculated, “Tell me, Ava, where exactly are you planning to fly? To Grayson: Do you think you'll find solace in his

world? His family is ruthless, far worse than anything you've faced here. You'll be chewed up and spit out.”

| tried not to let her words get to me, but she had always known how to twist the knife just enough to draw

blood. “Retract the calls | said firmly, “Every single one. | need a job, mother. I'm not going to sit back and be a

trophy wife. And you pulling this stunt-blocking every opportunity | have just because | left my abusive, cheating

husband? What does that say about you?”

Her face remained emotionless. “You should have cto the compound yesterday, as | asked. You chose to

ignore me. This is your punishment. You think you can defyand walk away unscathed?” Her voice was sharp

now, cutting through the air like a blade. “I've raised you to understand that actions have consequences, Ava.

And now, you will feel the weight of those consequences. Try any hospital you want-big or small. No one will hire

you.”

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Chapter 19

| felt my chest tighten as her words sank in. She wasn’t bluffing. Evelyn Pierce never bluffed. | wanted to fight

back, to scream at her, but something in her gaze madefreeze. The old, unrelenting authority she had

always held overwrapped itself aroundlike a noose.

“You know your father and | have done everything to make you someone worthy of the Pierce name, even with

your.... latency,” She emphasized the last word like it was skind of law, something wrong with me.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing down the bitterness. She was doing what she always did-finding ways to hurt me

with her words. But | stood still, refusing to let her see how much it affected me.

She continued, her voice icy and detached. “Your father has made it clear. If you continue to associate with him,

you'll be disowned. As of this moment, you're on your own, Ava.”

Those words hitharder than I'd expected. For a moment, | felt the sting of tears in my eyes, but | blinked

them back. | wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeingbreak. | turned to face her, my mother, the woman

who should have protectedbut never truly did.

“You can’t keep up that perfect image forever,” | said, my voice shaking but strong. “One day, it's going to crack

open, when it does, the whole world will see what the Pierces really are. When that happens, at least | won't be

part of it.”

Her eyes narrowed, green like one of the colors mine changed to but filled with something colder, harsher.

“Leave.”

“It'll happen sooner than you think,” | whispered before opening the door and walking out.

and

iful was

| sucked in a deep breath as the door clicked shut behind me. The weight of what had just happened settled in

my chest. They had disowned me. | wasn’t a Pierce anymore. Not that it mattered-1 was about to beca

Blackwood, even just for a year. After that, I'd leave this city behind, the pain, the memories, all of it, and never

look back.

The familiar voice stoppedin my tracks. “I take it that didn’t go well?”

1 looked up and saw him-Damien Cross. He was my father’s best friend, but he had always been more of a

father tothan my real one ever was and he also happened to be Dylan’s uncle, which made things more

complicated.

That was one of the reasons my parents had been thrilled when | discovered my mate was Dylan. It was meant

to be the perfect match.

“Uncle Damien,” | whispered, and before | could think twice, | was in his arms. His embrace was warm,

comforting in a way | hadn't felt in a long time.

“Everything is going to be fine, my little dove,” he murmured into my hair, his arms tightening around me

protectively. “Let's get you out of here.”

| sniffed, pulling back slightly. “Didn’t you cto see my mother?”

Damien chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief, making him look younger than he was. “I think you'd be

doinga favor by givingan excuse to leave. | adore your parents, but let’s be honest-they can both be a

bit... uptight.”

A small giggle escaped my lips, the first one in what felt like days | followed him out, feeling lighter just being in

his presence. He ledto his car, and before | knew it, we were sitting at a cozy restaurant. The familiar hum of

conversation and the clinking of dishes surrounded us as | stared at the menu.

It wasn’t until the food arrived that | realized how hungry | was. | devoured it, hardly tasting it, but grateful for

the distraction

“So, Damien said after a while, his voice gentle. “You left my nephew.”

There was no judgment in his tone, just the sfatherly concern that | had grown to cherish. For as long as |

could

remember, | had wished Damien were my real father. He was kind, patient, and actually listened to me, unlike

the man who raised me. | often wondered how someone like him could be best friends with someone like my

father,

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Chapter 19

I sighed, setting down my legk. “Things weren't working out anymore.”

“That's putting it lightly from what | hear,” Damien smiled, reaching across the table to take my hand in his

“You've always been smart, Ava, If being with the Alpha King is what you believe is right for you, then you should

do it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Lopened my mouth to thank him, but suddenly, a wave of notifications buzzed through the restaurant. Phones lit

up, faces turned toward their screens. A strange energy filled the air, and grabbed my phone, curious

Just then, my phone rang. It was Isabella. | answered quickly, noring the way people in the restaurant had

started glancing

at me.

“Have you seen it?” Isabella’s voice rushed through the line, frantic.

“Seen what?” Lasked, confused.

| glanced around again. People were definitely staring now.

She didn’t even pause. “Grayson just released an official statement about your upcoming wedding... in three

days!”