The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Ava’s POV-

1 blinked, my heart skipping a beat. “What?”

The entire room felt like it was closing in on me. Three days? He was announcing our welding in three days? |

hadn't even had tto process what my mother had just done, and now this? It felt like my world was spiraling

out of control, and | wasn’t sure if | could keep up.

Damien's face remained calm, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I guess congratulations are in

order?”

“Lilian are you there?”

Her words blurred as reality set in. In three days, | was going to be Mrs. Grayson Blackwood to the ordinary world

and Luna to the Alpha King

“Ill call you back. Bels.”

|

| ended the call not finding the right words to say, | stared down at my phone, my heart pounding as | read the

official statement over and over. Grayson had announced our wedding to the world without even talking to me

first. | couldn't believe it.

Damien watched me, the smile leaving his eyes and his brow furrowed. “Ava, are you okay?”

| looked up at him, my throat tight. “He should have toldfirst. He should have-“My voice cracked, frustration

bubbling to the surface.

Damien squeezed my hand gently, his voice calm and steady. “I know you're upset, and you have every right to

be. But before you do anything, take a breath. Think about how you want to handle this.”

| nodded, but my mind was already racing. | couldn't sit here anymore. | had to talk to Grayson.

“I need to see him,” | muttered, grabbing my things quickly. “I need to talk to Grayson. This isn’t something you

just... announce without a conversation.”

He stood

up

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with me, concern etched on his face. “Do you wantto cwith you? Or give you a

a ride?”

I shook my head, forcing a smile. “No, | need to handle this myself. Ill call you if | need anything.”

He pulledin for a quick hug, his warmth groundingfor a moment. “Alright, but you know I'm always here

if you need me. No matter what happens.”

Thank you,” | whispered, pulling back. “Really, thank you.”

With a final nod from him. | hurried out of the restaurant. My heart was pounding, my paid a swirl of emotions—

anger, confusion, hurt. Grayson should've told me. We should have discussed this together before he put it out

there. Instead, | was blindsided, left to find out the sway as everyone else. | knew everything was

happening on his terms but still.

I hailed a cab, sending a quick text to Isabella, reassuring her that | was fine and that I'd call once | was settled.

My mind raced as | directed the cab toward Grayson’s mansion. The events of the day spun around in my head

like a whirlwind, and | tried my best to calm the storm of emotions building insidebut as the cab pulled up to

the gates of Grayson’s estate, | felt the rage simmering just beneath the surface.

One of the ment at the gate walked over to my window, his face unreadable as he gavea message. “Mr.

Blackwood instructed us to inform you when you cback that if you wanted to speak with him, he’d be at his

company.”

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Chapter 20

The words hitlike slap to the face. He knew | would clooking for him, and he had the audacity to plan

this out in advance. He couldn't spare a minute to call me? | felt any hands ghten into fists, my anger bubbling

up inside me

“Where is the company?” | asked, trying to keep my voice steady

The man gavethe directions, and | felt my anger flare even more Of course, he'd have everything perfectly

planned out. If he could figure out my size and what clothes to buy me, then surely he could find my phone

number and callEverything about this situation felt cold, calculated, and | hated it.

| didn’t realize | had zsoned out until the cab driver broke my thoughts, “We're here,” he said, pullingback to

reality. | looked outside, and for a second, | couldn't breathe.

| gasped, staring at the massive building in front of me. It was sleek, modern, and imposing, with the name

Blackwood etched into a gleaming black sign. It wasn’t just a company-it was a billion-dollar empire. The kind

that made you feel small just by standing in front of it.

I quickly snapped out of my daze, paid the driver, and stepped out, still in awe of the place. This was another

level of wealth -one | was only beginning to comprehend. My family had money, sure, but this.. this was

something else. | took a deep breath before stepping inside, feeling like all eyes were onthe moment |

entered.

| felt self-conscious as | walked into the grand lobby. The high ceilings, the polished marble floors, and the

perfectly dressed people moving around madefeel like | didn’t belong. As | stood there, trying to gather my

thoughts, a woman about my age approached me. She wasn’t overly beautiful, but there was something

attractive about her-maybe it was the way she carried herself, with confidence and grace.

She smiled politely. “Can | help you?”

For a second, | didn’t know what to say. | felt completely out of place here. Sure, my parents had money, but

nothing like this. My family had always kept their distance from Grayson Blackwood, labeling him as someone

with a “tainted reputation. They'd blacklisted his name, saying we were too good to associate with someone like

him. I knew he was the Alpha King, someone of extrimportance nut at the stime, since my parents

deemed him just as a figure head, | didn’t think to find out about him until recently when Dylan became

obsessed with aligning with Grayson which maderealize just how powerful he was and was my way out of

that dreadful marriage.

And now, standing here, | was finally starting to understand why

“I'm here to see Mr. Blackwood,” | smiled lightly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Her polite smile faltered slightly. “I should warn you, Mr. Blackwood doesn’t take walk-ins.”

| sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. This wasn’t going to be easy. Reluctantly, |

pulled out the one card | didn’t want to play.

“I'm his wife.”

Her eyes widened, and | could see recognition flash across her face. “Oh! That's why you look familiar!” she

exclaimed, her expression lighting up. “That picture didn’t do you justice.”

| forced a smile, feeling incredibly awkward. “Thank you,” | muttered

She quickly regained her composure, nodding as she gestured forto follow her. “Con, I'll take you to his

floor.”

| thanked her and began following her toward the elevator, still feeling the weight of all the eyes in the lobby on

me. As we waited for the elevator, she introduced herself. “Im Eliza, by the way.”

“Ava.” | replied, giving her a small smile.

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We stepped into the elevator, and as the doors closed, | couldn't help but feel a surge of nerves. What was |

going to say to him? The elevator ride felt endless, and my heart raced with every passing second.

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Chapter 20

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The doors finally opened, and we stepped into a sleek, modern office space. It was quieter here, more controlled.

Eliza leddown a long hallway until we reached a set of large double doors. As my eyes drifted to the door |

knew led to Grayson'’s office, a strange tension gripped my chest. There was no receptionist or PA around, which

seemed odd for a company of this scale. But before | could dwell on it, Eliza, as if reading my thoughts, chuckled

awkwardly

“He just fired his PA twenty minutes ago. | am sure you would have noticed he is not..urhmm really a fan of

people?”

| found myself laughing softly, surprised by her openness. She led this warm energy about her that | hadn't

expected in a place that felt so intimidating. “Doesn't surprise ine,” | muttered glancing back at her, noticing the

playful twinkle in her

eye

Eliza cleared her throat, her smile fading slightly as she leaned in a little. “But, you know, since you're his wife,

I'm sure he won't mind you just going in.” Then, with a playful smirk, she added, “But just in case....”

| grinned. “I found his office myself and | have never met you before.”

She laughed, her voice light and friendly. “Nice to meet you, Ava | guess I'll be seeing you around.” With that,

she turned and disappeared down the hallway, leavingalone with the growing sense of unease,

| took a deep breath, steeling myself. The door loomed in front of me, and despite the sudden lump in my throat,

| knocked. No answer. The silence on the other side stretched on for what felt like forever, and with each passing

second, nerves heightened.

Finally, | pushed the door open, stepping inside carefully.

My heart dropped and | gasped.

Grayson was there, his back slightly turned toward me, but that wasn’t what made my stomach twist...

It was the fact that he was kissing a woman.

my