The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 27

-Grayson'’s POV-

“Considering the fact that Monica is still breathing and you're all dressed up for Rickon’s ball, I'd say you're

handling things quite well,” Liam's voice with amusement.

| didn’t bother looking at him. My eyes stayed locked on the door, waiting for Ava, who should've walked out five

minutes ago. “I don’t understand why you all thrive on tics,” | replied, keeping my voice cold and

detached, the way | knew

best.

Liam chuckled. “It’s a little fun when the consequences aren't exploding in your face. You should try it

sometime.” His tone shifted slightly. “Speaking of which, what are you going to do now that Monica's back? If

you were planning on killing her, | figured you'd have done it already.”

| shifted my gaze to him, meeting his eyes with a sharp look. “Her being back is irrelevant. I've made it clear |

don’t have any business with her. If she continues to provoke me, I'll give my wolf what he wants.” There was no

hesitation in my voice. Monica had crossed lines long ago, and my patience had run thin.

“Well, since you've got it all under control-" Liam trailed off, his eyes widening.

eyes

| turned, my pulse kicking up slightly, though my expression remained neutral. Ava stood there, finally, and

damn if she didn’t steal the air from the room. Her beauty wasn’t just skin-deep; it radiated in every movement,

every glance. Those -deep, swirling pools of blue-seemed to see right through me, sometimes shifting into a

darker shade. Her hair, dark as night, framed her face in a way that looked almost unreal.

And that dress.... she looked like a sin waiting to happen.

For a second, | froze, stunned by the sight of her, but I quickly shoved that weakness down. | couldn't afford it.

Not with her.

Not with anyone.

Liam, of course, moved first, stepping forward like a damn puppy wagging its tail. He took her hand, his eyes

dancing with mischief. “You look stunning,” he smiled, brushing his lips against her knuckles.

Ava smiled shyly, her eyes flicking to mine for just a second before a blush crept onto her cheeks.

Liam grinned, looking at me. “He thinks you look absolutely lovely-so lovely, in fact, that he can’t find the

words.”

Ava laughed, and my wolf growled internally. What the hell was wrong with me?

“Get in the car,” | snapped, the words harsher than | intended. | didn’t miss the way she flinched slightly at my

tone before nodding and heading toward the car, her steps quicker than usual.

Liam shook his head at me, clearly amused, and I let out a sigh. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I'd dealt

with ruthless men, deadly enemies, and wolves on the brink of insanity, but somehow, this woman had me

twisted in knots | couldn't explain.

| got into the car, turning the engine on with more force than necessary. She sat beside me, staring out of the

window, her shoulders stiff. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable.

“I've had a long day | muttered, my voice rough. “My anger isn’t directed at you. | shouldn't have snapped.”

She blinked, clearly confused, then gavea shaky smile. “It’s fine.”

But it wasn't fine.

| could feel the tension in her, the way she kept her distance as if being nearwas suffocating. | gripped the

steering wheel

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Chapter 27

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harder, keeping my eyes on the road because if | looked at her, wasn’t sure | could keep the distance. Every time

her eyes slid my way, or she fidgeted with her dress, my wolf stirred, restless and wanting more.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally arrived.

She practically bolted out of the car the second it stopped, as if being trapped withwas too much. | let out

another sigh, the frustration gnawing at me. Following her quick steps, | watched as she suddenly stopped in her

tracks, her eyes wide with wonder.

My gaze followed hers, landing on the scene before us. Rickon was at it again. The ball was a fairy-tale dream,

like sglittering fantasy with soft lights, ethereal decorations, and the overwhelming scent of expensive

perfumes themed with a touch of werewolves. | almost snorted knowing this was exactly what Rickon was doing.

He did everything to impress women and slept with everything in a skirt that would allow him. | had to align with

him because even though he was a man who thought with his dick, he did control one of the most powerful

packs in the country and my family had been allied with his for many years.

Ava gasped beside me. “It's so beautiful,” she whispered, awe dripping from every word.

“If you think beautiful is Cinderella vomiting magic all over the Beast, and using his fur for decorations.” My

voice cout rough, filled with irritation I didn’t bother hiding.

Ava’s eyes widened in surprise, and she turned to look at me, shock evident in her gaze. “You... You just made a

joke. About Cinderella. Why do you know Cinderella?”

| blinked, caught off guard by the question. Why did | know? Because once upon a time, | was normal. Once upon

a time, | wasn't this cold, detached shell of a man. But | buried that thought deep. “Everyone knows Cinderella,”

| muttered, brushing off her question.

Before she could respond, Rickon appeared, grinning like the idiot he was. His eyes immediately locked onto Ava,

his gaze practically devouring her. “Ava, it’s so nice to see you again. Your parents never let you out to play.” His

voice was smooth, too charming for my liking.

Ava giggled at his words like he’d handed her the damn moon. “It’s nice to see you too. Is this your ball?”

Rickon puffed up his chest, all pride and preening. “Yes. Do you like it?”

Ava’s smile widened. “I love it. It's so beautiful.”

A growl escaped my throat before | could stop it, and both of them turned to look at me.

“Alpha King Grayson,” Rickon said, forcing a polite bow. “You must forgive my manners.” His eyes shifted back to

Ava, glowing with interest. “It's hard to stay focused when the most beautiful woman in the room walks in. I'm

honored you could gracewith your presence.”

| didn't say a word, but the tension around us grew thick, and Rickon must've sensed it because he immediately

stepped back, creating smuch-needed space between them. “I'll go greet the other guests,” he muttered,

clearing his throat. “Congratulations, by the way.”

Ava smiled, oblivious to the darkness swirling in my chest. “Thanks, Rickon.”

The moment Rickon was out of earshot, her gaze shot towards me, “What was that?”

“What was what?” | replied coldly, my eyes narrowing. | wasn’t in the mood for this, especially not in the middle

of Rickon'’s ridiculous fairy-tale ball. The air was thick with the smell of expensive perfume, champagne, and fake

smiles. | had no patience left.

“The way you acted just now.” Her voice was steady, but | could hear the simmering edge underneath. “You

didn’t have to glare at him like that. It was... unnecessary.”

Chapter 27

Unnecessary? A flash of irritation ran through me. She had no idea. “Unnecessary?” | repeated, my voice low,

but there was an unmistakable growl behind my words. “You think the way | acted was unnecessary?”

She crossed her arms, standing her ground. “Yes, Grayson. He was being polite. You barely even acknowledged

him.”

1 let out a short, humorless laugh. “Polite? The man practically salivates over anything in a skirt, Ava.”

“I think you're overreacting.” Her voice was calm, but | could see a flicker of anger now. “He was just being nice.

There's no harm in that.”

“Nice?” My voice was sharper now, my frustration boiling just beneath the surface. “How do you even know him

in the first place?”

Ava blinked, caught off guard. She hesitated for a moment, and then-Goddess help me-she smiled.

“I met him at a party my parents hosted a while back,” she said with an almost casual shrug. “He was really

funny and nice. We talked a bit. That's all.”

Funny? Nice? My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my wolf stirring restlessly. | should have gone through

with it when | had the chance. Six months ago, when Rickon said the wrong thing-something that made me

consider tearing his tongue out. Maybe that would have savedfrom this irritation now.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes softening, but her voice still held its edge. “You don’t have to like him, but

you don’t have to be rude for no reason either. | just... | don’t understand why you always have to act like this.

Like the whole world is out to get you.”

Before | could snap back with a reply, a smooth voice cut through the air like a knife, making the tension

between us seem trivial in comparison.

“Well, isn’t this... interesting.”

Ava stiffened beside me, her eyes widening as she looked past me. | turned slowly, my body already coiled tight

with anger, and cface-to-face with the last people | wanted to see tonight-Luther and Evelyn Pierce.