The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 39

Grayson’s POV-

Italy had been an impulse decision.

Honestly, | didn’t even know why | did it. She mentioned pizza, and immediately, | thought of one of the

restaurants | owned, which just so happened to be in Italy.

Now that we were here, | thought back to Carter's words and decided I'd check on the progress of the situation

myself. Tv days should be enough,

I made the arrangements while she ate, stumbling across one tiny issue. The hotel that had penthouse suite |

preferred ha no other rooms available for booking tonight. So, | had two choices-either wait until tomorrow or

share a room with Av

I'd chosen the latter. From the look on her face right now, | could guess she was going to react even worse when

I told ner

that.

“What do you mean we're staying for another two days?” she whisper-yelled, her voice tight with irritation. “I

have work. | have wedding plans. You can’t just whiskoff to Italy and then tellI'm staying for two whole

days!”

I'd already sorted it all out. According to what Eliza had sent to her workplace, Ava was still “traumatized’ from

the near- death situation and would only be able to reswork on Monday.

That had been Eliza's idea. For once, a PA was actually thinking on her feet..

As for the wedding. | had Eliza reach out to Isabella to handle the planning for the next two days, knowing she

and Ava wen working on it together.

“Grayson, are you even listening to me?” she snapped, her eyes narrowed.

| looked up from my phone, “Yes. You just finished making a speech about how this is wrong, how | promised not

to control your life, and how you expectedto take you back home. Right now. Did | miss anything?

She glared at me, her jaw tight. “You think this is funny?”

“No, but I think you're overreacting. I've taken care of everything. You'll reson Monday, and your friend will

handle the wedding plans in the meantime.” My phone chimed again. | glanced at it before turning back to her.

“And Eliza, who | believe you know, wants to know if you'll be attending her birthday party next Saturday.”

Ava blinked, taken aback. “What birthday party?”

“The one she politely askedto invite you to,” | said, matter-of-factly. “I got distracted when | was attacked.”

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Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she huffed, clearly irritated “You are unbelievable. You're so... insufferable.

This isn’t fair, Grayson. What do you expectto do in Italy for two days”

| raised an eyebrow, but before | could respond, she groaned. “Don’t answer that. It’s Italy. For the record. | do

not approve of this.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and | could see her narrow her eyes atin response. Just then,

the chef- Giovanni approached, breaking the tension.

“Signorina, did you enjoy the meal?” he asked, his eyes lighting as he beamed down at her.

Ava switched gears quickly, placing a practiced-smile on her face Oli, | absolutely loved it! The best I've had in a

long time.”

He smiled even wider, and | swore | saw a slight blush creep up is cheeks. Old as he was, it didn’t stop the

possessive surge

09:01 Fri, Dec 13

Chapter 39

that coursed through me. He's old enough to be her grandfather, | reminded myself. Still, | didn’t like that he was

lookin

her all.

No matter how much trust | had put in him enough to hand the reins of one of my restaurants to him.

He turned tonext. “Signor Blackwood, would you like to try anything?”

Before | could respond, Ava jumped in, her tone too innocent to be genuine. “Grayson ha fe morirebbe per

quella pizza!”

(Grayson is starving and would die for that pizza!“)

| shot her a sharp look, my eyes narrowing. The reminder that she spoke seven languages suddenly clicked. She

gaveoverly sweet smile in return, clearly enjoying this little game.

Giovanni's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “Parli italiano?” (“Do you speak Italian?“)

She smiled even bigger, “Si. Fluidamente.” (“Yes. Fluently.”)

He turned to me, “Bella e intelligente. Molto bene, Signor Black Wood. Preparero subito la migliore pizza per leil”

(Beautif and smart. Very good, Mr. Blackwood. I'll prepare the best pizza for you immediately!)

He bustled off before | could correct the situation. I turned to Ava, still glaring. “I said | wasn’t hungry.”

She shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back in her chair. “I thought we were making decisions for each other now.”

A growl rumbled low in my chest-instinctive, primal-and | clenched my fists, trying to keep my irritation in check.

My wolf stirred within me, strangely approving of her boldness. It only fueled my irritation further.

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, a teasing glint in them. “What You can whiskoff to Italy without asking, but

| can’t order you a pizza?”

I leaned forward, my voice low. “That's different, and you know it”

“Is it, though?” she shot back, not missing a beat. “Seems pretty similar to me. You make decisions without

asking: | make decisions without asking. Fair's fair.”

| stared at her, unblinking, wondering what exactly she thought he was getting out of this. Her defiance, her

audacity-it should have pissedoff. Hell, it did pissoff. But at the stime, there was something about

it... something that made the corner of my lips twitch with the ghost of a smile.

I quickly smothered the urge. “You really want to play this game

She tilted her head, pretending to consider it. “Well, it's not like have anything else to do for the next two days.

You made sure of that.”

The casual way she threw that jab atmadepause. She was still angry, | could tell. But underneath that

anger, there was something else. Frustration? Maybe. Or maybe it was the tension that had been simmering

between us since we first met, a tension we both pretended didn’t exist.

I leaned back, crossing my arms, my eyes never leaving hers. “Fine. Play your game. But don’t be surprised

when | win.”

She rolled her eyes. “Typical Always have to win, don’t you?”

“Always,” | said simply, my voice flat.

Giovanni returned at that moment, carrying the pizza. He placed it in front ofwith a flourish, smiling proudly.

“Here you go! The best pizza in all of Italy! You should know, Signor ckwood. That's why I run restaurant for you

TG.

09:01 Fri, Dec 13 TO

Chapter 39

| forced a polite smile. “Grazie Giovanni.”

As the chef left, Ava watchedexpectantly, waiting forto eat. | stared at the pizza, then back at her.

“Satisfied?”

She shrugged, feigning indifference. “I'm sure it’s great.

| picked up a slice, not breaking eye contact with her as | took a bite. The flavors exploded on my tongue, but |

refused t give her the satisfaction of seeingenjoy it. | chewed slowly, deliberately, before swallowing.

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“Well?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

wiped my mouth with a napkin. “It’s fine.”

Ava laughed, shaking her head. “You're impossible.”

I smirked. “So I've been told.”

For a moment, the tension between us seemed to ease. But then her smile faded, and she leaned forward, her

expression serious. “Grayson, you can't just keep making decisions forlike this. You can’t just control

everything.”

| met her gaze, my expression unreadable. “I do what needs to be done.”

“That's not an answer,” she said softly. “You can’t control everything. I've been controlled all my life and you

promised you would not do the same. Tu hai promesso.”(“You promised")

I didn’t reply. Because, deep down, | knew she was right.

But admitting that? Never.

She sighed, pushing her chair back and standing up. “I need sair.”

| watched as she walked away, my chest tightening in a way | didn’t expect. This was new-this feeling, this

uncertainty. And | wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

A feeling that, for the first time, | might not have all the control thought I did.

| sat down for a moment, picking at the pizza. To my surprise, | found | was genuinely hungry, and by the t|

finished every last bite on my plate, | felt a bit more satisfied. But Ava had spent enough toutside. | still

needed to face what would undoubtedly be another explosion when | broke the news about our sleeping

arrangements. With a resigned sigh, 1 pushed myself up and stepped outside.

As | scanned the area, my irritation deepened; she was nowhere in sight. Just as | pulled out my phone to have

someone track her down, a young boy approached me, his bright eyes wide with excitement. “Scusa, lei & il

Signor Blackwood?” (Excuse me, are you Mr. Blackwood?*)

He was a child. That was the only reason I didn’t glare and nodded instead. He beamed at me. “Una donra molto

bella mi tia

give this to you.) chiesto di consegnarle questo.” (A very beautiful woman askedto

He extended a folded note, and without thinking, I slipped him scash. The boy's eyes it up, and he took the

money with a huge grin before darting off

| ripped open the note from Ava, my annoyance flaring up again as | read the words scrawled

“You want to play this game? Then let’s play. Catchif you can, Signor Blackwood.”

Fri, Dec 13