The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 4

-Ava’s POV-

“What?”

The word flew out of my mouth before | could stop it the moment | recovered, and | shot to my feet so fast the

chair toppled over with a loud crash. My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat louder than the last as |

tried to wrap my head around what Alpha Grayson had just said.

The nerve-the absolute nerve of this man.

“How dare you?” My voice trembled, my anger almost choking me. “Do you think I'm skind of cheap woman

just because you-

The words got stuck in my throat, and | couldn’t even finish the sentence. | turned away from him, my fists

clenching by my sides. “I should have known... You're all the same.” My voice wavered, but | forced the words

out. “Thanks for savingfrom Dylan, but I'm out of here.

| started to walk away just as his voice cut through the room like a blade, calm and edged with a hint of irritation.

“Ava.”

| stopped, the sound of my nhanging in the air. It wasn’t just the way he said it-it was the way it seeped into

my bones, commanding, makingfreeze on the spot. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t shout, yet the authority

in his tone was undeniable.

Turn around and sit down.”

1 didn’t move.

I didn’t trust myself to even look at him then he said it again, this twith a tone that sent shivers down my

spine. “Ava. Turn around, pick up the chair, and sit down.”

My body acted before my mind caught up. | found myself turning around, bending down to lift the chair, and

sitting back down, as if his words were a spell | couldn’t break. My heart was still racing, my cheeks burning, but

| forced myself to look at him.

His eyes were on me, a mixture of boredom and something else couldn't quite place. He let out a small sigh, his

expression hardly changing. The past few hours madebelieve you're a smart woman,” he said, his tone

almost casual. “Td appreciate it if you didn’t change that perception”

His words stung more than they should have, and | looked away unable to meet the intensity in his gaze.

What the hell was happening here?

Why did he makefeel like this, like every emotion | had was on the verge of boiling

over?

“I'm not asking you to be my mistress,” he continued, his voice even, unbothered by the chaos he’d just

unleashed in my mind. “And | most certainly do not have any intentions of sleeping with you”

My head snapped back up, and | felt my entire body heat up at the bluntness of his words. The room felt too

small, the air too thick, and I struggled to control my breathing.

“Then why the offer?” | blurted out, hating how desperate and confused I sounded. There was no way this man

could say things like that and not expect a reaction.

His gaze never wavered, not once. “Two reasons,” he sighed, as if discussing the most mundane of topics. “First,

it will get the high-ranking members off my back about being mated.” His eyes narrowed slightly, and | could

feel the weight of his stare. “Second, I'll need your medical expertise for something.”

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Chapter 4

| waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. My mind

raced, trying to piece together what he wasn’t saying.

Why did he need my medical expertise of all people!

And then, he broke the silence with a single, devastating statement. “I have a problem with my erection. | can’t

get hard.”

My mouth opened, but no sound cout. | was too stunned, too shocked to form any coherent thoughts. He

had said it so casually, as if he were talking about the weather, without a trace of embarrassment.

| opened my mouth to say something when he spoke again, “A watch said it is connected to a curse but | don’t

believe in all that bullshit,” He paused for a moment, watching me, “I know it can be fixed and that is why you

are here, Ava. | need you to

treat me.”

My cheeks flushed hot, my heart skipping a beat. For a moment, all | could do was sit there, staring at him in

disbelief. My mind was reeling, caught between wanting to laugh at the absurdity of it all and being completely

mortified.

He suddenly rose to his feet, and my eyes, almost against my will, flickered down to his trousers-specifically that

area. | immediately regretted it when | saw the faint curve of a smile on his lips. He'd caughtstaring. | shrunk

back, my face flaming with embarrassipent.

“I-I didn’t mean-1 stammered, tripping over my own words.

What was wrong with me? | should be used to this in my profession.

Why then was | falling over my words?

“Ava,” he sighed softly, so softly that it forcedto meet his eyes again. His voice was like a caress, gentle but

commanding “There's no need to feel embarrassed because I'm not

He turned then, walking towards the window of his study with a calmness that felt almost surreal given the

conversation we were having. | couldn't take my eyes off him, the way he moved the confidence in every step.

He didn’t need to say anything to own the room; he just did.

He continued speaking, still with his back to me, not a trace of embarrassment in his voice. “I know I'm asking a

lot of you 1 understand that you'll find this situation awkward, but | don’t plan on not giving you anything back in

return.”

He turned back to look at me, and | swear my lungs stopped working. A moment ago, | was breathing just fine,

now it felt like the air was too thick, too heavy. He was givingthat look, the one that madefeel like he

could see right through. me, past all the walls I'd tried to build.

“If you had looked over the contract instead of jumping to conclusions, you would have seen that it’s just for a

year. After that, I'll give you enough money to start over, anywhere in the world you choose.”

The words took a moment to register

Anywhere in the world.

| could be my own person, do whatever | wanted. No more pretending, no more perfect Ava

“So, | would be your Luna only for show?” My voice trembled as | added, “And | have to treat your...”

“Erectile dysfunction, he finished for me, the corners of his lips curving into that sseductive smile that made

my face burn even hotter. He wasn’t even a little bit ashamed. | wished | could say the same.

“What if it doesn’t work?” | whispered

He moved towards me, keeping a remarkable distance between us. | was still sitting, and the difference in our

heights made

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Chapter 4

his presence overwhelming, engulfingcompletely. My skin prickled with a strange, pleasurable heat, and just

when P thought | couldn't take it anymore, he stepped bark

The smile was still there, makingresent the effect it had on me, “I guess we will never know until we try

“And if | refuse!” | asked, trying to sound defiant, but my voice wavered.

He didn’t answer, just stared atwith a sudden blank expression that gave nothing away. The silence

utretched, heavy and tense, until | couldn't take it anymore.

“So, it will be only transactional?” | finally sighed, the words tumbling out in a rush.

His smile returned then morphed into a smirk. “There will be no love between us. Ava.”

The way he said my nsent a jolt through me, like actual fire coursing through my veins. | swallowed hard,

trying to maintain my composure.

“Just for a year.” | said, more to myself than to him.

Something flickered in hut eyes, but it was gone before | could figure out what it was. He nodded once, a simple,

final

gesture

| turned my attention to the document that had fallen to the floor earlier. My hands were shaky as | picked it up,

my mind

racing

I know I should read it, but something toldGrayson Blackwood didn’t waste his ton lies. He didn’t need

to. Waha deep breath, | picked up the pen on the table which looked like it had magically appeared.

With one last look at the pair of gray eyes that | somehow knew would be my undoing, | signed the contract.

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