The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

comforting, and so was Isabella’s enthusiasm-though | hadn't told her the full truth. She didn’t know about

Grayson. She didn’t know about the deal I'd made to be his Contracted Luna.

No one did, not yet. The official announcement hadn't been made but she was my best friend and I didn’t want

her to hear it when the rest of the world did.

“There's something else | need to tell you. It's about-"

My words were cut off as a waitress approached our table, holding a drink in her hand. “Sorry to bother you, but

those two men over there sent this drink for you.”

| opened my mouth to politely turn it down, but before | could ay a word, Isabella shot the waitress a glare.

“She's not interested. And if she wanted a drink, she’d order one herself

The waitress flinched at Isabella’s tone, her forced smile barely holding as she scurried away. | turned to Isabella,

raising an eyebrow.

You didn’t have to be mean about it,” | said softly.

She shrugged, unapologetic. | know, but remember the last tsomething like this happened? You accepted

the drink, gave him an opening because you're too damn nice, and what happened?”

| flinched, the memory burning like an old wound reopening. “Be had drugged it and | almost got raped”

“Exactly,” she said, her voice steely. “As your best friend, it’s my duty to protect you. Now, what were you going

to say?”

1 barely had a chance to gather my thoughts before the two men from across the room slid up to our table,

completely ignoring Isabella’s rejection. One of them, tall with slicked-back hair and an air of arrogance that was

practically choking. leaned on the edge of the table. His smirk was slimy, and | immediately tensed up.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he drawled. “What's with the cold shoulder? Just wanted to buy a pretty lady a drink.”

“| already told you, she’s not interested. Isabella snapped, her eyes blazing

The second guy, shorter but stockier, stepped in closer, crossing his arms like he was waiting for a fight, “I thin

an

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Chapter 9

speak for herself,” he drawled, eyes locking on mine with a challenge

My pulse quickened, an uncomfortable knot forming in my stomach. “I'm really not interested,” | replied, trying

to keep my voice calm but firm “Please, just go back to your table.

But they didn’t budge.

The taller one reached out, fingers grazing my arm in a way that sent a shiver of disgust through me. “Con,

no need to play hard to get.”

Everything happened so fast after that.

Isabella was out of her seat in a flash, her list connecting with the guy’s jaw before | even had tto process it.

“Don’t touch her she spat, standing betweenand the men like a shield.

The guy staggered back, clutching his face, anger twisting his features. “You crazy bitch” he growled.

“Get lost before you regret it, Isabella warned, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

The second guy, his friend, lunged forward, ready to retaliate. It all happened so fast after that. Before either of

us could move, the taller guy grabbed a chair and swung it at Isabella. She ducked, but the motion sent the chair

flying into a nearby table, knocking over several candles that had been decorating the place.

Tue!”

The scream barely registered through the chaos. The moment the chair had flown across the room and knocked

over the candles, everything escalated so quickly that | didn’t even have tto process it. Smoke billowed into

the air, filling the space in an instant. | coughed, my throat burning as the acrid smell of burning wood stung my

nostrils.

“Con, Lilian, we need to get out of here!” Isabella grabbed my hand, her grip firm as she tuggedthrough

the thickening smoke. Her wolf senses were sharp while mine was hasically nonexistent, helping her navigate us

through the haze

We were so close to the exit. The cool air outside seemed within reach when, out of nowhere, | was yanked

backward with sharp, jarring force. My body hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of me.

“Lilian!” | heard Isabella scream, her voice panicked as she called forthrough the chaos.

| barely had tto react before the taller guy from earlier was towering over me, his hand tightening in my hair

as he draggedcloser to him “Where do you think you're going, you little bitch?

My heart raced in my chest, panic flooding throughas | struggled to push him off. He was stronger-so much

stronger- and fueled by something darker than just the fire that was spreading around us.

“I could have been nicer about it, he sneered, pinningto the ground. “But it seems you like the violence, so

I'll make it

hurt.

He pressed down harder, his weight crushinginto the floor. The heat from the fire was rising, the smoke

thickening, but none of that seemed to faze him. His eyes were filled with nothing but rage and hust. The fire

had escalated quickly and the restaurant was practically burning to the ground and this guy was really focused

on payback?

Really? Were people this fucked up?

“Get off me!” | spat through clenched teeth, my voice strangled by fear and the choking smoke.

He responded by slappingacross the face, the sting of his palm leaving my skin throbbing. Then he grabbed

both of my wrists, pinning them above my head. | struggled, kicking at him trying to wriggle free, but it was no

use.

“I'm going to teach you a lesson about how to play nice,” he hissed, his breath hot and foul as he leaned down.

His free hand

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Chapter 9

fumbled with his belt, and tear washed overin waves. | couldn't believe this was happening again.

The irony bit at that moment. | didn’t know what it was about had reftised to touch me.

that made men want to rapewhen my own hasartil

“Lilian Where are you?” Isabella’s voice was frantic, cutting through the smoke.

| tried to scream, but the smoke was filling my lungs, making it impossible to get a full breath. | coughed,

gasping for air felt the man’s hand tugging at my jeans. His claws dug into my skin, and in that moment, |

realized he was a werewolf. My body froze in horror as | realized just how much danger | was in

“I'm going to enjoy this,” he whispered, a sickening grin twisting his face. “And when | get to hell, Ill tell the devil

| died fucking a bitch.”

Tears blurred my vision as his claws ripped through my jeans, scraping my thighs. | tried to scream for help, but

the smoke choked me, my voice failing as panic and exhaustion took over. The fire was raging around us, the

heat unbearable, but none of that mattered to him.

Then, without warning, something warm splattered across my face. | blinked, trying to focus through the haze of

smoke and

fear.

Blood.

It was blood-his blood

| stared up at him, watching as shock crossed his face. His body stalled for a moment before half of his head slid

off has shoulders, landing besidewith a sickening thud.

A scream finally tore from my throat, loud and panicked, as the now lifeless body was yanked off ofwith

brutal force. | gasped, sucking in air as my body shook uncontrollably.

Strong arms liftedoff the ground, cradlingas if | weighed nothing. My vision was blurry, my

consciousness slipping. but | forced my eyes open, desperate to see who had saved me.

Grayson.

Cold, piercing eyes stared down atand his gaze was as icy as it was intense, and in that moment, | felt

something shift inside me-something primal and unfamiliar and for a split second, everything around us faded-

the fire, the chaos, the

smoke.

It was just him and me, locked in a silent exchange that | couldnt fully understand.

And then, something even more shocking happened. For the first tin twenty-four years, | felt her. My wolf.

She stirred inside me, weak but present, responding to something in him that I couldn’t comprehend.

The world tilted as my vision darkened. | tried to hold on, to stay conscious, but it was too much.

The pain, the fear, the fire-it all blurred together until my entire world faded to black and there was nothing but

blackness.