The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 124

-Ava’s POV-

The room tilted around me, as if the world itself had shifted. My heart hammered against my ribs, every beat an

explosion of rage. My wolf snarled, its fury palpable at the very thought of what my mother had just said.

“Signedover?” | repeated the words in my head, unable to comprehend them. Was | truly hearing this

correctly? Was | nothing more than ssor of possession to be passed around at her whim?

Grayson wouldn't do that.

There was this even coming from?

What kind of twisted gwas she playing?

| opened my mouth, intending to protest, to set the record straight, but the words caught in my throat, choking

me. The silence hung thick in the air, suffocating, until Isabella’s voice broke through.

“What the hell are you talking about? Grayson wouldn't do that,” she spat, her eyes blazing with defiance.

“Scratch that- Lilian isn’t a piece of property, and | suggest you leave.”

My mother’s gaze hardened, her lips curling into a sneer as she looked at me. “I see you are still letting

disrespectful brats speak on your behalf.”

The words snapped something inside me. The shock and confusion evaporated, replaced by something cold and

sharp. | unlinked my hand from Isabella’s and stalked towards my mother, each step purposeful and filled with

intent. “Outside. Now.”

The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of my mother’s lips before she made a show of stepping out into the

hallway, just a few paces behind me. | didn’t waste a second before | turned on her, my voice low and filled with

anger. “Grayson would never signover to you, no matter what twisted reason you've cup with. I'm not

his property.”

The conviction in my words surprised even me. My voice was steady, clear, and unyielding.

My mother’s smile was infuriatingly calm. “Of course, you're not. Grayson didn’t sign you tobecause

somehow, you've managed to worm your way into that dark heart of his. The man looks like he’d move

mountains for you. And if it were t nyone else, | might actually be impressed and proud of you for it.”

My blood boiled. “Get to the point, Mother.”

She narrowed her eyes, her tone cold, almost dismissive. “You've truly lost all respect, do you know that?”

“And you're wasting my time,” | shot back. “Do you know that?”

She sighed, as if she were the one patiently enduring sgreat trial. “As you know, the Pierces throw their

annual ball every year. While you've gone out of your way to turn into someone | hardly recognize, acting

recklessly, there are still many who aren’t aware of your recent actions. I'd prefer to keep it that way.”

My arms folded across my chest. “So what? You chere to humiliatepublicly and then expectto play

nice at your precious ball to save your face? What kind of twisted logic do you have in that brain of yours?”

Her eyes flashed with a dangerous gleam. “Watch your tone.”

“No,” | shot back, my voice cutting through the tension. “You watch it. I'm not going to any Pierce ball-now or

ever again. |

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Chapter 124

was disowned, remember? Let's keep it that way. Now, if you'll excuse me, | have a party to plan.”

| turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm, her grip painful. “You insolent child,”

My wolf surged to the surface, and my eyes blackened with barely-contained rage. “Don’t touch me.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “So it’s true. You do have your wolf”

| pushed past her, ignoring her words as | made my way back down the hall. But just as | thought | was free, her

voice stoppeddead in my tracks,

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If there's one thing you should have learned by now, Ava, it's that no matter how far you run, no matter how

much power

think you've gained, | will always have the ability to make you second-guess yourself. | know exactly what

buttons to press to make you fall in line, just like | did just now. | made you, Ava. | molded you. And I can break

you with a snap of my fingers.”

| turned slowly, my expression one of disbelief. “Do you even hear yourself? What kind of mother says that to her

own child?”

She scoffed, a cruel smile tugging at her lips. “I thought you weren't my child anymore.”

| shook my head, my emotions a whirlpool of frustration and exhaustion. “I’m done with this. Have a nice life.”

| started to walk away again, but her voice followedlike a haunting echo.

“I sent that man to get information about Grayson’s company.”

My heart skipped a beat, my blood running cold. | stopped dead in my tracks, every muscle in my body tensing.

“You what?” | choked out, my voice hoarse with disbelief. “Do you have any idea what Grayson will do to you?”

She waved a hand dismissively. “He already knows. In fact...” She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a

conspiratorial whisper. “That bringsto the real reason I'm here. | made him an offer when he cto

confrontafter he found out. | told him to break whatever hold he has on you and let you cback to me.

And do you know what he did? He refused

my

offer but now | see the truth that even if he had said yes, you still wouldn't have agreed to leave him. Grayson

Blackwood isn’t the problem. You are. Because you are in love with him.”

My mouth went dry. My breath caught in my throat. For a moment, | struggled to find words.

But her smug smile only grew wider, as if she'd just won svictory. “Don’t try to deny it, | can see it in your

eyes. You might think you've changed, but I still know you. | know you better than anyone. And | know you'll be

at that ball. In exchange, I'll give you the soffer | gave Grayson. Ill tell you everything | know about the

curse hanging over his head.” My world tilted once more, the ground shifting beneath me. Grayson... cursed?

Was that even possible?

“I see you didn’t know about it,” she continued, a gleam in her eyes. “I've always said the Blackwoods were

tainted. The curse is just the beginning. But since I'm feeling generous, I'll tell you everything | know-if you

attend the ball and play the part of the daughter | raised you to be.”

| stood there, stunned, the words still swirling in my head. The curse... what was she talking about?

| was completely at a loss for words, my mind racing, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She knew she'd

won, and she knew | would have no choice but to comply.

“I'll send you the invitation. Save the date,” she added, her gaze sweeping over my clothes. “And try to look

presentable this time.”

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Chapter 124

6

With that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing through the hall.

| called after her, “I really can’t stand you.”

But she didn’t break her stride. Instead, she tossed back one final parting shot: “I'll always be a part of who you

are, no matter how much you fight it.”

She disappeared around the corner, leavingstanding there with a thousand questions swirling in my head.

Grayson was cursed?

He had spoken with her?

Did he really know she sent the man?

What had happened to all the promises of no more secrets between us?

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| pulled my phone out and immediately dialed Grayson’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. Frustration

flared inside me, and | tried again—sresult. My mind spun, not knowing what to do, when Isabella's voice

broke through my thoughts.

“Lilian, are you okay?”

| turned to face her, wondering if she'd overheard anything, but her concerned expression toldshe hadn't.

I shook my head, forcing a smile. “Yes, I'm fine. | think | am. | just... | need to find Grayson. Now.”

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “He really offered you up as a property?”

| sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing on me. “No, Bels, but | need to speak with him. Now.”

She nodded. “Okay. I'll stop the preparations. | know I've been making decisions without consulting you, but you

don’t look like you're in the mood for a celebration. I'll put everything on hold.”

| gave her a grateful look. “Thank you. | really have to go.”

Just as | was about to leave, my phone beeped. | pulled it out, hoping it was Grayson, but instead, | saw a text

from my mother.

1

And she had just crossed a new level of pettiness.

“What is it?” Isabella asked.

“My mother just sentthe date for the Pierce annual ball-May 15th.”

Isabella shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You weren't going to attend anyway, right?”

| glared at the message. She knew exactly what she was doing. May 15th was my birthday, and my mother

prided herself on knowing everything so her fixing the ball on that day was not coincidental. There was a reason

she was doing this.

“Lilian?”

| snapped my head up, my gaze falling on Isabella, and then beyond her, noticing the decorations being set up

and it clicked.

Chapter 124

How to emerge was the winner of whatever gshe was playing.

| didn’t know if | should believe her about the curse but even if there was a possibility that it was true and she

wantedin attendance of the ‘Pierce Ball’ to get the information then so be it.

Isabella spoke again, “Okay now you are just scaring me.”

| looked at her. “I have to find Grayson, but in the meantime, | need you to make schanges. Do not stop the

preparations. | need them to be more... suiting.”

Isabella blinked. “Suiting for what?”

et a small smile curve my lips. “For a ball.” | straightened, my resolve hardening. “This year, I'm throwing the

Pierce annual ball.”

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Chapter 125

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