The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 53

-Ava’s POV-

| felt him everywhere.

His presence, his touch, his kiss-each seemed to linger in my very core, filling up every hollow part | hadn’t even

realized was empty. Kissing wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Kissing someone had never felt like this. For what

felt like an eternity, titself paused. It was like something out of a cheesy movie, but it was real-startlingly,

overwhelmingly real. All my instincts were screaming atto stop, to pull away, to remember this wasn’t

supposed to happen, but all of it faded the moment he deepened the kiss. And before | knew it, | was kissing him

back.

But of course, he had to open his mouth and ruin it, remindingthat | was just being stupid.

Why had | kissed him back?

Even worse, Isabella hadn't shut up about it since we got in the car. She chattered away beside me, her

excitement bouncing off the walls as we headed to her place. Meanwhile, Eliza followed us in her car, after |

grabbed the dress and told her Grayson had given her the rest of the day off. It was a Saturday, after all-she

deserved at least that much.

| was trying to focus on Isabella’s enthusiastic rambling, but then something caught my attention. “Wait! Damn

it, | didn’t even think about work. I'm supposed to start tomorrow, and considering | haven't even begun, | doubt

they'll be too understanding if I call in already asking for toff again.”

Isabella shrugged, eyes still on the road. “I'm sure Grayson would—"

“No,” | cut her off, shaking my head. “I'm not asking him to do anything. It’s not a real marriage, anyway. There's

not going to be a honeymoon or anything. I'll just show up to work as planned. If anyone recognizesand

asks, I'll make something up about my ‘passion for saving lives’ outweighing the ‘need to lounge around doing

nothing“”

“Which is true,” she pointed out with a grin. “Your zeal actually does outweigh it.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the entire ridiculous situation pressing down on me. Isabella threwa quick

look. “So, you ready to talk about why you're sulking after that... rather explosive kiss?”

“There was nothing explosive about it,” | replied, my tone sharper than | intended. “It was for show.”

“Oh,-please.” She rolled her eyes. “That man has probably trained himself to reject anything that feels remotely

like

emotion, and even |, as the self-appointed relationship expert, can tell you that the ‘just for show’ excuse was

his little safety net. You don’t kiss someone like that if you don’t feel something

| avoided her gaze, choosing instead to stare out the window as the scenery passed by. “And when exactly did

you beca relationship expert?” | muttered. “You've been in, what, two relationships in your whole life? And

they both ended with you throwing a punch.”

She grinned, as if relishing the memory. “Deservingly so. But that’s not the point, Lilian. That man has feelings

for you.”

The words hit harder than | wanted to admit. Grayson’s confession in the hotel crushing back, echoing in

my mind, and how at the pool, he walls he'd so carefully constructed around himself were there again, towering

and impenetrable. | massaged my temples, trying to ignore the nagging realization that this entire mess was

becoming far more complicated than I'd ever bargained for, especially for someone | hadn't even known a month

ago.

I needed to change the subject. “When we get to your place, let's keep it quiet on the werewolf talk and no

accidental slip up about this being a fake marriage,” | said. “Eliza’s humab and thanks for letting us stay and

lettingget ready there.”

Isabella gavea mock-annoyed look. “Seriously, Lilian? That's part of the best friend pact! And yes, no

werewolf talk. But we do need to figure out what's going on with you and how to bring out that sneaky little wolf

of yours.”

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| smiled and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. For years, I'd told myself | didn’t need a counterpart-that

not having that part ofwas somehow okay. But now, knowing that she might actually be there, hidden inside

me... | let myself imagine it, just for a moment.

When we finally arrived at Isabella’s house, Eliza's eyes widened as she took it all in. “Wow, Isabella, this place is

gorgeous.”

Isabella waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, please. Make yourself at home.” She flasheda quick grin. “we'll

rest up a bit, then go over the gplan for tomorrow. Hair, makeup, and we still need to find bridesmaid

dresses. Don’t worry, we'll handle it. No need to stress that pretty head of yours.” She added before | could talk.

| rolled my eyes, but a small smile played at the corners of my lips. We made our way inside, and the three of us

settled down, Eliza fitting in with us instantly makujg it feel a bit more like an actual tof friends and for the

first tin days, | felt a sense of calm.

Isabella plopped onto the couch, patting the space next to her. “Alright, what secrets are we sharing?”

Eliza leaned forward, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. “I'm really curious. How did you guys even meet? And is

this like...... one of those whirlwind romances? Or“-her eyes sparkled even more-“is it an arranged marriage?

Because with someone like Grayson, it kind of seems like it could be!”

Il hesitated, glancing between them. Eliza didn’t know the truth, so | pieced together something that sounded

close enough. “Well... we first met at a party my parents hosted a while ago,” | said, a small smile tugging at my

lips. “I'd just moved back, and my parents insisted | make an appearance. The place was filled with business

types and old family friends. Then, out of nowhere, there he was. He's hard to miss. Standing in the corner,

looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there. It was... intriguing, to say the least.”

Eliza leaned forward, eyes wide. “And? Was there a spark?”

| laughed softly, glancing down. “If you can call it that. There was something, but Grayson... he’s not the kind of

guy who's open with people, especially not at sparty, Made of stone, that one. | tried to make small talk, but

he was practically immune to it so that was it. | ended up with someone else but that didn’t end well and a while

back, | was working a late shift at the hospital when he cin and | still don’t know why he was there that

night but that was the start of it. Grayson isn’t exactly the kind of guy who warms up, and | guess | wasn't

expecting him to. But somehow, it just... happened. The world might think we're moving too fast, but everything

with him, even in those early days, just felt oddly right.”.

Lost in the fantasy, | hadn't noticed Isabella’s soft cough, pullingback to reality. | blinked, catching myself. “I

mean... he’s actually really sweet behind all that coldness,” | added quickly, glancing away as if my story had

been purely factual. “He may seem like the typical distant, ruthless type, but he’s.... different when you get to

know him.”

Isabella’s knowing smile deepened, while Eliza let out a dreamy sigh, her face a blend of excitement and

disbelief. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “Grayson Blackwood being... sweet. Who would've thought?”

I shrugged with a half-smile, hiding just how much the idea of my fabricated story tugged at my heart. “Well,

that side of him isn’t for everyone to see.”

“Lucky you then, huh?” Isabella teased with a smirk, elbowinglightly and I almost shot her a glare.

| didn’t know where all of that cfrom but now that | had started the line of thoughts, a hundred different

scenerios of how we first met were coming to me.

| caught Isabella’s eyes and quickly looked away. It's not real, Ava It’s not real.

We chatted a bit longer, with Isabella outlining the plan for tomorrow, throwing in light-hearted jokes about

hairstyles and “emergency backup” dresses. The day drifted by in comfortable laughter, with the three of us

falling into an easy camaraderie. They teased each other, shared stories, and for a moment, | let myself simply

enjoy their company, the warmth and normalcy of it all.

Without thinking of him.

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Eventually, Isabella yawned and clapped her hands. “Alright, ladies, beauty sleep is calling. We've got a big day

tomorrow, and trust me, no one wants to deal with a sleep-deprived bride.

I laughed, feeling a sense of relief wash overas the night wound down. “You're right. Let's call it.”

We exchanged goodnights, and as I lay down, my thoughts betrayed me, drifting back to Grayson. | closed my

eyes, trying to ignore the image of his intense gaze, the way he’d looked at me, the way he’d kissed me. Despite

his icy exterior and all the walls he put up, | couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more,

something hidden, waiting to be uncovered.

Maybe it was foolish, maybe even impossible, but part ofwanted to believe in that version of him-the man

who everything felt oddly right with existed.

And as much as | knew there was only heartbreak awaiting at the end of this, | painfully knew that | was already

falling for

him.