The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

just the two of us.

| mentally groaned.

Why did | have to say those words to him?

And what was taking Isabella so long!

As if reading my thoughts, she finally turned, drying her hands. let out a sigh, “Finally. Can we go back now? |

know you hate going to the bathroom alone, but it’s kind of my wedding, and people are going to start

wondering where | am”

She

gave a slow, teasing smirk. “I know. | saw the kiss.”

Rolling my eyes, | replied, “Seriously, Bels. I'm really not in the mood. Let's just get back.”

Recognizing my tone, she dropped the smirk and nodded. We stepped out together, moving back toward the

party when a familiar voice called out behind us

“Aval”

| turned to see Rickon striding toward us, his usual easygoing, charming smile in place. He looked completely

unfazed by the event's pomp, standing out with that relaxed air he always had

“I'd be hiding too if | married a man who wouldn't even smile on his wedding day,” he teased lightly.

| chuckled. “Hi, Rickon. I'm so glad you could make it. And | wasn’t hiding, | was just keeping my friend company.

His gaze slid to Isabella, who was glaring at him, unimpressed. Rickon’s smile widened, a flicker of mischief

sparking in his eyes. “Well, beautiful women do tend to keep equally beautiful company. I'm Rickon. And you

are?”

“Not interested,” she deadpanned, folding her arms across her chest.

| watched as a gleam of challenge flickered in his eyes, but he remained cool. “Maybe | didn’t introduce myself

properly. Rickon Kingston, Alpha of one of the most prestigious packs in the country”

“First of all,” she replied, her tone ice-cold, “you couldn't have known | was a werewolf, so that whole “Alpha’

introduction was a foolish move to impress me. And secondly, your title means nothing to me. Now, if you'll

excuse us.”

Rickon’s smile didn’t falter, if anything, it grew wider. “Very well then, Ava, it’s always a pleasure, he said, and

then turned to Isabella, “T’ll count the days until our next encounter, amor.”

She snorted and grabbed my arm, pullingaway. | shook free as we walked, giving her a stern glare. “That

was extremely rude, Bels. He was just being nice.”

“No, Ava, he was being a slut. | know men like him - he’s used to getting his way with charm, good looks, and his

status. I'm not interested.”

| muttered under my breath, “You know that’s exactly what Grayson said.”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief then she smirked, “Wait, hold on, you didn’t tell me

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Chapter 36

“Don’t even think abour finishing that sentence.

She laughed. “Fine. But whenever you're ready, I'm here. We can talk about what really happened up there.”

87%

We headed back toward the wedding hall, the masic growing louder as we got closer. But as soon as we stepped

inside, | froze in my tracks, my eyes widening at the chaos unfolding in front of me. Blood was smeared across

tables and floors, guests were coughing and stumbling, and screams filled the air. People were shoving each

other, trying to escape.

“What in the actual hell?” Isabella’s voice trembled, sounding underved for the first time.

Before | could respond, Liam appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, a look of urgency on his face. “You have to

get out of here.”

| could feel panic rising in my chest. “What's going on? Where's Grayson? Where's Uncle Damien?”

‘re both fine,” he said quickly, before turning to Isabella. “Take her through the back exit. The front’s jammed,

and you need to get back to the estate. Now,”

Neither of us moved, both rooted to the spot in shock. His eyes dashed, and his voice dropped into a command.

“Now,”

Isabella grabbed my arm, and we turned, hurrying back toward the rear exit. As we made our way, | spotted

Rickon, collapsed on the ground, his hands clutching his throat, shattered glass strewn around him. He was

coughing violently, his face flushed and contorted in pain

| started toward him, but Isabella yankedback. “What do you think you're doing? Liam said to get out.”

I'm not leaving him here like this!” | snapped, pulling free and kneeling beside Rickon. | gripped his shoulders,

trying to keep him steady, but nothing I did seemed to ease his breathing

Isabella joined me, crouching down, and picked up his glass, snitting it. Her face twisted in disgust. “Wolfsbane.

That's what is happening. Someone poisoned the drinks.”

Realization hitlike a punch to the gut. “They're trying to force a shift. Their wolves feel under attack.. in front

of hundreds of humans. We need to get him out of here, fast.”

Rickon’s voice cin broken gasps. “Antidote.. in my car... | have to get to my car.”

Isabella cursed, grabbing one of his arms as | took the other, supporting him between us as we half-dragged,

half-carried him out. He was heavier than he looked, and | could feel his claws extending, his muscles twitching

as he struggled to keep control.

“Where's the car, Rickon? Which one?” Isabella demanded as we stumbled out of the building.

“Grey name's on the plates...” he mumbled, barely able to form the words.

My gaze swept across the parking lot, spotting the grey car with his nprinted neatly on the license plate. We

heaved him toward it, his claws scraping at his own skin as he fought against the shift.

“We need to hurry, Bels.”

“I'm trying! Mr Casanova is not exactly light,” she shot back, adjusting her grip.

Rickon gave a weakchuckle, even as his skin began to darken an contort. “I knew.. you liked me.”

“Good Lord,” we muttered in unison, finally reaching his car. We laid him down, his breathing shallow and erratic,

the shift threatening to take over.

“Where's the antidote?” | asked urgently. “We can’t let you shift here, everyone will see.”

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Chapter 56

“Compartment, please, hurry.. | can’t hold him much longer.”

His eyes had turned completely black, his skin rippling as for began to sprout. | sprinted around to the car,

yanking open the glove compartment, my heart hammering as | searched. My bingers closed around a vial and a

needle.

“Lilian, hurry!” Isabella shouted. “He's shifting!”

| rushed back, filling the syringe as his bones started to crack and reform, his body caught mid-shift. Isabella's

eyes turned dark as she tapped into her own wolf strength, pressing him down.

Without a second thought, | raised the needle and drove it straight into his heart, injecting the antidote.

Rickon froze, his breath hitching as the claws and fur slowly retracted, and his eyes returned to their normal

color. His breathing steadied, and he managed a grin, turning to Isabella. “Never thought I'd see the day I'd be

saved by the beautiful princess

Isabella pushed him off roughly, her face twisted in disgust. “Get off me, you pig”

| glanced between them, tension still buzzing through my body, “You guys...what just happened to Rickon is

happening to hundreds of wolves in there. There are still humans in that room, and if they haven't started

shifting already-

| stopped mid-sentence, my breath catching in my throat as | tumed and froze. Standing a few feet away was

Eliza, staring at the three of us with wide, horrified eyes. She was frozen in shock, her body rigid, as if the world

around her had just shattered.

Isabella followed my gaze and let out a frustrated sigh. “Fucking great.”

| stepped forward cautiously, raising my hands in a calming gesture. “Eliza, please just calm down. | can

explain-"

But she had already begun backing away, her eyes darting wildly between the three of us. Her breaths cin

panicked gasps, her voice barely a whisper but laced with terror. “Stay away from me. Her gaze shifted back to

me, raw fear flashing across her face. “You...you’re all monsters.”

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