The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 64

Grayson’s POV

| closed my eyes, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. | opened them to see the untouched food in front of me, a

dish that would be decent in anyone else’s eyes but felt like an insult in mine. | looked at the chef, her face

contorted with worry.

“What is this?” My voice was sharp, colder than ice,

The chef's hands shook as she stared slown at the floor, “It’s dinner, Alpha. It's all | could prepare on such short

notice.”

narrowed my eyes, irritation bubbling beneath my skin. “I asked what this is, not for your life story. Take it away

and get someone to make an actual meal. You're fired.”

Her face paled. “There’s no one else here, Alpha. I'm the only kitchen staff left. You fired everyone else.”

1 exhaled, each word dripping with contempt. “Then get out of my sight.”

She flinched as though Dd slapped her, turned, and scurried away. | looked down at the food again, my appetite

already ruined. Just then, Elaine's voice sliced through the silence.

There’s nothing wrong with the food, Gray,” she said, her tone carefully controlled, but | could hear the

annoyance simmering underneath.

My gaze snapped to her. “And did | ask you for your opinion?”

Her eyes flashed with defiance, the kind | knew all too well. “Okay, that’s it.”

“Elainel” Liam's voice held a warning note from across the table “Don’t

She threw her napkin down onto the table and leveledwith a look that could have stopped a lesser man in

his tracks. “No, Liam. I'm saying this. For the past two months, everyone's had to deal with your temper

tantrums, but this week, it’s like you've completely lost it. On Monday, you fired the entire gardening team.

Tuesday, it was the maids. Wednesday, the kitchen staff, and today you fired a guard because the gate took ten

seconds to open. Ten seconds, Grayson! The gate has always taken ten seconds to open!”

you're acting like this. So, why don’t you just get Her voice rose, filling the room with raw frustration. “Everyone

knows wh off your high horse and go get her? I'll even try to be nice to her if it means you'll stop acting like...

like a madman. Jesus, Grayson, get a grip on yourself. | preferred you when you were cold and terrifying.”

With that, she stormed out, the door slamming behind her, leaving a ringing silence. | sat there,

uncharacteristically

Liam let out a long, tired sigh. “Elaine just stood up to you. You've really done it this time.” Then he pushed the

food away. | glanced up at him, masking the shock | felt. “And where are you going?”

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“Anywhere but here,” he muttered, rising from his seat. “You're insufferable lately, and I’ve lost my appetite.” He

paused, glancing back atwith a rare look of disappointment. “Oh, and by the way, she’s right. You are out of

control. In case you're interested-which | doubt-you’ll find her at 263 Mulberry Street Not that you don’t already

know, given the guy you had tailing her for the past month.”

| clenched my jaw, the words cutting deeper than | cared to adma. He turned to leave, his hand on the door, and

threw one Last barb over his shoulder.

“I'm rehuring all the staff, too. None of your reasons for firing anyone make sense.”

And then, like Elaine, he was gone, though he didn’t slam the door. The silence that followed was deafening, a

heavy

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Chapter 64

reminder of what I'd becin the past two months. Id pushed everyone away my frustration ratingfrom

the d out, adding to that, the fact that neither Carter nor I could figure out who was behind the poison and when

the dece papers arrived my anger exploded.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes for a momentas if that could shut out the chan writing woode

Normally, there would be consequences for anyone speaking tolike that, but | knew deep down the

Hours later, against every ounce of pride | had. | found myself ather doontep | held my breath as the door ng

open bar it was Isabella who opened it. Her eyes narrowed into slits as shetookin, her expression morphing

from surprise to pure

irritation.

“No.

She slammed the door in my face. Hard. My jaw clenched as | raised my hand and knocked again, my patience

wearing thinner than ice.

She opened the door, looking even angrier. “What | thought | made myself clear.

“If you ever slam-

“Hey, hey, hey,” she interrupted, folding her arms as she leaned against the doorframe. “You don’t get to come

to my home. uninvited, and throw threats around and I'm not letting you see Lilian,” She turned around like

someone had spoken. “What was that? | shouldn't let him in right?”

She looked atagain. “You heard her. Go away, your aura is ruining my zone of peace

Hooked over her shoulder, and snapped, “No one said anything, you are talking to yourself”

Her lips quirked up in a sarcastic smirk. “Oh, look, your brain is capable of working. Surprising considering it

hasn't for the past two months.”

A dangerous growl rumbled low in my throat, and my eyes darkened. But to my surprise, she didn’t flinch. In

fact, her eyes narrowed, matching my intensity

“I may not stand a chance against you, but I'll fight you, Grayson Just try me. Her voice was calm, deadly calm.

And what was all it took for her to earn my wolf's full respect and so he backed away. Seeing that | wasn’t going

to do anything, she took a step backwards and slammed the door even harder this time. | stood for a moment

weighing my option. According to the schedule | had created from all the trailing | was doing, she was supposed

to be hby now but if she wasn’t, it meant she was still at the hospital. | could go there but if her friend was

this angry. | couldn’t imagine what I'd face with Ava and she had a temper

After a moment of indecision, | did something | wasn’t accustomed to: | swallowed my pride and knocked again.

The door

flew open.

“What is it that you-

“I don’t know how to fix this. | don’t know what to do.” The words escapedbefore | could filter them

Her expression softened, just slightly, before she sighed and opened the door wider “Cin Lilian isn’t here,

though.”

“I know.” | stepped inside, immediately feeling out of place. The house was small but exuded a warmth that felt

foreign to me, as though I'd stumbled into another world

I scanned the room, unsure where to sil

“Are you looking down on my house?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing.

1 glared back. “No. Just looking for somewhere to sit.”

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Chapter 64

8

“There's a couch right there, she muttered, rolling her eyes,

Swallowing my irritation, | sat down, forcing myself to keep my one even. “You don’t like me, and frankly, | don’t

care. But we're wasting time, so let's get this over with. What do I say to her to make her cback?

Isabella perched on a small chair, grabbing a notepad and pen. She scribbled something, then looked up at me,

lips. twitching as if suppressing a laugh.

“What are you doing?”

She tilted her head, givingan exaggeratedly sympathetic look. “Taking notes, obviously, I'm trying to figure

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out if it's sdeep-rooted childhood trauma, or if you're just naturally this emotionally stunted. Therapy could

do wonders for you. you know.”

“You're really pushing my patience, Isabella.”

“Fine, fine.” She put the notepad down, sighing. “If | were you-which, thank Goddess, I'm not-I'd start with

something big. Grand gestures, right? But, knowing Lilian, she'll see that as you throwing money around to get

what you want. It'll backfire.”

She pushed the notepad toward me. “Write down what you'd say to her if she were standing here.”

| picked up the pen, scrawled a few words, and passed it back. Her eyes skimmed the note, and she shook her

head, genuinely shocked. She looked from the note toand shook her head, “Jesus Christ, just how closed off

are you?”

“There is nothing wrong with my words.” | defended.

You wrote, “I believe my actions might have caused you inconveniences so

wrong with you? You know what? Scratch that. I'm taking Lilian to a bar later this evening and I'll make her drink

a little so

start the sentence with | am sorry for what I did.”

she doesn’t outright punch you when she sees you. You talk to her hall retract them’ Retract them how? What is

| recoiled. “I don’t apologize to anyone.” The words were instinctual, almost a reflex, yet | couldn’t hold back.

Isabella's eyebrows rose, her gaze steady. “Well, then you better start learning by nine o'clock tonight, because

you'll need it, if you want even a chance of her listening.”

She eyedcritically. “Let’s practice. Say it: Tm sorry, | screwed up.”

1 stared back at her, mouth tight, “I'm not saying that

She sighed, “And you are making it more difficult. There is a zero percent chance she will even speak to you even

with an apology and you aren’t capable of giving one.” She dropped the note near me, “if you won't say it, at

least write it. I'll give you sometto practice.”

With that she stood up and left and | stared at the notepad like it was the enemy before | picked it up and started

writing the words that | hoped would be enough to get the woman that had madespiral out of control when

she left to cback.

Because | realized right now in the moment that for the first tin fifteen years, | was actually scared of

something.

| was scared of losing Ava Pierce because | had fallen for her.

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09:28 Mon, Dec 16