The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

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Chapter 67

-Ava’s POV-

| glared at the sleek, black car parked out front, grinding my tech as | felt my irritation flare up. Just seeing it

there, polished to perfection, was enough to setoff again. This entire situation was ridiculous. | was already

so pissed at fsabella and Grayson had just managed to take my already foul mood and twist it into something

darker.

“Wow, the car must have really pissed you off,” Mikayla’'s voice cfrom beside me, her tone light with a

mischievous smile that maderoll my eyes.

| sighed, shaking my head. “It’s not the car, Mikayla. It's the person who sent it.”

“The billionaire?”

“How many times have | told you to stop calling him that | crossed my arms, my voice laced with frustration.

“Yes, he’s the one I'm mad at. And now I'm even more pissed because he’s throwing his money in my face, like

that’s supposed to make everything better.”

Mikayla sighed dreamily, clearly unfazed by my frustration. “I wish someone would apologize towith a car.

I'd marry him right on the spot.

If only she knew the half of it. My mind raced back to the way he’d orchestrated this little spectacle, leaving

strict orders with my supervisor to marchout here and deliver the smug message: Your husband says he

doesn’t like you taking cabs, so here's your new car. The way my supervisor had looked atlike he was

terrified, like Grayson had threatened him within an inch of his life-made my blood boil even more.

“Are you keeping the car?” Mikayla’s voice joltedback to the present, and | turned to glare at her.

“Of course

e not.”

“So can | have it?” She grinned, clearly enjoying this

“No”

She laughed, unfazed by my glare. “It was worth a shot. So, you're sure you don’t want anything to do with the

car or, you know, anything that might be on or in it?”

I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples. “Yes, Mikayla. I'm going to call and have them take it back. I'm not

interested in whatever stunt he’s trying to pull.”

“Okay, then you won't mind if | take this note | found stuck between the doors.” She held up a folded piece of

paper with a glint of triumph in her eyes

1 blinked, my annoyance flaring again. “What note?”

“Nuh-uh, Dr. Pierce. You said you didn’t want anything to do with it.” She unfolded the paper with exaggerated

slowness, grinning. “Let’s see what it says, shall we?”

She cleared her throat and started reading in a mockingly serious tone, “Kings do not apologize-

| lunged forward oatching the note from her hand before she could finish. She laughed, clearly enjoying the

show. “Wow.

All billionaires really are narcissists, huh? Lucky you, Dr. Pierce, at least he has good handwriting.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, fighting the urge to laugh despite my frustration. “I would ground you if | could.”

“But you can’t.” She waved atdismissively, strolling off with smug

ug grin. “See you on the other side, Dr. Pierce!”

Chapter 67

As she disappeared down the hallway, | turned the note over in my hands, feeling its weight grow heavier. For a

moment, at felt like it was launing a hole in my palin, a symbol of everything | didn’t want to face, Without

thinking. | tucked it into my pocket and headed back into the building, marching straight to my office.

Of course, when | opened the door, Isabella was waiting for metting comfortably in one of the chairs like she

owned the place. Just what | needed.

“Hi” she chirped, flashinga wide smile.

The nerve of her to smile atafter what she did. “Hello, Isabella”

“Con, Lilian. You know | hate it when you callby my full name

| walked over to my desk, putting as much distance between us as | could. “Do you have an appointment or

something?”

She rolled her eyes, her expression shifting into a glare. “Really? You're going to be this petty about it?”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “I have no idea what you're talking about, Isabella.”

She groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “I've said I'm sorry like a hundred times! | even sent a

million texts last night and this morning apologizing! What more do you want from me? Fine, look-peace

offering” She pulled a container out of her bag with a triumphant grin. “I brought you ice cream

| glanced at the container and raised an eyebrow. “It’s empty.”

“No it's not

“Yes, it is,” | replied, rolling my eyes, “I know you hate hospitals. They make you anxious, and ice cream calms

you down, so you probably finished it on the way here.”

Her face fell as she let out a small, defeated huff. “Okay, fine. It is empty. But that doesn’t change the fact that

I'm really sorry, Lilian. | didn’t tell you because | was embarrassed and didn’t want to add more stress to your

life. Then the whole

I'm sorry. thing with Rickon... | was mortified. | ended up as one of his flings, and | don’t know what | was

thinking. And then to find out he’s my mate! The man’s slept with half the city. Lilian. | don’t. | don’t want him.

But | should have told you.

| studied her face, taking in her expression, the vulnerability she rarely showed. Despite my lingering annoyance,

| felt myself softening. “Fine,” | said, sighing. “You know | can’t stay mad at you when you use that sad voice.”

She beamed. “Really? You forgive me?”

“Yes, Bels.”

She raised her hands in mock victory. “I'm Bels again!”

“You're such a child,” | muttered, but | couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face. Then, turning more

serious, | added, “So you're really not going to see anything through with Rickon | don’t know him well, but he

doesn’t seem like a bad person. Maybe the Moon Goddess didn’t make a mistake. Fate wouldn't pair you with

someone terrible,

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Maybe I'd believe that if you hadn’t ended up with someone as awful as Dylan.”

| let out a defeated sigh. “Fair point. But still, maybe you should think it over. Get to know him a little, past his..

reputation. He might surprise you and I'm still wondering why you didn’t feel the connection when you first met

him”

She blushed, looking anywhere but at me. “I don’t know. | think we're both too closed-off. Maybe it took...

intimacy for the bond to actually awaken. She paused, biting her lip. “It was great sex. But he’s still a player”

“Of course he is.” | shook my head, amused. “So.. any luck on getting a new job?”

Her eyes lit up, her expression immediately brightening. “Oh, Lilian, | had the best tthis morning. | was

called back so |

09:29 Mon, Dec 16

Chapter 67

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went in this morning, and you won't believe what happened. These two jackasses got fired, and Rodrick Powell

himself cdown to apologize toin person. Then he tripled my salary! You should have seen everyone's

facest

| felt my jaw drop. “That has Grayson written all over it”

She shrugged, barely containing her grin. “Maybe it does. But who cares?”

I sighed, rubbing my forehead, wondering what on earth I'd gotten myself into. Then a thought struck me, and |

narrowed my eyes at her. “Wait. Why did you agree to help him and setup? | shouldn't have forgiven you so

easily.”

She had the audacity to flasha shameless grin. “I did it for love, Lilian. You can’t faultfor that!”

“You're unbelievable.”

“I know,” she sang. “So... did you two work things out?”

| let out a frustrated groan. “No. And we won't because he couldn’t even open say I'm sorry instead he said “this

music is

that.” interesting and he toldyou told him to say

Isabella shook her head in disbelief. “That man needs a serious reality check. Zero emotions, zero game. But

you've got to give him credit; he got off his high horse and swallowed his pride for you. That's got to count for

something, right?”

| rolled my eyes, knowing she wasn’t wrong but not wanting to admit it. | opened my mouth to respond when,

out of nowhere, my office door flew open. | whipped around to see Mikayla standing there, her face streaked with

tears, her eyes wild and frantic

My heart stopped. “What happened?” | moved around my desk, my stomach sinking.

She tried to speak, her voice a trembling whisper as she choked out, “My mum... her heart stopped. She's not

breathing”

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