The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 84

-Ava’s POV

Be Careful What You Wish For.

They say to be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. In my case, it wasn’t so much a wish as a

desperate question-one | now wished I'd never asked.

The words Grayson had spoken. “I killed them, still echoed in my mind like a haunting melody that refused to

fade. Whatever fragile connection we had built in those fleeting moments shattered in an instant, leaving behind

an aching silence. Without another word, he had left.

“Why did you have to ask that, Ava?” | muttered to myself for the hundredth time. My frustration surged as |

thought of my impulsiveness.

For five days now, | hadn't seen Grayson. He'd sent a curt text each day, informinghe was busy handling

pack business- namely, the grisly string of murders that had shaken the werewolf community. Thankfully, there

hadn't been any new incidents, and to my surprise, he seemed to be taking my advice to get ahead of things.

Yet, | couldn’t shake the feeling that | had pushed him away

Did | even have the right to be mad at him? After all, | was the one who had caused this. But that didn't make me

hate the situation any less.

And what did it say aboutthat | hadn't packed my things and led after learning the truth about him? A man

who had admitted to killing his parents. A man | had watched kill Luca in way so brutal | couldn't stop replaying

the scene in my nightmares.

Shouldn't | be running as far and as fast as | could? Instead, here was, clinging to sthreadbare hope that

Grayson would return and offerthe answers 1 craved. Answers that might helpunderstand why he did it.

A sigh escaped my lips as | flung the book I'd been pretending to read across the room. The thud of its spine

hitting the floor was unsatisfying, much like my efforts to distract myself. Reading wasn’t helping. And with Tessa

doing well in her recovery, | didn’t need to be at the hospital unless there was an emergency

| needed something-anything-to occupy my mind. Without thinking, | grabbed a sweater and decided to explore

the

mansion.

The halls of Grayson’s sprawling estate were grand but eerily quiet. Omegas moved silently, bowing their heads

in deference as | passed. | offered them polite smiles, but the gesture felt hollow.

It struckthen: | hadn’t made any effort to get to know these people. Whether or not my marriage to Grayson

was genuine, | was their Luna now. Yet I'd been so caught up in his stormy orbit that I'd overlooked the lives

swirling around us.

A memory surfaced of the kind man who had drivento Isabella’s house. He'd been so gentle and welcoming.

I owed it to him-and all of them-to do better.

Determined, | stopped one of the omegas, a petite girl who looked no older than sixteen, “Excuse me, can | talk

to you for a moment?”

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Her wide eyes shot up to meet mine before she quickly bowed her head. “I-I'm sorry, Luna. | didn’t mean to

stare. Please have mercy.”

“What?” | blinked in confusion.

“I shouldn't have looked at you,” she stammered. “It’s not my place. | deserve to be punished.”

The words hitlike a slap, and my chest tightened. “No, no, “I said quickly, softening my tone. “You're not in

trouble.

08:52 Tue, Dec 17 GO.

Chapter 84

Please, look at| just wanted to ask you something.”

Hesitantly, she raised her head, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

“There's no

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need to be afraid,” | assured her. “I just wanted to know if there's a place where omegas usually gather. I'd like

to meet everyone. | realize I've been here for a while, and | haven't had the chance to introduce myself properly.

I'm sorry it's taken so long.”

Her expression shifted to one of surprise, then confusion. “You you want to meet us?”

“Yes,” | said warmly. “And why would you think you're in trouble just for looking at me? Did Grayson set that

rule?”

“No, Luna,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It's Miss laine. She doesn't like it when we look at her.

Omegas get punished if we do.”

Elaine. The nmade my stomach churn. | had almost forgotten about her, which was probably a blessing. But

hearing this nonsense made my blood boil.

“I'm so sorry that happened,” | said earnestly. “That's going to stop, | promise. So, is there a place where

everyone gathers!”

The girl seemed to relax a little. “Well... most of us are in the kitchen right now, preparing food for the pack

gathering later tonight. It's nothing formal, just a small feast. The Alpha king doesn’t know about it, though. He

wouldn't approve.”

| grinned. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I'm not a tattletale.”

For the first time, she smiled back. “Thank you, Luna. | have to get back to my duties now, but it was nice

meeting you.

“Wait,” | said as she turned to leave. “What's your name?”

“Brianna,” she said with a shy smile.

“Brianna,” | repeated. “It was nice meeting you too.

She hesitated, then added, “If you'd like, you can cto the kitchen. Maybe later, you could join us for the

gathering. Only if you want to.”

| smiled warmly at Brianna, her invitation softening the edges of my restless thoughts. “I'd love to,” I said,

genuinely.

Her face lit up with excitement. “Great! Follow me,

Luna.

1 trailed behind her, my mind occupied with the strange tension I'd felt earlier. What had | walked into with this

pack? Grayson had so many layers, and every day it felt like | was peeling back another, only to find more

questions lurking

underneath.

Brianna ledthrough the hallways, her steps light and quick. She glanced over her shoulder occasionally, as if

to check that | was still there. We reached a large double door, slightly ajar, and the hum of voices filtered out

into the corridor Brianna hesitated briefly, then pushed it open, motioning forto follow her inside.

The kitchen was massive, bustling with activity. Long counters were laden with bowls of vegetables, trays of

prepared dishes, and steaming pots. Omegas moved in a coordinated rhythm, charting softly, laughter

punctuating their conversations. The moment | stepped in, though, the room fell silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward me, and an almost tangible shift in the air occurred. It was as though | had

brought a storm into a peaceful meadow,

An older man hurried toward me, his expression alarmed, his graying hair disheveled. He reachedand

immediately bowed his head low, wringing his hands nervously. “Luna,” he stammered, his voice shaking slightly.

“| apologize if Brianna has done anything wrong. Please, she’s just a child-"

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Chapter 81

“Grandpal” Brianna’s voice roke through his frantic apology, her tone exasperated. She tugged gently at his

sleeve. “Calm down! The Lama is really nice. She’s not here to punish anyone. She just wants to meet us.”

The man, who Brianna had called “Grandpa,” looked at her, the back at me, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“She... wants to meet us?”

| nodded, offering what | hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yes. I've been here for stnow, and | realize |

haven't had the chance to get to know everyone. I'd like to change that.”

His eyes widened slightly, and he straightened up, though the tension in his shoulders remained. “That is..

unexpected, Luna. But... welcome

“Thank you,” | said softly, glancing around the room. Everyone was still staring at me, their movements frozen

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mid-action. | cleared my throat, the weight of their gazes making my nerves buzz. “I hope I'm not interrupting

anything. | just thought I'd stop by and say hello”

The silence stretched, awkward and heavy, as if no one quite knew how to respond.

Brianna, bless her, giggled softly, breaking the tension. “Oh, con, everyone! The Luna’s nice! Stop acting

like she’s going to bite your heads off!”

There was a ripple of laughter, hesitant but genuine, and slowly the stiffness in the air began to case. People

returned to their tasks, though their glances towardlingered with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

| took a step closer to one of the counters, where a woman was carefully slicing vegetables. She froze when |

approached, her knife hovering mid-air. “Hi,” | said gently. “That looks like a lot of work. Do you do this every

day?”

She blinked at me, her hands trembling slightly. “Y-yes, Luna. It it’s part of my duty.”

“Well, it smells amazing,” | said, inhaling the rich aroma wafting arough the kitchen “You're doing a fantastic

job.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and then a small, shy smile appeared. “Thank you, Luna.”

Encouraged by the subtle shift in her demeanor, | moved to another part of the kitchen, where a younger boy

was stirring a large pot. He looked up atnervously, his hands gripping the ladle tightly.

“What's in there?” | asked, nodding toward the pot.

“Uh... stew, Luna,” he mumbled, his cheeks turning pink.

“It smells delicious,” | said, leaning slightly to take a closer look. bet everyone's going to love it.”

His face lit up with pride, and he straightened his posture. “I hope so.”

Gradually, the Omegas started to relax. The conversations resumed, this twithincluded. A few of them

even askedquestions-how | was adjusting to life here, if | liked the food if | needed anything.

The older man, Brianna’s “Grandpa,” stepped forward again. “Luna, it means a lot that you've chere.

We've.. never had someone in your position treat us like this. Thank you. We thought the Alpha King will marry

someone like him, someone

who is

“Who is what?”

Just like that the air stilled and everyone stopped moving. | let out a groan swallowing hard before I slowly turned

to the door where Grayson stood staring right at Brianna’s Grandpa looking like he was deciding what method of

murder would be most divine before speaking again, “I asked you a question and your answer had better good or

it will be the last words you will ever speak.”

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Chapter 85