The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

| stared at her, unable to speak. She didn’t flinch, didn’t waver-just held my gaze with unwavering certainty.

“And besides,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, “you did kill a man in front of me. Kind of hard to top

that don’t you think?

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Chapter 93

A laugh escapedbefore | could stop it.

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“I'm serious, though,” she added, her tone softening again. “This is who you are, Grayson. I've cto terms

with that. | just hope someday you'll find a way to make peace with your past.”

Her hand slipped away, and she rubbed her stomach absently before leaning back in her seat. “Actually, now

that | think about it, | don’t want to go home. I'm starving. But please don’t flyto another country for food-I

have work tomorrow.”

Relief flooded through me, like I'd been holding my breath for hours and a smile touched my lips.

“I know just the place,” | said, turning the car onto another street

When we arrived at one of my restaurants, Ava immediately narrowed her eyes at me. “Letguess,” she said

under her breath as | parked the car, “you own this one too.”

I smirked. “Of course.”

Her lips quirked into an amused smile as | stepped out and rounded the car to open her door. “Does it ever get

boring being you?” she teased, slipping her hand into mine as | helped her out

“Not particularly,” | replied smoothly, guiding her toward the entrance.

As soon as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Heads turned, whispers followed, and the manager was

practically sprinting toward us. “Mr. Blackwood,” he greeted, bowing his head slightly. “It's an honor to have you

here. Your private table is ready.”

Ava’s eyes darted around, taking in the subtle glances and murmurs from the staff and patrons. She leaned

closer toand muttered, “It must feel really good to be you.”

| grinned. “It has its perks.”

We were escorted to an intimate corne

of the restaurant, a table secluded from the rest of the dining area but still offering a perfect view of the city

through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The staff was efficient, bringing us menus before | even had to ask

“Are they always like this?” Ava asked once the waiter disappeared to fetch our drinks.

“Like what?”

“Fawning over you like you're royalty,” she said, resting her chin on her hand, “Oh sorry, | forgot, you are royalty.

But not to humans and they still do it.”

“It's just good business,” | said casually, though | couldn’t deny that | enjoyed the respect.

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Well, Your Majesty, | hope this royal feast lives up to the hype because | am

starving.

The corners of my mouth twitched as | leaned back in my seat. It will. You have my word.”

Ava opened the menu and began scanning the options, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered her

choices. | watched her for a moment, letting the lightheartedness of the moment wash over us.

But just as the waiter returned with our drinks, | caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye.

Someone had just walked in a woman, her posture stiff but then my stare made our eyes clash and she smiled

immediately

| felt my wolf growl in immediate irritation.

Monica

Ava hadn't noticed her yet, too engrossed in her menu, but | in it was only a matter of seconds before she did |

had

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Chapter 93

forgotten that | had brought her here once a very long tago.

Why hadn’t | have her blacklisted?

Q

Ava noticed the shift in my mood immediately, her sharp eyes darting up to follow my gaze. The moment she

spotted Monica striding toward us, she let out a low sigh. “What is she doing here?”

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It was as if her words had summoned Monica because, without hesitation, the woman veered directly toward us,

her confidence radiating with every step. My wolf surged, a low growl rumbling in my chest. Ava, sensing the

danger, reached across the table and placed her hand over mine, her touch groundingjust as Monica

reached our table.

“Monica,” Ava said curtly, her voice dripping with irritation.

Monica's eyes flicked to where Ava’s hand rested on mine, her lips curling in disdain before she locked eyes with

me. “Grayson,” she said smoothly, her tone far too casual for my liking. “It’s so nice to see you here.”

My wolf snarled internally, and | felt my patience stretch thin. | had warned her-explicitly-that if | saw her again,

I wouldn't hesitate to end her.

But before | could speak, Ava stepped in. Her voice was cold, but her words were calm and collected. “It’s nice to

see you too, Monica, but we're not really looking for company. So, if you don’t mind, could you leave?”

Monica's expression hardened, her narrowed gaze shifting to Ava. “And at what point,” she sneered, “did | ask

you a question? Or give you permission to talk to me?”

That was it.

I slid my hand out from under Ava’s and stood, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. Monica's confidence

faltered, her eyes widening slightly as | towered over her. My wolf surged forward, and | felt the edges of my

control begin to fray.

“I warned you, Monica,” | said, my voice low and laced with venom. “I told you that if | saw you again, it would

be the last time.”

My vision darkened, not caring that we were in publicthe primal need to eliminate the threat clouding my senses.

Monica instinctively stepped back, her bravado crumbling as she saw the raw, unfiltered fury in my eyes.

“Grayson!” Ava’s voice was sharp, cutting through the haze. She stood quickly, stepping between us and placing

both hands on my chest. “We're in public.”

Her words snappedback to reality, but my wolf still growled in protest. | could feel the weight of Ava’s gaze

on me, her steady presence keepingtethered.

Monica took another cautious step back, her mask of confidence completely but her voice wavered.

“Try me,” | growled, my eyes still locked on hers.

red. “You wouldn't dare-" she started,

“Grayson,” Ava repeated firmly, her hands pressing harder against my chest. Her voice softened slightly. “Not

here. Not now.”

| exhaled slowly, forcing the darkness to retreat as | tore my gaze away from Monica. Ava’s touch and steady

words were the only thing keepingfrom crossing the line.

Monica, realizing how close she had cto danger, turned on her heel and walked away quickly, throwing one

last glare over her shoulder.

Aya sighed and dropped her hands, glancing atwith a mix of exasperation and concern. “You're going to give