The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 142

Chapter 142

-Grayson'’s POV-

+13)

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth behind us.

Ricardo’s gaze bore intowith the weight of his Alpha aura, daringto waver, but | didn’t. | kept my

expression as impassive as stone, refusing to show any hint of weakness or uncertainty.

This wasn’t just about my pride-it was about my pack, the real, my throne. Accepting an alliance with Ricardo

was like inviting chaos into an already precarious situation. He was unpredictable, manipulative, and twisted in

ways | couldn’t even begin to untangle.

But he was also right.

A war was coming.

And if it was anything like the one my wolf sensed, it wouldn't just threaten my throne-it would burn everything

to the ground.

“I'll send the papers to make it official.”

The moment the words left my mouth, | braced for regret, expecting it to hit like a tidal wave. But it didn't.

Instead, | felt an odd clarity, even if it was laced with frustration. Aligning with Ricardo was the last thing I ever

wanted, because | didn’t like him-probably never would-but there were too many things in my life that I'd sworn

I'd never do, things that | never thought would happen to me.

Like Ava.

Yet here | was.

Her nwas like a forbidden melody that played in my mind every tthe reality of my situation crept in. I'd

been working overtto block thoughts of her, yet she found ways to invade my mind at the worst possible

moments.

A sharp laugh snappedout of my thoughts. Rickon threw his head back, the sound full of mockery and

amusement. “And just like that, you lost it?”

Ricardo chuckled softly beside him, his expression smug. “The most unbelievable things happen to me. Truly, the

stuff of legends.”

up alive in the first Ricardo to show This was exactly what I'd been dealing with for the last fifteen minutes since

| made the declaration. | should've known ‘better than to put these two in the sroom. Well, in my defense, |

didn’t expect place.

Ricardo leaned back in his chair, completely at ease now. “Jerome, on the other hand, wasn’t so pleased, so | had

to give him Anastasia for a week.”

The sAnastasia that Jerhad gone along this foolish plot for?

|

They shared the swoman?

“Who is Anastasia?”

The words slipped out before | could stop them, and the moment they did, | regretted it. | could physically feel

both Ricardo and Rickon grinning, one from either side of me, as if | walked into sinside joke.

Ricardo was the first to respond, his smirk widening. “Anastasia my tiger. Jeris rather fond of her, so we

share her.” Then, he added with a knowing glint in his eye, “And yes, we do share women too, on occasion. I'd

ask if you were

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Chapter 142

interested, but you look like you'd tear apart anyone who so much as looked at Ava. Poor Luca, may the goddess

rest his soul

My hands curled into fists under the table, but | kept my expression neutral. Giving Ricardo the satisfaction of a

reaction was the last thing I intended. He, however, wasn't finished.

“How is she, by the way?” he asked, his tone casual, but the mockery was clear.

Before | could tell him to mind his damn business, Rickon chimed in, clearly enjoying himself. “Who's Luca?”

Ricardo’s grin turned sharp. “Ah, Luca. | hired him to kidnap Ay a while back to get Grayson'’s attention. Let's just

say... it didn’t end well for Luca. Message received loud and clear: Ava is off-limits.”

Ava. Ava. Ava. Her nwas like a drumbeat in my head, growing louder with every passing second until it

drowned out everything else. | clenched my jaw, my temper snapping as | shot to my feet.

“Stop talking about her,” | snapped, my voice cutting through the air like a whip. “Just shut up. | don’t even know

why I'm still here.”

Rickon, undeterred by my outburst, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Actually, this is the perfect tto

bring this up. And yes, | know I'll probably get one of your infamous glares or a dozen threats, but don’t you

think it's tyou called her? Or at least took her call? Isabella said she’s worried sick. At the very least, wish

her a happy birthday.”

| froze. “It’s Ava’s birthday today?”

Rickon shook his head, looking, both exasperated and amused. “No, it’s tomorrow. And she’s throwing a ball at

your estate to celebrate it. That's what I've been told.”

A ball. At my estate. To celebrate her birthday.

This was news to me, and | didn’t like being blindsided. The irritation simmering beneath my skin grew tenfold.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

Rickon met my glare without flinching. Don’t push this one on me. I'm not the one who lied to my Luna, then

actively ignored her, went missing, and refused to speak to her.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut. Hearing him lay it all out so plainly madeconfront the truth I'd been

avoiding. At first, distancing myself from Ava had been about protecting her. But after my encounter with Alaric,

the fear of what | might have to do-of the possibility that | might have to let her go-leftparalyzed.

When it cto Ava, | was always out of my depth.

I needed to fix this.

| got to my feet, intent on leaving immediately, with or without Rickon. But just as | turned, Ricardo, who had

been unusually quiet, spoke up.

“You're not seriously planning to fly back without a

fan for a grand gesture, are you?”

| stopped in my tracks, turning back to face him but didn’t say anything.

Ricardo smirked, leaning forward with an almost predatory glint in his eyes. “Do you really know nothing about

women? It sounds like you've seriously fucked up, and you keep digging yourself deeper. You can’t just show up.”

Rickon jumped in. “He's right. You've already royally screwed up and a simple apology won't cut it. You need to

make it big.

Memora

“Like what?” | asked, already regretting the question.

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Chapter 142

Ricardo grinned, rubbing his hands together. “You could start by groveling. Publicly. Women love that.”

Rickon laughed. “Or you could serenade her. Picture it: Grayson the big bad Alpha King, standing under a balcony

with a guitar, singing slove song.”

I glared at both of them, but they were too busy laughing to care

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“Oh, wait,” Ricardo added, snapping his fingers as if he'd just had a brilliant idea. “How about a parade? A

procession through the pack lands, declaring your undying devotion to her.”

Rickon practically doubled over, clutching his stomach. “Don’t forget the flowers. Thousands of them. No,

millions. Cover the entire estate in roses.”

“You two are idiots,” | snapped, rising to my full height.

Ricardo leaned back, his grin unwavering. “We're just trying to help.”

I didn’t respond. This time, no amount of teasing or jokes would stop me. Without another word, | strode toward

the door, my wolf urgingonward.

Behind| could hear Rickon and Ricardo still laughing, but their voices faded as I left the room.

| pulled out my phone, dialing the one person who could actually helpand knew Ava well enough to

understand her better than | did. My chest felt tight as | waited for her to pick up, though I didn’t have to wait

long. Isabella answered on the first ring, her voice sharp but tinged with a hint of amusement.

“The king lives,” she muttered dryly, the sarcasm practically dripping from her words.

I ignored the jab, taking a moment to steady myself before speaking. “How is she?”

The softness in my tone surprised me, though it must have done the sto her. There was a beat of silence on

her end, as if she was weighing whatever snarky comment she had planned before deciding against it. Finally,

she spoke, her voice more serious this time.

“Why are you doing this to her, Grayson?”

Her question hit like a slap, though | couldn't say | didn’t deserve it.

“It's complicated,” | admitted, my voice low.

Isabella sighed, her frustration evident even through the phone. There was another pause before she responded,

her words cutting straight to the point. “Well, whatever it is, if you don’t work through it, you're going to end up

pushing her away, Maybe that’s what you want, though?”

Was it?

The thought churned uneasily in my mind. It would be easier, wouldn't it? If she left, | wouldn't have to face what

we were- what we might never be. She'd leave, and | could focus on finding my true mate, breaking this curse

that loomed overlike a shadow. It was logical. Practical

But when | opened my mouth, the words that escaped betrayed my carefully constructed rationale.

“No, | don’t want that.”

The truth of those words hitas hard as they seemed to surprise Isabella. Because | didn’t want that. The idea

of losing Ava felt like losing the very air | breathed, like plunging into a void I couldn't claw my way out of

There was a moment of silence before Isabella spoke again, her voice softer now, almost understanding. “Then

maybe it's

3/4

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Chapter 142

tto stop running from whatever it is you're feeling.”

I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of her words pressing down on me.

“Will | see you tomorrow?” she asked after a pause, her voice laced with hope. “It would be the perfect day to

make things right.”

| hesitated, unsure of what I could even say.

She sighed heavily, clearly not impressed with my lack of response. “Okay, then.”

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Before she could hang up, | stopped her. “Wait.” The word cout more desperate than | intended, and |

grimaced. “What gesture should | make this time?”

| half-expected her to laugh, to suggest something ridiculous like standing in the rain again or sover-the-

top public declaration. But her voice remained calm, steady.

“I don’t think you need a grand gesture this time.”

| frowned, confused.. “Why not?”

Another pause, and when she spoke again, her words caughtcompletely off guard. “Because even a blind

person can see it. Lilian is in love with you.”

Chapter 143

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