The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 171

Chapter 171

-Grayson'’s POV-.

‘Lie

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The voice in my head was quiet but insistent, and so | did. Not because it was noble or just, but because the

truth would do more harm than good. | couldn't tell Ava about the sister she never knew she had, the one taken

at birth. | couldn't tell her that that sister was my fated mate-the key to breaking the curse because | knew her

too well.

Ava would never let it go. She’d dig, question, and fight until the truth unraveled everything we had. I lied to

protect her, to protect what we’d built. And yet, despite her belief in my words, she had gone completely silent

the moment we got into the

car.

“Are you okay?” | asked, breaking the thick silence.

She jumped slightly at the sound of my voice, turning her head from the window she had been staring out of.

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she replied, “Yeah, sorry. | was just thinking about what you told me. So, my

ancestors really turned away your ancestor, the one who started the curse?”

If my wolf were present, | knew he’d growl in disapproval at the lie | had told her-and.the further twisting of it

now. But | couldn't help it. | really didn’t like her family so any chance to paint them as bad, | would take it, and

their absurd way of “helping” had led to even greater tragedy.

“I guess there were a lot of Luthers and Evelyn Pierces back then | said, attempting a lighthearted joke.

She sighed instead, her expression darkening. “So my family was awful even back then. Sometimes | wish...” Her

voice trailed off, and she hesitated. “Sometimes | wish I'd been born into a completely different life.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Sixteen years ago, | had made that swish countless times-to be free of the

burdens of the throne, and the unrelenting expectations. So | didn’t respond with words. Instead, | reached over,

threading my fingers through hers and holding her hand as | kept my eyes on the road.

It was Saturday, which meant we only had today and tomorrow before she had to return to work, and | had to

immerse myself in meetings that would undoubtedly drivemad. The thought of losing this quiet twith

her, however heavy it felt now, pushedto steer the conversation in a different direction.

“What do you want to do today?” | asked.

She let out a long breath, her exhaustion evident. “Honestly? | was looking forward to staying in bed all day, but

Isabella had to ruin that. And now I'm starving because I never got to eat lunch yesterday. Oh, and I'm pretty

sure you helped my body burn off dinner in record time.” She laughed softly at the last part.

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Okay,” | said, “then we'll get food. What do you feel like eating?”

She rubbed her stomach tically. “Anything and everything” she declared. “I could eat for two people right

now.”

| stilled, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. The words shouldn't have meant anything-they were just a

figure of speech-but something about the way she said them madefreeze.

Noticing my reaction, Ava laughed nervously. “It's just a saying,” she assuredquickly. “I'm not pregnant. I've

been taking pills to make sure it stays that way.”

Her words settled uneasily in my chest, guilt creeping in. We hadn't revisited the conversation about children

since | had

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Chapter 171

told her I didn’t want them. So much had happened since then, and even now, as | thought about it again, |

couldn’t bring myself to change my stance. Not even after Liam's pointed comments about needing an heir.

Ava shifted in her seat, breaking the silence as she glanced out the window. “What's going on there?” she asked,

pointing ahead.

| followed her gaze to see a crowd of people streaming into what looked like a carnival. Bright lights and colorful

tents dotted the area, music and laughter filtering faintly through the closed windows.

Her energy shifted almost instantly, her posture straightening, and her body practically buzzing with excitement.

“No,” | said firmly, anticipating her next words. “We're not going in there. We're getting food and heading

home.”

She sighed tically, her lips forming into a pout that she knew was my weakness. “My parents never let me

go to carnivals as a child plus there will be food in there,” she murmured, her tone dripping with faux sadness.

| sighed, dragging a hand down my face. “That was low, Ava,” | said, but my grip on the wheel relaxed, and |

turned the car toward the entrance. The grin she shotwas worth every bit of exasperation | felt.

The moment we stepped out of the car, the sounds, smells, and energy of the carnival enveloped us. The scent

of fried food mingled with the sweet aroma of cotton candy, and children’s laughter rang out as they darted

between games and rides.

Ava’s eyes lit up as she took it all in, her excitement palpable. She grabbed my hand, tuggingtoward the

nearest food stand.

“thought you were hungry,” | teased as she stopped to stare at a row of oversized stuffed animals hanging as

prizes.

“I am,” she said, her gaze fixated on a giant white wolf plush. “But look at that!”

| followed her gaze, a small chuckle escaping me. “Do you want it?”

She nodded eagerly, and before she could protest, | was stepping up to the booth. The gwas a simple ring

toss, but the odds were clearly stacked against the players. Still, | wasn’t about to let that stop me.

The vendor handedthe rings with a knowing smirk, clearly expectingto fail. But after a few well-aimed

throws, the smirk vanished, replaced by a look of surprise as | landed the final ring perfectly.

“Pick your prize,” he said reluctantly.

Ava clapped excitedly as | grabbed the white wolf plush and handed it to her. She hugged it to her chest,

beaming up at me. “Thank you!”

The next moment, she grabbed my hand and draggedtowards the food stand, | found myself just following

her because if | didn’t want too, she wouldn't be able to moveotherwise.

When we reached the stand, she pointed at the steaming array of food on display. “I want that one,” she said

with a grin, tapping the glass over a pile of fried dumplings that looked as though they'd been sitting out for

hours.

| stared at the food, my face contorting in unconcealed disgust. I'm not eating anything from here,” | muttered,

taking a step back.

Ava frowned and turned to face me, her hands on her hips. “What do you mean you're not eating? You can’t say

no to street food-it’s part of the experience!”

I sighed, my tone calm but firm. “Ava, | don’t eat street food. It’s unhygienic. Who knows how long that stuff has

been sitting

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Chapter 171

there?”

Before Ava could respond, the vendor, a middle-aged man with a grizzled beard and a stained apron, opened his

mouth. clearly intending to defend his wares. | shot him a sharp glare, cutting him off mid-thought. His lips

pressed into a thin line. and he wisely turned his attention to the next customer.

Ava raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed. “Suit yourself, Mr. Fancy. More for me.” She turned back to

the vendor. placing her order with an exaggerated flourish as if to make a point.

| watched as she pulled out a few bills and received her bag of food with an almost childlike excitement but |

reached into my pocket and paid the vendor before she could protest then the next second, something else

caught her attention and she practically shoved the wolf plush back in my arms before bouncing away.

| stared down at the stuffed wolf, its beady black eyes staring back at me. Never in my life had | imagined I'd find

myself standing here, holding a plush toy in the middle of a crowded street. Yet, despite myself, | felt a smile

tugging at the corner of my lips. Ava’s joy was infectious, and as much as | might resist, she always had a way of

breaking down my walls.

But then, my instincts flared.

Turning back to the vendor, | fixed him with another icy glare. That food had better not be poisoned, | warned,

my voice low and sharp. “Or else.”

The man paled, shaking his head quickly. “It’s not, sir. | swear.”

Satisfied, | walked away, the plush still in my hand, keeping my eyes locked on Ava'’s retreating form. She

bounced ahead, oblivious to the intensity of my gaze, as she nibbled on one of her dumplings. She was my

happy place-a rare, pure source of light in the chaos of my world. Seeing her smile always made the darkness in