The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 229

Chapter 229

-Grayson'’s POV-

M

+13

The betrayal hadn't fully sunk in when | first learned the truth about Liam. At the time, | had been too numb, too

detached from everything to feel it properly. But standing here now, looking at him-at the man | had once

considered a brother- the sting was sharp, cutting through that numbness like a blade to the ribs.

We had grown up together. Fought together. Trusted each other. And yet, all that time, he had harbored a

festering hatred beneath the surface.

Liam broke the silence first.

| didn’t expect you to actually survive,” He said, his tone light, but the malice in his eyes unmistakable, “But it

doesn’t matter. | can wait a little longer to get the company | deserve.”

1 let his words roll over me, keeping my expression neutral. The thoughtless version of myself-would have

reacted. Would have let rage dictate my next move. But now? | had learned control, a different kind of control.

“So what is this?” | asked, tilting my head, “Round two? Or are we on round fifty by now?”

Liam didn’t flinch. He returned my stare with the semptiness | gave

him.

“I'm here to cut you a deal,” He said, as if it was an act of mercy, “Because | know Elaine will continue to bask in

her stupidity and-"

| stepped forward sharply, voice low but lethal, “You keep my cousin's nout of your mouth, Liam.”

His lips curled into a s

His lips curled into a smirk, “Look at you. Finally embracing family. Good for you.” He let out a breath, shaking his

head, “I didn’t chere to have a long conversation. | cto tell you that you're all going to lose. Whatever

little master plan you think you can cup with-it won’t work. Damien has been planning this for twenty-five

years. You can’t beat him.”

I didn’t move. | just watched him, waiting for him to get to the point.

And then he did.

“Ava,” He said,“He wants Ava. According to him-and whatever twisted prophecy was started between her

ancestors and yours-the full essence in her makes her the most powerful wolf in existence. Even if she doesn’t

know how to use it.”

| felt something dark coil in my chest, but | remained silent, forcing him to continue.

“If the essence can be transferred from one vessel to another, then it can be transferred out.” He took a slow

step closer, watchingcarefully, “That's the deal I've cto offer. | can’t promise all of you will survive this,

but if you agree to hand her over, he'll only take the essence. He'll leave her and your child alive when he takes

over the realm.”

| exhaled slowly, shaking my head, “All that scheming. All that hatred. It really has made you dense.”

Liam's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to respond, but | cut him off, my voice like steel.

“You think | don’t know who | am? You think | haven't been painfully aware of what I've done?” | stepped forward,

closing the space between us, “My father wantedmade into something ruthless. Something cold and as

much as | hated him for him, that was exactly what | became. | lost sight of everything else. | treated the people

aroundlike they didn’t matter, and | didn’t care. | didn’t let myself care. You think | blyou for hating

me?” | let out a bitter chuckle, shaking my head, “No, Liam. | don't.”

A flicker of unease passed through his eyes.

“But the moment you went behind my back?” | continued, my voice dropping lower, “The moment you used

Elaine— manipulated her, dragged her into whatever sick little agenda you had?” | shook my head, taking

another step forward. “That

1/4

Mon, 24 Feb

Chapter 229

was the moment you sealed your fate.”

Liam's jaw tensed, but he held his ground.

00000 94%B

+13)

“If you wanted to attack me,” | said, my tone deceptively calm, “if you wanted to kill me, you would have done it

already. But | see what you are now, Liam. You're nothing but a glorified messenger.”

His eyes flashed with rage, and in a blink, his claws extended as he lunged for me.

But | was already moving.

With the kind of speed that sent a rush of adrenaline through the air, | sidestepped him easily, my gun already in

my hand before he even landed.

The shot rang out before he could react.

Liam staggered, his eyes widening as he clutched his side, falling to his knees. He looked up at me, disbelief

flashing across his face.

“Don’t worry,” | murmured, lowering the gun slightly but keeping my finger on the trigger, “You'll heal.”

He bared his teeth, growling low.

“But when I do kill you,” | added, my tone turning cold, “I will make sure your death is excruciatingly painful for

what you did to Elaine.”

And then, with precise aim, | lifted the gun again and fired.

The bullet ripped through his hand, forcing another pained snarl from him.

| could already hear footsteps approaching.

Calmly, | tucked the gun back into my waistband and turned on my heel.

| didn’t bother looking back as | strolled out. | adjusted the cuffs of my shirt, my fingers grazing the still-warm

metal of my gun tucked neatly back in place. Liam's groans of pain echoed faintly behind me, but I didn’t look

back.

A sleek black car was waiting at the curb, the driver already standing at attention as | approached. Without a

word, | slid into the backseat, the leather cool against my palms as | leaned back, exhaling through my nose. The

door shut with a soft click, sealingoff from the outside world.

For a moment, | just sat there. Let the tension roll through me, then slowly forced it away.

Then, with a sigh, | pulled out my phone.

The number was already in my contacts-had been for years, though | had never once used it. My thumb hovered

over the call button for a fraction of a second before | pressed it. The line rang twice before a sultry, amused

voice cthrough the other end.

“Well, well,” She purred, a breathy lilt to her tone, “I never thought I'd see the day when Grayson Blackwood

would call me.”

| sighed, already regretting this, “Don’t make a big deal out of it, Alessia.”

“Oh, but it is a big deal,” She teased, and | could hear the smirk in her voice. “After all these years, | was starting

to think you were avoiding me.”

| didn’t bother responding to that.

Instead, | got straight to the point, “I'm ready to give that exclusive interview.”

2/4

Mon, 24 Feb

Chapter 229

There was a beat of silence. Then, she let out a soft hum, amusement still laced in her voice.

“You're ready now?” She asked, her interest unmistakable. “Five years later?”

| clenched my jaw, impatience flickering. “Do you want it or not?”

A soft chuckle. “Touchy. You're lucky | find that whole brooding, mysterious act of yours charming.”

| exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face, “Alessia.”

94%

+13)

“Relax, darling,” She drawled, “Of course, | want it. The untouchable, elusive Grayson Blackwood. Every reporter

has tried to get a word from you, and yet, here you are, coming to me.”

| remained silent. | wasn’t untouchable as | was five years ago but | was getting back there. | would get back

there.

She took that as her cue to push further, “But | have to ask...” Her voice turned almost mockingly innocent, “Will

your wife be part of this interview?”

I ignored it, “Are we doing this or not?”

“Fine, fine.” Then, her tone shifted-subtle, but unmistakable. The playful flirtation faded just enough to let her

professional side slip through. “Where do you want this to take place?”

“Textyour location,” | said, adjusting my cufflinks. “I'll pick you up.”

A pause. Then, a slow, intrigued hum, “Now that is interesting. I'll send you the details. Don’t keepwaiting,

darling.”

The call ended with a soft click.

| stared at the phone for a second before tossing it onto the seat beside me. The driver glanced atthrough

the rearview mirror, awaiting instructions.

| exhaled,

“Drive,” | said. “We have a stop to make.”

As the car pulled away from the curb, my mind drifted, the weight of everything settling overlike a storm

cloud. The confrontation with Liam should have been the only thing on my mind, but it wasn’t.

Because the thought | hadn't finished-the one that had been cut off by Liam's pathetic attempt at a negotiation-

crushing back with brutal clarity.

And with it, the realization.

That was how to break the curse.

Ava had to markback.

The answer had been in front ofthis whole tjust that I didn’t know she was. By the twe reached

Ricardo’s compound, | was already moving before the car fully stopped. The second | stepped out, | barely

acknowledged Alessia after saying a few words to her so she would wait.

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, smiling, just watching as | strode past to get to Ava.

A second had passed since | said the words. Then another.

And then, finally, she looked atand said-

“No.”

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1