The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

hapter 255

Chapter 255

-Ava’s POV-

“Three days isn’t enough to get married.”

That's what | wanted to say. That's what any sane person would say. But this was Isabella. And arguing with

Isabella was like arguing with the wind-useless and exhausting.

So instead, | just smiled, “I'm not going to get a moment to breathe until then, am 1?”

Her grin was pure sunshine, her eyes sparkling with so much joy it was almost blinding, “I'll take the fact that

you're carrying my niece and nephew into consideration.”

| blinked, “How do you-"

But before | could finish, a familiar exasperated sound cfrom behind me. Grayson.

| had almost forgotten he was there. Almost.

| turned, finding him still glaring at Isabella as if she were a particularly annoying insect that refused to go away.

But when his gaze met mine, the ice melted. His expression softened, and something unspoken passed between

us, “I need to take care of sthings.”

I nodded, and he leaned in, pressing a kiss to my lips before turning to leave.

But Isabella, being Isabella, wasn’t done, “Hey! Are you not going to tellcongratulations?”

Grayson stopped mid-step and exhaled through his nose, castingan almost tired look. | bit back a laugh.

He turned his head slightly toward her and said dryly, “You two deserve each other.”

Isabella frowned,” I don't like the

you said it.”

Grayson ignored her and kept walking.

But then- “Grayson.”

Her voice was softer this time. Not teasing. Not demanding, “I'm glad you are somehow by sinsane miracle

actually alive.”

The guard that | had felt kick up when he walked away softened a bit and his gaze fell to the ring on her finger.

Something flickered across his face-maybe the briefest moment of nostalgia, or maybe just the weight of

everything we had been through.

Then, finally, e said, “Congratulations.”

And then he was gone.

Isabella let out an exasperated breath and turned to me, “You see? There was no tone to that one.”

I laughed, taking her hand in mine and pulling it closer. The ring was huge-ridiculously so.

“It’s huge.”

She grinned, “I know.”

| studied her for a moment, trying to wrap my head around it all, “So you're really getting married? In three

days?”

1/4

Sat, 8 Mar

Chapter 255

She let out a breathless laugh,“Can you believe it, Lilian? Someone actually wants to marry me.”

Her eyes softened, turning wistful, “And he is my perfect match.”

43%

Something in my chest twisted at that. Because if anyone understood what it meant to find the person who was

made for you, it was me.

But then, just as quickly as the joy came, a shadow passed over her face, “You know | love you and | need you,”

She said quietly. “But I'll start the planning by myself. I'm guessing you need a little while to process all of this.

And then there’s your father...”

My father.

Who would never wake up.

Shit.

A wave of guilt crashed over me, sharp and suffocating. | felt like the worst daughter in the world. Even with all

the secrets, even with all the betrayal, my mother was still hurting. And | knew that pain exactly.

I needed to see her.

I nodded, voice tight, “I should... I should.”

Isabella gavea knowing look but didn’t push, “I understand. | already called Eliza, by the way. She’s not

exactly thrilled that we had to miss her wedding, but she gets it with everything that was happening. Plus, |

promised to share my bachelorette as a do over, but I'm totally not going to. That is just between us.”

A tiny smile tugged at my lips. “I love you, Bels.”

She smirked. “I know you do. Now go.”

| placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before | moved and headed out of the mansion. | felt the air buzzing as |

passed and

Omegas and everyone alike were still staring, bowing their heads as | passed but still staring.

The weight of everything that had just happened clung to the atmosphere like a thick fog, and I could feel the

whispers around me, the unspoken questions pressing against my skin.

But | just smiled.

And then, as if my mind had called out to him, Ivan appeared.

He stepped forward, his expression unreadable, and bowed his head slightly before meeting my gaze again and

smiling,

“Luna.”

Something insidesteadied as | returned the smile, “I need to go to my parents’ house.”

He nodded, not questioning it, not hesitating. Just there-solid and unwavering. | climbed into the car, resting a

protective hand on my stomach as the reality of everything crashed overin waves.

Grayson was alive. The curse was broken. Isabella was getting married.

My father was never going to wake up.

By the tthe car rolled to a stop in front of my childhood home, my chest felt like it had been hollowed out.

The house loomed before me, unchanged yet feeling entirely unfamiliar. | had spent years wanting to escape this

place. And now, | was willingly stepping back into it.

2/4

Chapter 255

* 43%

0

| let out a slow breath, nodded at Ivan in thanks, and stepped outside.

The heaviness only grew as | crossed the threshold.

Omegas moved about the house, their gazes flickering tobefore bowing their heads respectfully. | barely

acknowledged them, my steps carryingtoward one place and one place only.

My father’s room. That's where he was going to be for the rest of his life.

And maybe eventually, we would have to bury him and my heart shattered all over again.

| kept moving until a familiar voice stoppedin my tracks.

“I thought it was you when | felt that wave of energy,” Raina said and | knew it was her because she had a

unique voice that carried that | would recognize anywhere.

“I guess whatever happened at his tombstone happened for a reason,” She added.

I swallowed as | turned to face her, “Grayson is alive. And yes-the curse is broken.”

She studiedfor a long moment, then smiled sadly, “Your father isn’t there. He's with the healers.”

| blinked, “Oh. And my mother.” | hesitated. “Where is she?”

Raina exhaled, “She’s out by the lake.” Then, quieter, “She’s lost.”

| knew what she meant. | knew that kind of lost. | swallowed hard, already feeling the ache in my chest.

Raina shifted slightly before saying, “When you see her.... tell her | said goodbye.”

| stilled, “You're leaving?”

She nodded, her expression unreadable, “My there has run its course. But don’t worry-we’'ll have our

moment again. Sometsoon. For now, you have bigger things to deal with.”

Something in her voice made my throat tighten. She turned to go, but | stopped her and then, without thinking, |

closed the distance between us and pulled her into a hug.

I'm glad you're family,” | whispered, “I'm glad | got to meet you.”

She wrapped her arms around me, warm and steady. too, Ava. Now go. Help your mother find her way

back.”

| stepped back, nodding. | would go and find my mother, but first, | needed to see my father.

Turning, | changed direction, moving toward the healers’ quarters. The air inside was thick with the scent of

herbs and something else-something old, like the remnants of a battle that had long since ended but left its

scars behind.

When | stepped in, only Camilla, the head healer, was there. She smiled as she rose to her feet, her sharp eyes

softening as she tookin. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between us and pulledinto a hug.

| returned it, gripping her a little tighter than I intended, before finally stepping back. My gaze drifted past her to

the bed against the far wall.

And there he was.

Luther Pierce. The all-powerful, all-feared Alpha who had once commanded with an iron will, who had shaped me

despite it all, who had loomed over my childhood like an immovable force.

Now, he was just a man lying unconscious on a bed, stripped of his power, his presence dimmed into something

fragile. His

3/4

43%

Chapter 255

once-imposing figure had withered slightly, his sharp features softened by tand stillness. The strength he

had carried in every step, every word, was gone.

Camilla exhaled quietly, “I'll give you a moment.”

| nodded, my throat tight, and pulled up a chair beside his bed. For a long time, | just stared at him.

At the man | had spent most of my life fearing. Then hating. Then fighting. My hands moved of their own accord,

settling over his, and my bones shook from the contact.

“You fit the expression the mighty has fallen,” | murmured, “And years ago, | would have been so happy about it.

But I'm not happy now.”

| sucked in a deep breath, my chest tightening as the words poured out, “I am so mad at you. So mad. For the

lies, the secrets. The control. And I’m even more mad that you lying here doesn’t permitto carry so much

anger.

“You're not supposed to be here, you're supposed to be awake, trying to make up for all you've done to me. After

everything we've been through, this isn’t how it's meant to be.”

My grip on his hand tightened, my vision blurring.

“But you're never going to wake up,” | whispered, my voice cracking. “And there is no difference between you

being dead.”

4/4

4

d word rd d d d word rd d word rd d d d d word rd d word rd d d d d word rd d word rd d d

mM: LIilofiflo&1

mM: LIilofiflo&1

mM: LIilofiflo&1

mM: LIilofiflo&1

nL Li TO 1 F061

mM: LIilofiflo&1