The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

hapter 135

Chapter 135

-Ava’s POV-

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| could hear the sound of my feet pounding on the floor as | made my way to Elaine’s apartment within

Grayson’s estate, Isabella trailing behind me. My mind raced with a singular, burning thought:

How dare she?

How dare they?

Once we reached the entrance, | instinctively raised my hand and knocked softly, more out of reflex than

intention-my mother had always toldto knock gently. Isabella, however, snapped from behind, “What do you

think you're doing?”

Before | could respond, she all but pulledbackward and pounded her fist on the door. “Elaine, we know

you're in there! You'd better open this door, or | swear I'll break it down. I'm giving you five seconds. One... two...

three—"

The door swung open to reveal an irritated-looking Elaine. Her hair was disheveled, and her expression was one

of pure annoyance. “What is the meaning of this?”

Without hesitation, Isabella yanked my phone from my hand, holding it up alongside the bug we'd extracted.

“No, what is the meaning of this?”

Elaine’s gaze flicked from the phone to Isabella and then to me. Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you're

talking about. And as you can clearly see“-she gestured to her silk robe-“I was getting ready for bed.”

“It’s three in the afternoon,” Isabella shot back, irritation dripping from her tone.

Elaine smirked, unfazed. “I need my beauty sleep at any tof the day. you're hardly acquainted with the

concept of ‘beautiful.”

g you wouldn't understand, Isabella, since

| took a calming breath and finally spoke, keeping my voice steady. “Elaine, why did you bug my phone? That's

an invasion of privacy on so many levels.”

Her eyes narrowed further. “Like | said, | have no idea what you're talking about.”

She made to close the door, but Isabella was faster, grabbing a handful of Elaine’s hair and yanking her out into

the hall. Before | could stop her, Elaine hit the floor with a thud but sprang up instantly, claws extended and fury

blazing in her eyes.

“I've had just about enough of you two!” Elaine hissed.

| stepped between them, my patience fraying at the edges. “I am so tired of this back and forth, Elaine. Grayson

and Rickon are missing, and instead of focusing on finding them, we're here fighting. I've had enough of your

threats, your attitude, and your incessant .”

“And who's going to makestop? You?” Elaine sneered, her voice dripping venom. “What are you going to do,

Ava? Sleep your way to control, just like you did with Grayson?”

The words hit hard, but | didn’t react. | just stared at her, and in her eyes, | saw it-bitterness, anger, and so much

hate. She wasn’t the sgirl she had been before the fire. Whatever heart she once had, she’d buried it long

ago, embracing the darkness instead.

I'd chere fueled by anger over the bug, determined to confront her. But now, standing here, | realized that

giving her this confrontation only served as fuel for her rage. | was done being her outlet.

“What?” Elaine sneered again. “Nothing to say now?”

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Chapter 135

| took a step back, catching the surprise in her eyes as | turned to Isabella. “Let's go.”

Isabella blinked. “What?”

I shook my head, already walking away. “I'm not doing this anymore. Let's go wait for news about Grayson and

Rickon.”

Elaine’s voice rang out behind us. “What? You're just going to walk away? Not mad that | bugged your phone

anymore?”

Isabella grabbed my arm, her voice low but urgent. “Lilian, did you hear her? She just admitted it!”

| didn’t break my stride. “Because she wants a fight. I'm not giving her one. Grayson and Rickon are what matter

right now- not Elaine’s games.”

“So you're just letting it go?” Isabella asked, incredulous.

| smiled faintly. “Who said | was?”

When we returned to Grayson’s mansion, the atmosphere was different. Something had shifted. | headed toward

the grand hall, intending to check on a few things, but the sight that greetedstoppedcold. The

decorations were being changed.

| glanced around, bewildered. “What the hell is going on?”

Brianna scurried past us, carrying a bundle of fabric. | called out to her, “Brianna, what's happening?”

_ She froze, hesitating before gesturing toward the corner of the hall. “It's them,” she whispered, her voice

barely audible.

“They're... really scary.”

| followed her gaze and felt my stomach drop. Sitting in the corner, like they owned the place, were my parents.

My mother was flipping through a magazine, and my father was engrossed in his phone. They looked as though

they were perched on a throne above everyone else, observing with an air of disdain.

I didn’t think | just stalked toward them, my heels clicking sharply against the floor. “Excuse me?”

They both looked up at the stime. My mother lowered her magazine, and my father adjusted his glasses.

“You've forgotten how to greet, Ava?” they said in unison.

| blinked, stunned for a moment. My father, the original Pierce, and my mother, who had married into the name,

had always been a united front. Growing up, I'd never seen genuine warmth between them, but they were

unbreakable when together.

That unshakable unity had always intimidated me.

Not anymore.

| crossed my arms. “What are you doing in my house? And why are you changing the decorations? Who keeps

letting you in, and who gave you permission to do anything here?”

My mother turned to my father, her lips curling in distaste. “I told you this is what she’s become.”

He shook his head, ignoringentirely. “I can see that. All those years... wasted.”

“Excuse me!” My voice rose, drawing attention. “I am standing right here, and I'm talking to both of you. If you

don’t answer, I'll have the warriors throw you out.”

My father’s sharp gaze turned to me, scanningcritically. “Why is your hair so messy? And what on earth are

you

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Chapter 135

wearing?”

“What?”

My mother leaned closer to him. “I told you, she looks and dresses like a hippie now.”

That was it. Enough.

“The two of you-out. Now.”

| didn’t care about the growing audience. | raised my hand, pointing to the exit. “Leave. Right now.”

My father adjusted his glasses and rose slowly. “You're causing a scene, Lilian.”

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| stiffened. | hated when he calledby my middle name. If it weren't for the way Isabella called it, | would

have completely despised the name.

“Then stop givinga reason to cause one. Goodbye.”

My mother sighed as she rose to her feet. “Why must you make everything a fight and paint us as the villains?

We've seen the errors of our ways and chere to support you in hosting your first ball.”

| narrowed my eyes, letting her words sink in before scoffing. “If you're going to lie, Mother, at least make it

believable. ‘Seen the errors of your ways?‘ You've never accepted fault in your entire life.” | stepped back, the

pieces falling into place like a puzzle. “Letguess, your high-society friends-the ones who act like they're

better than everyone-chose my ball, didn’t they?”

Her glare sharpened, and she opened her mouth to respond, but | wasn’t done. “You tried to host your own,

didn’t you? Sent out invitations, but because this is Grayson’s estate, and everyone knows being in my good

graces as his Luna trumps any association with you, they sided with me. That's why you're here-desperate to

seize control.”

“You don’t know what you're talking about,” my father snapped, his voice flaring with irritation.

| smiled coldly. “Oh, I think | do. It must burn you to know you can’t controlanymore. That I've risen to a rank

higher than either of you will ever reach. This is my ball, and I'll run it my way. If you still want an invitation-"

“Lilian.” Isabella’s voice cut through sharply, and | turned to see her holding her phone up, her expression tight

with urgency. “I just got a text from Liam. He couldn't reach you.”

My parents vanished from my focus as | strode toward her. “And

She nodded grimly. “They found them, but...they’re not coming home.”

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