The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 140

-Grayson’s POV

Two Days Earlier

“So the plan is no plan?” Rickon asked, adjusting his ridiculous black shades as we waited at the gates to enter

Ricardo’s territory

| didn’t even glance at him. “The plan is for you to keep your usual antics to yourself and not say anything to piss

anyone off.”

Even without looking, | could feel him rolling his eyes. I'd spent far too much taround him to know, and that

alone was enough to remind| needed to get this over with and head back home. Back to reality.

Back to the possibility of a future without her.

That bitter voice in my head tried to surface, but | shoved it down, hard. There was no room for distractions now-

not when | had a potential crisis on my hands.

“Quick question.”

| turned my head sharply, narrowing my eyes at him. Rickon raised his hands in mock surrender, a lopsided grin

forming on his face. “I swear it’s a valid one,” he said, “but don’t you think it’s a little... I don’t know... suicidal to

walk in here without backup? These people think you killed their Alpha. They're probably banding together with

Goddess knows who to cafter you. And now here you are, waltzing right into their stronghold. Alone. No

army. Nothing.”

He wasn’t wrong, and that was what irritatedmost.

| let out a heavy sigh, leaning back against the car for a moment. When Ava had advisedto get ahead of the

brewing tension and send word out to all the packs, | hadn't thought to include Ricardo’s. His pack was

technically under my reign, but his family had broken away from the faction long ago, relocating to Italy. | hadn't

considered them a threat. That oversight might have been my biggest mistake.

risks. Not that | thought whatever they were planning could actually takedown, but still. My instincts told me

to end this before it began. With the curse still tied to what was wrong with my wolf, | couldn't afford to take

unnecessary

“Earth to you, Your Highness,” Rickon drawled, snappingout of my thoughts.

My gaze locked on him, and | took a slow, deliberate step forward. “I don't like the way you use that title. | might

have invited you on this trip because | need your strength if things go sideways, but don’t push it. I'm still the

Alpha King.”

Rickon folded his arms, pouting like a scolded child. “Whatever, he muttered.

Typical.

The sound of the gates creaking open stole my attention. Without another word, | started the car’s engine,

driving through as soon as the gates were wide enough.

As we parked, two men in sharp black suits approached, their expressions unreadable. | stepped out of the car

first, my wolf instantly on edge, alert for any sign of danger.

“Your Highness,” one of the men said, bowing slightly. “We've been instructed to take you to the person in

charge. He's been awaiting your arrival ever since he received word that you wished to meet with him.”

This wasn’t the hostile reception I'd been expecting, and that alone puton guard. | didn’t respond, just gave

a short nod, my senses heightened. Behind me, Rickon let out a low grumble as he climbed out of the car, but he

followed without

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Chapter 140

complaint,

The men led us through a familiar hallway-one | hadn't been down since the last t| was here. Memories

surged back, unbidden: Ricardo’s smug face, the women gathered in the main hall, the schemes he'd

orchestrated to kidnap Ava.

Rickon’s voice broke through my thoughts, a mental tug on my psyche. | opened the connection reluctantly.

“This place is creepy as hell. And | can’t see a damn thing in these shades.

| resisted the urge to sigh. “Then take them off, | shot back...

His chuckle echoed in my mind, grating on my nerves. | closed the link and made a mental note to deal with

Rickon later. He was possibly the most annoying human I'd ever met, and the moment this mess was over, | was

going to put sserious distance between us.

One of the men opened a large double door and gestured for us to step inside. | entered first, Rickon close

behind me. The doors shut behind us with a quiet thud.

The room was eerily empty, save for one man seated at the head of a long noticed the striking resemblance to

Ricardo.

table. He rose as we entered, and | immediately

“Grayson Blackwood,” he greeted, his voice smooth. “I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you until now.” He

extended a hand, his smile calculated. “I must say, it’s an honor. Ricardo spoke highly of you.”

| stared at him, unmoving. So this was Jerome, Ricardo’s brother. I'd heard of him, of course, but our paths had

never crossed.

Behind me, Rickon couldn't help himself. “Aren't you supposed to be mad at him?” he asked, his tone casual but

pointed. “You know, for supposedly killing your brother and then aren’t you supposed to be, | don’t know...

waging war?”

| shot Rickon a sharp look, silently reminding him of my earlier warning. But Jerdidn’t react the way |

expected. “I've had the chef prepare dinner,” he said smoothly, ignoring Rickon entirely. “Let's sit, eat, and then

talk.”

| studied him for a long moment, every instinct inscreaming that something was off. “I didn’t chere for

a meal,” | said coldly. “I cto stop whatever it is you're planning. Word is spreading that I'm responsible for

Ricardo’s death which | am not, and | have no interest in unnecessary bloodshed.”

Jerblinked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his face. “Planning?” he repeated. “I'm afraid | don’t know

what you're talking about.”

My patience was wearing thin. My voice dropped, cold as ice. “Whatever git is your brother taught you to

play, I'm not in the mood for it.”

Jerraised his hands in mock surrender, his brow creased in a mixture of frustration and confusion. “I truly

don’t know what you're talking about. No one here is planning anything against you. And for the record, I'm well

aware that you didn’t kill my brother.”

The room fell silent, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge.

| narrowed my eyes, stepping forward. “And you're so sure | didn’t because?” My tone was ice, my wolf pacing

restlessly beneath my skin. A warning growl rumbled in my chest, sharp and primal. Something felt off, like an

itch just out of reach, and | was done playing this polite charade.

Jeropened his mouth to reply, but before a single word could escape, a voice rang out, loud and taunting,

cutting through the tension like a blade.

“Because the said brother is right here.”

Chapter 140

My wolf snarled, a guttural sound of rage and disbelief, as | spur around.

And there he was.

Ricardo.

Alive.

Grinning.

That ssmug wolfish grin | remembered all too well, stretched wide across his face like he was savoring a

private joke only he understood.

“It's nice to see you, Gray Gray,” The grin stretched, his voice dripping with satisfaction. He spread his arms out

in a grand gesture, like this was ssort of reunion party instead of a nightmare brought to life. “Tell me, did

you miss me?”

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