The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 156

Chapter 156

-Grayson'’s POV-

My car sped down the street, the hum of the engine barely registering over the storm of thoughts raging in my

mind. | gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as tried-and failed-to steady my nerves.

Liam had been by my side for as long as | could remember, always there through the chaos, the betrayals, the

triumphs. He wasn’t just an ally; he was family, or at least that’s what | had always believed.

And yet, somewhere along the way, | felt the withdrawal, the slow but undeniable distance growing between us. |

might have lost touch with how to express my feelings-l wasn’t exactly known for wearing my emotions on my

sleeve-but that didn’t change the fact that Liam was supposed to have my back. He should have been the one

keeping the vultures away, not leading them.

Then there was Elaine.

had let it slide when | first discovered the two of them were sneaking around behind my back. At the time, I'd

reasoned it away-told myself it didn’t matter because, deep down, I still considered-Liam part of the family. He

had been the only one who truly understood Elaine, the only one who could handle her fire and her fury.

But now? Now, they had crossed a line.

I had played a huge role in making Elaine who she was today, for better or worse. | had protected her, even

when | was responsible for why | had to take her in the first place. So yes, | deserved her anger-her resentment,

even-but this? Mating with Liam without my permission? Even if she had said | was dead to her.

That wasn't just a betrayal. It was a slap in the face.

| didn’t care if Elaine hatedor if she wanted nothing to do with me. She was still my cousin, and | was still in

charge of her. That was the way things worked, whether she liked it or not.

The car cto a screeching halt in front of the penthouse building, my penthouse building. | killed the engine

and stepped out, slamming the door behind me. The doorman greetedwith his usual polite smile, but |

barely acknowledged him, my focus locked on one thing: Liam.

The elevator ride to the top floor felt like an eternity. | leaned against the polished steel wall, my jaw tight as |

replayed the events of the last few hours in my head. Liam and Elsine’s betrayal wasn’t just personal-it was a

challenge to everything | had built.

When the elevator doors slid open, | stepped into the hallway, the tension in my chest coiled tighter with every

step | took. The penthouse was pristine, the kind of place that screamed money and power. Floor-to-ceiling

windows framed the city skyline, and sleek modern furniture filled the space. It suited Liam so | had given it to

him.

I didn’t bother knocking. The door wasn’t locked, and | wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

“Liam!” | called out, my voice echoing through the open space.

He appeared a moment later, looking calm, collected, and completely unbothered-as if he hadn't just flipped my

entire world upside down. His casual demeanor only fueled my anger.

“Grayson, | heard you were back,” He said, his tone neutral, almost wary.

“So that’s why you haven't gone to see me?” | took a step closer, my gaze hard and unrelenting. “Do you know

what you've done?”

095 sat Jan 18

the tilted his head slightly, a flicker of something unreadable croaking his face. “I'm guessing you're not here for

a friendly chat”

“Don’t play dumb with me.” | snapped. “You and Elaine. Mating Without telling me. Without my permission and

letnot even start with my company

Liam's jaw tightened, but he

didn’t back down. “Elaine isn’t a child, Grayson. She doesn’t need your permission to make her own choices and

| don’t know what you have heard but everything | have done since you just upped and left was to keep the

company afloat.”

| ignored the bit about the company first, “She might not be a child,” | said, my voice low and dangerous, “but

she’s still my family. My responsibility. And you?” | pointed a finger at him, my anger boiling over. “You were

supposed to have my back, Liam. You were supposed to be on my side.”

“I've always been on your side,” he said evenly.

“Then why does this feel like a betrayal?”

He didn’t answer right away, and the silence stretched between us, thick with tension. When he finally spoke, his

voice was quieter, almost resigned. “Because you can’t control everything, Grayson. Not me, not Elaine, and not

this.”

His words hit like a slap, but | didn’t flinch. | couldn't.

“This isn’t about control,” | said, though even as the words left my mouth, | wasn’t sure if they were true. “This is

about loyalty. About respect. | don’t care if Elaine is mad at me. What happened sixteen years ago was a

mistake. | was a foolish teenager that didn’t think there would be so many consequences. | just wanted my

father gone. You more than anyone knows how awful he was.”

Liam let out a long, weary sigh, his shoulders sagging as he moved toward the corner bar. His movements were

deliberate, slow, as if he was givingtto calm down or perhaps giving himself a moment to figure out

what to say. He reached for a bottle, the soft clink of glass breaking the tense silence in the room. Pulling out one

glass, then a second, he paused before turning back to me, his expression unreadable but undeniably serious.

“I don’t want to fight with you, Grayson,” he sighed quietly, pouring amber liquid into both glasses. His voice

carried an edge of exhaustion, but there was something else there too-something closer to regret. “I'm sorry it's

all happening like this. | really am.”

My jaw clenched so tight it hurt and | stared at him coldly, “Then you had better explaining how all of this

happened from the start and it had better be a good explanation because if it’s not, | won't care how long we've

known each other, there will be dire consequences for what you have done.”

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