The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Ava’s POV-

Number thirteen.

Number twenty-seven.

Number nine.

80%

That was the sequence in which Grayson had crossed off three more things on the list by the tthe morning

sunlight started creeping through the curtains. My brain was still struggling to wrap itself around the fact that,

somehow, | had gone from a man | absolutely despised who refused to even touchto being with someone

who made every inch of my skin calive.

Because that was what Grayson Blackwood did to me.

And even better? The surprising realization that Grayson Blackwood, the intense, brooding, no-nonsense man,

was secretly... a cuddler.

A soft smile tugged at my lips as | snuggled closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body envelop me. It was like

his subconscious recognized the shift inbecause, even in sleep, he pulledcloser, his arms tightening

possessively around my waist. My body protested slightly at the movement, a dull ache remindingof the

intensity of the night before. | winced faintly. | was absolutely certain I'd be sore for days-weeks, even-but it was

completely worth it.

For someone who hadn’t done sex before me, he was incredible. Better than incredible, really. Every touch, every

move, had felt like it was crafted just for me, like he somehow instinctively knew what | needed before | even

realized it myself.

All | wanted to do was stay here forever, wrapped up in this moment, in him.

But of course, my wolf had other ideas.

She growled faintly, a low rumble in the back of my mind, pushing her usual nonsense again. | could feel her

trying to plant ideas that didn’t make sense-couldn’t make sense. Grayson wasn’t my mate. All the facts pointed

clearly to that fact. | had felt the mating bond with Dylan as clear as day even though she had not been present

back then.

Still, she persisted.

| sighed internally, sending a sharp surge of irritation her way. Stop it, | thought, slamming a mental door in her

face. Her growl deepened, annoyed, but | didn’t have the energy to entertain her right now. This wasn’t the time

for her fantasies. | had made peace that he choseand | wasn’t going to push for wanting him to be drained

to be mine.

Grayson'’s arms tightened again, as if he somehow knew my mind was trying to wander. Like he thought | might

slip away if he didn’t hold on tojust a little bit tighter. The gesture sent a warmth blooming through my

chest, and | shifted slightly, just enough to tilt my head so | could look at him.

Goddess, he was beautiful.

In sleep, his face was so peaceful, the usual sharp edges of his jaw and cheekbones softened by the relaxed

stillness of rest. His thick, dark lashes fanned out against his cheeks, longer than any man’s had any right to be,

and his lips-soft and slightly parted-looked impossibly gentle compared to how commanding they'd felt the night

before.

| couldn’t help myself.

10:33 Sat, Jan 25 VGT

Chapter 169

80%

Leaning forward, | pressed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth lingering just long enough to let the warmth of

his skin sink into mine. He stirred slightly, his brows twitching faintly, but he didn’t wake. A soft sound escaped

him, a quiet hurn of contentment, and | couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.

| stayed like that for a while, just watching him, memorizing every little detail. The way his chest rose and fell

steadily beneath the sheets. The slight scruff along his jaw that caught the morning light. The way he seemed so

unguarded, so vulnerable in this moment, a side of him that only I got to see.

And then, of course, my phone decided to ruin it.

The sudden buzz, and sharp ringtone cut through the serene quiet, makingjump slightly. Grayson groaned,

his brows knitting together in irritation as he shifted, his grip ontightening.

“Don’t answer it,” he muttered, his voice low and gravelly from sleep.

| giggled softly, amused by how adamantly he refused to letmove. “Grayson-"

“No,” he cutoff, pullingback against his chest with non surprising strength. “Don’t answer it. Just... let it

ring.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing outright, resting my forehead against his chest. But then, as if the universe

was determined to test his patience, the phone started ringing again.

This time, he made a sound somewhere between a growl and a sigh, burying his face against my hair. “If | crush

your phone, will you be mad?”

Laughed softly, shaking my head. “You wouldn't dare.”

He shifted slightly, pulling back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes still heavy with sleep but full of

something that made my heart skip. “Try me,” he said, his tone teasing but still laced with that signature

Grayson intensity.

When the phone finally stopped ringing, he exhaled in relief, his grip loosening slightly but still refusing to let me

go entirely.

“How are you feeling?” he asked suddenly, his voice softer now, his eyes searching mine.

His question caughtoff guard for a moment, the genuine concern in his tone making my cheeks flush.

“I'm...” | hesitated, my body remindingof the ache as | shifted slightly “Sore,” | admitted.

His eyes darkened slightly, a flash of guilt crossing his expression as he frowned. “Ava, I-”

“It's a good kind of sore,” | interrupted quickly, placing a hand on his chest to stop him before he could spiral

into skind of apology. “Really, Grayson. It's... It's worth it. You're worth it.”

He stared atfor a moment, his gaze intense and unreadable, like he was trying to figure out if | was being

honest. Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing as he reached up to brush a strand of hair from my face.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

| smiled softly, leaning into his touch. “I think | have a pretty good idea.”

For a moment, we just stayed like that, tangled up in each other, the rest of the world fading away. Nothing else

mattered. Not the list, not the phone, not my wolf's incessant growling in the back of my mind. Just him. Just us.

“Thank you,” | whispered after a while, my voice barely audible.

10:33 Sat Jun 25

chamer 169

{w what harmokel

Fow what he asked his brows howing slightly

For this B sit siraphy to the

For this, | said simply gesturing to the space between in Foreningsee this side of you. For trustingwith it”

His wrightened slightly, and | could see the conflict in his eyes like he wasn’t sure how to respond Finally, he

leaned

jaw down, pressing a soft lies to any forehead.

You're the only one I'd trust with it,” he admitted quietly.

made

my skin burn

And just like that, the ache in my body faded into the backgroung, replaced by the warmth blooming in my

chest. Grayson

he just Blackwood wasn’t man who way | never thought possible.

And | didn’t want to let that go.

But then my phone rang again, shattering the moment.

who made was an

my heart

face,

who madefeel alive

ina

Grayson huffed in annoyance, his arms tightening aroundas if he could physically stopfrom answering.

This time, though, | managed to wriggle free, ignoring his low grumble as | reached for the phone. A third call in

a row usually meant something serious.

Pressing the phone to my ear, | barely had tto say hello before Isabella's frantic voice exploded through the

line.

“I've been calling you, Lilian! Where have you been?”

blinked, caught off guard by the panic in her tone. “It's only been two calls-"

She didn’t letfinish. “I don’t care! | need you to get to our favorite café right now!” Her voice was sharp,

urgent, the kind of tone that sent a chill racing down my spine.

“What's going on-"

“Just get here, Lilian! Something happened and it’s really urgent I'll explain everything when you get here, but

you need to hurry. GET HERE NOW!”

e

BS]

A

55)

53% T

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 d d

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