The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 180

Chapter 180

-Ava’s POV-

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A pin could have dropped, and everyone would have heard it. That was how quiet the hall had gone after the

accusation.

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| stared at the man who had spoken, words failing me. | had no idea who he was-he was just another face in the

sea of high- ranking members I'd never interacted with. But he stood there, unyielding, his face a mixture of

anger and defiance. Tstretched unbearably until Grayson finally broke the silence.

“How long did it take you to think of that,” Grayson began, his voice dripping with boredom, “to fuel your

attention-seeking agenda, Charles? Is therapy not doing you any good for being ignored by everyone else

growing up?”

The man-Charles-turned bright red with embarrassment, but to my surprise, he didn’t back down. “I just said

what everyone else is too scared to say, Your Highness,” he replied, spitting out the title as if it left a bitter taste

in his mouth. “Everyone kept quiet when you brought her here out of nowhere and made her your Luna without

consulting us, the high- ranking members of the pack, because we're all terrified of you. But with how things

have turned out, | will not keep silent anymore.”

“You will not keep silent?” Grayson repeated, his voice colder than I'd ever heard it. It was a tone that could have

frozen fire.

Charles hesitated, his confidence wavering, but he nodded. “Yes. We've all been talking, and we've cto a

conclusion. She’s the problem. Everything started going wrong the moment she arrived. Isn't it obvious? She’s

the mole. She was sent here to distract you, to learn your weaknesses, and to feed information to the person

behind all of this.”

Grayson'’s eyes slid to the other five high-ranking members seated near Charles. His tone was calm-too calm-as

he asked, “And you all agree with him?”

The air grew heavier. None of them spoke, and their silence seemed to condemn them. Grayson’s expression

didn’t change, but something in the room shifted. The kind of shift that made you feel like prey being stalked.

He finally turned his gaze to the rest of the hall. “If anyone else here thinks Ava is the problem, or has anything

to say about her, go ahead. You are free to speak. You have my word that no harm will cto you.”

A suffocating silence followed his words. | felt the weight of a thousand eyes on me, each one assessing, judging,

questioning. My heart pounded, and | fought the urge to shrink into myself.

After what felt like an eternity, Brianna, seated among the Omegas, hesitantly raised her hand. Grayson nodded

at her, and she stood up, glancing nervously around the room before settling her gaze on me.

“I think | speak for all the Omegas when | say that | think our Luna is really great,” Brianna said with a small,

encouraging

smile.

Our Luna.

The words hitlike a tidal wave. | felt something stir inside me, something warm and grounding. It wasn't a

feeling I could easily name, but it settled deep within me, a quiet assurance that | hadn't known | needed.

A ripple of agreement followed Brianna’s words, stasting among the Omegas and spreading through the

roomraised his

hand.

The warriors are in agreement with the Omegas, he said firm without standing.

This time, the murmurs of agreement were louder circulating throughout the hall. The overwhelmin, support

washed ove

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me, and the warmth I'd felt moments ago grew into a sense of belonging. Tears pricked at my eyes, but | blinked

them away, unwilling to appear weak.

One of the high-ranking members stood, his movements stiff and formal. “Your Highness,” he began, bowing

slightly before speaking, “I would like to start by apologizing for Charles’ outburst.” He shot Charles an irritated

glance. “Yes, there were discussions about your Luna among the high-ranking members, but | assure you, there

was no ill intent. With all due respect, though, you did bring her here without a proper introduction. It is your

pack, and no one would dare challenge your authority, but it was expected that she be formally presented.”

He turned to me, his tone softening. “It is easy to judge people we do not know. But from what just happened, |

must say, she seems to have won over the entire pack. That speaks volumes-

“Oh, will you just shut up, Jacob?” Charles snapped, cutting him off. “Stop trying to-"

“If anyone needs to stop here, it’s you,” Grayson interrupted, his voice sharp enough to slice through steel.

Everyone went still again.

Grayson stepped closer to the high-ranking members, his eyes lacking onto Charles. The man flinched,

instinctively taking a step back.

“Do you know what your problem is, Charles?” Grayson asked, his tone deceptively calm. “It's the sproblem

you've always had: you don’t know when to shut up.”

Charles opened his mouth to respond, but Grayson’s eyes narrowed, and he held up a hand. “Do not speak. | am

not finished.”

Charles’ mouth snapped shut, and he stood there, visibly trembling as Grayson closed the distance between

them.

“I don't like you,” Grayson said bluntly. “I have never liked you, and everyone here knows the only reason |

allowed you to remain a part of the high-ranking members was because of your father. But you-" Grayson’s

voice dropped lower, colder. “You just had to keep pushing, didn’t you?”

Charles said nothing, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Grayson let out a slow, bored sigh, as if he were

tired of dealing with him altogether.

“I've learned to embrace change over the past few months,” Grayson continued, his voice softer now but no less

deadly. “And do you know why? Because of her.” His gaze flicked briefly tobefore returning to Charles. “And if

| asked her right now what I should do to you for the insult you just delivered, she'd tellto let it go. So | will.”

Charles exhaled audibly, a small, relieved smile forming on his face.

“But on second thought,” Grayson added, his voice hardening once more, “you know what they say about the

first person to point fingers.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “Then again, you're too incompetent to have

pulled this off. Get out.”

Charles’ eyes widened, but he didn’t argue. He turned, his gaze briefly meeting mine. The hatred in his eyes was

unmistakable before he stormed toward the exit.

No one else moved. No one dared to breathe.

But Grayson wasn't finished. “You seem to have misunderstood me,” he said, his attention now on the rest of the

high- ranking members. “When | said get out, | didn’t just mean Charles,

Jacob, who had spoken earlier, rose to his feet again, clearly confused. “Your Highness, | don’t -

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“Don’t,” Grayson interrupted, his voice sharper than a whip. “Charles may be a fool, but at least he isn't a

coward. If you think your little attempt to kiss up towas going to work, then you're an even bigger fool than

he is. You all went behind my back to discuss something that was, and will always be, off-limits. From this

moment on, | no longer have any use for any of you.”

Grayson'’s eyes darkened, the ice in his tone seeping into every word. “When | say get out, | don’t just mean

leave this meeting. | mean leave my pack.”

My eyes widened as Jacob's face, alongside the other high-ranking members, paled visibly. The weight of

Grayson’s command settled like a suffocating fog in the room, leaving no space for resistance or negotiation.

“Grayson.”

gazes-

| didn’t even realize his nhad slipped from my lips until the entire hall turned their attention to me. | felt

their scurious, sjudgmental, others cautious-but my eyes remained fixed on him. His shoulders were

squared, his face unreadable except for the cold fury simmering beneath the surface.

“Can | talk to you outside?”

He didn’t budge, his piercing gaze locked on the group of high-ranking members.

“Please,” | added softly.

That single word seemed to cut through the storm of his anger. Slowly, he turned his head to look at me. His

hardened expression softened, just slightly, as his eyes met mine. The hall remained deathly silent, all ears

straining for what might

cnext.

Grayson took a step forward, extending his hand toward me. Without hesitation, | took it, and he ledout of

the suffocating tension of the room. | could feel the weight of everyone's stares on my back, but | ignored it,

focusing instead on his touch-warm, steady, and commanding all at once.

The moment we were outside and far enough from the Grand Hall, | pulled my hand away and turned to face

him.

“You can’t ask them to leave the pack,” | said firmly.

“I already did,” he replied, his voice devoid of any remorse.

“Grayson.”

“Ava.”

| let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair as | tried to organize my thoughts. His me, unyielding,

but I could see the flicker of emotion beneath his icy exterior.

gaze

remained fixed on

“They are high-ranking members for a reason,” | argued. “This isn’t the tto make alliances shift, and you

know they're right. You never did officially introduceto the pack. | understand why-you didn’t see this as

anything more than a contract at first. But things are different now.”

| hesitated, lowering my voice as | took a step closer to him. “Especially with... what's happening to you. Please,

just reconsider. And stop frowning like that. | don’t like the scary version of you.”

His lips twitched, a small smile breaking through the cold maske’d been wearing. His shoulders relaxed ever so

slightly, and | felt a surge of relief at the change.

“Well, | already asked them to leave,” he said, his tone almost playful now. “I don’t take back my words.”

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| thought carefully about my next words, knowing they could either defuse the situation or make it worse. Finally,

| took a deep breath and said, “Then you don’t go back in. I'll take over the meeting.”

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