The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 282 -Ava's POV- The silence between us stretched, heavy and awkward. Elaine glanced around the hallway, her fingers twitching at her sides like she was debating whether to keep talking or walk away. Finally, she let out a breath and said, "You know... this is exactly how we first met." I blinked, taken off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. My eyes flickered around the hallway before landing back on her, unsure of where she was going with this.

She continued, "Right here, in this hallway. Where I told you to count your days." I let out a short, humorless laugh, "Well, you askedwhere I crawled out from first. And then you toldto count my days." Elaine sighed, rubbing her temple, "Right. That is what I said." She cleared her throat, like she was preparing to say something else, but then her gaze flickered around again— like she was looking for something, or maybe... someone. Her expression shifted, something sad passing over her features before she looked down at the floor and went quiet.

I didn't say anything either.

Because I didn't know what to say.

Yes, we had a moment in Italy. But that was different. We had been drowning in chaos, not knowing if we were going to survive. Maybe, in that moment, we had just needed something-a pause, an understanding, even if it was fleeting.

But now? Now that we had made it through the storm and the world was suddenly quiet again, now that she wasn't pulling stunts or trying to remindhow much she hated me, it was... different.

And it was awkward.

Because no matter how still everything was, it was impossible to forget the things she had done.

The things she and Monica had putthrough.

Elaine broke the silence first, "When we were little, Grayson and I were really close." I stiffened at the mention of his name, but she didn't notice. Or maybe she did, but didn't care.

"He used to hide out in my room so his father wouldn't find him," She continued, a small, wistful smile tugging at her lips, "I made him watch Cinderella. And then we went on to watch all the other princess movies. He pretended to hate them, but he loved them. He always wanted to know how they ended." I swallowed, something twisting in my chest at the thought of Grayson, as a boy, watching fairytales while his world was nothing like one.

"He was still going to be Alpha King," Elaine murmured. "But back then... things were simple. Easier." She had that faraway look in her eyes now, the kind that saw memories instead of reality.

"And then the fire killed my parents," She whispered. "And I watched it happen." The air in the hallway shifted.

Colder.

Heavier.

Elaine took a shaky breath, "Everything changed. He changed. I changed. I used to be happy, you know? Really, truly happy. And then suddenly, the only thing I knew was pain and hurt and sadness, and I-"Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard before pushing on. "I let that becme. And because I was miserable, I had to make sure everyone else was miserable too." She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "And Grayson... it was like I didn't exist to him anymore." I remained silent, listening.

"I used to tell him I wished I was as beautiful as a Disney princess," She went on, her voice quieter now, like she was unearthing something she hadn't spoken about in a long time. "And he would play with my hair and tellthat I was more beautiful than all of them combined." Her lips trembled.

"And then one day, it was like I wasn't even there anymore. Like he didn't seeat all. And even though it didn't feel like I existed, I didn't think he found anyone more beautiful until I saw you." I stiffened.

She let out another bitter laugh, "And well... you look like that." I stayed quiet, waiting.

"And I was jealous." Her voice wavered, but she didn't stop.

"I was jealous, and I did sreally horrible things because of it. I just wanted him to seeagain. I wanted someone to see me. And then I saw the way he looked at you-with that softness that used to belong to me-and it madehate you even more." She exhaled sharply, like she had been holding that in for too long.

And then she whispered, "But I had Liam." I felt my stomach tighten.

Elaine was shaking now, her hands curling into fists at her sides.

"I had Liam," she repeated, voice trembling. "And he madereally happy. I was going to be a mother. I had a family. And all this time, he was just using me." Her breath hitched.

Her voice broke completely.

"And he hatedthe entire time." She lifted her hands to wipe the tears from her face, but they kept falling. "And I-" She shook her head, squ shut.

"I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for all the horrible things I've done." g her eyes I just stared at her.

For so long, she had been cruel. For so long, she had been the source of my suffering. And now, standing in front of me, 2/4 Chapter 282 crying, apologizing, finally telling the truth...

I didn't know what to do with it.

But I had to ask.

Because even if she regretted it, even if she was sorry now, I needed to know "If things hadn't happened the way they did," I said finally, my voice quiet but steady. "If Liam really did care about you if he wasn't working with Damien... if things were just a little different...

I met her gaze.

"Would you have stopped?" Elaine froze.

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

For a moment, I thought she wasn't going to answer. That she was going to lie.

That she was going to tellwhat I wanted to hear.

But then- "I don't know." Silence followed and it stretched between us, thick, suffocating.

Elaine wasn't looking atanymore. She was staring at the floor, jaw clenched, shoulders tight, fingers twitching like she wanted to take something back but knew she couldn't.

And then, barely above a whisper, she said, "Maybe that's why things happened the way they did."

She exhaled shakily and looked up, eyes raw with something I couldn't name, "Maybe that's why Liam did what he did, Why I ended up where I am now. Maybe.... that was just the universe makingpay for being a horrible person." I swallowed. I didn't know what to say to that. Because what was there to say?

She turned her gaze to my stomach then, something in her expression shifting. Something softer. a softer. Moren vulnerable know you said I could be in their lives," she murmured. "But I also know a lot was happening. But if you can find a way to forgive me... if you ever do... I would really like to be." I parted my lips to respond, but before I could say anything, she wiped her face again and took a step back. I'm really sorry, Ava," she whispered, voice breaking. "For everything." And then she turned and walked away.

And I just stood there, watching her, watching the way she wrapped her arms around herself like she was all she had left.

Something inscreamed to go after her. To say something. To acknowledge that this-this moment-was different than any other we'd had before.

But my feet wouldn't move.

I tried.

I told myself to step forward, to do something, but nothing happened and then, when I forced myself to turn in the other direction they moved.

Like my subconscious was making the decision for me. Like my body was tellingthat I wasn't ready, So I kept walking.

Walking through the hall, past doors and portraits and echoes of a past I wasn't sure I could ever let go of, until I reached the room Grayson and I shared.

The second I stepped inside I froze.

Grayson liked the room dark, so we always left it that way, but something about the darkness felt extra.

My wolf stirred, pressing against the surface of my skin, cars perked, muscles coiling.

Something was wrong.

I took a cautious step forward, my breathing shallow, my instincts screaming atto pay attention and then a sound.

Barely audible.

A shift of fabric. A breath that wasn't mine.

I wasn't alone.

My heart slammed against my ribs, and in an instant, my wolf pushed forward, a growl ripping through my e throat as spun toward the sound and before I could react someone touchedand I did the only rational thing any sane with a wolf would do: I screamed.

mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1