The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 292 AUTHOR'S NOTE Once again... I am so grateful to you all for reading my book.

-Grayson's POV- Epilogue Two "Ava?" No answer.

1 sighed and tried again, "Ava." +58 This time, her voice drifted through our bond, laced with amusement, 'You're supposed to figure out where I am from the clues, not wander around yelling my nlike a lost puppy.

That was all I needed to know. She was in my study.

I pushed the door open, expecting to find her sitting at my desk, but she was nowhere in sight. Before I could call out again, her voice filled my mind once more.

'Hey, that's cheating.

I smirked, leaning against the doorframe, 'Is it cheating if I saved myself the headache of having to read your awful handwriting to find you?' "You know, there was a twhen you wouldn't have dared say that tobecause you wantedto like your grumpy ass.

I shook my head. "Where are you?" "Bathroom. And I'm not done, so don't cin. And don't sit in your chair. You know what? Just go out, givefive minutes, and then cback in." I stared at the bathroom door, debating whether to follow her instructions or just walk in. A part ofwanted to find out what she was up to immediately, but ever since the triplets entered our lives, neither of us had caught a break. If she wanted this moment, I could wait.

For now.

"I know you're still standing there staring at the door. Out, Grayson." I sighed, pushing off the frand stepping out. The second the door shut behind me, I heard my nbeing called. My smile faded instantly as Ivan approached, bowing his head.

"I needed to speak with you, Your Highness. Is this a good time?" I glanced back at the door. "Can it wait?" He nodded. "Of course, Your Highness." He bowed once more before walking away.

Ava had insisted he was the perfect choice for my Beta when I was considering candidates. At first, I hadn't thought of him, and after what had happened with Liam, I knew I had to be more careful. But like with many other things, she had been right.

1/5 Chapter 292 My wolf growled in my head, impatient. I wasn't the only one curious.

I opened the door again and this time, I saw her.

She was sitting in my chair, legs crossed, looking completely at hin only a tailored suit jacket. My eyes traced the smooth expanse of her legs, stopping at the pair of heels she had on.

"Ava," My voice cout lower than I intended, "What are you doing?" She leaned back, tilting her head, "Take a seat." One brow lifted, but I humored her, sitting across from her, "Are you going to tellwhat this is about?" She didn't answer right away. Instead, she reached into the top drawer and pulled out a document, placing it on the desk, "You see I have a problem that only you can helpwith. I know it can be fixed, which is why you're here." 58 A slow smile spread across my face as I finally pieced together what was happening. Still, I decided to play along, "And what exactly is the problem?" I saw her fighting back a grin before she opened her mouth-only to burst out laughing.

"I can't say it!" She giggled, covering her face, "You know, you were just a jackass for puttingon the spot like that when we met." She stood up then, and that was when I saw the rest of her outfit. Or rather, lack of it.

Fuck.

My gaze raked over her, drinking in the sight of long, bare legs and the way the oversized jacket barely covered her thighs.

"And you're not listening to me," She teased, "My eyes are up here." I snapped out of it, dragging my gaze back up, "Letguess-Isabella's idea?" She grinned, eyes flickering gold. "She thought it'd be fun to reenact the day we first met. We practiced and everything-I swear I was about to say it properly." "Say what? I can't get hard?" She choked on her laughter, shovingplayfully, "Stop it!" Still laughing, she shook her head, then her expression softened, "Can you believe it's been two years?" I pulled her toward me, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Two years, and you're still drivinginsane." She sighed tically, "And yet, you still love me." I pressed my forehead against hers, my voice softer now. "More than I ever thought possible." Ava tilted her head, studying me, "I still don't get how you can be so sweet withand then glare at everyone else like you want them dead." I smirked, "Maybe I do want them dead." She rolled her eyes, "Oh, please. Secretly, you love everyone." I said nothing. Because I wasn't going to admit that it did feel like the warmth I had lost growing up had finally returned. And they all had something to do with it.

But especially her.

And the triplets.

My eyes drifted back to the document on the table, brow arching, "Were you about to makesign a contract?" Ava leaned back, arms crossing with faux innocence, "Nope. That is a list of things we're going to do on our two- month vacation." I blinked, "Our what?" +58 Before I could say anything else, she rushed on, "Before you argue, hearout. We haven't caught a break since-honestly? Since even before the kids came. And I love them. I really do. But I'm exhausted. So, I thought it would be a good idea for us to take a break, and I-" My eyes narrowed, "And where, exactly, will the triplets be while we're taking this 'break'?" Ava suddenly found the ceiling very interesting. She mumbled, "... With Isabella and Rickon." "No." "Con, Grayson," She groaned. "They can be responsible when they want to be." gave her a blank stare. "The sIsabella and Rickon that we left them with for just one day and cback to find them with marker drawn tattoos all over them?" Ava burst out laughing at the memory. "Okay, yes, that happened, but it was funny!" I gave her a pointed look.

She cleared her throat and suddenly found the ceiling very interesting, "I mean...

it was concerning, of course. Very serious. But they're thinking about having kids soon! This would be good practice for them." "Ava-" "Pleeeease, Grayson," She cutoff, pouting up atwith wide, pleading eyes, "Please, please, please." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Let's say I consider leaving them. Why can't they stay with Maria or Elaine?" Ava's face scrunched up. "Maria's still banned from using magic near them after the 'floating incident,' and Elaine?" She huffed. "You know she already helps her a lot and don't go poking your nose into it but she finally said yes to going out with Ricardo so needs to focus on that." I grunted. Fair point.

"Okay, what if they stay with Isabella and Rickon, but-" She lifted a finger before I could protest-"everyone scheduled visits to check on them, starting with my parents, and we'll get full reports every day?" "Every three hours." "Twice a day." "Every five hours." She groaned, "Who knew you'd be such a baby hogger? Three times a day, and that's my final offer." I considered it for a moment, then nodded, "Fine." Her eyes lit up, "So that's a yes?" "Yes. So, where will we be going?" She bounced on the balls of her feet, barely containing herself, "Okay, listen closely because I am only saying this once." Then she launched into it.

"Italy first, obviously, because I need to see Raina. Plus, Aunt Rosa promised to teachhow to shoot, and let's be honest, I'd look hot with a gun and since you've refused to O teachyou can go see Carter who you like too." She didn't wait for my reaction. "Then we'll take a boat down the Amalfi Coast, just us, eating ridiculous amounts of pasta, drinking wine, and maybe making out on ssecluded beach." She waggled her brows, "You love a good secluded beach." Before I could so much as blink, she steamrolled on.

"Then France-Paris, because I refuse to go to Europe without stopping there. I want to drink espresso at a tiny café while you pretend to be grumpy but secretly enjoy it, and then we'll go to the Louvre, where I'll force you to take a million pictures oftrying to reenact statues, and you'll pretend to hate it but actually think I'm adorable." She still didn't stop to breathe.

"Then Greece! Santorini, specifically, because I need a picture of us at sunset with the blue domes behind us. And we'll stay in one of those villas with a private infinity pool, and I'll get you to swim even though you always act like it's a huge inconvenience but again, secretly love it," She pointed atas if daringto deny it, "And we'll get massages, and I'll buy a ridiculous flowy dress that I'll make you carry when it inevitably becomes too much to deal with." At this point, I was just watching her, both amused and slightly concerned that she hadn't inhaled in the last two minutes.

"Then Japan, because I've always wanted to see the cherry blossoms, and you're going to feedsushi while I tically recline in your lap like a spoiled queen, and you will indulge me." She shota pointed look. "And then we'll go to one of those hot springs, and I'll sit in the water and convince you to join me, and if that doesn't scream vacation romance, I don't know what does." She threw up her hands like it was obvious. "And then-oh! Oh, we have to go to Egypt, because I need to see the pyramids, and I swear if you don't get at least a little excited about riding camels, I'll punch you and," She finally sucked in a deep breath, "That is all, any questions? I tilted my head, pretending to think, "Just one. How exactly are you planning to pay for all of that?" Her lips twitched as she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She didn't stop until she was just a breath away from my lips. Then, in a whisper so soft it sent a shiver down my spine, she said, "Didn't you hear? I married a billionaire." A slow grin broke across my face just as she closed the distance, her lips pressing against mine.

One of the reasons I had always liked watching Disney princess movies as a kid was because of the happy endings. I never thought I'd get one. With the life I had, with the things I had done, I figured happy endings were for other people.

But then I found her.

She broughtmy happy ending.

She broughtpeace-something I never thought I could have.

And as she kissed me, all I felt was her.

Her warmth.

Her love.

Her everything.

When she finally pulled away, she looked into my eyes, her voice a soft whisper, "I love you, Grayson Blackwood." I smiled at her, feeling it in every inch of me, "I love you too, Ava." And right then, in this moment, I knew-this happiness, this life, this love-was truly, finally, mine.

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