The Alpha King's Contracted Luna (Ava and Grayson)

-Ava's POV-

Weddings were supposed to mark the beginning of a happily ever after, a fairytale of love and promises. But here, it felt like the start of an e

I gave

I sighed deeply as we ushered the last of the guests out, doing our best to reassure them that everything was fine. Liam; me a single, unrea Now it was just us-Isabella, Eliza, Rickon, and me. The remnants of my so-

called wedding lay scattered around us, tainted by violence and secrets that no one should have had to witness on a day meant for vows ar "Well, that was eventful," Rickon drawled, breaking the silence with his usual casualness "Officially the best wedding I've ever been to." Isabella rounded on him, crossing her arms with a glare. "Do you ever know when to stop? This could have ended a lot worse, and here you He returned her glare with equal intensity. “Maybe if you weren't so uptight, you'd appreciate a little humor. Besides, you should be thanking me-my antidotes are what saved the day."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “First of all, I'm not uptight. Second, we saved your ass back there, and it was the witch who saved the day, n Rickon gave her an exaggerated eye roll before retorting, “I was going to stick around, maybe even bond with my gal pals. but you've officia Eliza raised an eyebrow, amused. “You don't even know me, and who even says 'gal pals?”

Rickon's eyes flashed with irritation before he finally turned to me, his usual charming smile reappearing, "Ava, darling, you deserve better again," he said with a wink, before striding out, leaving just the three of us.

"And then there were three," Isabella muttered.

I shook my head, tiredness settling heavily on my shoulders. I walked over to one of the chairs and sank down. Everything had been so exh emotionally. Isabella let out a sigh, and then her gaze turned determined. "I'm going to find some alcohol. A closed bottle this time. I refuse t Eliza chuckled and took the seat next to me. “Unrelated, but aren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon right about now?”

I paused, letting out a short laugh. I might as just tell all my secrets, "Funny thing about that... Grayson and-

t, we're only going to be married for a year. It's part of a contract I signed with him. No fairytale, no happily–

ever-after-just a convenient arrangement to escape my controlling parents. So, no honeymoon."

Eliza's brows lifted in surprise. “Well, with everything going on, that's somehow the least surprising thing today. This whole thing sounds like "Right? Just without the grand romance part, I muttered, swallowing back the bitterness. I didn't mention the other thing. the real reason Gra started the contract, the one he refused to discuss, though I could have sworn I'd felt him react to me during the first kiss,

Just then, Isabella returned, triumphantly holding up four bottle. “We're in luck, ladies! Four bottles-two for Chayer W

I'm drinking Trepid quickly "I have work tomorrow, and someone happens to be bleeding out. I'd rather be able

Shrewded. “Even with all this supernatural madness, if I don't show up tomorrow, I'll definitely be fired"

been exaggerated wigh, taking the last chair and pulling it close. She looked at us both with a mischievous gleam in her eyes "You're tech te cold er after someone tried to out werewolves on your wedding day to mention, they're still out there, probably watching as we speak,” she a about werewolves?"noveldrama

A shiver ran down my spine at her words, and I held out my hand. "That was low, Bels. Alright, give me a bottle. And by the way, I told Elsa t Viza chuckled, reaching for a boule herself. "On second thought, I do need a drink."

I

Tafella grinned as we each twisted open our bottles, I cleared my throat. "Sooo. Where do I start? Okay. Werewolves have eated for centuri abella quickly cut in, giving me an exasperated look. "Hold up, Lilian. If you're about to launch into some boring lecture you memorized from

1 shrugged, taking a wig from my bottle as Isabella grinned and turned her attention to Eliza. “Alright, newbie. Here's what you

need to know Werewolves have been around for centuries, scattered in packs all over the world. And there are rules-

strict ones Packs, like clans, with Alphas leading And in different regions, there is an overall Alpha, like the Alpha of all alphas. We call him Les leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "That's no surprise. So, packs what do they actually do? I mean, is it all fighting and

"Not always, habella replied with a smirk. "We're not wild animals.. well, not all the time. Packs offer protection, a

family of sorts We're bound by a common code. But with power comes conflict, especially among Alphas who want more power. That's whe Eliza nodded, her eyes wide. "And what about mates? Is that, like, real?"

“Oh, it's real, alright, fabella answered, her tone tinged with sarcasm. “Mates are a whole other complication. You don't get to pack. It's som that links two

souls, binding them in a way that can't be broken. Think of it as the ultimate commection. But that doesn't mean it's always welcome. Somet She glanced st me, "unbearable

Eliza's curiosity deepened, her expression slightly tense. “So... it's like an arranged marriage by the universe?”

“Exactly, Sometimes it's bliss, sometimes it's torture. And yes, if you're bound to the wrong person, it's hell. Trust me, I've seen it go both wa hand wolves. They keep order within the pack and

follows the rules" mure everyone

Eliza raised an eyebrow, clearly absorbing all of this. “This sounds like some twisted supernatural soap opera.”

Isabella laughed, clinking her bottle against Eliza's. “Oh, honey, you have no idea. There are centuries-

old rivalries, betrayals, alliances and that's just on a good day."

Tabella took another swig, then flashed a mischievous grin. “Any questions so far?"

“Can I please answer them?” I asked, feeling a surge of excitement.

Isabella laughed, "Nine years later, and you're still such a teachers pet, Lilian." She turned to Eliza, "You know, she was so annoying when

I rolled my eyes. "Excuse me You punched me in the face, declared we were best friends, and all because my eyes change color and every "You made the teachers give us extra assignments. No one liked you, Lilian," Isabella shot back, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, ahead and answ

"I hate you."

"I know. I love you too."

Eliza laughed, watching our banter. "You two are really cute, but still have questions,” she interjected, “Starting with why you call her Lilian

Isabella answered before 1 could speak. "It's her middle name. I used to call her Ava, but then I heard her parents call her by her full name f Something shifted inside me at her words-

a crack, a small fracture in the walls Ed built around myself. My parents had always made me despise my full name, saying it with such dist Clearing my throat before emotion betrayed me. I tried to brush it off. "I don't know why my eyes change color. I've always been like this. My Eliza leaned forward, her gaze curious. "Do you think it's connected to being a werewolf?"

I took another swig, letting the burn calm my nerves. "Honestly I don't know. I don't even... I don't exactly have a wolf Isabella squeezed my hand, her voice steady and reassuring. "You do. She's in there somewhere, and we're going to find her -

I promise. Plus, we've got one more person helping us now, right, Eliza?"

It took her a second, but Eliza nodded, raising her bottle. "I'm L

Isabella lifted her own bottle, a grin lighting up her face. The duo is now a trio. Here's to finding Lilian's wolf and making her the most badas

I smiled, feeling warmth spread through me, and lifted my bottle as well. We clinked them together, the sound ringing with shared determina This felt... nice. It felt right, like for once, I wasn't

totally alone in the darkness. And yet, Isabella's earlier joke played over in my mind like a warning. Someone had attacked us, and deep do

it wasn't just random. It had been a message, a threat directed at Grayson. As I sat there, I couldn't shake the sensation that someone was

Waiting.

Watching.

Biding their time before they struck again.