The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 279 -Ava's POV- I remembered.

The moment I hit the water, the memory sparked in my brain, and I remembered.

"Do you remember all I told you?" My mother's voice, calm and sharp, cut through my trance. I had been staring at myself in the mirror, wondering why my eyes, like I had dalmost a thousand times, always swirled and changed colours.

"Ava Lilian Pierce," She said again, this twith more edge, "What did I tell you about not answering immediately when I ask a question?" I blinked, dragging my gaze away from the mirror. My head lowered slightly in submission, "I apologize, Mother. I was distracted.

I hated how small I sounded, how small I felt. I was eleven and I knew I was only a little girl but she always madefeel smaller..

She narrowed her eyes, and I braced myself for the usual scolding. But instead, she let out a tired sigh, like dealing withwas exhausting. Like my existence was exhausting, "Behave yourself. This celebration isn't about your birthday. It is about introducing you to the realm as our daughter. So hold your head up high and do not-" She emphasized the word, "talk or associate with the Omegas and servants, because- She waited.

I bowed my head and finished the sentence for her, "Because they are all beneath us.” Something close to a smile curled on her lips. "Very good. Remember, tonight all eyes will be on you. Tonight, you cout as a Pierce, and you show them that, just like the rest of us, you are above everyone else. And just like that, she walked away, leavingstanding there alone.

She didn't even wisha happy birthday.

But I still smiled-just like I was taught to And later that night, I did exactly what I was expected to do. I held my head up high. I showed them how the Pierces acted. And the moment that girl touched me, I acted on impulse.

I hadn't even thought. I had just.... reacted.

"I'm sorry." "This is not who I want to be." "I don't even want to be here.

Those were the words I had wanted to say. But I kept them trapped inside, silent and useless, as I watched them away, Because I was a Pierce. And the more distance the warriors put between us, the more regret twisted inside like a sickness in my gut.

Then suddenly I wasn't eleven anymore.

3 her e, curling I was still in that moment, but I wasn't a child. I was standing there, watching as they took her, and tears ran down my 1/5 90% 53 Chapter 279 cheeks. My lips trembled as I whispered, "I'm sorry I played a part in breaking you." And just like that everything faded.

The world returned to black.

I was struggling again, just like before, but this time, I wasn't in a grand hall with golden lights and music. I was in the water. Sinking. Drowning.

I called on the essence-desperate for it to help me, just like it had before.

But nothing happened.

Grayson.

His nstruck through the haze in my mind.

He had held me.

He had been there.

Where was he? "Grayson?" My voice cout as a strangled whisper, swallowed by the water. Bubbles floated from my lips, and panic surged in my chest.

Then I felt someone grab me, firm and strong, pullingupward. My body was yanked from the suffocating darkness and thrust into the open air.

Rain. It was still falling, cold and relentless against my skin. I gasped, coughing violently, my chest heaving as I sucked in desperate gulps of air.

I felt the warmth of a body holding me, keepingafloat.

"You're okay," a voice said-Grayson's voice.

I blinked, dazed, trying to focus. His face hovered above mine, strands of his dark hair plastered to his forehead from the rain.

My vision blurred as I tried to focus on him, on the way his arms heldsteady. The storm was still raging, but it felt like it was breaking. Like it was coming to an end.

"Ava? Can you hear me? I'm going back for Rickon." Grayson's voice sliced through the chaos, groundingfor just a moment. My mind was still swimming, my lungs still burning from nearly drowning, but his words pulledback into focus.

I nodded without thinking, my body moving before my mind caught up. Water dripped from my hair, blurring my vision as I tried to process everything. Before I could say anything, Grayson was already moving.

"Everything is going to be fine." He said.

Then he was gone.

I barely had tto register his absence before I turned, suddenly aware of my surroundings. I was on a powerboat, the motor humming softly beneath me, and all around, the aftermath of destruction stretched as far as I could see. Pieces of wreckage from the ship still floated on the surface of the water, bobbing lifelessly with the waves. Men lay scattered across the deck, sinjured, their bodies slumped against whatever they could cling to. A few wolves floated in the water, shifting weakly, struggling to stay afloat.

10:30 Fri, 21 Mar C Chapter 970 But my eyes weren't searching for them They were locked out the wir Waiting 90% The rain was still falling, but nice fiercely store it was diving infening as if the dann irself was growing tired Bur my heart pounded as viclenty spinethat I couldn't forus on anything else 1 waited Staring at the surface, watching for sny sign of them Nothing The seconds stretched. Becminutes Still nothing I didn't move, barely even breathed. My hands trembled as they gripped the edge of the boat, knuckles turning white. The water was black, stretching endlessly in every direction, and I couldn't see anything beneath it. I tried to convince myself that he would cback. That they would surface at any moment.

But they didn't The realization slithered into my mind like ice water down my spine.

What if he couldn't find him? What if he was too late? What if they were both- No.

I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered a desperate prayer to the Moon Goddess, pleading, begging.

*Please. Let him find Rickon. Let them cback. Please, don't take them. Not like this." My chest ached with the weight of my own helplessness. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, stretching unbearably long as I kept my gaze locked onto the water, hoping, praying.

The rain was lighter now, barely more than a drizzle. The wind had settled. Everything had quieted, as if the entire world was waiting along with me.

But still, nothing.

I sucked in a shaky breath, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Too much thad passed.

I knew it.

I could feel it in my bones.

Panic surged inside me, rising like a tidal wave, crushing the rational part of my mind. Without thinking. I moved toward the edge of the boat, ready to jump back in. Ready to dive into the depths and find them myself if I had to.

I couldn't just sit here. I couldn't just- 90% +53 Chapter 279 But my eyes weren't searching for them.

They were locked onto the water.

Waiting.

The rain was still falling, but not as fiercely as before. It was slowing, softening, as if the storm itself was growing tired. But my heart pounded so violently against my ribs that I couldn't focus on anything else.

I waited.

Staring at the surface, watching for any sign of them.

Nothing.

The seconds stretched. Becminutes.

Still nothing.

I didn't move, barely even breathed. My hands trembled as they gripped the edge of the boat, knuckles turning white. The water was black, stretching endlessly in every direction, and I couldn't see anything beneath it. I tried to convince myself that he would cback. That they would surface at any moment.

But they didn't.

The realization slithered into my mind like ice water down my spine.

What if he couldn't find him? What if he was too late? What if they were both- No.

I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered a desperate prayer to the Moon Goddess, pleading, begging.

'Please. Let him find Rickon. Let them cback. Please, don't take them. Not like this.

My chest ached with the weight of my own helplessness. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, stretching unbearably long as I kept my gaze locked onto the water, hoping, praying.

The rain was lighter now, barely more than a drizzle. The wind had settled. Everything had quieted, as if the entire world was waiting along with me.

But still, nothing.

I sucked in a shaky breath, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Too much thad passed.

I knew it.

I could feel it in my bones.

Panic surged inside me, rising like a tidal wave, crushing the rational part of my mind.

moved tow without thinking.

m moved toward the edge of the boat, ready to jump back in. Ready to dive into the depths and find them myself if I had to. I couldn't just sit here. I couldn't just— Chapter 279 Then, suddenly- The water broke.

Grayson burst through the surface, gasping, his arms wrapped around Rickon's unconscious body. My breath caught in my throat, a strangled sound of relief escapingas I rushed to the edge of the boat.

"Help me!" Grayson's voice was raw, strained. His muscles tensed as he struggled to keep Rickon afloat. Two men on board snapped into action, hauling them up while I stood frozen, my body still trembling from fear and relief crashing into each other all at once.

Rickon wasn't moving.

Grayson collapsed onto the deck, coughing violently, water pouring from his mouth as he rolled onto his side, trying to catch his breath. But I didn't move toward him. My attention was locked on Rickon.

He was deathly still.

Too still.

I dropped to my knees beside him, my shaking hands hovering over his chest. His lips were slightly parted, his skin pale and cold.

"No, no, no," I whispered. My fingers pressed against his throat, desperate for a pulse.

There it was.

Faint. Weak.

But there.

-"He's alive," I gasped, barely able to believe it myself.

Grayson let out a heavy breath of relief from behind me, but there was onbut!! no tto celebrate. Rickon still wasn't breathing. Panic surged through me, but shoved it down. Calm down, Ava. You know this. You are a Doctor. You've done it before. Tilting his head back, I pinched his nose and sealed my lips over his, forcing a breath into his lungs. His chest rose slightly, but he didn't respond. I did it again, my own breath shuddering as I whispered, "Con, con..." Still nothing.

My heart pounded in my ears. His pulse was weak, but it was still there. No compressions yet. He needed air.

I tilted his head back more, clearing his airway as much as I could. Another breath. Another. I counted each second, rainwater running down my face, mixing with the tears I refused to acknowledge.

Then, finally- A small, choking sound.

Rickon's chest jerked slightly, a gurgling noise escaping his lips as his body tried to fight. But it wasn't enough. His breaths were too shallow, too slow.

I rolled him onto his side, patting his back firmly. "You need to breathe, Rickon! Con!" A cough. Then another. Water spilled from his mouth, and his body shuddered violently.

10:30 Fri, 21 Mar Chapter 279 I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the salt on my lips.

His eyes fluttered, unfocused, dazed. "Ava...?" 90% A sob caught in my throat, but I swallowed it down. "I've got you," I murmured, brushing wet hair from his forehead. "You're okay." Grayson sagged against the deck, his head falling back as he exhaled heavily. The exhaustion was clear on his face, but his eyes-when they met mine-held something else. Something I didn't focus on at that moment. I turned my attention back to Rickon, my heart still pounding from the fear that he had died. His chest rose and fell weakly, but then, to my disbelief, a slow, tired smile spread across his face.

"I'm telling Bella you kissed me,” He rasped, his voice hoarse but laced with amusement.

I stared at him for a moment, then scoffed, shoving him weakly, "You're an idiot."

He chuckled, though it quickly turned into a fit of coughing. For a second, I panicked again, but then his laughter e broke through, rough and exhausted but real. And before I knew it, I was laughing too-soft at first, then uncontrollable, breathless. I didn't even know why. Maybe it was relief. Maybe it was the absurdity of everything we had just been through.

Or maybe it was simply because we were alive.

I tilted my head back, looking up at the sky. The rain was fading now, its once relentless downpour softening to a drizzle, as if it knew-this time, for real-it was over.

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