The Alpha King's Contracted Luna (Ava and Grayson)
My Billionaire King 87

Chapter 87

Chapter 87

-Grayson's POV-

“You think I don't know about your little arrangement with Grayson? How your marriage is fake? That he hired you to play his pretend Luna?"

Elaine's sharp, condescending voice echoed through the clearing just as I stepped in. The smugness in her tone sent a rush of irritation coursing through me, and I immediately scanned the scene. Ava stood in the center of it all, her face pale, her lips parting and closing as if she wanted to defend herself but couldn't quite replace the words. She looked blindsided, cornered like prey facing a predator.

-And Elaine? She was basking in the attention, her arms crossed, her smirk widening as she relished the silence that followed

her damning words.

My jaw tightened. Nobody knew about the arrangement-not even Liam-and that secrecy had been deliberate. For Elaine to have found out was troubling, but I didn't have the luxury to dwell on how. What mattered was shutting her down before she caused more damage.

The moment I was close enough, I let my voice cut through the heavy silence, cold and lethal.

“Elaine, sometimes I think you have a death wish. One day, you're going to push me far enough that I'll grant it."

All heads whipped in my direction, the tension thickening in the air. Elaine's smug before she could recover and speak, I continued, my tone sharp and unwavering.

"And who told you that I hired Ava to be my fake Luna?"

Pression faltered as her face paled, but

She opened her mouth, then shut it, her confidence visibly crumbling under the weight of my glare. "I-I was looking for you,” she stammered. “I went to your study, and I just... I saw some papers in your drawer. I scanned through them and-"

"You went through my things?" My voice dropped, laced with quiet fury, and I took a step closer. She flinched. “We'll address that later. Right now, I want to know this: from whatever you scanned, what made you so sure Ava was hired? So sure that

felt the need to announce it in front of the entire pack?”

you

Elaine's gaze darted nervously between me and Ava, who was still standing motionless, her arms now wrapped around herself. “I just..... I assumed. From what I read. The circumstances fit—she showed up out of nowhere!"

I let her words hang in the air for a moment before I shifted my gaze to Ava. “Ava,” I said, keeping my voice steady, hire you to be my Luna?”

Her answer was immediate, firm. "No."

"did I

The conviction in her voice made something tighten in my chest, something I didn't want to analyze. I forced it down, turning my attention back to Elaine.

"I've told you before to stop your antics," I said, my voice growing colder. "You refuse to listen. So, I'll say this only once." My gaze swept the crowd, ensuring every single person was paying attention. “Ava is my Luna. By name, by title, and by bond. I didn't hire her. And if I hear so much as a whisper about this nonsense outside of this clearing, whoever is responsible will regret it. Do you all understand?”

A ripple of murmured agreement passed through the crowd, and I turned back to Elaine. "As for you," I said, my tone final, “go

back to your apartment. Make sure you and I don't cross paths for at least a week.”

09.49 Thu, Jan 23 7 GE

Chapter 87

Her lips parted as if to argue, but the look I gave her made her think twice. "Now," I snapped.

She hesitated, her gaze flickering to Ava one last time, but she didn't dare speak. With her face flushing red with embarrassment, she turned and hurried away.

I hated that it had come to this. She could've come to me in private if she had questions-or even accusations. But Elaine had chosen to make a spectacle, so the consequences had to match.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the rest of the pack beginning to shuffle, preparing to leave. "No," I said firmly, stopping them in their tracks. "You can continue with your feast only came here to talk to Ava."

Their surprise was evident, but I ignored it, focusing on Ava. He expression was a mix of confusion and something else I couldn't quite place. Since I was already pushing boundaries tonight, I turned to the older man I'd threatened earlier.

"I had no reason for threatening you earlier,” I said, my tone softer but still firm. "I shouldn't have." Mouths opened and closed in stunned silence as everyone stared at me like I'd grown two heads. Ignoring them, I closed my eyes and reached for my wolf. He growled in response, and I sighed inwardly-the same kind when I had felt him after I called Maria putting aside what she did to Ava and she did a spell

He was my counterpart, my other half. For as long as I could remember, he had always been there. When I couldn't feel

and told him I didn't know what I'd do without him. It was strange-our egos rarely let us admit such things-but I felt his voice in my head, agreeing, even though neither of us understood what had happened.

him, I realized how scared I'd been. When he returned, I swallowed my pride a

king. If something went wrong, they were That moment made me realize Ava was right-these people were the reason I was the ones I'd have to rely on. As much as that thought unsettled me, I had accepted it.

So, I came out here to see whatever was going on, only to be met with yet another of Elaine's antics All eyes remained on me, their stares heavy with expectation. I considered leaving before my aura-the one Liam and Ava always accused me of made things worse.

I cleared

my

throat, shifting my attention back to Ava. "Can I talk to you

for a moment?"

She blinked, clearly surprised, but nodded and followed as I led her away from the crowd. We stopped far enough that even the sharpest werewolf hearing wouldn't pick up our conversation

When I turned to face her, she spoke first. “Grayson, I-”

“No,” I interrupted gently. “Let me go first."

She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes wide and expectant.

"You were right," I admitted, the words tasting strange but necessary. "I pick fights with you because it's easier than dealing with... this. With us. Because I don't know how to handle what I feel when it comes to you."

Her eyes softened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but I shook my head. “I'm not done,” I said. “Thave a lot to focus on, Ava. Being Alpha King doesn't leave much room for anything else. But I'm tired of this back and forth. I don't want to fight with you anymore. I want to move forward-properly. And when we do, I want it to be all or nothing. So from now on, I'll stay true to what I wrote in that letter. I'll try. I'm no promising perfection, but when it comes to you, I'll try to be better and when I am ready, I'll tell you about my parents, if you choose to stay long enough to hear it."

Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. Instinctively, I reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek.

09:49 Thu, Jan 23 G

Chapter 87

930

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Then her expression shifted, worry replacing the softness. "But... what if people believe Elaine? What if they think our bond is just a contract?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter what they think. All that matters is that you are my Luna. That's all.”

She hesitated, then nodded. "And what about the killings? The message? Someone could come for you, Grayson-"

“Ava,” I said, cutting her off. "Stop. I have it under control. Everything will be fine. Right now, I just want to focus on this. On us. Okay?"

Her lips parted, and for a moment, she looked like she might argue. But then she nodded again. "Okay." Without thinking, I smiled. Not the smirk I wore when I wanted to intimidate or dismiss someone-but a genuine smile. Ava's eyes widened slightly at the sight of it, and then her gaze flickered to my lips.

I didn't overthink it. I didn't hesitate. I leaned in, closing the distance between us and brushing my lips against

hers.

This kiss was different. It wasn't rushed or full of fiery passion. It was slow, deliberate, and deeper than anything we'd shared before. Her arms slid around my neck, pulling me closer, and I responded in kind, my hands settling on her waist as I deepened the kiss.

Her lips parted for me, soft and inviting, as though they had been waiting for this moment as much as I had. I didn't hesitate. Sliding my tongue against hers, I felt a spark-no, a wildfire-ignite between us. She tasted like sweetness and warmth, a mixture of innocence and passion that made my control fray at the edges. My hands slid from her waist to the curve of her back, pulling her even closer, until there wasn't a sliver of space

left between us.

Ava responded with the same fervor, her fingers threading into my hair, tugging slightly as if anchoring herself

to this

moment.

I tilted my head, deepening the kiss further, and her soft gasp as our tongues tangled made my chest tighten with a feeling I couldn't name. My wolf stirred within me, not with hunger or aggression, but with a quiet sense of awe. She was his, and she was mine, in a way neither of us fully understood yet. When I finally drew back, it wasn't because I wanted to. It was because I had to. Our foreheads rested together, and her breath fanned over my lips, still heavy and uneven. Her cheeks were flushed, a deep rose that painted her pale skin beautifully. My thumb instinctively brushed her jawline, tracing the faint curve that led to her slightly swollen lips.

Her eyes fluttered open, and what I saw nearly stole the breath from my lungs. They weren't just her usual color–no, they were changing. Shimmering. Hues of blue, green, and amber swirled together like a kaleidoscope, glowing faintly in the dim light. It was as if the emotions she felt were too vast, too profound to

be contained in a single shade.

Then she took a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling as though she was steadying herself and, in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper, she asked, "Do you... want to come to my room with me?"