The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 291 AUTHOR'S NOTE 89% So, I am at the point where I have to say goodbye, and I think that is one of the reasons I have held onto Ava and Grayson for so long-because I really hate goodbyes. Even as annoying and unlikable as they were sometimes (or, many many times), it still sucks but then I realized that I could let go without actually letting go. I could just reread the book, and it would be like rewatching Friends or The Big Bang Theory except instead of catching little jokes I missed, I would be spotting all the grammatical errors I swore weren't there before and I know I am 291 chapters late, but my deepest apologies for any sentence that made you question the English language.

And shifting back to why I am typing this. I know I have said this before, but no amount of times would ever be enough to express how grateful I am to everyone who stopped by this book-from those who read just the first few chapters, to those who made it halfway, to those who stuck around long enough to see this through. Saying thank you feels like an understatement, but still, thank you for considering my book worthy of your precious time.

Ava and Grayson's story could have been told, but without you all reading it, it would have just been another book-just words on a page. So again, thank you all so much. I will never stop being so, so grateful.

-Ava's POV- Epilogue One One Year Later "Grayson, remember all the times you've said you love me?" I groaned, dragging a pillow over my head, hoping it would somehow block out the relentless wails echoing from the nursery. Sleep was a distant dream at this point, and I was clinging to whatever denial I had left.

His voice, rough with exhaustion, cimmediately, "I don't recall ever saying that." I yanked the pillow off my face and shot a glare in his general direction, even though it was too dark to see, "I still have to be up in a few hours to start getting ready for everyone coming over," I whined, "So, con, go check on ther "Ava." He sighed heavily, like I was being the most unreasonable person in the world, "I did it last time. It's your turn." Before I could argue, another high-pitched cry rang out. And then another. And another.

Fantastic. Now all three of them were awake. Again.

I groaned even louder, pressing my palms into my eyes, as if that could somehow reset reality. Maybe if I just stayed perfectly still, Grayson would get up first.

"Let's just go together." 1 With a resigned sigh, I shoved the covers off and rolled out of bed, trudging toward the nursery. But when I glanced back, Grayson was still sprawled across the mattress, unmoving.

I narrowed my eyes, "Grayson Stephen Blackwood." He groaned tically and cracked open one eye, "I knew I was going to regret telling you my middle name." "Then get up," I grumbled, already rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I reached for the nursery door.

And there they were. My three little bundles of joy-no sarcasm intended. Okay, maybe just a little. Who knew children could be this exhausting? Honestly, my parents should probably thank Damien every day for taking one of us off their hands. Okay, that joke was still not funny.

Grayson picked up Aria while I reached for Daniella, who was wailing like the world was ending. Asher, the only one not actively crying, just wiggled around in his crib, seemingly debating whether or not to join in.

With the difference in their birth months-and Daniella having been born premature-we were basically raising them as triplets.

Extra joy for us, "You know what would be fun?" Grayson's voice pulledfrom my thoughts.

I turned to him warily, "...What?" "Having another one." +58) A laugh burst out before I could stop it and of course, that single moment of joy was all the enco ment Asher needed to start wailing too.

"Grayson!" I whined, bouncing Daniella in an attempt to calm her long enough to swap her out for Asher, "Look at what you did!" He grinned, completely unapologetic. "You were the one who laughed." I rolled my eyes and made the switch, and I honestly don't know how long we stood there, passing babies between us like an Olympic relay team but eventually, one by one, they all drifted back to sleep.

The moment the last tiny eyelid fluttered shut, I didn't waste a second. I bolted back to bed and collapsed onto the mattress, melting into the sheets like a woman who had just returned from war.

Seconds later, Grayson pulledagainst him, wrapping his arms around me. I wiggled halfheartedly, "Go hold someone you actually love." He didn't say anything. He just pulledcloser, pressing a lazy kiss to my shoulder.

With a contented sigh, I mumbled, "How long do you think they'll stay asleep this time?" "I don't know," He murmured against my skin, his breath warm on my neck, "Let's hope it's at least two hours." I barely heard the rest of his sentence because, mercifully, sleep pulledunder. And by smiracle, they actually slept through the night. For the first tin weeks, I had a full, blissful night's rest.

Which was great because, in just a few hours-much to Grayson's never-ending irritation-we were hosting everyone.

Over the past few months, it had beca ritual, still to Grayson's dismay. My parents, Eliza and Jeremy, Isabella and Rickon, Elaine, Monica-who had finally apologized for being, as Isabella put it, a straight-up bitch-all cover. Monica even brought her new boyfriend, a quiet scientist with glasses, who was apparently the reason for her sudden change of heart.

Never in a million years would I have paired Monica with someone like him but he was a genuinely sweet guy, and somehow, he managed to keep up with our brand of chaos.

Sometimes, Ricardo even flew in from Italy-this part especially much to Elaine and Grayson's irritation. But, between us? I was pretty sure Elaine only pretended to be annoyed.

"Why don't you look absolutely pretty?" 89% Chapter 291 Isabella's voice snappedout of my thoughts and I barely had tto put down the tray I was carrying before turning to glare at her as she stepped into the dinning hall.

"That is still not funny," I muttered.

"It kind of is," Elaine added from the corner, grinning as she casually sipped her drink.

I shifted my glare to her, but she just flashedan innocent smile.

It had taken a while, but I had forgiven her. Sthings were easier to move past than others. Now, the five of us-me, Isabella, Eliza, Elaine, and Monica- sometimes went out together. It had been weird at first, but I had gotten used to it. Still, Eliza and Isabella were the ones I was closest to, "So...." Isabella dragged out the word with a teasing tone, "Ricardo is back in the city" Elaine's head snapped toward her with a glare, "For the hundredth time, I do not like him. He is a psychopath, and I am not going down that road ever again." "Speaking of which," I interjected, changing the subject before Isabella could push further, "Do you think it was a good idea to let Liam go?" Elaine sighed, rubbing her temples, "I don't think he could ever suffer enough, but keeping him locked up felt like I was still holding on, you know? So yes, it was the right decision. Besides, Grayson is keeping a very close watch on him. He won't be starting another uprising anytsoon." I nodded in understanding. Before I could say anything else, Isabella let out an obnoxious giggle.

Elaine and I turned to her at the stime, both of us rolling our eyes. "What?" She asked, still smiling, "It's not my fault my mate is funny. Unlike you two-one of you is a mother of three, and the other secretly likes a psychopath." "I do not like him!" Elaine practically shrieked just as Eliza and Jeremy walked in. "Like who?" Eliza asked, setting a bottle of wine on the table.

"Ricardo," Isabella and I said in unison.

"Oh," Eliza said casually, "He just pulled up out front." Elaine's eyes widened, "I just remembered-I forgot something in my room!" And with that, she vanished.

We all exchanged looks before Isabella smirked at Eliza, "He's not actually here yet, is he?" Eliza grinned. "Nope." "I taught you well," Isabella said, looking proud.

I groaned, "Of all the things you could have learnt from her, Eliza." Then I turned to Jeremy and smiled, "It's good to see you."

He returned the smile, and just like that, the day went on. One by one, m everyone arrived. The house filled one arrived.

with the usual chaos-people talking over each other, laughter, and the occasional minor argument.

As expected, everyone fussed over the triplets. My mother and Isabella were arguing about something again, probably something trivial while she e and Rickon were communicating through their link, laughing at whatever twisted things they were saying to each other. Monica's boyfriend, Louis, was explaining his latest scientific discovery while Monica stared at him like he hung the moon.

Elaine, despite her earlier protests, was absolutely aware of Ricardo's presence, though she tried to pretend otherwise. My father sat quietly, eating as if he wasn't surrounded by chaos.

And then there was Grayson.

Under the table, he kept nudging me, silently pleading forto do something to make everyone leave like he always did.

I ignored him like I always did.

Instead, I took in the scene around me-the family we had built, the people who had somehow woven their way into our lives.

There was a twhen I wouldn't have pictured this. A twhen I didn't even know sof these people. Now? Now, I couldn't imagine a world without them.

Grayson's voice slipped into my mind through our bond, 'Ava.' I sighed, 'You promised you'd be a good host." I felt his annoyance through the link before he cut it off, only for his expression to soften the moment Daniella reached for him.

If I had ever worried that he would treat her differently, I had been wrong. She was his just as much as the twins were. Since the moment the three of them had entered our lives, it was like Grayson had becsomeone else-someone only we got to see.

Of course, to the rest of the world, he was still Grayson Blackwood and that nstill carried its weight.

He nudged at our link again.

What now, Grayson?' 'Rickon is talking to me,' He grumbled.

'You like Rickon,' I pointed out, 'As annoying as he is.

He made a noise that was definitely a snort.

I bit back a laugh before adding, 'If you keep complaining, I won't show you the surprise I have for you later.

Immediately, his focus shifted, 'What surprise?' 1 smiled. You will see.

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