The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

hapter 173

Chapter 173

-Ava’s POV-

“No!”

The word tore from my throat, a gut-wrenching scream of panic and disbelief. | rushed toward him, but my legs

felt like they were made of lead. The world spun, the sounds of chaos in the background fading into a haunting

silence, leaving only the ringing in my ears and the terrifying sight of Grayson lying on the ground.

| dropped to my knees beside him, my hands trembling as | reached for him, desperately trying to find his pulse.

“Grayson, stay with me!” My voice cracked as | pressed my fingers against his wrist. His skin was cold, his pulse

faint, and | felt a wave of nausea and helplessness claw up my throat.

The world around us continued to erupt-screams, shouting, the distant sound of more shots ringing out-but all |

could hear was the rush of blood in my ears. My vision blurred again, this twith the sting of unshed tears.

| tried to shake him, my hands trembling as | gently nudged his face, but his eyes remained unfocused, glazed

over. His breaths were shallow, ragged, and the blood was pooling faster now-seeping into the cracks in the

pavement, staining the concrete a deep crimson. It was spreading in a way that terrified me, growing with each

passing second. It was the most vivid thing | had ever seen.

| couldn't think. My mind raced, panic clawing at my chest, but my body moved instinctively. My hands fumbled

over him, as if trying to find sway to stop the bleeding. My heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it

would break free from my chest. | couldn't breathe. | couldn’t even speak.

| shook him again. “Grayson. Grayson, please, stay with me.”

But there was no response.

The world aroundseemed to fade away. The screams of people rushing to escape the chaos, the shouts from

carnival- goers trying to find safety, it all felt so distant now, like the sounds were coming from behind a wall of

fog. All that mattered was Grayson-his life hanging in the balance-and the growing stain of blood beneath him.

but | Then, suddenly, someone yankedoff him. My wolf growled in alarm, an instinctual warning surging

through me, twisted around, panic in my eyes, and met the gaze of Liam. His grip on my arm was tight, almost

too tight, but it was his urgent expression that stoppedfrom pushing him away.

“We need to get you out of here, now,” Liam said, his voice low but firm. His eyes were darting around, scanning

the crowd of people, looking for danger. “It’s not safe.”

“No,” | gasped, struggling against his grip, my heart racing in my chest. “I'm not leaving him, Liam. He needs a

hospital. We need to get him to my father’s hospital now!”

Liam's eyes flickered with something dark, something unreadable, but he didn’t argue. His gaze dropped to

Grayson, and | could see the faintest hesitation in his stance.

“He will heal,” Liam said, his voice clipped, trying to calmdown.

But | knew better. | knew he wouldn't heat Grayson didn’t have his wolf anymore, and the wound was too severe.

There was no way he would heal from this on his own. The bullet had hit too close to his heart. And that was

something | couldn't tell -

Liam.

09:34 Mon, Jan 27

Chapter 173

| wanted to scream the words, to tell him the truth-‘Grayson won't heal. Not without his wolfut | didn't say it. |

couldn't.

Because Grayson would never forgiveif | told anyone about his wolf's disappearance.

| bit my lip, swallowing back the rising tide of fear and helplessness. “Get him to my father’s hospital,” |

repeated, my voice

chest. firmer this time, despite the panic clawing at my

| looked at Grayson again, more carefully now. The bullet had missed his heart, but just barely. If we didn’t get

him to a hospital right now, he would bleed out.

Before | could even finish the thought, dozens of men in suits appeared out of nowhere, surrounding us, their

faces grim and unreadable. Sof them stepped forward and began to lift Grayson’s body with practiced hand.

I moved to stop them, my voice rising in panic. “No! Don’t just don’t just take him like that! He's going to die if

you don’t take him to the hospital!” | shouted, my breath coming in short, jagged gasps. “He needs a real

hospital.”

Liam stepped forward, his expression hardening as he tried to calmdown. “We'll take him to the estate, Ava.

It's safer.”

“I'm his Luna,” | spat, my anger bubbling over, my voice now firm with an authority | didn’t even know I had.

“And that is an order. You will take him to the hospital. Right now.”

| was shaking, but I didn’t back down. The men hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other, but then they

obeyed me. | felt their cold eyes onas they carefully lifted Grayson’s body again, handling him with more

care this time. Liam shota glare, but he didn’t argue.

Lfollowed them, my legs unsteady beneath me, and climbed into the back of one of the cars, where Grayson was

laid out, unconscious and still. | took his hand in mine, pressing it against my chest, trying to will him to wake up,

to hold on.

“Grayson,” | whispered, my voice barely audible. “Please. Don’t leave me. | need you. You're going to be okay. |

swear on the Moon Goddess, you're going to be okay.”

But even as | said the words, doubt clawed at my mind. What if | was lying to him? What if there was no coming

back from

this?

| felt the car jerk forward, the engine roaring to life as we sped down the street. | felt the tears begin to fall, hot

and unbidden. | whispered his nagain, gripping his hand tighter

“I'm so sorry, Grayson,” | muttered, my voice shaking. “This is my fault. If we hadn't gone to the carnival... If |

hadn't... If | had just stayed away, maybe this wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry.”

And just as | felt the guilt threaten to swallowwhole, a soft pressure on my hand madestop. Grayson’s

fingers twitched slightly, and then he squeezed back.

My breath hitched, my heart racing again, and | leaned down, pressing my forehead to his.

“Grayson?” | breathed, my voice breaking as | held my breath. “Can you hear me?”

His fingers tightened around mine again, ever so slightly, and for the first tsince | had pulled him from the

ground, | allowed myself to hope.

“Please,” | whispered. “Please, don’t leave me.”

His grip slackened again, the faint squeeze slipping away like sand through my fingers.

“No,” | murmured, my voice cracking as fear stabbed throughonce more.

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Chapter 173

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| pressed my hand to his chest, feeling the faint rise and fall of his breath. It was there, but it was so faint, so

fragile, as if each one might be his last. The blood beneath him had seeped rough my dress, warm and sticky

against my skin.

The car jolted as we turned sharply, throwingoff balance, bu I clung to him, refusing to let go. His head lolled

to the side, and the stillness of his body was deafening.

“Drive faster!” | shouted, my voice raw with desperation. The driver didn’t respond, but | felt the car accelerate,

the hum of the engine vibrating beneath me.

Grayson'’s lips parted slightly, a soft, strained sound escaping him. Heaned closer, my heart pounding in my

chest.

“Grayson,” | whispered, stroking his cheek. “You're going to be fine. Just hold on. Please.”

His eyes fluttered, just barely, and for a fleeting moment, | thought he was coming back to me. But then his

entire body stilled, his chest no longer rising beneath my hand.

er his heart, searching for movement, for anything. “Grayson?” | choked, panic surging like a tidal wave. My

hand hovered over his heart, searching for movement, for anything. “No. No, no, no, Breathe. Please, breathe.”

But there was nothing.

Not even a flicker.

word

word

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