The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 260

-Ava’s POV-

I could still hear her voice.

Even as 1 stood in the present, waiting for the ceremony to begin, my mind galledbackward, reshaping

moments hadn’t thought about in years,

It had been an ordinary afternoon, just the two of us in the library. Isabella satrons from me, her chin propped up

on her hands as she rattled on about something-provably shalf-baked theory about why people were drawn

to their mates. was used to her rambling by then, letting her voice fade into the background like a lamer song

while 1 foomed on my

textbook.

“And what do you think your mate will be like?” She asked suddenly, breaking through my concentrdon

I didn’t look up. It wasn’t something | thought about. Mates, destiny, fate-it all felt too far off, too uncertain it

wasn't practical. So, | didn't answer.

But silence never deterred Isabella. She simply continued, her voice bright with certainty,

“I think mine will be the perfect fit to my crazy, She mused, tilting her head, “Someone steady, someone patent,

but not boring, | can’t deal with boring. He will have to keep up, you know? Bet also he will know when to stop

me. Keepgrounded. Because sometimes | get ahead of myself

| glanced up at her then, something about her words settling strangely in my chest, | think the sounds really nice

and! hope you meet him someday,” | said simply.

She blinked at me, caught off guard for once. Then she grinned, quick and mischievous, before wiping my book

from my hands.

“What are you doing?” | frowned.

She waved it dismissively, “Studying is boring”

“We have a test coming up.”

Her eyes rolled tically, “We have all the tto study for it.”

“It’s tomorrow,” | deadpanned.

She froze for half a second. Then, without missing a beat, she snapped the book shut and tossed it onto the

table.

“Like | said, all the time,” She declared, standing up and grabbing my hand. “Con, let's go.”

And |, against every ounce of my better judgment, let her dragout of the library and straight into trouble.

The memory faded, but the warmth it left behind lingered. | smiled to myself, the corners of my lips curling at

the thought of her-wild, stubborn, impossible Isabella.

When | lifted my eyes, they landed on Grayson.

He stood beside Rickon who had somehow convinced him to be his best man, much to Ricardo’s loud and very

vocal dismay.

Grayson caught my gaze, and for a second, something unspoken passed between us. Then he nodded, just

slightly, and |

returned it with a small smile.

1/4

09:23 Tue, 11 Mar

Chapter 260

The soft murmur of the crowd dimmed. A hush settled over the room.

And then-music.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

The opening notes of the wedding march swelled through the air, thick with anticipation, heavy with meaning.

All at once, everything shifted.

The doors at the end of the aisle opened, and the world seemed to exhale.

There she was.

Isabella.

78%

(413)

She stood framed in the doorway, bathed in golden light, a vision of reckless beauty and quiet grace. Her dress

hugged her frlike it had been made just for her, flowing around her in soft waves, each delicate fold

catching the light. A veil draped over her hair, though it couldn't hide the way her eyes shone -like she was

laughing at sprivate joke only they knew as they landed on Rickon first.

She was breathtaking.

But my gaze without thought slid to Grayson again and my breath hitched when | found his eyes already on me.

My heart fluttered, heat creeping up my neck before | quickly looked away, flustered. Not now, Ava. Focus.

| turned back to Isabella just as she took the first step down the aisle, her arm looped through her father’s.

Rickon hadn't taken his eyes

off her.

The way he looked at her-it was the kind of look you read about in books, the kind of love that filled a room

without needing words. His expression softened in a way | rarely saw, his usual mischievous smirk replaced with

something quieter, something real.

Isabella's father walked her forward at an unhurried pace, his hand resting over hers. There was something

reluctant in the way he held onto her, a hesitation that spoke of the weight of letting go. But Isabella only

squeezed his hand, her grip firm, reassuring. She was ready. She had chosen this, chosen Rickon.

When they finally reached the altar, her father took a deep breath before stepping back. Rickon extended his

hand without hesitation, and Isabella took it with a grin so bright it was almost blinding.

He leaned in slightly, murmuring, “You sure you wanna do this, Bella? Last chance to run.”

She snorted, “You wish.”

The room erupted in soft chuckles, but Rickon was only looking at her, his thumb brushing over the back of her

hand like he couldn’t quite believe she was real.

The priest cleared his throat, smiling, “Shall we begin?”

Isabella turned to him with a cheeky grin. “Only if you promise to keep it short. | have a husband to torment.”

Rickon groaned tically, See? She's already planning my suffering.”

More laughter rippled through the guests, but the priest only shook his head, amused.

“We are gathered here today,” He began, “to witness the union of Rickon and Isabella in the sacred bond of

marriage. A bond built on trust, laughter, and, in this case, an extraordinary amount of patience.”

1 bit back a smile as Rickon shot a look at Isabella, who batted her lashes innocently.

2/4

09:23 Tue, 11 Mar

Chapter 260

The priest continued, speaking of love and partnership, fearing you and hand froth was tfor the vows.

Rickon went first

He turned to Isabella, taking both her hands in his, and grinned

lances feet

“Well, since I'm supposed to promise to love you forever. | feel like | hold earning a few chuckles from the crowd.

“One | cannot promic to aferys you have due to be of fitowy four also love food, and I feel like this should be an

equal partnership

Tabella rolled her eyes, though she was fighting a grin.

be Beerse,

“Two: | vow to always stand beside you, even when you're being completely unreasonable. Which, let's for

Bomes, will be often.”

The guests laughed again, and Isabella huffed. “Excuse you, | am a delight

Rickon only smirked. “And lastly.. | vow to love you. In the big moments, sure. But more importantly, in the malls

Toy the quiet ones. In the mornings when you're grumpy and steal all the blankets, and in the nights when you

titt stery halfway through a movie and insist you weren't actually asleep. | vow to love you in the way yous

deurally Snely an without hesitation. Even when you driveabsolutely insane.”

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then Isabella let out a small sniffle.

“Damn it, Rickon,” She let out a shaky laugh before clearing her throat and composing herself. “Okay, my turn”

She took a deep breath, then squeezed his hands tighter.

“I vow,” she began, her voice unwavering, “to always keep things interesting. To never let you get bored, to

always gue you a reason to roll your eyes and shake your head. | vow to argue with you over dumb things just so

| can see that little crease s your forehead when you're pretending to be mad. | vow to love you with everything |

have, even when we drive each other crazy.”

Rickon’s grin softened.

“I vow,” she continued, “to choose you. Every day. In the loud moments and the quiet ones. In the fights and the

laughter. | choose you today, tomorrow, and every day after.”

She exhaled, blinking up at him, and for once, Rickon had no smartass remark. He just looked at her like she was

his entire world.

The priest smiled, his voice steady and warm as he said the words that would seal the bond between them,

“With those vows, and by the power vested in me, | now pronounce you—"

A sharp crack split through the air. Loud enough to be unnatural. Loud enough to make the hairs on my arms

stand on end and cut the priest off.

Instinct prickled at the back of my neck, and | wasn’t the only one who felt it. The room stiffened. A few guests

turned their heads, scanning for the source of the noise.

Before anyone could react, Isabella threw up a hand, “In case you didn’t hearbefore, universe,” She

snapped, her voice sharp with warning, “pack up your shit and do not ruin this-"

She didn’t get to finish because the ceiling above groaned and then something heavy slammed into the floor

with a sickening thud.

3/4

09:23 Tue, 11 Mar

Chapter 200

K 78%

The priest creinud pesking of love and partnership, of een by on this joy and harddup And then, rally, it

was tfra the w

Kikow first

He turned to Isabelis, taking both her hands in her, and grinned.

“Wh, since I'm supposed to promise to love you forever. | feel like | should make a few clarifications fr*” he

started earning a few chuckles from the crowd “One | cpromise to always let piss have the last bite of find! |

love you, but | also love food, and I feel like this should be a repal partnership”

Isabella rolled her eyes, though the was fighting a grin

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

“Two. | vow to always stand beside you, even when you're being completely unreasonable. Which, let's be

honest, will be ohen

The guests laughed again, and Isabella buffed. “Excuse you, | am a delight.”

Rickon only smirked. “And lastly.. | vow to love you. In the big moments, sure. But more importantly, in the small

ones. In the quiet ones. In the mornings when you're grumpy and steal all the blankets, and in the nights when

you fall asleep halfway through a movie and insist you weren't actually asleep. | vow to love you in the way you

deserve-fully. Sercely, and without hesitation. Even when you driveabsolutely insane.”

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then Isabella let out a small sniffle.

“Damn it, Rickon,” She let out a shaky laugh before clearing her throat and composing herself. “Okay, my turn.”

She took a deep breath, then squeezed his hands tighter.

“I vow,” she began, her voice unwavering, “to always keep things interesting. To never let you get bored, to

always give you a reason to roll your eyes and shake your head. | vow to argue with you over dumb things just

so | can see that little crease in your forehead when you're pretending to be mad. | vow to love you with

everything | have, even when we drive each other crazy

Rickon’s grin softened.

“I vow,” she continued, “to choose you. Every day. In the loud moments and the quiet ones. In the fights and the

laughter. | choose you today, tomorrow, and every day after.”

She exhaled, blinking up at him, and for once, Rickon had no smartass remark. He just looked at her like she was

his entire world.

The priest smiled, his voice steady and warm as he said the words that would seal the bond between them,

“With those vows, and by the power vested in me, | now pronounce you-"

A sharp crack split through the air, Loud enough to be unnatural. Loud enough to make the hairs on my arms

stand on end and cut the priest off.

Instinct prickled at the back of my neck, and | wasn’t the only one who felt it. The room stiffened. A few guests

turned their heads, scanning for the source of the noise.

Before anyone could react, Isabella threw up a hand, “In case you didn’t hearbefore, universe,” She

snapped, her voice sharp with warning, “pack up your shit and do not ruin this—"

She didn’t get to finish because the ceiling above groaned and then something heavy slammed into the floor

with a sickening thud.

3/4

09:24 Tue, 11 Mar

Chapter 260

The sound was wet, grotesque-like flesh meeting stone.

Silence. A heartbeat. Then-screams.

Gasps. Chairs scraped back. Someone knocked over a glass, and it shattered somewhere in the distance. A

woman let out a choked sob, her hands flying up to cover her mouth.

But all | could to was stare because my eyes were locked on it.

A head.

A severed head.

And not just anyone's.

Damien’s severed head.

AD

Comment

Send gift