The Alpha King's Contracted Luna (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157 

-Grayson’s POV- 

The silence that followed after my words was deafening before he walked over and handed me a glass, his band lingering just a second too long before he let go. I took it, even though the anger burning in my chest hadn’t worked Mape it was habit, or maybe it was the faint glimmer of sincerity in his eyes that kept me from letting the pass fall to the foxx 

“You should know,” he started, stepping back and gesturing for me to sit, “that I’ve always been on your side. From the start No matter what? 

I glanced between him and the couch, debating whether to sit or stay standing. My instinct told me to stay on my feet, to keep my guard up, but the weight of everything pressed down on me. With a sharp exhale, 1 sat, the leather creating withy under my weight. Liam took the seat across from me, his own glass cradled in his hands 

He studied me for a moment, his gaze steady but wary, before speaking agam, “What would you have done?” His voice was calm but pointed. “Given us your blessing? Or would you have stopped us?” 

I raised the glass to my lips, taking a small sip to buy myself time, though the burn of the whiskey did little to dull the fire in my veins. “You didn’t even give me the chance.” 

Liam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, the glass dangling loosely in his hands. I know. And I admit–I should have. But Grayson…He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. “I love Elaine. I really do.” 

The words hit me harder than I expected. I’d known Liam for most of my life, but hearing him say it out loud made it feel real in a way it hadn’t before. Still it did nothing to quell the sting of betrayal. 

“I know mating with her in your absence was wrong,” he continued, his voice softening. “But when I brought it up–casually. I swear I didn’t expect her to jump at the idea. I thought she’d shut it down immediately but she didn’t and when I said you were missing and there was many things to worry about, she brushed it off. Said it didn’t matter. That we should go ahead and do it. And Grayson…you know how Elaine can be when she’s made up her mind about something. She’s relentless.” 

That stung. More than I wanted to admit. Elaine wasn’t just my cousin–she was family in the truest sense of the word. We’d been through too much together for her to dismiss me like that. I didn’t think she actually meant what she said on the night of Ava’s ball. 

“I’ve seen Elaine angry before,” Liam continued, shaking his head. “But this? This was on another level I don’t know if it was to spite you for everything you’ve done but she was set on it.” 

I took another drink, letting the whiskey burn its way down my throat as I tried to process what he was saying. Leaning back against the couch, I let out a bitter laugh. “So what, you just went along with it because she told you to?” 

Liam’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might snap back. But instead, he took a slow breath and said, “No. L went along with it because I love her. And because I thought–maybe foolishly–that it would all make sense when you came back. That you’d see it wasn’t just some rash decision. That you’d understand.” 

I stared at him, the anger still simmering beneath the surface, but now it was laced with something else–disappointment, confusion, maybe even a hint of sadness. “You’re asking me to understand a decision that was made behind my back,” I said, my voice cold. “You’re asking for forgiveness for something you didn’t even give me the chance to weigh in on.” 

“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” Liam said firmly, his eyes locking with mine. “I’m asking for you to try to see it from where I’m standing. To understand that this wasn’t about betraying you 

160 

12:13 Sun, Jan 19 

TV 

Chapter 157 

A tense silence settled over the room, heavy and sulforating. Lan watched me worth tried to process everything that had just been said. Finally, 1 broer the quiet 

“And my company?” My voice was sharp, cutting, through the stillness like a blade 

bag dises 

“Everything is as you left it” Liam replied smoothly, though there was a thicker of bedre des twisting words, making things seem worse than they are” 

Another beat of silence followed, and 1 let his words hang in the air Twisting words, I’d been gone too long, it cute around me had used my absence as an opportunity. The anger een trying to suppress Bored apps, br 1 ford get to stand. I needed space, air–anything to clear my head,