Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

I left Nikkei’s chambers with a spring in my step. I knew where I needed to be. For once, it felt right. Like I was actually going to do this. The walk to Kieran’s quarters that usually would feel like a long trek because I would be soaked in my thoughts now seemed to fly by. I finally felt something that I didn’t usually feel, happiness, that was the word. I slowed down as I got to the door of his chambers.

I raised my hand to knock but just as my knuckles were about to hit the door, I heard a muffled voice drifting through the thick wood of the door. But that wasn’t it. It got a bit loud, like he was quarrelling with someone over the phone. My hand hovered for a bit and then curiosity piqued. I placed my ear in the door. It was wrong but I needed to know what I was walking into. Of course it was Kieran, his voice was low and urgent. I didn’t hear any other voice but he still spoke and so I assumed that he might be talking over the phone.

“Yes,” he said, “you know it has to be her and no one else. Look, everything is going according to how we planned. The full moon is in two weeks, just as we discussed. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. This will be over quickly.”

The words being cryptic wasn’t the issue, after all, he was the Lycan King. Must of his engagements are supposed to be classified but the coldness in Kieran’s voice got me thinking. Who was he talking to? What plan? I stared at my hand, which had been about to knock. I had come for a reason and I wasn’t about to go without an answer. So I knocked softly just two taps and the conversation inside stopped. A tense silence followed before the door creaked open and Kieran walked out.

“Hi,” I said.

“Clara,” he said, “I didn’t expect to see you anytime soon. What brings you here?”

“I just came to see you,” I replied, “Nikkei and I were discussing the mating ceremony.”

“Ah, yes, the ceremony, started preparations already,” he said, brushing a hand through his hair. “How delightful.” His voice lacked its usual tone.

“Can I come in?”

“Oh yes,” he smiled ushering me in.

“Is there anyone in?”

“Anyone? Like who?”

“I don’t know. I thought I heard voices,” K said.

“That was me on the phone.”

“Oh yeah I thought as much. Is everything okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like is there anything that I should know?” I asked.

“Not at all. Now, lets get back to why you are here.”

The uneasiness in me only got worse. There was something obviously off about Kieran. He was hiding something, it’s like I could almost feel it. His usual playful banter or endless habit of always wanting to tease me was replaced by this nervous energy. I didn’t like that.

“Is something wrong?” I asked narrowing my gaze.

He cleared his throat, avoiding my eyes. “Wrong? No, no, everything’s fine. Just… busy with some kingly duties,” he smirked.

I wasn’t buying it.

First the cryptic conversation through the phone call, his forced smile, and his scanty words it all pointed to something more. But I just couldn’t place it yet.

“Are you sure?” I pressed further my voice was firm.

Kieran sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Look, Clara,” he began, then stopped, like he battled with the words. Finally, he spoke out, “Maybe we should talk about this later. I have a meeting in ten minutes.”

The meeting excuse felt like a lie. Or maybe it was the way I had come to see it.

“Okay,” I replied and turned to leave.

“Clara,” he called out and I turned towards him again.

“You said you wanted to show me something. What is it?”

“Nothing. I’ll just come back later. Probably when you are a little less busy,” I forced a smile and walked out squeezing the paper in my grip.

The marble floor felt cold beneath my worn slippers as I hurried down the hallway. The scent of newly polished wood and fresh flowers hung heavy in the air. I guess everyone has already began to get ready for the ceremony. Everyone except me. I thought I was ready. The churning in my stomach resumed.

Just as I rounded a corner, Nikkei walked up. Nearly bumping on each other. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun and she seemed to be in a hurry.

“Clara, there you are,” Nikkei said.

“I guess you were looking for me.”

“I was,” she said.

“I’m here now. Sorry I took too long.”

“Yeah, but I just received a message. I need to be at the Glade by nightfall. Turns out I’ll be leading the chants.”

“The Glade?” I repeated, “Isn’t that where…?”

“Yes,” Nikkei confirmed, “A coven matter. But it can wait. Tell me, how did your meeting with Kieran go?”

I had expected the question but still didn’t have enough time to think of an answer.

“I-” I began, then hesitated, “the truth is, I haven’t been able to tell Kieran anything. He was already on his way out when I arrived at his chambers. He was gone. But I’ll tell him everything later.”

I noticed her brows furrowing slightly. “Is everything alright, Clara? You seem troubled.”

I couldn’t explain the suspicion I had under my skin. Kieran’s behavior was unusual, but I couldn’t just tell her about it or the fact that I had decided to slow down a bit. She wouldn’t understand.

“It’s nothing,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just a long day. You should go for your meeting. We would continue the preparation when you return.”

I hoped that she wouldn’t return in time. I still wasn’t ready.

“Well, we’ll figure it all out together. Now, about this ceremony don’t take your mind off it. You can keep thinking about it until I come back.”

“Come on, you can go, we can brainstorm later,” I said with a genuine smile this time. “Right now, you have a coven gathering to attend to,” I added.

Nikkei squeezed my hand for a while.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”

As Nikkei hurried away, I continued down the hallway. I couldn’t shake it off. Those eyes of his like there was so etching behind them. The mating ceremony was something I took to another level so I didn’t want to have any reason to doubt Kieran. I had trusted him for so long but it still didn’t feel enough.

I shut the door with a soft thud as soon as I got in. Nikkei’s words echoed in my mind, yet they did little to take away the suspicion that had crept in.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Kieran’s secretive behavior, his sudden request for me to handle the mating ceremony it all felt like pieces of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit. Was I being paranoid? Or was there something more, something Kieran wasn’t telling me? Everything still went down to that.

Maybe the weight of the ceremony pressed down on me. Mating a Lycan King wasn’t small. And now this uneasiness. I took a deep breath trying to focus on the familiar warmth of the rug beneath my bare feet. But the fear clung to me and cold sweat prickled my skin.