Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

“Clara?” Kieran called out standing by the doorway. Alex quickly excused us. Kieran looked different, more worried. Dark circles already grew beneath his eyes, and his hair was unkempt, unlike his usual impeccable appearance.

But the surprise of seeing him here turned to a bitter taste in my mouth.? The memory of his harsh words overheard during his conversation with Alex echoed in my mind.? “I don’t have feelings for her,” he’d said, his voice cold and devoid of any affection.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

His presence in the room felt different

Maybe he was here to check on his investment, the future queen who’d almost gotten herself killed.

“The vampire King,” I said.

He moved to my bedside, “he is dead. I killed him. Moments after I heard you woke up.”

“Oh, I see. I should thank you then. Hurray! You saved me,” I rolled my eyes.

“Clara, thank God you’re alright. I was so worried.”

His words felt hollow.

“Worried?” I echoed; my voice filled with a bitterness I couldn’t control.

“You sound surprised,” he said.

“I… I shouldn’t have left you alone that night,” he stammered, avoiding my eyes.? “I should have known the vampire King wouldn’t give up so easily.”

The anger that had been growing beneath the surface threatened to boil over. “Left me alone?”? I scoffed.? “You could say that again.? Especially considering what I overheard you say to Alex.”

Yeah, I know. But I apologized.”

“Did you?”” I spat, the hurt and betrayal twisting in my gut.? “So much for your supposed worry, Kieran.? Seems like my well-being isn’t as important as whatever charade you’re playing.”

He sank into the chair beside my bed, burying his head in his hands.

“Clara, please,” he pleaded.? “Those words… they don’t reflect how I truly feel about you.”

But the damage was done.? His earlier words had created a rift between us, a hole filled with doubt and insecurity.? “Then how do you feel?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He remained silent and shifted his gaze to the floor.? The answer, or rather the lack of it, spoke volumes.? I felt hurt again, even worse this time, drowning any hope I might have had.

“This can’t be happening. I thought as much,” I scoffed, “I guess my dreams about you are much better than the actual reality.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.? “Leave,” I whispered, the word choked as the sob escaped my lips.? “Just… Please leave.”

He looked up but I refused to meet his gaze.? The vulnerability in his eyes only increased the betrayal I felt.

He sighed and rose from the chair, his hand lingering for a moment near mine before he retreated into the corridor.? The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the silence and the weight of my own shattered heart.

Kieran had my chambers prepared for my return. Stepping through the doorway, I was greeted by the soft glow of candlelight and the steam rising from a copper bathtub filled with steaming water. Rose petals floated on the surface of the water which added its beauty to the painful white porcelain bathtub.

My breath hitched. This was romantic, no doubt about that. A warmth bloomed in my chest

I felt at home again. But even as I savored the unexpected gesture, a voice in the back of my head reminded me of his words, the ones I’d overheard. And the ones he couldn’t find when I asked him the obvious question.

I sighed and relaxed on the bed for a while. My room was well arranged. My closet smelled of rose petals and was filled with clean dresses. I had not expected to be greeted with any of that but there I was. I knew it was all Kieran’s making. I picked up the bathrobe that sat folded on the edge of my bed and sniffed it. It smelled fresher than how I had left it. I stripped off the clothes I had on and wrapped myself in the bathrobe.

Just as I was about to sink into the warmth of the bath, Kieran entered the room. His gaze landed on the tub, then on me.

“I thought a warm bath might help ease your pain,” he said, his voice gentle, “The doctors said the vampire venom can cause…”

He trailed off; I knew what he was trying to say. The venom could cause a great deal of pain, both physical and emotional.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze. The warmth that had bloomed in my chest earlier had withered under my unspoken fear.

We stood for a while without saying anything to each other. Then, in a hesitant voice, Kieran spoke again.

“Would you… would you like me to join you?”

My head snapped up as I faced him, my gaze meeting him. Had he just suggested that to me after everything he had made me go through? I gulped down the growing anger in my gut. I knew I was angry but every fiber of my being wanted to say yes, to melt into the warmth of the bath and his presence.

But then, the memory of his cruel words, the ones that had carved a deep hole in my heart, held me back.

“No, thank you,” I said, “I’d prefer to be alone.”

His face fell and he nodded slowly, his lips pressed into a thin line. He lingered for a moment longer, as I made little steps to the bathroom, before finally turning to leave.

The following days went by and I didn’t get to see Kieran much. Not because he didn’t come around but because I didn’t want to see him. But the nurses and doctors always came around to check on me as they monitored the strange effects of the vampire venom coursing through my veins.

“Where is the King?” I asked one of the nurses as she packed up to leave my room.

“He was attending to a few guests when we came in. Do you want to see him?” She asked.

“No, I just wanted to know where he is,” I forced a smile hiding away the lies.

She nodded, “Have a nice day.”

As soon as the door slammed closed, I buried my head in the pillow and shut my eyes. Just then, I heard a knock again on the door, “did you forget something?” I called out but no one responded. Instead, the door creaked open and Kiera walked in.

“Kieran, what are you doing here?” I almost sounded excited but I quickly hid that feeling away before it would actually become noticeable.

“You called me.”

His words thrilled me. I sat up gradually, “I don’t remember doing that,” I said firmly.

“Well, I don’t know what you did or said to the nurse but she came to me.”

“Oh shit,” I cussed resting back on my pillow as I faced the ceiling.

“What? Did you or did you not ask to see me?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then why did she…”

“I only asked after you,” I cut him off, “you can leave thank you for coming,” I turned towards the wall. The next thing I heard was the door slamming on its hinges.

Kieran made sure he visited me every other day. I didn’t want it but he wouldn’t just give up. His visits were a constant push and pull of unspoken emotions between us, that was the reason I detested it.