Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 119

**Fireflies in Winter Rain — Neil A. Varma**

**Chapter 119**

Carolyn,

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The clinking of wine glasses echoed through the lively bar, a symphony of laughter and chatter surrounding me as I sank deeper into the plush embrace of the velvet couch. The warmth enveloped me, cradling my worries for just a moment. Two well-built men, with hands that knew exactly what they were doing, worked their magic on my calves, while another poured our drinks, the heady scent of fine wine mingling with the sharp notes of expensive cologne that lingered in the air.

Gemma, already teetering on the edge of inebriation, threw back her glass with the ease of someone quenching a thirst. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, yet they narrowed in irritation as she leaned closer, her voice dripping with playful malice. “Come on, Carolyn! You should have let us have our fun before you sent her packing! I was ready to make her regret ever breathing in your direction!”

I couldn’t help but scoff, sinking further into the chair, my perfectly manicured nail tapping rhythmically against the glass. “Oh please, Gemma. I didn’t want Cassian getting any ideas. Besides, she’s too clever for just some simple bullying. I couldn’t bear to have my dearest friends wasting their energy on someone so slippery.”

Joanne, ever the optimist, chimed in with a bounce, her earrings dancing with her movements. “That’s ridiculous! Do you really think we’re any less than anyone else? That witch would’ve been in tears at just the thought of laying eyes on your man!”

“It’s fine,” I replied, swirling the wine in my glass, watching the liquid swirl like a tempest contained. “She’s gone now. It’s just—” I hesitated, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. “I didn’t realize she was someone I shouldn’t handle alone.”

Joanne’s brow furrowed, concern etching itself across her features. “What do you mean? You mentioned she’s the daughter of Milestones. Even her ex-husband is under your thumb!”

I shook my head slowly, my gaze fixated on the tiny waves in the wine, my heart racing. “No, she’s different. As long as Cassian remains in the dark, everything will be fine. But this is our little secret. Don’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”

Gemma shifted in her seat, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But how did you manage to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes? Especially Cassian? You know he’s not the easiest person to manipulate.”

A small, self-satisfied smile crept onto my lips, the kind that hinted at secrets and victories. “Don’t fret. He’s a fool in the areas that matter. All the evidence is right here. How could he ever suspect me? Yes, he may be a ruthless beast to the world, but with those he trusts? He’s utterly blind.”

Exchanging tense glances, my friends seemed to share an unspoken concern.

“What if that blindness extends to Roana as well?” Gemma pressed, her calm demeanor masking an underlying edge. “That woman was the catalyst for the war with the Northern Region the moment she was attacked.”

Her words struck me harder than the wine, freezing me for a brief moment, though it was barely perceptible. My fingers tightened around the glass.

Joanne nodded slowly, her discomfort palpable. “Gemma has a point. If he trusts you blindly simply because you’re his best friend, imagine the level of trust he has for his mate. What if Cassian hasn’t been fooled at all?”

My jaw clenched involuntarily, and before I realized it, I was standing, a chill racing down my spine, betraying my thoughts. This couldn’t be happening. The evidence. The witnesses. Everything was perfectly orchestrated. Even Sierra, my loyal and disciplined Sierra, had seen what I needed her to see. She wouldn’t lie.

But…

My fingers trembled slightly, the tremor creeping up into my forearm.

What if he discovered that I had staged everything? What then? He had severed Alexander’s arm without a second thought.

If I hadn’t promised to tend to his wounds that day, he would never have confided in me about Roana’s true identity.

The realization sent a prickling sensation across my skin. She wasn’t from just any clan. No, she belonged to the revered Silver Wolf clan—untouchable, pure-blooded, and terrifying. A lineage so steeped in divine favor that even the Lycans felt envy. They might fear the Lycans, but the Silver Wolves had their own forces, their own curses, their own formidable power.

It was no wonder they had struggled to reclaim her. Whether they had already found her or not, that woman carried with her enemies far more dangerous than anything my friends or I could ever conjure up.

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