Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Roana,

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Because of everyone, the weight of his absence didn’t feel that heavy until I walked into our bedroom. His scent was still there, lingering like a ghost that I could barely touch.

My heart lurched the moment I saw all the gifts carefully arranged on the floor. A bouquet of dried flowers rested there, accompanied by a small note.

My fingers trembled uncontrollably as I lifted the dried bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath. The petals were brittle under my touch.

My hands shook so violently I had to clutch the note to keep from dropping it. A lump pressed in my throat, my chest tightening, as if I couldn’t draw a full breath.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, legs trembling, heart hammering, staring at the fragile arrangement.

Maybe it was a coping mechanism, maybe just a cruel trick of my mind, but the thought that he wasn’t here, that he might never be here, terrified me. And I kept ignoring that thought.

His face, the way he had held me, how he had gripped me as if afraid of losing me, replayed over and over in my mind like jagged shards.

Tears stung my eyes, and they rolled down unheeded as I unfolded the note. The faint scent of roses clung to the paper. My chest tightened so fiercely I could barely inhale. My eyes widened in disbelief at the words scrawled inside:

“I miss you! I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I will explain it properly. Please call me once you return.”

Once I returned? Had he written this after I was kidnapped by Keane? My chest heaved violently as I pressed the note to my heart. My knees trembled. A shuddering sob escaped my throat, sharp and ragged, before erupting into a raw, gut- wrenching wail. I buried my face into the comforter, shoulders shaking, body wracked as though my grief had weight in every bone.

Everything in this room reminded me of him. “Please, Moon Goddess. Why did you do that? Why did you take him away from me? Why does it feel like everything doesn’t matter anymore?” My voice/broke on the last words, cracking, trembling, a whisper of despair.

Then, a soft voice brushed against my mind, almost teasingly: “A mate’s death brings unbearable pain. Have you experienced the pain, dear?”

My eyes snapped open, pupils wide, breath hitching, and my body tensed. I scanned the empty room, heart hammering against my ribs, fingers clutching the comforter as if it could anchor me,

“What was that?” Rye muttered, voice cautious. “Who whispered?”

I shook my head, heart still racing, unsure if I had imagined it. Before I could think further, a sharp, piercing scream split the air from outside. My chest sank, stomach twisting. I forced myself to move, dragging my aching, trembling body to the door, hands gripping the handle until my knuckles whitened.

The moment I opened it, I froze. A massive wolf lunged at me, fangs bared, golden eyes glowing. My heart slammed against my ribcage. My breath hitched, shallow and rapid.

“Your Highness! Close the door, right now!” Sierra’s voice cut through my shock. She shifted into her wolf form, her presence anchoring me.

I barely managed to slam the door as the wolf slammed into it with a growl. My back pressed against the wood, heart hammering, muscles coiled, fingers flexing as if ready to claw.

14:47 Mon, Jan 19 G.

Chapter 154

“Who is this?” I whispered, voice tight and trembling.

“Roana! Are you alright?” Draken’s voice came from behind, making me jump.

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“Oh, goodness. Can’t you stop appearing suddenly?” My voice cracked as I spoke, hands trembling against the doorframe.

“I am sorry. But don’t open the door right now,” he said, calm but firm.

“What’s going on?” My voice quavered, eyes wide, and I hugged myself instinctively. My body still felt weak, but adrenaline kept me upright, fingers clenching and unclenching at my sides.

“It’s Kyros’s people. They’re attacking everyone. Even some elders are working with him. They want to take you down.”

“The audacity!” I growled, claws flexing, jaw tight, eyes flashing with fury, though my chest ached with grief. But Draken’s focus was on the gifts. He reached toward them, and I grabbed his wrist reflexively, muscles tense, my grip sharp enough to make him flinch.

“Don’t touch them!” I said, voice trembling, yet firm. My chest heaved, sweat prickling my forehead.

He nodded and withdrew. “Then stay here. I will handle it outside.”

He teleported again. I could hear the clash of wolves, growls, thuds, the vibrations rattling through the floor. My body shook with tension. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps. Even grieving felt like a forbidden luxury now. Yet the whisper from before haunted me: a mate’s death brings unbearable pain. But I didn’t feel it. I felt hollow. Empty. Aching.

I moved toward the gifts and sank to the cold floor, ignoring the chaos outside. My claws tore open the first box without hesitation, trembling, shaking from a mixture of fear, longing, and heartbreak. Inside was a silk scarf, rare and delicate. My fingers traced it obsessively, nails digging lightly into my palms, tears spilling onto the fabric.

The next box contained perfume-Jasmine, the same as mine. My chest constricted as memories of him choosing these gifts consumed me. Another box revealed a custom-made dress, flawless and perfectly shaped for me. I swallowed hard, lips trembling, heart tightening painfully with each discovery.

I continued tearing open the boxes, a broken, bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. Each gift felt like a kiss from him, a fragment of love I couldn’t hold.

Finally, I reached a large box. My fingers hesitated, trembling violently. My chest quivered, tears streaming unheeded. I lifted the lid carefully, my heartbeat drumming so loud it almost drowned out everything.

Inside was a painting of us, standing in the valley of the Ocean Region, smiling freely on the night we walked the sea beach together. My breath hitched sharply. I pressed my hands to it, chest tightening painfully. “Ca-Cassian,” I whispered, voice breaking, tears blurring my vision. I ran my fingers over his face, over the paint, over him.

Then I noticed the words in the corner of the painting: “The moment everything started changing!”

Tears fell freely, my body shaking. I clutched the painting to my chest, inhaling the sharp, familiar scent of paint, the ache of his absence coiling in my stomach.

“I miss you already. I am sorry. I should have used my ability to know the future. I am sorry for neglecting the future, knowing that you would choose Elle. I should have dug deeper. I should have known why you chose someone else. But I was terrified, heartbroken, and I gave up without trying. I thought you would always choose Elle, and it wasn’t different in my vision. It’s my fault.”

I pressed my trembling hands against my face, inhaling shakily, swallowing the lump in my throat. My chest rose and fell unevenly. One final box remained. My fingers shook violently as I picked it up and walked toward the couch, knees weak. Cassian’s phone charged nearby. My heart lurched. I glanced at it, breath catching, hands trembling.

As I reached for the box, a notification lit up the screen. My chest constricted painfully. I leaned toward the low glass table, fingers brushing the edge-then froze. The screen lock was a picture of me, collecting the roses from Sean’s farmhouse.