Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 50

**Fireflies in Winter Rain — Neil A. Varma**
**Chapter 50**

Roana,

The atmosphere shifted dramatically following our earlier conversation. I had hoped that by establishing a boundary, he might soften, but instead, he seemed to retreat further into himself, his demeanor colder than it had been during our initial meeting at the café.

At this moment, I found myself stirring a cup of ginger honey tea in the lobby outside Alpha Davis’s official conference room. The meeting that was originally scheduled for yesterday had been postponed, now convening solely with the Alphas.

Seated beside Faelyn, I could feel her occasional glances directed my way, a playful smile dancing on her lips. It was as if she was waiting for me to engage, but I remained lost in my thoughts, unresponsive to her attempts at conversation. Finally, she cleared her throat, leaning in closer, her curiosity piqued.

“You seem to be glowing today. Did His Majesty offer you some consolation after your mother’s encounter?” she teased, her fingers twisting a lock of hair as if she relished every word.

“What makes you say that?” I replied, raising an eyebrow, even as I felt a warm blush creeping up my cheeks at the mere thought of that morning. But soon, a bitter taste filled my mouth, overshadowing the warmth.

Her grin broadened, and she subtly pointed to my neck.

Without thinking, my hand instinctively moved to the spot that had been pulsing since the morning. He had bitten me there, dangerously close to the marking spot.

But I was certain I had applied enough concealer to mask any evidence of it.

“You’re overthinking this,” I attempted to sound nonchalant. “Anyway… did Alpha Davis discuss any solutions for the ongoing problem? It seems to me that it would only lead to losses for both sides.” I took a sip of my tea, the comforting aroma of honey and ginger easing my frayed nerves just a little.

Faelyn leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting toward the frosted glass wall. “Well, we’re working hard to find some common ground. Our pack is heavily involved in wood, charcoal, and electricity production. But most of our agricultural goods, including meat and fish, come from them. The Southern Ocean Region is reluctant to remain part of the Ocean Region due to communication issues.”

“Then why not find a way to resolve it? We have rivers and oceans that connect us,” I suggested, feeling the frustration bubble within me.

“The issue lies with boats and ships interfering with fishing activities. We haven’t been able to provide sufficient seafood for our members. It’s a complicated situation,” she explained.

“I see,” I murmured, the intricate web of the Ocean Region’s economy becoming clearer. It was a delicate balance, both sides intertwined yet starkly divided.

“Why not use trains?” I muttered, trying to settle more comfortably in my chair. “We have ample resources to connect one pack to another. A railway line could easily bridge the gap.”

“Trains?” she scoffed lightly, shaking her head. “We’re surrounded by ocean. The only connection between the two parts of the region is the power plant. The bridge is only used for the—”

“But we have the largest forest in the Southern Region,” I interrupted, my voice rising slightly. “What are we using it for?”

She froze mid-sentence, her expression faltering as she turned to study my face. “It seems you don’t know much about our regulations.”

Her tone caused a frown to form on my lips. “What do you mean?”

The previous Alpha King had established a rule that strictly forbade any damage to the forest. We weren’t even allowed to harvest certain plants. It had become an inconvenience for everyone, despite our efforts to protect nature. Yet, this law prevented us from gathering enough wood to build homes.

“Former Alpha King?” I echoed, my curiosity piqued.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

I let out a soft scoff. “Isn’t it ironic? According to the laws, a Pack Leader cannot abandon their pack unless faced with a life-threatening situation. Yet, our former Alpha King left his throne simply because his golden son lost to our current King.” I crossed my arms, meeting her gaze directly. “Why should we respect a leader who deserted his people when the going got tough? Especially when we’ve been more diligent in preserving nature than he ever was?”

Faelyn stared at me, visibly taken aback, as if I had just uttered a forbidden truth.

“Girl, you never fail to surprise me,” she said after a moment, a chuckle escaping her lips. “I remember last year’s summit—you spoke just as boldly then. Even Commander Keane was impressed by your words.”

Commander Keane? His name rang a bell; he had expressed something similar before.

“It’s not bold,” I replied, my voice steady. “It’s simply the truth. Alpha Wolfram destroyed an entire forest to establish his own pack, designating his eldest son as Alpha. What happened to his precious law then? No one even dares to speak about it. That’s what amazes me.”

I placed my teacup down, the porcelain making a soft clink against the saucer. Though this wasn’t a typical topic for discussion, everyone was familiar with bits and pieces of Cassian’s childhood.

I surveyed the room, the weight of Cassian’s command still heavy in the air. “We should utilize the mangrove forest,” I declared finally, my voice unwavering.

“Your Highness!” Lorenzo snapped in protest, stepping forward. “Please, mind your words. It’s against the law. You cannot say something so outrageous—”

“Why is it outrageous?” I asked quietly, my tone sharp and unyielding. “Explain it to me.”

An oppressive silence enveloped the room. Even the air seemed to thicken with tension. Lorenzo’s expression darkened with barely restrained anger. I could sense his disdain for me, though the reason eluded me.

“It’s against the law,” he repeated, his voice flat. “We can’t touch the mangrove forest.”

“Law made by the very person who abandoned his throne and obliterated an entire forest to build his own pack?” I countered, my voice slicing through the heaviness like a knife.

Lorenzo took a step back, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Your Highness,” one of the older Alphas spoke carefully, “it’s true that the forest could serve as a significant resource for communication, but it remains against the law. Laws cannot simply be changed.”

“His Majesty didn’t establish these laws,” I replied, my voice steady yet firm. “His words are the laws in this territory. The moment a leader forsakes their pack, leaving their people behind, all their laws, orders, and authority become null and void. The former Alpha King who unjustly abandoned his kingdom has no right to dictate the laws of this region.”

My words rang out clear and final.

“You have every right to file a petition to revise the laws. Moreover, the Ocean Region’s mangrove forest need not be destroyed. We can utilize the Bankery Shore to construct the railway instead. That way, the forest remains untouched.”

They exchanged incredulous glances, as if I had just revealed a closely guarded secret. The disbelief in the room was palpable.

“You even know about the Bankery Shore?” Lorenzo asked, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“Now it’s your choice,” I said, meeting their gazes with unwavering determination. “Fix your own problem. There’s no reason to sever ties with your own people simply because communication is challenging. Laws are meant to evolve; break one to build another. That is the true nature of law.”