Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 84

**Title: Fireflies in Winter Rain**

**Chapter 84**

Roana,

As Cassian lifted me into the car, a tempest of emotions swirled within me, each wave crashing against the shore of my heart. I could sense his connection to Keane through the mind-link, a silent communication that conveyed our departure and reassured him that Carolyn had made it home safely. Yet, even amidst this reassurance, a sharp pang of guilt gnawed at my insides for leaving Keane without a proper farewell. It felt wrong to abandon him without a word, but the circumstances left me with little choice. The lingering scent of their King clung to my skin, a constant reminder of my vulnerability in this moment, and the guilt twisted in my chest like a knife, sharp and unyielding. Yet, beneath that weight, the bond I shared with Cassian tugged insistently, pulling my focus back to the man who effortlessly cradled me in his arms.

Cassian was unusually quiet after our earlier exchange, a heavy silence enveloping us as he carried me to the car, treating me like I was as light as a feather. His embrace was unnervingly secure, a fortress amidst my chaotic thoughts. Despite the frantic whispers in my mind urging me to maintain my composure, my body instinctively leaned into his warmth, seeking solace in his presence.

Settled in the backseat beside Cassian, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, my heart racing each time our eyes nearly met. He was undeniably captivating, his silver hair tousled in a way that made him look effortlessly alluring, like a wild creature of the night. An overwhelming urge surged within me, compelling me to run my fingers through those moonlight-like strands. Each time my gaze wandered over him, the bond hummed in response, urging me to act on my desires, to bridge the distance between us.

Without a moment’s thought, my hand rose, guided by an impulse I couldn’t quite control. Cassian had his eyes closed, lost in a world of his own, and the furrow of his brow hinted at something deeper, something dangerous yet enticing. My wolf stirred within me, a primal instinct urging me to reach out, to connect, to feel him more intimately than ever before.

My fingers trembled as I surrendered to my intrusive thoughts. His hair was still damp with sweat when I gently brushed my fingers through it. As my thumb grazed the edge of his ear, he flinched, a low growl rumbling from deep within him. The bond between us tightened like a taut string, sending shivers coursing through my body, igniting a fire that flickered dangerously close to the surface.

In an instant, his eyes snapped open, locking onto mine with an intensity that sent my heart racing. I barely had time to retract my hand before he was looking at me, his expression inscrutable yet filled with a fiery intensity that made my insides melt into a puddle of confusion.

“Luna?” he whispered, his voice low and charged with an emotion I couldn’t quite place, a mixture of longing and urgency that sent a thrill down my spine.

I instinctively pulled my hand back, clutching it to my chest as if to shield myself from the storm brewing between us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to excuse my actions, but my words faltered as he seized my wrist, his grip sending a jolt of electricity up my arm, the bond reacting as though scolding me for my retreat.

“Touch me again!” His voice was frantic, almost desperate, his breath uneven as though he were fighting to stay afloat in turbulent waters, and I could see the battle raging within him.

“Wh-What?” My jaw dropped in disbelief as he placed my hand back on his head. “I was just—!” My words tangled in my throat as the bond tightened around me, a burning sensation spreading beneath my skin, igniting a hunger I hadn’t anticipated.

He took my other hand and guided it to his face, his trimmed beard brushing against my palm, the warmth of his cheek igniting a fire within me that spread like wildfire. My fingers curled instinctively, responding to him before I could comprehend what I was doing, my body betraying my mind.

“You are burning!” I gasped, concern flooding my voice as I thought he might be feverish, caught in the throes of something beyond our control.

“Yes!” he breathed out softly, but my entire body froze when I felt something soft brush against my hand resting atop his head.

Slowly, I looked up, my eyes widening in disbelief. My breath hitched in my throat, caught somewhere between shock and awe. My wolf whined softly, utterly captivated by the sight before me.

With tentative movements, I confirmed I wasn’t dreaming. There they were—his Lycan ears, fluffy and large, radiating warmth like a living embodiment of my desires. They felt like a soft hairband, and I couldn’t help but gently stroke them with my thumb, lost in the sensation.

“Ngh—” Cassian murmured, burying his face into my shoulder the moment I touched his ear. His grip on me tightened, as if he feared I might vanish into thin air. The mate-bond pulsed between us, thick and intoxicating, wrapping us in a cocoon of raw emotion.

“Wait a minute!” I whispered, my gaze flickering to the reflection in the window, my heart racing as realization dawned on me. “Are you, by chance, in your rut?”

Heat coursed through my body, awareness dawning on me like the first light of dawn. Thankfully, he seemed to be managing his scent, or else—

My thoughts were abruptly cut off as a musky, intoxicating aroma enveloped me, making the bond thrum loudly in my head, rendering me weak and breathless. My thighs tensed, breath hitching as the pull sharpened painfully, igniting a primal need within me.

“Your Majesty. Please control yourself now!” I managed to whisper, barely holding my breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

He lifted his gaze, and to my utter shock, his eyes had turned a brilliant golden hue, glowing with an intensity that made my heart race. Then, like a playful pup, he pouted and nuzzled into the crook of my neck. My body jolted at the contact, the bond sending sparks dancing beneath my skin, igniting a fire that spread through my veins.

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