Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 98

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

**Chapter 98**

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I found myself standing at the edge of the lake, the world around me blurring into a haze of thoughts and emotions. Time seemed to slip away, and I couldn’t quite grasp how long I had been there. The chilly breeze brushed against my skin like an icy caress, sharp and stinging, a stark reminder of the cold reality I faced. I had been willing to accept the chaos of my family as nothing more than unfortunate happenstance, but now that the truth had revealed itself, it felt like a cruel joke played at my expense.

How could parents so easily discard a child simply because they were perceived as weak? Was this some twisted form of humor?

“They aren’t parents, Roana!” Rye’s voice cut through my thoughts, filled with an anguish that mirrored my own. “They’re like ruthless businessmen. They choose their successors based on strength and capability. Once one of their children shows signs of weakness, they toss them aside like yesterday’s garbage!”

I nodded slowly, sinking onto the grass. My knees felt like jelly, and I could feel my fingers trembling as they grazed the frosted blades beneath me. This frozen world around me seemed to echo my feelings of emptiness—cold and indifferent, devoid of any warmth or comfort.

As I sat there, enveloped in my own solitude, a hand suddenly landed on my shoulder, causing me to flinch. I turned my head so quickly that my breath caught in my throat.

“Is everything alright? Why are you out here?”

It was Sean, standing there with two buckets filled to the brim with apples and raspberries. Concern etched across his features, his brows furrowed slightly. “It’s freezing! Shouldn’t you be wearing something warmer?”

I hastily wiped my face with the back of my hand, standing up awkwardly. “What are you doing here?”

“Delivering these. But what’s wrong? Are you crying? Did you have a fight with His Majesty?” he asked gently, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher the storm of emotions swirling within me.

“Nah. Just feeling a bit under the weather. Can I have one apple?” I gestured toward his bucket, my voice barely above a whisper, shaky and uncertain.

“Come with me!” he urged, reaching out for my hand. Instinctively, I recoiled, pulling my hand back before I even realized it. My heart raced at the thought of being seen holding another man’s hand in public.

“Ah. Sorry!” he replied, offering me a tight-lipped smile, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

“It’s fine,” I mumbled, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks in the cold air.

“Come on, anyway. Keane is there too. It’ll be nice to spend the afternoon together, don’t you think?”

“Keane? Doesn’t he have duty today?” I asked, trailing behind him, my steps reluctant.

“Nope! I heard His Majesty granted the commanders the rest of the day off. That’s why I wondered if you had a fight with him. Keane mentioned he looked grumpy!” He winked at me before opening the door to his pickup.

Grumpy? It seemed that the earlier conversation still lingered in his mind.

I climbed into the pickup and fastened my seatbelt, my fingers fumbling slightly. I needed to clear my head, but for a fleeting moment, I felt the weight of someone’s gaze upon me. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I glanced outside, searching for the source, but found nothing.

Convinced it was just my imagination, I forced myself to relax into the seat. Sean remained silent, simply offering me an apple, his expression gentle.

“My sister will be home today. Let’s enjoy the evening together, okay?”

11:04 Tue, Dec 16

**Chapter 98**

I nodded and took the apple, my hands still slightly chilly.

My mind buzzed with a whirlwind of thoughts that I struggled to push aside until we reached the farmhouse.

The yard was a riot of colors, flowers blooming vibrantly all around, creating a stunning visual feast. I inhaled deeply, and the sweet aroma of apple pie and plum sauce wafted toward me, momentarily easing my troubled mind.

It seemed his sister was busy baking.

“Let’s go,” he said with a warm smile.

As we approached the house, just as I stepped forward, Sean called out to me from behind, his voice quick and a touch anxious, “Roana. If you don’t mind, could you grab some strawberries and those Rugosa roses from the yard? I forgot to collect them!” He held up a small basket like it was evidence of his forgetfulness. “My sister asked me to pick them, but I completely spaced out!”

“Sure,” I replied, nodding.

“Just pick enough to make jam!” he added, his tone light.

“Got it.” I made my way to the yard, starting with the strawberries. Their vibrant red hue was so enticing that I found myself snacking on a few as I picked, the sweetness bursting in my mouth.

My heart raced as I turned around, eyes widening in surprise. Cassian stood there, a bouquet of red roses in his hands, his gaze soft yet troubled.

“No wonder I felt someone else was here,” Rye teased playfully inside my mind.

Cassian stepped closer, and before I could process what was happening, he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. My breath hitched, and my chest tightened at the unexpected intimacy.

“Happy Birthday, My Marshmallow,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips.

A knot formed in my stomach, leaving me momentarily paralyzed. I couldn’t think, couldn’t move. My heart raced painfully fast, as if it might burst. His warm breath mingled with the scent of him, enveloping me like a drug.

I lowered my gaze, my eyelashes fluttering. In a moment of overwhelming emotion, I set the basket of strawberries and roses down on the floor.

My hands trembled as I took the rose bouquet from him and tossed it into the basket.

He looked bewildered, his eyes widening in confusion. Before he could react or feel hurt, I wrapped my arms around his waist tightly.

Tears spilled over onto his waistcoat, and my body shook as a sob escaped me, unbidden. My throat burned with the weight of unspoken words. I wanted to tell him everything about the Mortias, how deeply their words had cut me, how they made me feel vulnerable and unwanted, as if I didn’t deserve anything at all.

But the words wouldn’t come. The wall I had built to keep myself together finally cracked, then shattered, and I fell apart completely.

Cassian didn’t move at first, his breath catching slightly, but then he enveloped me in his arms, holding me tightly—firmly enough that I felt anchored. His eyes widened, filled with confusion and pain as he drew me closer.

“What happened? This doesn’t sound like happy crying,” Sean’s sister murmured, her voice small and filled with concern.

“As I suspected, something really did happen to them,” Sean said quietly.

“You all go inside. We’ll join you in a bit,” Cassian instructed. Then, without warning, he scooped me into his arms.

I didn’t lift my head. I buried my face deeper into his chest, muffling my sobs against him. His heartbeat thudded steadily against my ear.

“Cry as much as you want,” he whispered, walking toward the flower garden. His scent enveloped me, warm and comforting, wrapping around me like a soft blanket.

I clung to him tightly, my nails digging lightly into his shirt. In response, he placed gentle kisses on my head—silent consolations that made my chest tighten even more.