Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

The weeks flew by but the memory of the red eyes that I had seen in the bushes did not leave my mind. I couldn’t quite shake it off.

One morning, as I sparred with Kieran in the training room, the memory resurfaced. Sweat dripped down my forehead, the anxiety churning in my stomach. We locked eyes for a beat, and the question that had been simmering within me finally escaped my lips.

“Did they ever find anything?” I asked.

Kieran’s brow furrowed slightly. “Find anything?” he echoed; his voice was normal.

“From the guards that you sent to check out the red eyes,” I clarified, “The red eyes in the bushes. Did the guard you sent see anything?”

“No,” he said, his voice firm. “There was nothing. No sign of intruders, no unusual activity.”

I felt relieved again.

“Are you sure?” I persisted; my voice had become a touch higher than usual.

Kieran stopped our sparring session, his gaze fixed on me. “Clara,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “We conducted a thorough investigation. There was no threat.”

Part of me wanted to believe him, to trust in his judgment. But the memory of the red eyes, so vivid and unsettling, refused to leave my mind.

“But what if there was something they missed?” I countered.

Kieran sighed, “Then we will deal with it when it presents itself,” he said. “Right now, we focus on what’s real your training, the kingdom’s safety.”

I nodded.

Days turned into weeks, and I waited to hear the news of an attack. But nothing came forward. Kieran always said no when I asked about it until eventually, I had to stop. The kingdom remained peaceful, the threats seemingly dissolving. It was like we were normal again. Our training sessions continued, but the conversations became more relaxed than how it was before.

The rhythmic tap of my heels against the polished marble floor echoed through the huge library. Which felt different from the hushed whispers that I was used to. My fingers trailed across the worn spines of leather-bound volumes; each one was a portal to a different world. I needed to find the perfect book.

Slipping between two towering bookshelves, I frowned in concentration. Fantasy? Too predictable. History? A bit dry for my current mood. Suddenly, a shadow fell across the worn rug beneath my feet. I looked up, startled, to find Kieran standing there.

“Lost in the labyrinth of literature, Lady Clara?” he asked, in a low murmur.

“Just searching for an adventure,” I replied, with a playful smile. “Something with a bit of… magic.”

He chuckled, “Perhaps you’re looking in the wrong section,” he suggested, his gaze scanning the shelves. “True magic often lies in the most unexpected places.”

“Like dusty history tomes?” I countered, raising an eyebrow.

“Exactly,” he said, a glint in his eyes. “You never know what secrets might be hidden within these ancient pages.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. His teasing manner always managed to lighten me up.

“Alright, alright,” I conceded, placing a hand on my hip. “But keep it down. We are in a library, after all.”

He was shocked, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. “Forgive me, milady,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to disturb the slumbering spirits of knowledge.”

We both burst out laughing, the sound echoed within the space.

Suddenly, Kieran cleared his throat, in a rather playful way. “Speaking of adventures,” he began, his voice dropping again to a low murmur, “would you, perhaps, be interested in embarking on one… with me?”

My heart skipped a bit. Was he…? A blush crept up my cheeks, and I stammered a reply. “An adventure?”

“Not exactly,” he clarified, “More like… a date.”

My mind raced, admixtures of emotions going through my mind. Dates weren’t exactly a part of my usual routine.

“I…” I began, unsure of how to respond. “I don’t know, Kieran. It’s just…”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, folded piece of paper. “Think about it,” he said, his voice was gentle. “Here’s the details.”

He placed the note in my hand, his fingers brushing against mine for a moment. I smiled and held on to it.

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me holding the note and a heart-pounding rhythm against my ribs. A million questions came to my mind. Where? When? What should I wear?

Curiosity gnawed at me, urging me to open the note. After taking in a deep breath, I did. The handwritten note on the paper revealed the location and time of our date. I smiled once I read through it. Kieran surely was old-fashioned. And old fashioned was romantic.

I was glad that he gave me time to think about it for a little while but deep down, I knew I already had my answer.

The mountain of clothes on my bed grew. With each dress I tossed aside it dawned on me that I had nothing to wear. A date? With Kieran? It was good, felt special, and terrifying all at once.

The idea of dressing up for anything other than training felt out of place. My wardrobe was just nothing but a bunch of normal dresses leathers and sturdy fabrics, more suited for every other thing than attracting gazes. Whenever Kieran and I wanted to go out, he always brought in the dress. Now, he wanted it a little more traditional. The more I flipped through the piles, the more I knew that I wasn’t ready for the date.

A tunic, too casual. Training pants, absolutely not. A crimson dress I’d once worn to a royal ball far too formal and nothing special.

I signed and then reached for the back of the closet. There, I saw a garment bag hanging. I opened it, and a splash of color caught my eyes. Hesitantly, I pulled out a dress I hadn’t worn in years – a gift from the best designer in the Kingdom. How could I have forgotten about it?”

The fabric was a deep sapphire blue, the color of a clear sky. It glittered softly, catching the light with a sheen. The bodice hugged my curves gently, underlined by delicate lace that dipped down the back in a V-shape. The skirt flowed down gracefully, merging around my ankles in a turn of elegance.

Although, it felt like a costume, something I wore to play a part. Today, it felt different. Holding it up against myself, I knew it was the right dress.

Slipping into the dress, the cool silk sent a pleasant coolness. The bodice fit snugly, highlighting my figure without being revealing. The skirt swirled around my legs as I moved.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

As I looked into the mirror, I could barely recognize myself.

The woman staring back had the same hair but her eyes held a spark of something new. It wasn’t just the dress; it was the way it made me feel strong, yet feminine, capable yet graceful.

Reaching for the matching sapphire Kieran had gifted I fastened it around my neck. The cool metal felt grounding against the warmth of my skin. I was actually going to do this.

Butterflies danced in my stomach as I twirled in front of the mirror, the sapphire fabric swirling around me. The dress wasn’t just a piece of clothing; it made me see myself again. Tonight, I would be Clara.