Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

I couldn’t just stay at the palace as Kieran had instructed. I needed to be back in school for the children to see that they were fine and probably explain a few things to them. Kieran had promised not to treat me like a slave and so he had no choice but to allow me back on the school grounds.

The silence in the classroom was suffocating. It wasn’t the peaceful quiet of a focused class, it was heavy and oppressive. The children that once brimmed with boundless energy, huddled in corners with their eyes glued to the floorboards.

“Tommy?” I called out; my voice trembled slightly. Little Tommy who was usually the first to raise his hand, didn’t even dare to look up. Shame burned in my throat even more.

The fear that grew in me suddenly turned into desperation. I needed to explain, to reassure them that I wasn’t a monster. But the words felt hollow on my tongue. The image of Darrick’s lifeless body, the raw power that had coursed through me it all happened and I did it all.

I tried again, my voice cracking slightly, “I’m sorry about what happened kids. Look, that man was the monster. I… I just wanted to help. I didn’t…”

The classroom door creaked open and a teacher walked in. Her gaze flickered between me and the petrified children, and without a word, she backed away and slammed the door shut.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I felt the need to escape. Like always, I should have listened to Kieran and stayed back. I stumbled out of the classroom, tears streaming down my face. The hallway was deserted and quiet. As soon as I reached the car, I collapsed into the passenger seat, a choked sob escaping my lips.

“Please,” I stammered as tears swallowed my voice, “Please… take me back.”

The driver glanced at me through the rare-view mirror but he didn’t ask any question. He pulled out of the schoolyard, and as we sped through the city, I buried my face in my hands, the image of terrified children flashing behind my eyelids.

Back at the palace, I found Kieran in his study.

“Kieran,” I choked out, rushing into his arms. My sobs wracked him, tears soaking his shirt. He held me tight, his voice was a soothing rumble in my ear.

“It’s alright,” he murmured. “It’s alright, Clara. You’re safe now.”

But I wasn’t safe. Not from the fear in the children’s eyes, not from the guilt that ate me up inside. Kieran might have been able to comfort me physically, but he couldn’t erase the emotional pain I had experienced.

We sat in silence for a long time. Finally, my phone buzzed. It was a message from the school. My hands trembled as I opened it.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, your employment at our institution is terminated effective immediately.”

The words swam before my eyes. Fired. They had fired me.

Kieran took the phone from me. I watched as his eyes moved with the text.

“We’ll deal with this. But right now, you need to rest.”

I nodded still holding him closely.

The days that followed were a blur of emptiness like it never happened. I spent most of my time indoors. Ignoring the outside world even if Kieran asked me to accompany him to a function. I still chose my bed over everything. The hope that had within me as well as the belief that I could make a difference, had all faded away. I spent most of my time in the palace library, seeking solace in books, but even the fictional world couldn’t offer me any means of escape from the harsh reality that awaited me.

On a sunny afternoon, I went down to the palace library as usual but every book seemed not enough distraction for me. And I knew that I needed every bit of distraction that I could get. Anything to change my thoughts. I stumped out of the library. It wasn’t a good day for a book. Just as I walked past the Kitchen, I heard voices. It seemed the maid couldn’t decide on who would go for groceries at the grocery store and so I got closer. The maids went completely silent by the time they saw me.

“I can help with that, I was heading to the grocery store anyway,” I said.

They looked at each other and then back at me. I nodded and watched them.

“No, my queen. We can’t possibly send you on errands.”

“No, of course not you can’t do that. I just want to help. Seems no one wants to go. And I’m bored as fuck in this palace.”

“No, my queen. We would sort it out.”

“It’s fine seriously,” I said but they still won’t bulge.

I shrugged and walked on still holding the thought of going shopping.

I decided to take a walk to a nearby store. The walk itself was all that I needed but it wasn’t as easy as I had anticipated. People stared at me. Whispers followed me like shadows, words like “chosen one” and “witch” came from their lips.

Reaching the store, I grabbed a basket and started going through the aisles. But even here, the fear was palpable. People hurried past me, avoiding eye contact.

Just then, I came across a child in one of the sections. He looked around as though he was lost and I walked closer to him.

“Hey, Kiddo. Where is your mummy?” I stayed on one knee.

“She was right here,” the kid said.

“Maybe she is coming for you,” I said caressing his hair. Just then, one woman walked towards me.

“Here, you are,” she said as soon as she approached us.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“I saw your…”

Before I could finish, she clutched him closer, muttering something about “monsters.”

My chest tightened. I wanted to respond maybe say something to her but then I couldn’t find the words and so I just had to let it go.

My hands trembled as I put down the items I had picked up. The joy of shopping that I had come with, had been stolen from me. Leaving the basket behind, I fled the store, the fear of their gazes was a chilling reminder of my predicament.

Back in the palace, I found Kieran on the training grounds he sparred with one of the guards. He stopped when he saw me.

“What happened?” he asked, rushing towards me.

“They… they fear me,” I choked out, the tears threatening to spill again.

“Who?” He asked.

“Everyone. Every dawn person. They call me names now. They called me a witch.”

He took a deep breath; his voice became softer when he spoke.

“That’s because they don’t understand,” he said, taking my hand. “They’re scared. But we will find a way to explain it to them.”

His words offered hope, but it was like a fragile flame flickering in a strong wind. Could he truly change their minds? I didn’t know that for sure.

Days turned into weeks, and the whispers around the kingdom grew louder. Everyone saw me like a demonic figure now.

The next morning, an urgent message arrived from the palace gates. It was from the neighboring kingdoms, the ones who had attended the celebration.

“We should go,” Kieran offered his hands. But I looked away. I knew whatever it was that they came with was against me.

“You know I can’t come.”

“You have to. You are the queen.”

“I’m a fucking monster. The people now see me as a monster. Just go alone. I can’t face them.”

“You’ll only prove them right if you don’t with me. You are not a monster. You are only trying to save this kingdom and that’s in happened in that school that day. No one is going to see this unless you show them.”

I exhaled forcefully and took his hand.

Kieran led them into the grand hall, where I waited anxiously. The leader stepped forward.

“Our King, we have come seeking answers. The rumors… are they true?”

Kieran stepped forward, “The rumors are true,” he declared. “Clara possesses unique abilities, ones that are essential for the protection of this kingdom. And she only killed that Alpha because he launched an attack on her and unfortunately, the kids were present to witness it. It wasn’t a good sight for anyone to behold especially the kids. But it happened and she did what she had to do to defend herself.

The people exchanged nervous glances. Another member, a stout woman with steely eyes, spoke up.

“Protection? Or destruction?” she scoffed. “You claim your chosen one drained the life force of an Alpha. What kind of monster have you unleashed upon us?

Monster. The word echoed in my head, confirming my worst fears. Kieran took my hand in his.