Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

By the time Kieran returned from his council meeting, it was already late. But I had to tell him about the strange message.

He entered the room, his gaze falling on the scroll clutched in my hand. “What’s that, Clara?”

I exhaled meeting his gaze. “It’s from Emaline,” I said.

“Why does that name sound familiar?”

“Because it is. It is the name of the third witch. The one that was much younger amongst the three.”

“Oh yes, I remember. What does it say?”

“There’s… there’s something else they need to do. A final ritual.”

His face hardened “… Incomplete?” Kieran repeated, “Incomplete? After everything we went through, after what you did, they’re telling you it wasn’t enough?”

I could feel his anger rising.? But a part of me understood him. He had faced the nightmares and when he thinks that everything is finally okay, this comes up.

“I don’t know what they haven’t done,” I admitted, “But Emaline is coming. We’ll know more then.”

He exhaled and slumped to the bed.

“Don’t worry whatever it is, the witch will get it done and we will go back to our lives we have nothing to worry about,” I said.

The next few days, we awaited her arrival, Kieran always stayed back at the palace or came back earlier than usual so that he would not miss Emaline’s visit.

He remained withdrawn, as his anger for her delay simmered underneath his smiles.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked walking closer to him. He shrugged, “what do you think?”

“You don’t have to be overwhelmed with thoughts?”

“Why shouldn’t I? It seems like we have been waiting forever. Maybe it was a wrong message or location. Something doesn’t just feel right,” he snapped.

“Hey, calm down,” I held his chin looking into his eyes, “it’s going to be alright, now breathe.”

He sucked in the air and released slowly.

“There you go,” I smiled.

The night Emaline arrived, the air felt a bit tensed up.? She was older than I remembered, even the concealer could not hide the lines on her face. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something had happened. Just didn’t know what. Her arrival reminded me of the burden I had placed on Kieran and the danger I had brought upon him.

“What is it, Emaline? What else needs to be done?”

Emaline bowed her head slightly, “Forgive me, King Kieran,” she said. “The ritual… it was meant to bind the souls to their realm, but…”

She hesitated, moving her eyes to me and then Kieran. I braced myself for the weight of her words.

“There was a complication,” she continued. “A part of your magic, Queen Clara, became entangled with the life force during the ritual. Something that keeps the connection alive.”

“So, what now?” Kieran asked, “Another draining ritual? Another sacrifice from Clara?”

Emaline shook her head. “No, Your Majesty, this requires a different approach. A cleansing. But it will be a delicate process. It could weaken her further, perhaps it could? even take away her powers permanently.”

Permanently? That wasn’t the plan.

Kieran scoffed, he moved his eyes between I and Emaline.

“No, we can’t take away Clara’s powers. She is the chosen one. Her powers are an important part of her.”

“I don’t care about the powers Kieran; I just want this over. No more nightmares, no more whispers. As long as you are safe…”

“Are you sure about this Clara?”

I nodded.

I have never been sure about anything. All I wanted was to make sure that he was safe. The powers felt more like a curse anyway and it would be better if I did away with it. Maybe the people would feel safer without it around.

“The ritual will be performed tonight. It will require your cooperation and your focus.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“I’m ready to do whatever it takes,” I said.

Emaline led us to a hidden chamber within the palace. As soon as I stepped into the room, I felt the magical energy in it. As Emaline began the ritual, it was different from the one that we had been instructed to do by the other witches. It was more intimate and focused more on channeling my power to a mixture that she had prepared from roots and herbs.

At first, it felt normal and more energized but then, as I went on, I felt strained.

Kieran stood beside me.

“I can’t keep going,” I cried out.

The intense hotness of my palm overwhelmed me.

“Hold on a little longer you are almost there. If you stop now, you will ruin the entire process. This is the only way that you can completely stop all this going on with the King and the kingdom and it is only you that can do it.”

Her words gave me the zeal to continue and Kieran gave me strength. I pushed on shutting my eyes. Then finally, I gasped as a burst of white light erupted and the connection was severed.

I gasped letting go of my hands I slumped against Kieran. He held me close.

Emaline took up the potion mad handed it to Kieran. Drink up. He grabbed it and emptied the potion down his throat.

“You are strong, you didn’t lose your powers. You are indeed the chosen one,” Emaline said.

“It’s over,” he whispered, “It’s finally over.”

Emaline walked up to us with a weary smile gracing her lips. “The whispers are gone so are the fragments.”

We both sighed and smiled at each other.

“Thank you.”

Performing the ritual had taken a toll on me leaving me totally drained but the thought that Kieran was safe and the nightmares wouldn’t torment him anymore relieved me.

As Emaline prepared to leave, she turned to me, “Your majesty, your bravery and sacrifice have saved your king. Remember, true strength lies not in magic alone, but in the love that binds you.”

She walked out leaving me in my own thoughts.

Kieran helped me to my feet he put his hands around me as we followed behind.

“Thank you, for everything Emaline,” Kieran said.

She bowed her head, “May your child bring joy and light to your kingdom.”

With those words, she vanished into the night. leaving behind a comforting silence. Kieran turned to me.

“Clara, I’m so glad that I get to do this with you. To be here with you and share this very moment.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.

“Me too,” I whispered.

“With everything that has been going on ever since you came into my life, had been a preparation for this very moment. You made me see life clearly.”

I chucked.

“What?” He asked.

“You have said that before,” I said.

“Well, I will keep saying it because it is true. This isn’t just some make-up lines to make you happy. This is the truth. We’ll face everything together, alright? You, me, and our little one.”

He placed a hand on my stomach, “We’ll be a family.”