Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 28

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Chapter 28

I sank back into my chair, the smooth surface of the polished desk pressing firmly against my palms. Beside me, Lorenzo stood rigidly, the papers he held trembling faintly in his grasp. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a soft glow across the room, but it felt insignificant compared to the heavy tension radiating from him.

“Your Majesty, the Ocean Region’s meeting is approaching,” he began, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other.

His fingers nervously fumbled through the stack of documents as he placed them on the desk, the sharp tapping of the papers echoing in the otherwise still room. “Are you seriously considering bringing Roana to that meeting? Honestly, I believe Carolyn would be a far better choice—”

He stopped abruptly, swallowing hard, his eyes darting to mine and then quickly away. “We don’t know what might happen if you actually attend such a crucial gathering with her.”

I felt my knuckles grow white as I gripped the pen before me. Slowly and deliberately, I leaned forward, fixing my gaze on him like a trap. His hesitation, the subtle tremor in his voice—it all felt like a direct challenge I was not about to entertain.

“What exactly are you implying, Lorenzo?” My tone was calm, but beneath the surface lay a sharp edge, a steel resolve. “Are you questioning my decision to appoint her as my Luna?”

He recoiled slightly, almost imperceptibly, his hand brushing against his chest as if to steady himself. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling to find the right words under the weight of my stare.

“No! Absolutely not,” he finally said, voice tight and bordering on pleading. His shoulders were tense, and the faint tapping of his shoe against the floor betrayed the anxiety coiled inside him. “I would never question your judgment, Your Majesty. But… we can’t ignore the possibility that she might not be the right person to stand beside you.”

I leaned back once more, letting the pen spin lazily between my fingers, though my eyes never left him. A faint crease appeared between my brows—not from anger, but from the sheer effort of watching him squirm under my scrutiny.

“I feel your mindset is limiting, Lorenzo,” I said, letting the words hang in the air, sharp enough to make him flinch. “It is my prerogative to decide who is worthy to stand by my side. I have chosen her. That decision is final. There will be no further discussion on this matter.”

He stiffened visibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. A bead of sweat formed at his temple. His lips parted as if to speak, then pressed shut again, realizing the futility. My gaze held him completely captive; the silent weight of it left no room for argument.

“And about Carolyn,” I continued, leaning forward, hands clasped tightly on the desk. “She is not fit for the role of Luna, regardless of how skilled she is at managing the household. Being Luna demands far more than that—strength, insight, intuition, loyalty, and, of course, the ability to fight alongside the Alpha. These are qualities that cannot be learned overnight or feigned. If she cannot embody them, she has no place beside me.”

He pressed his lips into a thin line of reluctant acceptance. He knew it was true. We had tried to mold Carolyn into a replacement for her sister, but Carolyn lacked the courage to fight, to face cruelty, and most importantly, the willingness to shed blood.

I set the pen down firmly, my eyes softening just enough for him to catch the quiet, predatory satisfaction that came from knowing I was unchallenged. “Roana will accompany me to the meeting,” I declared, my voice dropping slightly, intimate and possessive. “Send the finest fashion designers to her. She will have everything she needs today. Nothing less.”

He nodded stiffly, as if releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding since entering the room. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said quietly, almost reverently. Turning to leave, I allowed my gaze to follow him to the door before returning to the papers scattered on the desk.

The silence was broken by the soft echo of boots approaching. One of my soldiers, young but alert, saluted crisply. “Your Majesty,” he said, his voice steady though I caught a subtle tremor beneath, “we have discovered a secret passage near the mansion. We have been monitoring it, but so far no Rogues have been detected in the vicinity.”