Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 3

I knew that Alexander and my parents wouldn’t leave me alone. They always tried to make me submissive, belittling me in every aspect of my life just because I was overweight.

But I could no longer let that happen. I knew that woman wasn’t pregnant with Alex’s child. After all, Alexander had already been diagnosed with azoospermia. The best healer of the Werewolf World had confirmed it himself.

What I didn’t understand was how delusional Alex had to be to believe that woman’s words. And frankly, I didn’t give a damn anymore. I knew I wasn’t attractive, I knew people didn’t find me desirable. But that didn’t mean I would let anyone step all over me or use me as their doormat.

Right after leaving the Packhouse, I mounted my horse, Candy—a white Arabian stallion gifted to me by my grandpa—and rode straight to the woods.

It was one of my favorite places to calm my soul. The dry leaves crunched under Candy’s hooves, the wind drummed in my ears like a heartbeat, keeping me both lost and awake.

I was hungry, exhausted, and mentally drained. I couldn’t believe—my soul didn’t want to believe—that the happiness I’d felt just a few hours ago had suddenly turned into a nightmare.

After playing with Candy in the woods for another thirty minutes, we arrived at the stream. The water there was as sweet as the water of the spring nearby. People usually went to the spring, but no one ever came here.

So, it had become my secret hideaway.

We both sat on the edge of an old oak stump. It was so large that even Candy could lay down without any problem.

I rested my head on her belly. She was the only one who had never hated me, never discriminated against me for being overweight. She carried me with pride and grace, and I would do anything to protect her.

As I drifted off into her warm fur, a sharp groan suddenly snapped me awake. I lifted my head, trying to figure out what it was. At first, I thought maybe the sound was from the branches of the trees creaking in the wind, so I shrugged it off.

But then Candy stirred, purring uneasily, her head turning toward the stream.

“Is there someone else?” I asked, sitting up. She rubbed her forehead against my arm in response. I couldn’t help but stand up instantly.

“Let me check! You stay here!” I kissed her forehead and slid down to the riverbank. The groan echoed again, but it wasn’t close by.

“I can smell it from the banana bush!” my wolf alerted me.

“Good job!” I whispered back and ran toward the wild banana bush that nobody ever wanted.

The closer I got, the stronger the scent became. It was woody, musky, and sharp, laced with leather. I could feel my wolf stirring inside me, restless with a familiar discomfort.

“It can’t be,” she whispered, shuddering under the weight of the scent. Then she growled with certainty, “Mate!”

My movements froze. I slipped on the ground in shock as she barked inside my head, “Roana! It’s our mate. Mate!” She jumped and rolled in excitement.

I stared at the muddy ground, my body shaking violently. Mate? I had a mate?

Who could possibly be that unlucky—to be cursed with a mate like me? Pathetic fate for him.

As I sat there in disbelief, the groaning came again. This time, my body moved on instinct, like an animal.

I ran toward the bush without stopping. But the moment I spotted the leg of a werewolf, the sharp scent of blood hit my nostrils.

“He’s injured!” Rye, my wolf, growled under her breath.

I stepped closer, cautious. At first, I thought it was just another wolf. But the moment I came fully into view, my entire body shattered.

I blinked, clutching the dirty hem of my dress. My pulse throbbed, my heart pounded, and the bond inside me came alive—raw, fierce, and painfully active.

“It’s not a werewolf,” I muttered, unable to believe my own eyes.

“Our mate is a Lycan? Unbelievable!” Rye’s shock mirrored mine. Our mate could have been anyone—but a Lycan?

And there was only one Lycan we knew.

“It’s not possible!” I told myself. “There’s no way the Lycan King is our mate, Rye. Maybe it’s just a delusion!”

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