Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 40

**Chapter 40**

Carolyn.

“Carolyn, have you completely lost your mind?”

The instant Beta Lorenzo crossed the threshold into my room, a frigid wave of dread washed over me. He held tightly to the very bowl and spoon I had carelessly used for dinner, and his expression was a mask of grim determination that sent shivers down my spine. My heart raced uncontrollably as he forcefully placed the bowl and spoon on the table, the sound reverberating ominously in the tense silence that enveloped us. “What were you attempting to do when you added poison to her soup?”

I recoiled instinctively, my eyes widening in a rehearsed display of innocence. “How… What do you mean by that?” I attempted to laugh lightly, but the sound quickly faded under the weight of Lorenzo’s piercing gaze. My voice quivered as I struggled to maintain a facade of calm, desperately hoping he might believe I was genuinely shaken by his accusation.

“What are you doing? I specifically told you to keep your voice down. Are you trying to provoke the King? Have you forgotten the first three rules? Never upset him, never defy his decisions, and—” His eyes bore into mine, sharp and menacing, like a predator sizing up its prey. “Never let him know what’s swirling around in that shrimp-sized brain of yours.”

“Beta Lorenzo! You must be mistaken! I would never poison her!” My protest erupted from my lips in a hurried rush, too eager, too frantic. He brandished the spoon in front of me, like a judge presenting damning evidence in a courtroom.

“Look at the color of the spoon! Did you forget that all our utensils in the kitchen are made of silver and equipped with poison directive sensors?”

My heart plummeted, and I felt the blood drain from my face. For a heartbeat, the world around me faded into a blur, and all I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breath. I had overlooked the spoon—the one crucial detail that could unravel my entire scheme. The poison was colorless, tasteless, and odorless; the bowl would have concealed my intentions perfectly, but the spoon had betrayed me. My chest tightened with the weight of my realization. One small misstep, and all my meticulous plans could come crashing down.

“I… I didn’t know! Do you think she realized I poisoned her?” My fingers trembled nervously, and I let panic seep into my voice, hoping it would cast doubt in his mind.

“I don’t think she did.” He tossed the spoon back into the bowl with a dismissive flick, as if discarding a revolting truth. “Or perhaps she did and has chosen to keep it to herself.”

“She drank the entire soup! She can’t be that naive!” I shot back, my voice rising too loud, too forced, betraying the anxiety that churned within me.

“That’s precisely the issue. And if she truly kept it hidden, then she’s not someone to be dealt with lightly.” His voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone, the kind that etched warnings into stone, sending a chill down my spine.

“What do you mean? Are you suggesting that her silence is a threat to me? She drank the entire soup knowing it was poisonous and didn’t utter a word!” A surge of anger flared within me; fear was useful, but it only served as a mask for the fury bubbling beneath the surface.

“Can’t you grasp the psychology at play here? Are you really that dim?” he hissed, frustration lacing his tone. “She knows very well that Cassian would never believe her claims. But once the poison starts to take a toll on her health, he will undoubtedly investigate. Do you understand the gravity of what you’re dealing with? That woman possesses the Alpha Wolf. She’s not someone you can easily manipulate!”

“What?” My eyes narrowed in disbelief, a storm of confusion swirling in my mind. “What do you mean by Alpha Wolf? She doesn’t seem like she has an Alpha Wolf!” I envisioned her—weak, inexperienced, a mere paper target. I had always thought she was nothing more than a burden of fat and unattractiveness.

“That’s what I believed at first as well. But when I witnessed her Wolf firsthand, I was convinced. Her wolf is not only twice the size of an ordinary wolf, but it’s also a silver wolf.”

“Silver wolf?” The term caught in my throat, sending a tremor of unease through me. In the western southern packs, all I had ever encountered were gray wolves. “Wait a minute. Alpha Milestones and his Luna are gray wolves… So why is she a silver wolf?”

“How would I know? And frankly, it’s none of your concern at the moment. You need to be cautious when dealing with her.”

“How can I be cautious when she’s literally usurping my sister’s position?” Anger ignited within me, flames of resentment licking at my resolve. I let it blaze. If I couldn’t poison her outright, I would still seize everything she had—status, favor, influence. I would suffocate her options until she begged to be rid of her situation.

“Are you really that foolish? The Northern Regions are targeting all the women around His Majesty. Now that Roana is in the picture, once they catch wind of her, their focus will shift. It will become easier for your sister to return.” Lorenzo’s words settled in my mind like a chilling plan etched in frost.

His reasoning pierced through my haze of anger, sharp and precise. If the North fixated on Roana, they would draw her into their web, creating distractions and chaos. My sister’s return could be orchestrated amidst the turmoil.

It seemed I needed to act.

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