Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 47

**Fireflies in Winter Rain — Neil A. Varma**

**Chapter 47**

Cassian,

A heavy realization settled upon me like a thick fog: Roana was deeply wounded by the relentless cruelty of a society obsessed with unattainable ideals of beauty. Each time someone cast her a sideways glance or offered a smile tinged with condescension, I could see her fighting a silent battle to maintain her composure. She donned the mask of indifference, striving to appear unaffected by the harsh judgments that surrounded her like a storm.

Yet, the innocent smile that once lit up her face, the very expression that accentuated her beauty, seemed to vanish like a fleeting star swallowed by dark clouds. The contrast was stark and heartbreaking.

I struggled to comprehend the depths of her pain, but it was clear that the burden of it all weighed heavily upon her.

And here I stood, a mere observer in her life, acutely aware that she would have to face those same judgmental eyes time and again, enduring their scorn and prejudice. It felt as though their sole purpose was to make the lives of others as difficult as possible, to strip away their dignity piece by piece.

As I lay on the bed, my gaze tracing the contours of her back, a profound realization washed over me. She was right; she was alone in this battle, and I was merely a flickering flame that could just as easily burn her as provide warmth.

I had always prided myself on my emotional detachment, on my ability to remain indifferent to the suffering of others. The lives of those around me had never truly concerned me. But after our earlier conversation in that secluded corner of the world, I came to understand the truth of her words—she deserved far more than I could ever offer.

Roana needed someone who would cherish her, someone capable of loving her without the constraints of obligation. Not a contractual husband who merely existed beside her, failing to provide the warmth of a genuine future filled with unconditional love.

“Can’t sleep?” Roana’s voice sliced through my reverie, pulling me back to the present moment. I turned to see her still facing the wall, her silhouette a mere shadow against the dim light.

“Hmmm!” I replied, my eyes drifting to the ceiling, lost in my own thoughts.

She didn’t respond immediately but shifted slightly, creating a greater distance between us. How peculiar! From the very first day, her presence in my room had never bothered me, not even an ounce, despite my general disdain for anyone intruding upon my personal space.

“Miss Roana!” I called out softly, my voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the fragile atmosphere.

“Hmmm?” she replied, her tone curious yet cautious, a hint of wariness lurking beneath.

“When your mother claimed that Alexander wasn’t your father, you fell silent. Why was that?”

What had I just asked? I had intended to inquire about something else entirely. Damn!

I noticed her body stiffen at my words, but she took a deep breath before responding. “Because I knew from the very start that he wasn’t my father. And—”

Finally, she turned to face me, a grin emerging on her lips, tinged with mockery and despair. “A part of me, a deeply pathetic part, felt a flicker of happiness, a glimmer of hope. For just a moment, I longed to return to the life where I felt genuinely happy!”

My eyes widened in shock. Did she just admit she wished to go back to Alexander?

“Funny, isn’t it?” she chuckled, her laughter laced with pain and heartache, a sound that echoed with unspoken sorrow.

“Did you truly care for Alexander that much?” The question slipped from my lips, leaving a bitter taste I hadn’t anticipated.

“I did,” she confessed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, as if searching for answers among the stars. “More than anything else. I vowed to love him unconditionally. But when those conditions began to surface, when I realized I was merely a tool for their ambitions, when I discovered that I was never his true love as he had whispered to me, I came to understand that unconditional love is a fallacy. Love cannot rectify everything.” She inhaled deeply, her breath shaky, revealing the tremors of her heart.

“Honestly, I still find myself in love with that version of Alexander who uplifted my self-worth. He was my cheerleader during our hunting competitions, always there to celebrate my victories, especially when I won my first race despite everyone believing I was too heavy to succeed. It feels like a distant dream now!”

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