Curves And Claws: The Lycan King's Relentless Claim novel Chapter 50

**Fireflies in Winter Rain — Neil A. Varma**
**Chapter 50**

Roana,

The atmosphere shifted dramatically following our earlier conversation. I had hoped that by establishing a boundary, he might soften, but instead, he seemed to retreat further into himself, his demeanor colder than it had been during our initial meeting at the café.

At this moment, I found myself stirring a cup of ginger honey tea in the lobby outside Alpha Davis’s official conference room. The meeting that was originally scheduled for yesterday had been postponed, now convening solely with the Alphas.

Seated beside Faelyn, I could feel her occasional glances directed my way, a playful smile dancing on her lips. It was as if she was waiting for me to engage, but I remained lost in my thoughts, unresponsive to her attempts at conversation. Finally, she cleared her throat, leaning in closer, her curiosity piqued.

“You seem to be glowing today. Did His Majesty offer you some consolation after your mother’s encounter?” she teased, her fingers twisting a lock of hair as if she relished every word.

“What makes you say that?” I replied, raising an eyebrow, even as I felt a warm blush creeping up my cheeks at the mere thought of that morning. But soon, a bitter taste filled my mouth, overshadowing the warmth.

Her grin broadened, and she subtly pointed to my neck.

Without thinking, my hand instinctively moved to the spot that had been pulsing since the morning. He had bitten me there, dangerously close to the marking spot.

But I was certain I had applied enough concealer to mask any evidence of it.

“You’re overthinking this,” I attempted to sound nonchalant. “Anyway… did Alpha Davis discuss any solutions for the ongoing problem? It seems to me that it would only lead to losses for both sides.” I took a sip of my tea, the comforting aroma of honey and ginger easing my frayed nerves just a little.

Faelyn leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting toward the frosted glass wall. “Well, we’re working hard to find some common ground. Our pack is heavily involved in wood, charcoal, and electricity production. But most of our agricultural goods, including meat and fish, come from them. The Southern Ocean Region is reluctant to remain part of the Ocean Region due to communication issues.”

“Then why not find a way to resolve it? We have rivers and oceans that connect us,” I suggested, feeling the frustration bubble within me.

“The issue lies with boats and ships interfering with fishing activities. We haven’t been able to provide sufficient seafood for our members. It’s a complicated situation,” she explained.

“I see,” I murmured, the intricate web of the Ocean Region’s economy becoming clearer. It was a delicate balance, both sides intertwined yet starkly divided.

“Why not use trains?” I muttered, trying to settle more comfortably in my chair. “We have ample resources to connect one pack to another. A railway line could easily bridge the gap.”

“Trains?” she scoffed lightly, shaking her head. “We’re surrounded by ocean. The only connection between the two parts of the region is the power plant. The bridge is only used for the—”

“But we have the largest forest in the Southern Region,” I interrupted, my voice rising slightly. “What are we using it for?”

She froze mid-sentence, her expression faltering as she turned to study my face. “It seems you don’t know much about our regulations.”

Her tone caused a frown to form on my lips. “What do you mean?”

The previous Alpha King had established a rule that strictly forbade any damage to the forest. We weren’t even allowed to harvest certain plants. It had become an inconvenience for everyone, despite our efforts to protect nature. Yet, this law prevented us from gathering enough wood to build homes.

“Former Alpha King?” I echoed, my curiosity piqued.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

I let out a soft scoff. “Isn’t it ironic? According to the laws, a Pack Leader cannot abandon their pack unless faced with a life-threatening situation. Yet, our former Alpha King left his throne simply because his golden son lost to our current King.” I crossed my arms, meeting her gaze directly. “Why should we respect a leader who deserted his people when the going got tough? Especially when we’ve been more diligent in preserving nature than he ever was?”

Faelyn stared at me, visibly taken aback, as if I had just uttered a forbidden truth.

“Girl, you never fail to surprise me,” she said after a moment, a chuckle escaping her lips. “I remember last year’s summit—you spoke just as boldly then. Even Commander Keane was impressed by your words.”

Commander Keane? His name rang a bell; he had expressed something similar before.

“It’s not bold,” I replied, my voice steady. “It’s simply the truth. Alpha Wolfram destroyed an entire forest to establish his own pack, designating his eldest son as Alpha. What happened to his precious law then? No one even dares to speak about it. That’s what amazes me.”

I placed my teacup down, the porcelain making a soft clink against the saucer. Though this wasn’t a typical topic for discussion, everyone was familiar with bits and pieces of Cassian’s childhood.

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