The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving novel Chapter 256

256: Before the bond

Ravenhood pack

Nyra’s fingers trembled slightly as she treated Falcon’s deep wound. It had been three days, and the wound still hadn’t healed completely. That showed how serious it had been.

The male didn’t make a sound as she redressed it, as if he were used to wounds this deep.

“Nyra,” he whispered, and she looked up, jaw tight.

“How could you let yourself be this injured? Were you planning to get yourself killed?!” she suddenly snapped, catching Falcon off guard.

“I… I fought for the realm.”

“What rank did you fight with? Clearly, you can take down an Alpha. Did you go after rogue Lycans?”

Falcon’s lips parted, but no words came out, and that gave Nyra her answer.

“I can’t believe you,” she shook her head, finishing up dressing his wound, then began to leave.

“Nyra,” Falcon quickly reached out to hold her back. She met his gaze, anger and concern dancing in them.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She stared, saying nothing in several beats. Falcon swallowed as his gaze settled on her lips.

“You should be,” she snapped and left the room.

Falcon sighed, ruffling his hair.

Eryz came in, as if he had been waiting outside the whole time.

“You got your crush upset. But you fought well, my friend,” Eryz said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Are you let her know how you feel about her?”

Falcon yanked his hand away. “I’m not your friend.‘

”

still not going to

“C’mon, soldier. There’s no need to compete now. Your master is back and healthy. I can be Queen Arianna’s personal guard now,” Eryz tapped his shoulder and left the room.

Falcon let out a deep sigh as his mind drifted back to Nyra.

Elder Varyn returned and explained all that had happened in court. He kept it simple.

“The king handled it so well, even the devil would think twice before going against him.”

That was enough to describe whatever had occurred to those who witnessed the first glimpse of the king’s wrath. No one could truly imagine what happened inside that court.

“I guess we’ll be heading back to the palace soon,” Lucas said. He couldn’t wait to see his best friend again.

“I’m not going.”

Everyone turned toward Lylah, who had just spoken,

“I’ll be staying here in Ravenhood pack.”

Lucas clicked his tongue as their eyes met. Then she stood and left the room. Silence settled. A moment later, Lucas rose and followed.

He found Lylah in one of the rooms, staring at a painting in her hands. It was of her parents her father holding her mother’s waist as they smiled warmly at each other.

256: Before the bond

+25 BONUS

Lucas said nothing. He allowed the silence to linger.

“This was my room. I took this portrait and hid it so no one could find it, except my sister,” she said softly. “It’s the only thing I have left of them.”

“Hm. It’s beautiful,” he said gently.

She nodded with a quiet sigh. “I got scolded a lot back then. I was conning and stubborn. I hated being corrected, but I’d still do everything all over again. They loved me for it anyway. Supported my dream of becoming a warrior. Loved me… and L…” her voice dropped. “I wonder if they still do. I wonder if they’re proud

“They are.”

She glanced at him. “Don’t say what I want to hear.”

“I’m not. That’s the truth. Everyone is proud of you. So why wouldn’t they be?“”

Lylah took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the portrait tighter.

“Aren’t you mad at me?” she asked in a whisper, guilt thick in her tone as the memory of her last words to him returned.

‘Maybe I don’t want you around anymore, Lucas. Everyone gets hurt around me, so leave me the fuck alone. Don’t talk to me!‘

Those words nearly made her wince at how the stung.

Lucas smiled faintly. “I could never be mad at you. Even if you push me away a thousand times, I’ll keep coming back.”

Lylah bit her lip and slowly sat on the bed, her head lowered, throat tight.

“I didn’t mean any of that. I’m sorry. I just don’t understand what’s happening to me.”

“It’s okay,” he said, crouching in front of her and taking her hands. “I’ve moved past it.”

Lylah let out a shaky breath. “Like you’ve moved past Mearina? Your first love?”

He went quiet. Several moments passed in silence. She looked up at him and saw a faint frown on his face.

“You don’t trust me.”

“Lucas, you mourned her for years. You raged, you changed, you suffered because of that heartbreak.”

“But that chapter is closed, Lylah. She’s in the past.”

Lylah’s throat tightened. “I… I don’t know what to believe. What if there was no bond between us? Would you still have chosen me?”

He took a slow breath.

“I did rage. I cried. My knuckles bled from punching the walls. I cursed the moon for breaking me. Thated myself, thinking I was the cause, until my mind shut down. My world stayed dark for years… until one night, a little wolf stepped up and challenged me to a duel.”

Lylah’s lips pulled slightly.

“I’ve seen a lot of females. Ones who would throw themselves onto my bed the moment I gave the signal, even knowing how dangerous I can be. But that night, I saw someone different. Someone who dared me without hesitation. Who didn’t think twice before speaking her mind, no matter the consequences.”

“After weeks, I smiled for the first time in years, Lylah. I started to care. I wanted to see you every day and used any excuse to be near you. I even snuck into your chamber a few times at night, just to make sure you were alright.‘

“Wait.” Lylah’s eyes widened. “You sneaked into my chamber to watch me sleep?”

“I did that a few times. After the day you sparred with the head warrior and got hurt,” his voice dropped into a teasing whisper.”

256: Before the bond

+25 BONUS

Does that sound creepy?”

“It sounds unbelievable,” her lips tugged into a faint smile.

“Well, it did happen. I found myself making silly excuses just to catch a glimpse of an eighteen–year–old girl. Got a little mad once when I saw you get too close to some boy.”

Lylah shook her head in disbelief. “What in the world. But you still tried to push me away.”

Lucas grinned, revealing the side dimples that always made her heart flutter. He gently squeezed her hands.

“One thing about a Lycan. The beast dives deep into our feelings and forces us to see them. I was beginning to care again, to crave again… but I didn’t want it. I didn’t want to get hurt a second time. Still, the beast fought back and started seeing you, Lylah. And I got scared. Scared to drag you into my world, scared to hurt you.”

Lylah stared at him, her heart fluttering.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify