Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

If there was a chance, even a slim one, of saving Kieran, I had to take it.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

Emaline’s smile widened,? “Excellent, I’ll love to see you try.”

I stepped towards Kieran and knelt beside him.

Ignoring Emaline’s watchful gaze, I reached out and placed a hand on his chest. His skin felt cold and clammy beneath my fingertips. Closing my eyes, I focused on my inner self. Connecting with the power within me.

With a deep breath, I began the ritual.

A warmth spread out in my palm. It wasn’t a comforting warmth. It was a strong energy that crawled under my skin.

Tightening my teeth, I forced myself to press my hand back on Kieran’s chest. The energy pulsed beneath me.

My head spanned and I suddenly felt dizzy like I should have fallen but I kept on.

Kieran’s body remained rigid, but I felt his skin becoming warm gradually. Whatever I was doing seemed to be working. I just needed to lush forward and so I did. The energy began to increase. It grew heavier. Sweat rolled down my forehead and I kept my eyes shut.

Kieran’s body shook, shaking the ground but I still kept on. I was drawing a life force. It seared its way through my veins.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I choked on my voice as I groaned. Tears began to roll down my chin as raw pain? ripped through me, stealing my breath away

“Clara, Stop it. You’ll kill yourself,” I heard Kieran’s voice but I did not stop.

I couldn’t stop now.? Not when I was so close.? Gritting my teeth, I poured all my remaining strength letting out a loud gasp as light erupted around us.

The power that came out of me was like it was going to explode my head. My scream tore through the air as the pain grew in my head and the heat around me increased.

And just as the light had come, it vanished.

And I could hear my heartbeat again.

I slumped forward and collapsed on the floor beside Kieran.

Through the haze, I could hear the ragged sound of Kieran’s breathing.? He was alive.? He was here.

“Clara?” Are you alright?” I heard Kieran’s voice.

“I’m fine,” I whispered, squeezing his hand tightly.? “Just… tired.”

He tried to sit up.

“What… What happened? The last thing I remember…”

His voice trailed off and he froze.

“What’s wrong?” I jumped off the ground.

Suddenly, Kieran’s body jerked. His eyes widened.

“Kieran, what’s going on? Talk to me,” I tightened the grip on his hand.

“Kieran? Please talk to me,” my voice had become shaky.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words that came out were not his.

“You did well, my love, you brought me back.”

His voice was firm and he had the weirdest smile I had ever seen. That wasn’t Kieran. I had failed.

He turned his head slowly, his gaze locking onto mine.? But the warmth I expected was replaced by a certain coldness.

“Who… who are you?” Moving away from him.

He smirked.

“Don’t you recognize me, my dear? It’s Theophilus, of course.”

“No, it can’t be.? The ritual… It worked.? I got you out.”

Theophilus threw back his head and laughed.

“You naive fool,” he sneered.? “She never intended to bring Kieran back.? He was merely the vessel.? I am the one who returned.”

Emaline had lied.? It had been a trap all along.

Theophilus turned back towards me, “Don’t worry,” he drawled.? “You served your purpose and when the time is due, you’ll get your reward.”

I couldn’t believe what I had done.

Emaline appeared in the doorway.

“You lied to me. You wanted to use me to get him,” I cried.

“No, darling. I told you it was a fifty percent chance

I guess Theo was stronger,” she giggled and faced him. Leaving me in my own tears.

“Theophilus!” she shrieked, rushing towards him.? “You’re back to me, finally,” she hugged him.

Tears streamed down her face, as she buried her chest in his body that used to be the body of my man.

I couldn’t hold back the tears, the hate and sadness that overwhelmed me. I just wanted to die; they were going to kill me anyway. I wanted it to be sooner.

She pulled away from him and looked at me again.

“Indeed, my love,” he said, “And thanks to you, I am reborn.”

Emaline threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.? “Oh, Theophilus,” she sobbed.? “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, my darling. I would never let you go again.”

“Anything for you, my love. I chose a good body for you. A king. The kingdom is ours now. You will be king and? I’ll be your queen. I’ll be by your side, ruling with an iron fist.”

“A king?”

“Yes, my darling. This is all yours now.”

“You are the best gift given to me in life.”

He kissed her.

“We need to go, our kingdom awaits us,” he said.

“Yes, you are right my love. But first, I need to take care of her,” she gestured towards me.

“What would you do to her?” He asked.

“She has served her purpose in helping me bring you back to life and with that, I will be forever grateful for her contribution. But she is strong. She is the chosen one and possesses great power. We cannot risk keeping her alive. There is so much at risk already. But to show my gratitude, I’ll make it quick and painless.”

She took a step closer.

My breath hitched in my throat.? This was it.? The end.

“Why don’t I take her life for you, my love?” Theophilus said.

Emaline turned towards him, “You are not a killer Theophilus and I wouldn’t want your hands stained with blood. I want us to have a fresh start.”

“You have done so much my love, let me do this for us.”

He leaned closer to Emaline and kissed her lips slowly taking the dagger from her grip.

I shut my eyes again but then I heard Emaline scream.

When I opened them again, I saw Emaline on the ground with the dagger in her chest.

“You…are such…” Emaline tried to speak as she gasped for breath.

“A good actor?” Kieran cut her off, “I guess you believed that Clara had taken away my life force and kept your so-called lover. So gross I had to kiss you to keep up that act. Now, you’ll never hurt me or my family again.”

Emaline’s chest stopped heaving and she stopped struggling. She lay sprawled on the floor in the pool of her blood, her face had become pale and her eyes vacant. She was gone.

“Clara, You alright?” He rushed towards me.

Tears spilled down my cheek as he pulled me up. I collapsed on his body, burying my face in his chest.

“Kieran, I thought I lost you,” I sobbed.

He held me close, “You can’t get rid of me that easily, he chuckled, “I’m here now,” he murmured.? “We both are.”

We clung to each other, listening to our own heartbeat and Emaline’s magic around the room faded away and the guards could see us now. They rushed in and dragged out her body.

All that had happened had brought us down to that moment. It had made us inseparable. Of all the pain and sacrifice we had to make, we were alive. We were together. And that, in that moment, was all that mattered. A hush fell over the gathered crowd as Kieran squeezed my hand.? We stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the front, facing a crowd of sad faces.? The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the ground of a mass grave for the witches who had died in the battle.

These women were victims of Emaline’s manipulation. And their deaths would always be a reminder of her terror and the bond Kieran and I shared. It had proven to be unbreakable. I had never been very grateful.

Kieran leaned in, “Are you alright?” He whispered.

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Just… overwhelmed.”

He understood.

The speaker kept on with his words, as he spoke, I glanced at Kieran.? His gaze was fixed on the graves.

The ceremony ended with a prayer and soon the crowd murmured their goodbyes to the departed.? As people began to leave, a woman with tear-filled eyes approached us.? She bowed.

“Thank you,” she whispered.? “For saving us… and for bringing peace.”

Kieran offered her a kind smile.? “There is no peace without forgiveness,” he said gently.

The woman nodded.? As she walked away, I squeezed Kieran’s hand.? His words, though simple, held a truth. The truth that we all longed for.

EPILOGUE

Exhaustion weighed heavily in my eyes. The midwife, a kind woman with weathered hands and a gentle smile, cradled a bundle of blue blankets in her arms.

“He’s here, Clara,” she announced, “A healthy baby boy.”

Tears fell down my eyes, tears of joy. I reached out, my trembling fingers brushing against the soft hair on his head.? He was perfect, a tiny replica of Kieran in my arms.

Kieran, who had been pacing the room rushed to my side.? His eyes were red-rimmed and puffy.? But the smile that spread across his face was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. He was crying too.

“He’s… he’s incredible,” he stammered. He reached out, cradling the baby’s cheek.

Our son. He was a product of our love and a symbol of hope after the darkness we had faced.

“He looks just like you,” I whispered.

Kieran chuckled,? “He has your eyes, love. Those strong, determined eyes.”

We sat in the silence for a while cuddling our child.

“What should we name him?” Kieran asked.

“Espoir, it means Hope,” I finally said, the name feeling right the moment it left my lips.

Kieran smiled.? “Espoir, ” he repeated, “Espoir… it’s perfect.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear.? “Thank you, Clara,” he murmured.? “Thank you for giving me this.”

I turned my head, meeting his gaze.

“We did it together,” I whispered, squeezing his hand.

And as we sat there, I knew that I had finally found my rightful place. Whatever challenges awaited us; we would face them together. For in our arms laid not just a son, but a mark of our enduring love.

THE END.