THE LYCAN KING’S CLAIM のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 141 - チャプター 150

Elara POVI sat at the small wooden table in Anita’s cabin, holding a warm mug of coffee she had placed in front of me.The heat radiated through my fingers, grounding me a little.I needed that..The past few days have been chaotic, to say the least.Across from me, Aldric sat, his gaze sharp and unyielding, hardly pulling away from me.“Tell me what happened, Elara,” he said, his voice calm. “Everything.. “I hesitated, staring into the liquid in my mug, trying to find the right words. My throat felt tight.“It… it started with the tea the maid brought in,” I whispered, my tone light. “It was poisoned. I felt numb almost immediately I drank it.I couldn’t move properly, I couldn’t think clearly… and then the pack members came. They… they burst into my room.” My hands shook slightly as I relived it, the images flashing in my mind.“They tried to—” I paused, choking on the words, “they tried to burn me alive. I don’t even know how I’m sitting here right now, Aldric. If Anita hadn’t be

Elara POVThe room was quieter than I expected.It wasn't the comforting kind of quiet, far from that.The resort room was large, almost unnecessarily so.I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a second, letting the weight of the day settle fully into my bones.The ritual.The chanting.That feeling of something clawing its way out of my body.That was enough to drain the energy right out of me.I dropped my bag by the bed and moved toward the bathroom.I glanced at myself in the mirror a little bit, catching my pale face, the dark sores under my eyes.I looked like a ghost walking on two feet. I needed a shower and a long rest.I stepped away finally and turned on the shower.Steam filled the space quickly, wrapping around me as I stepped under the hot water. I tilted my head back and let it run over my hair, my shoulders and down my spine.The heat stung at first, but soothed down my skin.When I finally turned the water off, my fingers were wrinkled and trembling sli

ELARA POVThe doorknob twisted violently, rattling against the wood like it might snap clean off.My grip tightened around the wooden stick I’d grabbed from the corner, my heart hammering so loud it drowned out my thoughts.Anita stood a step behind me, her breath shallow and her eyes fixed on the door.Whoever it was, they weren’t knocking.The door slammed open with a force that made it crash against the wall.I lifted the stick instinctively, every muscle tensing up immediately…And then I froze.“Jonas?” The name slipped out of me like a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.He stood in the doorway, his chest rising and falling and his sharp eyes scanning the room before locking onto me.Relief hit me so hard my knees almost buckled.I lowered the stick slowly, my hand shaking now.“Oh thank the moons,” I breathed. “It's you…”I turned slightly, glancing back at Anita. “I know him, he's good.”Her shoulders loosened just a fraction, though she didn’t fully relax.She straightene

Elara POVThe morning sun slipped through the thin curtains of my room, like it had every right to enter or like nothing had even happened the night before.It brushed against my face gently, it's touch warm, but I felt none of it.I laid still on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the same moment over and over again.Okay.That was all Aldric had said.After everything I had poured out there in front of him.I stood there across him like a fool, pride thrown out the window, explaining the mate bond with Elton… something I never even asked for.Explaining the ritual… how I chose Elton to protect Aldric from the darkness clawing at my insides and how I didn't want him to go through it, explaining the kiss… how it meant nothing, how I regretted it, how I would take it back if I could, but most of all, how sorry I truly was.And all he gave me was one flat word.Okay.There was no anger, no fight, no accusations.Just… acceptance. Or worse… indifference.I rolled onto my side, hu

Aldric POVOkay.That was all I said to her...Okay.The word followed me, still resurfacing in my mind like a curse.I stood alone before the tall windows, staring out at the kingdom swallowed by night.I replayed the scene at the resort over and over again in my mind.Elara standing in front of me after spilling her honest thoughts out.She spoke about the mate bond with Elton and about the reason for choice she made at the ritual, about choosing him to protect me. She admitted the kiss and confessed she was sorry..And all I had given her was one word.Okay.God, I was pathetic.I should have told her I was hurt or I should have told her I was afraid.Heck, I should have even snapped at her in anger.Instead, I had retreated from her her and from my real emotions.I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled sharply.“Okay,” I muttered again, the word tasting bitter.She had deserved more.Just then, a sharp and urgent knock struck the door.I straightened immediately, burying every