All Chapters of THE LYCAN KING’S CLAIM: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Aldric POVAeron charged first, his movements swift as light.Elton and I met him halfway.Three powerful Lycan royalties collided in a violent explosion.The impact alone jolted the stones under us.The force alone sent nearby warriors stumbling out of the way.We barely recovered before Aeron charged yet again…He moved with terrifying precision, shifting his weight between us and never allowing both of us to land clean strikes at the same time.He slammed into Elton first, sending him flying across the courtyard before pivoting and driving his claws into my ribs.A sharp wave of pain burst through me.I retaliated immediately, snapping at his shoulder and tearing at his flesh.But he barely reacted, if he did at all.Then, he headbutted me hard enough to blur my vision and followed it with a swipe that sent me crashing into a shattered pillar.“You still need help,” he growled, circling me now. “You always did and even with it your still weak!”Elton lunged from behind, but Aeron a

Elara POVThe morning rose gently.I stood on the balcony outside my chamber, my fingers resting lightly on the cool stone railing.Below me, the courtyard was still busy even from last night.The maids and servants and other workers of the castle moved tro and fro.The broken woods was being stacked, some of armor collected.The blood on the grounds were being cleaned up and small cut off body parts packed up as well.The massive main gates were already being reinforced with fresh timber and iron bands.It should have unsettled me.The scattered limbs, the dark blood stains.The memory of how many hearts I had ripped from chests yesterday.Once, I would have trembled at the sight and looked away.Now, I watched it head on without flinching.And that frightened me more than the carnage ever could.I exhaled slowly, the early sunlight warming my face.I felt… steady and unmoved by it all, truly.“Is this what I am now?” I murmured to myself.I could still feel that power humming undern

The council hall was fuller than it had been in months.Not because of war or because of fear.But because of me.Word had spread quickly after Elton’s abdication.And by sunrise, the entire kingdom knew I had reclaimed the throne.All of them sat around the council room waiting for me and for my rule to begin.I stood behind the throne for a long moment before taking my seat.Elara stood to my right, slightly behind me, as tradition demanded.The murmurs started the moment I stepped forward.“He looks different.”“He carries himself like his father.”“Elton ruled with steadiness.”“Aldric ruled with fire.”I heard everything.I always did.I placed the crown upon my head.The hall quieted.“My people,” I began, my voice carrying easily through stone and silence alike. “We gather not in crisis today… but in transition.”“The war is over,” I continued. “Peace has returned to our lands. Our borders are secure. Our enemies either kneel… or lie buried beneath the soil they sought to claim

Elara POVThe music started slowly.The sound carried through the yard as the celebration fully began.I was still getting used to the word.Luna.It followed me everywhere tonight.“Luna Elara.”“Congratulations, Luna.”I smiled each time.Some faces were warm and of course somewere forced.But no one challenged it.I was their Luna now and they have to live with it.I slipped away from the main crowd carefully, the dress flowing behind me.I spotted her almost immediately.Anita was already watching me.Of course she was.She raised a goblet the second our eyes met.“Well look at you,” she called out dramatically. “Royalty.”I laughed softly and walked toward her.“You’re drunk already,” I said.She scoffed. “Please. I’ve been waiting for this day longer than you have.”I took the goblet she offered me.We clinked lightly.“To not dying,” she said.I raised a brow.“To not dying,” I echoed.We drank.The warmth of the wjnrspread down my throat and into my chest.For a moment, it wa

Elara POVMorning came too quickly.The castle yard still carried traces of the celebration from the night before.A few servants moved about quietly, cleaning the last of the decorations.But the atmosphere was softer now and much more quieter.People were leaving. The guests were returning back to now their packs.And I stood near the entrance steps of the castle, saying goodbye to the people most dear to me in the worldz beside Aldric, of course.The first person walking toward me made my chest tighten instantly.“Anita.”She grinned the moment our eyes met.“There she is,” she said. “Her Highness.”I groaned softly.“Don’t start with me.”“Oh no,” she laughed, crossing her arms. “I’m absolutely starting. You’re a Luna now. That means I get to tease you forever.”I rolled my eyes, but the smile came anyway.“You survived death, war, and my terrible cooking,” she continued. “You earned the title.”“That cooking saved my life once.”“Barely.”We both laughed.Then the laughter faded