All Chapters of Claimed by the Lycan King : Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

Dante's POV I studied the woman kneeling on the ground in front of me, taking in every detail. She had Vera's brown hair, though hers was streaked with gray. The same shaped eyes, though hers were red from crying. The same curve to her jaw. This was Vera's mother. The woman who'd stood silent while Daemon rejected and banished her daughter. My first instinct was to grab her by the throat and throw her off my property. She'd failed Vera when it mattered most, had chosen her own safety over protecting her child. She didn't deserve to be here now, didn't deserve to ask for anything from the daughter she'd abandoned. But Vera's hand was still on my arm, her grip tightening as she felt my anger through the bond. And through that same bond, I felt her emotions. Confusion. Pain. Anger mixed with hope. She didn't know what she wanted and my violence wouldn't help her figure it out. I forced the hybrid back, my eyes returning to their normal gold. My claws retracted slowly, the transforma

Vera's POV Five months into my pregnancy, I was folding baby clothes in the nursery when Marcus knocked on the doorframe. "Luna, do you have a minute?" I set down the tiny shirt I'd been holding. "Of course. What is it?" He glanced at the hallway before stepping inside and closing the door. "One of our scouts reported something you should know about." My stomach tightened. "What happened?" "Daemon was spotted near the southern border of our territory. He's been living as a rogue since his pack banished him." The name hit me like cold water. Daemon. I hadn't thought about him in months, had been so focused on my life with Dante and the baby that my former mate had become a distant memory. "Are you sure it was him?" I asked. "The scout recognized him. Said he looks rough. Sick, desperate, barely holding himself together." I moved to the window, looking out over the compound. Somewhere out there, Daemon was struggling to survive without a pack. The alpha who'd thrown me away li

Vera's POV Daemon struggled to his feet, swaying slightly like standing took all his remaining strength. His face was desperate, pleading, pathetic. "That's not true," he said, his voice shaking. "I did love you. In my own way, I cared about you. I made mistakes but that doesn't mean my feelings weren't real." I laughed. The sound came out sharp and cold, nothing like my usual laugh. But his words were so absurd I couldn't help it. "You didn't love me," I said. "You loved having power and control over someone weaker than you. You loved how I made you feel important and needed." "No, I—" "You never asked what I wanted," I interrupted. "Never cared about my dreams or my fears or who I really was. You just wanted someone who would make you look good and follow your orders." Daemon opened his mouth but I kept talking. "I was convenient," I said. "An omega who was grateful for your attention. Someone who wouldn't challenge you or demand too much. That's not love, Daemon. That's own

Vera's POV After Daemon's death, I felt completely liberated from my past in a way I hadn't expected. The confrontation had done something to me, burned away the last traces of pain and resentment I'd been carrying without even realizing it. I no longer woke up sometimes thinking about the rejection or the humiliation or the way his pack had laughed while he threw me out. Those memories existed still, but they didn't hurt anymore because they'd led me exactly where I was supposed to be. I had moved forward completely, embracing my new life as Dante's mate and the Russo queen without any shadows from my old life holding me back. Every morning I woke up grateful for what I had rather than bitter about what had been taken from me. My pregnancy continued smoothly according to Elena, who checked on me almost daily despite my protests that I felt fine. I was seven months along now and my belly had grown so large that I couldn't see my feet when I stood up straight. Simple tasks had bec

Vera's POV The day of the Moon Ceremony arrived with clear skies and a gentle breeze that felt like the Moon Goddess herself was blessing the event. I woke early despite having barely slept, my stomach fluttering with nerves and excitement that had nothing to do with the baby moving inside me. Dante had already left our quarters, following tradition that said the mated pair shouldn't see each other before the ceremony. He'd kissed me goodbye in the dark hours before dawn, his hands lingering on my belly as our child kicked against his palm. "I'll see you under the moon," he'd whispered. "I'll be the pregnant one in the fancy dress," I'd joked, trying to ease my own nervousness. Now morning light streamed through the windows and maids were arriving to help me prepare. Four of them came bustling in with armfuls of supplies, chattering excitedly about the ceremony and how beautiful it would be. They helped me bathe first, adding oils to the water that were supposed to bring blessin