All Chapters of SECOND CHANCE: CLAIMED BY THE LYCAN KING: Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

HOPE’S POV. The castle did not feel the same that night. Even from inside the chambers, I could feel the tension everywhere. Warriors moved constantly through the halls outside. Heavy footsteps echoed past the doors every few minutes while servants rushed through the castle carrying supplies, armor, weapons, and healing herbs. Nobody was sleeping. Nobody could. Tomorrow morning thousands of men would march into war. And some of them would never come home. Including possibly him. My chest tightened painfully at the thought as I stood near the fireplace watching Hunter silently. He stood near the balcony doors with one hand resting against the stone wall beside him. The cold night wind moved through his dark hair slightly while his eyes stayed fixed on the castle grounds below. Torches burned across the courtyard outside. Warriors. Wolves. Movement everywhere. Hunter had changed clothes earlier after the meetings, though the bandages beneath it were still visible near his

HOPE'S POV.I woke slowly to warmth.My eyes moved slowly towards the window and I realized we were still deep into night. For a few quiet seconds, I stayed still beneath the blankets with my eyes closed, listening to the soft crackling of the fire and the distant sound of rain against the castle windows. The rain seemed unwilling to stop tonight. Then again maybe even the whether was a perfect reflection of our mood tonight.Hunter’s arm rested heavily around my waist.The moment I realized that, my heartbeat slowed slightly.He was awake.I could feel it.His fingers moved lazily against my side as though he had been lying there watching me for a while already.“You’re staring again,” I mumbled sleepily without opening my eyes.A quiet breath of amusement left him near my ear.“You noticed.”“Hard not to.”His hand slid slowly along my waist beneath the blanket before settling there again.“You should still be sleeping,” he said quietly.I finally opened my eyes and turned slightly

HOPE'S POV.The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the cold.For a few sleepy seconds, I reached across the bed without thinking.My hand touched empty sheets.Cold sheets.My eyes opened immediately.The space beside me was empty.No Hunter.No steady breathing.No warmth.Just an empty bed.The memory hit me all over again.He was gone.The war had started.I stared at the place where he had slept last night and felt something heavy settle inside my chest.The room felt different without him.Not quieter.Lonelier.Much lonelier.I sat up slowly and wrapped my arms around myself.The castle suddenly felt too large.Too empty.I hated it.After a few minutes, I forced myself out of bed and walked toward the balcony.The morning air was cool against my skin.When I stepped outside, my eyes immediately moved toward the courtyard below.The sight made my chest ache.Hundreds of warriors were gone.Normally the training grounds were full.Loud.Busy.Alive.Now huge sections stood

HOPE'S POV.The rumors started quietly.At first, I only noticed small things.Conversations that stopped when I entered a room.People lowering their voices when I walked past.Long looks that lingered a little too long.Then came the whispers.The queen isn't prepared.The queen doesn't belong here.The king chose with his heart instead of his head.I never heard most of them directly.But I heard enough.And unfortunately, I wasn't stupid.I knew exactly what people were saying.Hunter was gone.The kingdom was at war.And now everyone had plenty of time to question the woman he left behind.By the third week of the war, the infirmary had become my refuge.The moment I walked through those doors every morning, I could breathe again.Nobody there cared about court politics.Nobody cared about noble opinions.People were too busy trying to survive.Healer Mara looked up from her desk as I entered."You're late."I checked the clock."I am not.""You are three minutes late.""Mara.""

HOPE'S POV.The castle felt different the following morning.Not because anything had changed on the outside. The walls were still the same. The halls were still cold and tall. The servants still moved quickly through the corridors.But something inside it had shifted.I felt it the moment I opened my eyes.Hunter was not beside me.I turned slightly in bed, my hand moving across the empty space where he usually slept.Cold.Completely cold.I stared at it for a moment without moving.It should not have affected me this much. He had left me alone in bed many times before because of meetings or patrol reports.But this felt different.Like he had not just left the bed.Like he had left the space beside me in the world.I sat up slowly, my chest tight for reasons I could not explain. I blamed it on pregnancy hormones but a part of me knew it was deeper than that.The fire in the room had already burned low. Only soft ash light remained.I got up and walked toward the balcony.The moment