Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

I didn’t want the five days event week anymore. What I wanted was to get it done. I had delayed so much that the white moon was just in a few days. And so, I still needed to prepare.

As soon as I got back to the palace, I went to Nikkei. I rushed in for a hug as soon as she saw her.

“You were right. I was so scared.” I said, my voice held a tearful edge.

“It’s okay Clara. So what do you want to do.”

“Lets get a dress,” I said.

Nikkei and I shuffled ourselves through the packs of palace folks. Their voices resounded against the walls as they all spoke at once. The last time I had gone to that part of the palace, I was not welcomed by anyone. And that was the last time that I had seen Donna. The air was filled with nervous energy not the usual jovial nature that I was expecting. I guess mating Kieran came with a lot of feelings. Kieran’s mating ceremony was the talk of the town, and everyone seemed to have an opinion about it. But I was unfortunate to hear only the opinion of the people who saw me as a gold digger. The one that had betrayed my people so I would have a fair share of wealth.

I was termed many things. A weakling and Alpha slayer. I guess that was more of a compliment than a cause. Well, until I overheard one of them saying that I would do to Kieran the same things that I had done to Ryan. I couldn’t understand why they would suddenly turn against me. Ryan was the one with the killer instinct and not me. And then, as I walked past to ladies, one of them whispered but it was more like she wanted me to hear it.

“She is lucky,” she said. That was the first good compliment. Or so I thought.

“Lucky?” The other one asked.

“Yes, she is mating the King.”

“She is only taking the ex-mate place. Do you think the king would ever love her? You know how much he loved his real mate.”

“But Katherine is gone. He should move on.”

“Real love never dies,” I looked at her and she turned immediately and they both left.

“This is a bad idea. I think I should go,” I said to Nikkei.

“Why? But we just got here.”

“Everyone seems to have an opinion about this. Its frustrating hearing them talk about me. They see me as a gold digger and a killer. How can I live with that? I don’t even want to talk about the part that they don’t think that I’m good for their king.”

“Ignore them. Remember why you are doing this,” Nikkei said, her voice was steady and calm.

I exhaled.

“Take your mind off all of that and think about why you are here. Today is about finding the perfect dress, not palace gossip. Soon you’ll be queen. Start acting like one.”

Easier said than done. My stomach churned as she said those words. I was excited somehow. Marrying a Lycan king, especially one as formidable as Kieran, was a lot to process.

The fashion center was like a dazzling maze of glittering fabrics and mannequins. A place I should have been long before. It had been ages since I had went shopping with the girls. I used to do that with Racheal but now, I could barely remember what she sounded like. How time flies. I wish I could tell her that I was finally going to be mated. Not to anyone else, but to a king. I would kill for the look on her face.

We navigated the aisles, dodging playful nudges and as usual, the curious stares. I saw Nikkei as many things and a fashionista was one of them. I just hoped that she wouldn’t go for the creepy dresses. I just needed something plain and simple. But she would never agree to that.

“I’ve seen a couple you’ll like. Get ready to try them on.” She pointed out dresses that caught her eye a sapphire gown, it caught my eyes too and then she picked out a sleek emerald dress too, that underlined my curves.

“This is gorgeous,” I said mimicking a walk as I stared ay the mirror, “What do you think? Should we go for this?”

“This is all you Clara. Whatever you want.”

“Okay, I’ll take it,” I nodded.

“That’s lovely. That would be for tonight’s outing.”

“I thought it was the mating dress.”

“That? Come on Clara, it seems you don’t get who you are about to become. So don’t think that we would be leaving here with just one dress.” She winked. I didn’t know that it was just the beginning of the many hours of shopping.

I tried on a few more dresses the silks and satins gave unfamiliar caress against my skin. But none felt quite right. They were all too… regal, too stiff. I wanted something that reflected my personality, my dual heritage as Clara and then as a queen.

I had rejected half of what was given to me. I saw the lines on the eyes of the ladies that tried to help. Stress dawned on me. I sank onto a plush stool tracing the detailed embroidery on a crimson dress with my fingers as we rested.

“Maybe there’s nothing here for me,” I mumbled.

“Nonsense,” Nikkei said. She frowned. But there was nothing I could do to want the dresses I didn’t like. I wouldn’t feel like me wearing them.

“There has to be a dress that makes you feel like the fierce, beautiful woman you are.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Yeah, we have literally turned this place inside out, there is nothing. Maybe its time to leave. We can check other places tomorrow. Or get the local seamstress sew us something.”

“If you need a dress for a ceremony as big as this, then this is the right place to be. I know there is something here. We aren’t just looking in the right direction.”

I rolled my eyes, Nikkei wasn’t the one to give up and so I had to be patient with her until she saw it for herself. As I turned, a flash of silver caught my eye.

“What’s over there?” I asked as I moved closely to it. Placed in a corner, almost hidden amongst a rack of flamboyant gowns, was a dress unlike any other. It was crafted from a material that shimmered like moonlight on water. Silver embroidery swirled across the bodice, just like the moon.

“This,” I whispered. I couldn’t help that I was drawn to it.

“Can I have that?” I asked one of the ladies.

“Yeah, sure.” She helped me with the dress.

It fit perfectly. The fabric cool was cool weightless against my skin. As I twirled in front of the mirror, the skirt flowed around me. It was simple yet striking, powerful yet elegant. It was me.

Nikkei’s eyes welled up. “Clara,” she choked out, her voice thick with emotion, “you look radiant.”

I felt the warmth rushing over me. In that dress, I didn’t just see myself as Clara, the unsure slave girl. I saw Clara, Kieran’s mate, the future queen of the Lycan. A queen who would embrace her power and stand by her king’s side.

We came out of the changing room, and for a moment, the entire market fell silent. All eyes were on me, the bride-to-be. I held my head high, a renewed confidence blooming in my chest.

Nikkei, who had been waiting by the entrance smiled just as she saw me again.

“Clara, you are breathtaking. Kieran would be so lucky to have you.”

At that moment, I didn’t think about anything or anyone but myself. I found my courage again. I was ready to be with Kieran. For me, It wasn’t just about the mating ceremony. It was about two souls finding each other, about embracing the future, uncertainties and everything that came with ruling a kingdom.