The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 196: Chapter 196

It all ended that day. Hope lost, dreams crushed, bonds destroyed. Trapped within four walls with nothing but an aching heart—torment became her reality. Freedom was gone, and survival came only through blood staining her hands.
Lylah thought her life would remain that way—the relentless voice in her head calling her a failure, pushing her to seek revenge or even end her own life.
Twists had always come, she knew… but not like this.
Not in the form of a five-year-old boy staring back at her.
His hair was dark with strands of silver, one side hanging adorably over his eye. His eyes were golden amber—just like Duncan’s—but when the light hit them, you could unmistakably see the silver ring circling the outer edge of his pupils, giving him the rarest kind of gaze.
His posture was regal, just like the royalty he was. His features were sharp like Duncan’s but softened with the roundness of his mother’s.
Lylah didn’t realize a tear had slipped down her cheek.
“His second name is Rheal,” Drakora said softly while the boy stared. “It means the one who remains. The one who lives. Royalty. His parents will give him his first name.”
“Rheal…” Lylah whispered. He was too beautiful to be real.
“This is your auntie. The one I told you I’d bring,” Drakora said to the boy, whose eyes widened with realization.
“Auntie Lylah?!” he gasped.
“Yes.”
Lylah wiped her tears and crouched down as the boy approached. He stopped right in front of her, staring at her with those mixed-ringed amber and silver eyes.
“Hey, Rheal—” Lylah’s voice trembled.
“Why are you crying?” he asked quietly, his voice filled with concern.
“I’m happy,” Lylah sniffled. “I’m happy you’re here.”
“Me too,” Rheal smiled. “I guess this is the part where we hug?”
Lylah immediately pulled him close, stroking his hair. Words failed her. It was overwhelming.
“Good to see you, Aunt Lylah.”
“Good to see you too,” she whispered.
Zav and Drakora watched silently, their hearts full. Lylah broke the hug and pressed a soft kiss to the boy’s forehead.
“I’m going to wake Mama up. I promise,” she whispered.
They returned to one of the small towns that housed most of the Ouroboros. The people welcomed her with open arms, offering fruits, meals, and drinks, even holding a small celebration for her arrival.
Lylah couldn’t remember the last time she truly smiled… even if it was faint.
She spent her time with Rheal. The boy had a sharp tongue like his parents, easy to spot among the other children his age. A gentle, graceful aura surrounded him.
Sometimes, stubborn. Words sharp like the edge of a sharp sword.
The people treated him with respect—as one of them. He was kind. Anyone who didn’t love that boy would be insane.
Most night, they listened to stories told by an elderly Ouroboros woman. Rheal was the youngest among them, while Cal was the oldest. Cal often glanced over his shoulder at Lylah, and they exchanged small smiles.
When Rheal asked about his parents, Lylah told him about Duncan—how respected he was, how he led with strength and care, how deeply he loved his mother.
She spoke of Arianna’s sweet soul, her fearless spirit, the way she always did the right thing even when it hurt. A true leader, filled with love for those she cherished.
“The Moon Realm never accepted her,” Rheal said. “Mother never did anything wrong, did she?”
Lylah blinked. “You… know the story?”
“There are whispers, Auntie. Grandma doesn’t know I listen most times. That’s why I never really asked her,” Rheal gave a quick smile. “I only know the basics. That Mother and Father’s love wasn’t accepted in the Moon Realm because of an old war. They were afraid of her and cast her out.”
Lylah bit her tongue, unsure what to say.
It had been a while since she’d been rendered speechless. But this was no ordinary boy—his father was the supreme ruler of the Moon Realm, his mother a hybrid of Alpha blood and dragon, and his grandmother a goddess.
It was no surprise.
“Where was Father when all this happened?” he asked curiously.
“We don’t really know what happened to him. It’s still a mystery.”
“Then he’s alive,” Rheal said matter-of-factly.
“How do you know that?”
“The King of the Realm isn’t someone who’d just go down. If he’s dead, then I’d say my father was weak. But if he’s alive, then he’s strong—and waiting.”
Lylah’s jaw dropped. “Are you really five?”
“Not exactly. I’ll be six in four months.” He chuckled. “Please don’t say I sound like an adult.”
“Well, I’m not surprised.”
They both laughed softly. Then silent.
Rheal sighed.
“I hope I’ll be with my parents when that time comes.”
“Then you will,” Lylah promised. “I swear it.”
“That’s a big promise.”
“Yes, it is. But I owe your mother that.”
While many had fallen asleep, three males including Zav and two females, Drakora and Sylra, sat around a small table.
“Was the risk worth it, Goddess? It’s been almost two weeks, and there hasn’t been any improvement. She’s still trapped, and as we speak, the Moon Realm is probably tracking us, preparing for war,” Drakora’s assistant, Eryz, said. He was a tall-built male, his weathered face tight with worry.
“We’ve spoken of this many times, Eryz. She needs us, and we’ll do whatever it takes. No matter the risk to help her,” Drakora replied without hesitation.
“What if it destroys everything? Destroy the hope we’ve built? A war is coming. It won’t take long before the wolves storm into our realm. They believed we were all wiped out, and now we’ve proven them wrong by stepping onto their land,” the second male added grimly.
“The hope we have now, the lives blooming with glory is because of her return,” Zav said, his voice calm but firm. “We’ve remained hidden for many centuries. Even before I was born, this realm has been safe under Drakora’s reign.”
“You’ll have to trust her,” Sylra added. “I believe Lylah can wake her up.”
“It’s been nearly two weeks with no progress,” Eryz argued. “And even if, by the slimmest chance, she does wake up... What if she chooses the Moon Realm over us? Does that mean everything we built will be erased? Will we return to the beginning?”
Silence fell over the room for several long beats.
“That is not a decision in our hands,” Drakora finally said. “Power and fate don’t work like that. What matters now is the present.”
“Her sister is trying,” Drakora continued. “Lylah is the only one who can reach her. She is our only hope."
“If war is to come, then we shall prepare,” Zav added. “More weapons will be forged. Men and women will train day and night. Safer places will be built for our children while we wait for the crystal holding Arianna to break.”
Drakora nodded solemnly. “And that, we shall do.”
The others gave her a slight bow.
Meanwhile, Lylah had been listening to their conversation from the shadows.
And she truly hoped she wouldn’t screw this up.