Claimed by the Mad Lycan King

Neriah was like how Seara remembered her; she was still the same as she had been three months ago, the last time they met.

Her brown eyes lit up when they found her, and her brown hair swayed in the wind as she turned around upon hearing Seara call her name.

"Seara," she said excitedly.

However, Neriah didn’t hug Seara right away this time. Perhaps she had learned from what happened during their previous meeting, which was why she didn’t do it. Or, maybe Jane had warned her not to do it. Seara couldn’t tell for sure, but she was glad Neriah didn’t do it.

"How are you?" Seara fidgeted with Zade’s jacket, rubbing her arm to soothe herself. It was alright. Zade and Jane were nearby; they would come if Neriah wanted to harm her.

However, the thought didn’t feel right. Neriah didn’t give any indication that she would attack her or even do something bad. She was smiling sweetly and speaking softly, but why did her mind interpret her presence as danger?

That was one thing that Seara failed to understand and explain to Jane.

"You look... great." Neriah was a little awkward with Seara; she might remember her breakdown three months ago.

"I am sorry for what happened back then," Seara said in a small voice. She reminded herself that this girl was her friend. She came all the way here for her and also because she didn’t wish to stay in the pack that treated her badly.

"No." Neriah shook her head. "I am sorry for being very abrupt with you. I couldn’t read the room. I shouldn’t have come to you like that."

"It’s okay."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes."

There was an awkward silence that followed after that.

"Why don’t you come here and sit with me? Is it okay with you?" Neriah gestured to the spot on the fountain bench next to her, and Seara came over to sit there, but she still put some distance from her.

Neriah knew it but said nothing. She was being exceptionally understanding.

"Do you remember Eira?"

"I do."

"I have been in contact with her, and she is happy for you, and then..."

At first, the conversation felt awkward most of the time. Seara couldn’t give her a proper answer, but Neriah would keep telling her story to fill the silence.

It was Neriah who carried the entire conversation, and Seara only needed to react at the right time or ask something so the conversation kept going.

Seara should have felt relaxed by now, and there was nothing wrong with Neriah that she could point out, yet the uneasiness lingered there.

Was it only in her mind? Was she beyond help?

"Seara?" Neriah called her name because she didn’t respond to what she said. "Seara? Are you with me?"

"Uhm. I am sorry," Seara said sheepishly, because she was getting caught not listening to the conversation. "What did you say?"

But Neriah laughed lightly; she was not offended. "It’s okay. I only said that I am very grateful for you. I thought that after causing trouble at our last meeting, I would have to return to the Blackthorne Pack. However, King Zade is very kind. He let me stay in one of the apartments in the city. Royal Beta Ace said that was because I am your friend, so the king was fine extending a helping hand to me. I can’t thank you enough for this."

"Zade is kind," Seara agreed. She liked the topic about her mate.

"You are blushing," Neriah pointed it out.

"I am not."

"Yes, you are."

Neriah didn’t stop teasing her with Zade, and Seara could tell that this girl was her friend. She was someone Seara had known for a long time and who understood her well from their days in the Blackthorne Pack. Neriah knew what happened to Seara and how the Gamma family treated her, or what Enid, Eudora, and Brigid had done to her all this time.

"I am glad you are happy now." Neriah wiped tears from the corner of her eyes. She looked genuinely happy for her.

"Thank you." Seara was a little hesitant, but she made the first move to hug Neriah. The fear was only in her mind, and if she didn’t overcome it, she would lose her friend. There was no reason for her to be scared of Neriah.

Meanwhile, with the hug, Neriah looked surprised at first, but then she reciprocated the affection and cried even more.

"I am sorry for what happened to your parents," Seara said genuinely.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Seara. Ugh, why am I crying like this?" She sobbed against Seara’s shoulder.

And after some time, when Neriah had stopped sobbing, Seara pulled away to wipe Neriah’s face from the tears.

"Thank you. I have no one else now. I only have you." Neriah smiled softly at Seara. "I came here with the thought of being your personal maid or anything. "Whatever I can do to help, since I’m not sure of what I can do." Neriah lowered her head; she looked embarrassed to admit it. "I am sorry, I came here with the thought of using your position to get some kind of job, because I don’t have enough money to survive in this big city. This place scares me sometimes."

Neriah was being vulnerable with her, and she showed Seara her fear of this big city, which Seara could relate to.

"Yes, I was scared too when I came here for the first time," Seara agreed with her. "The buildings..."

"The buildings are very tall; I thought they were going to fall."

Both of them laughed at the silly thought, since there was no building that tall in the Blackthorne Pack.

Seara pushed back her fear and reached out to Neriah. She was her friend; there was nothing she needed to be afraid of.

"I will talk to Zade. I think he will not mind finding a job for you."

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