The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 18

ALDRIC

I should push her away completely—distance her from me for good.

But the very thought makes every fiber of my being roar in protest.

Valeria clearly carries secrets and a painful past.

She deserves a good werewolf. Someone who can love her unconditionally.

Not a Lycan.

Not even Quinn, who seems to have taken some interest in her.

I won't allow it.

He’s not worthy of my little she-wolf.

No one is.

All Lycans carry violence and darkness within them—the curse of destroying what we love most.

And Valeria will be no exception.

I’ll end up breaking her into pieces with my own hands.

*****

VALERIA

We headed toward the Alpha's house, walking through half-empty streets.

This pack felt gloomy and damp.

No one spoke much, and the few who dared glance our way did so with suspicion and fear.

I walked beside the King.

I should be trailing behind him like a servant, but he had ordered me to stay at his side, as if I were his equal.

Once, that might have stirred something in me.

Now, it made no difference.

I was just a maid.

My job wasn’t to question his behavior—it was to serve and obey.

"Your Highness, please, come into my humble home. We've been expecting you."

The chestnut-haired man who had barged into the inn earlier greeted us with a bow as we reached a modest two-story house at the end of the street.

As I suspected, he was the Alpha of this pack.

"This is my wife, Clara, and my daughter, Adele," he introduced, motioning to the two timid blonde women standing behind him.

"Your Majesty, you should have stayed in my home. If I had known you were coming—"

"I'm fine at the inn. Besides, if you truly wanted me in your pack, you would have summoned me properly. Wouldn't you?"

Aldric’s words sliced through him like a blade.

The Alpha barely managed a stammered response.

Without waiting for more apologies, Aldric moved past him, heading straight to the dining area for a meal that was now closer to dinner than lunch.

I remained standing in the corner of the room, quietly observing.

"What are you doing?"

Aldric’s voice suddenly cut through the room, his sharp gaze fixed on me.