The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 20

VALERIA

"Really? I thought I heard you murmuring something," she approached me with suspicion.

"No, I was just thinking out loud. Did you manage to sort things out with your boyfriend?"

I descended the steps and found her sitting on the last one, suddenly bursting into tears.

Between sobs, she confessed her struggles with her mate and her parents—being the Alpha’s daughter wasn’t easy.

"Don't be like that. There’s got to be a solution. Don’t you have anyone who supports you? Maybe a sister?"

"No! Why are you asking me if I have a sister?!" she snapped, lifting her gaze defensively.

"I mean... Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. All of this has me really nervous. And no, I don’t have a sister or anyone else."

I nodded, though her reaction felt strangely defensive for such a simple question.

"Oh no, it’s way too late! My parents will kill me, and the King must be furious searching for you! Let’s go, let’s go now!"

She shifted from distress to panic, grabbing my hand and practically dragging me back toward the woods at a near run.

"Wait—this isn’t the way I came from," I protested, slowing my steps as I noticed we were heading in the opposite direction.

"This is a shortcut! I came this way," she insisted, but she kept pushing forward through the dark underbrush.

I stumbled several times over roots due to the poor lighting and the speed we were moving.

Something felt wrong.

For starters—how did she know I was at the Goddess’s altar?

The pieces weren’t fitting together, and as I looked up, I spotted a raven flying overhead, weaving between the branches.

Its caw was sharp—nothing like when it guided me to the temple before.

It felt more like a warning.

"Stop. Wait a minute… I said stop!" I yanked my arm back, halting in a clearing where the trees thinned.

"What is it now?" she turned, clearly frustrated.

"Where are you taking me? This isn’t the way back to the pack, is it? I feel like we’re heading somewhere else."

I stared at her, alert, scanning the area around me and already planning my escape.

"Why would I take you somewhere else? Stop with the paranoia! Come on, I don’t have time for your nonsense!"

She reached for me again, but I stepped back.

Frustration and irritation flashed across her face.

I had already seen betrayal up close—and it was obvious this girl was leading me into danger.

Without thinking twice, I shifted into my small wolf form and bolted into the dark forest.

The moonlight barely filtered through the thick foliage, offering minimal visibility, yet I ran blindly, hoping the shadows would conceal me.

"The ravens—I need to find them."

I focused on the thought, praying they would guide me back to Aldric.

But the sound of paws behind me made my heart race faster.

She was chasing me.

I focused entirely on escaping, leaping over roots, pushing through thorny bushes despite the sharp stings on my legs.

But Adele was stronger.

The daughter of an Alpha.

She caught up quickly, and before I knew it, her jaws sank painfully into my hind leg.