The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 21

VALERIA

I had only ever heard of them in children's horror stories.

They were almost impossible to find, and nearly no one had survived after seeing them.

Beings of pure dark energy and evil—rotting, murderous magic.

Its red eyes, like two deep abysses filled with flames, stared at me from that shapeless face, making me tremble in fear.

Its body was made of a black mist, with long, dangling strands that hung from every part of it as it advanced toward me.

Its arms were far too long, disproportionate, with massive, razor-sharp claws that could slice me clean through.

I crawled backward, dragging myself across the ground. I couldn’t feel my legs.

My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would stop at any moment.

I tried to get up multiple times, failing each attempt.

It loomed over me, and through the darkness, I saw with terror as it opened a wide mouth filled with crooked teeth and grinned, making every hair on my body stand on end.

"AAAHHH!" I screamed, covering my face as the intimidating shadow enveloped me in its darkness, swallowing me whole.

Suddenly, forgotten memories from my childhood came flooding back.

I had been happy with my parents.

We would take vacations at a lakeside cabin.

I went out fishing, exploring freely.

But when I returned, I couldn’t find them anywhere.

I saw myself climbing the stairs again, the strong scent of blood reaching my nose.

My trembling hand pushed open their bedroom door—and then I saw them.

Their lifeless bodies were sprawled on the floor.

And above them, that same specter, feeding on their blood and flesh.

Hearing my scream at the door, it noticed me and lunged to devour me as well.

"I don't want to die—I want to live! I want to live!" Those were my thoughts then—and now.

I shifted back into my human form, pain searing through me—far beyond what anyone could endure—like my skin was being flayed off my body.

Something inside me awakened.

An uncontrollable rage surged through my veins, a power filling every muscle with infinite strength.

I opened my eyes and roared at the darkness consuming me. I dug my hands, now bearing long, sharp claws, into that shadow.

I wanted to consume it instead—to hurt it, destroy it.

A flurry of raven wings began circling us, their war cries echoing as they attacked.

And I felt it.

The specter—was afraid of me.

It was weakening, its power being drained as I screamed like a madwoman, tearing into its faceless void.

It was it who was now trying to escape from me.

"You’re going to die, you bastard! I won’t let you kill anyone else like you did my parents! I WON’T LET YOU!"

A high-pitched screech erupted from its twisted mouth as the ravens continued their relentless attack.

It felt as if my connection to them strengthened—they followed my will, obeying my command.

"Kill. Kill. Kill."

Following pure instinct, I opened my mouth to devour the black mist, the evil within.

But I underestimated it.

I took in far too much.

The power exploded inside me, far too overwhelming—knocking me unconscious, leaving me vulnerable once again.

*****

ADELE

Hiding behind a bush, I could barely believe what I was witnessing.

My trembling hand covered my mouth to stifle a scream.

That woman… that woman lying there on the ground—she was fighting the specter.

And then a flock of ravens swirled around her, pecking at that monstrous thing.

How… how could she be resisting it?

And worse—the specter was screaming in pain, as if it was the victim.

The ravens blocked some of my view, but there was no doubt—this had to be the woman they were looking for.

The one who could read the secrets engraved on the Goddess’s altar.

If I could lead them to her—if they captured her—maybe they would finally leave us alone.

Maybe they’d return my older sister unharmed.

My heart pounded like a drum, torn between fear and hope.

But then—everything changed.

The ravens suddenly scattered into the sky, and Valeria lay unconscious on the ground.

The specter… it was backing away from her—like it was afraid.

What was she?

She had completely lied to us.