The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 8

VALERIA

A strong scent of wine assaulted my senses, making me feel slightly dizzy.

My senses were dulled, and for some reason, my body began to react as if an unbearable heat was consuming me from within.

A heavy steel and wood door blocked my path.

From the other side, I could hear growls and sounds like something or someone scratching the walls or the floor.

"Aaggrr..." Upon recognizing the King's voice for a brief moment, I finally decided to enter—perhaps he was in trouble.

However, I wasn’t prepared to find him naked and nearly unconscious, kneeling on the hard stone floor.

His hands were restrained above him by heavy steel rings anchored to the ancient wall, and thick chains held him captive with powerful, rusted shackles around his wrists.

The King's breathing was labored, as though he were enduring intense pain, and his muscular body was drenched in sweat.

His red hair hung damply over his face, which was tilted downward, obscuring his features in the dim light.

"Sir!" I ran toward him without thinking, scared, foolishly believing someone had captured him.

I didn’t fully understand the situation, but it was obvious he wasn’t well. I set the small lantern to the side—our only source of light—and knelt before the King.

"Your... Your Majesty, how do I free you? What should I do?"

My trembling hands reached for the heavy shackles, trying to pull them open with useless tugs.

They were heavy and clearly forged to contain this powerful man.

The skin on his wrists was raw and bloody. But suddenly, everything changed.

His hand moved with incredible speed, closing around my neck, squeezing me almost to the point of choking.

"It's... it's me... Your Highness... Valeria," I stammered, thinking he didn’t recognize me, but as he strangled me with one hand, he lifted his fierce face toward mine.

His eyes were blood-red, wolfish, like those of a wild animal, with massive fangs bared, capable of tearing my throat out in a second.

Fear. Overwhelming fear gripped me as I saw the raw fury in his gaze, completely devoid of compassion or "humanity."

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME, VALERIA?!! YOU DRUGGED ME! I TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU DRUGGED ME!"

His guttural voice roared in my face.

We were only inches apart, and all I could do was shake my head as my hands grasped at his, desperate.

My vision blurred, and I felt I would lose consciousness any moment.

"I... I didn’t... Sir... I swear... I didn’t..."