The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation by Luna Nova

Chapter 17

FALLING INTO TEMPTATION VALERIA Y Your Ma Dont even think about it , Aldric snapped , his voice sharp , and the mans lips clamped shut as if glued together .

I had noticed he preferred to keep a low profile , avoiding the mention of his title whenever possible .

The newcomer remained frozen in the middle of the room while the guests at the tables avoided direct eye contact with us yet it was obvious they were all eavesdropping on the drama .

Valeria , go to the room , his deep voice ordered , and I nodded , watching him head toward the exit with that wolf who , despite his submissive demeanor , definitely seemed like an Alpha .

I climbed the creaking old stairs up to the third and final floor while the coachman fetched the luggage .

The narrow hallway led to the so called largest room available , as indicated by the number on the key .

Youve got to be kidding me , I muttered , on the verge of pulling my hair out .

Im screwed .

Sighing , I removed my cloak and glanced around .

A tiny bed was shoved against the wall , and across from it stood a glass paned door leading to a small balcony .

A folding screen separated the sleeping area from a rustic wooden tub .

With just the King alone , this room was already cramped let alone with both of us .

Am I supposed to sleep in the bathtub ? Resigned , I approached the balcony door and opened it , gazing out at the distant , ancient pack .

Small wooden houses with tall chimneys lined the valley , smoke rising into the sky .

Mountains surrounded us on all sides , enclosing the settlement like a forgotten memory .

For some reason , it reminded me of my original pack the place where I was born and where my parents had died that tragic day .

A day so confusing … so painful .

Is sharing a room with me that awful ? You look like someone just died .

That rough , deep voice whispered suddenly at my ear , making me tense and pulling me from my thoughts .

Y Your Majesty … you wont have any privacy or space- Stop calling me that , he corrected , though he didnt move an inch away , his warm breath fanning against my neck I can decide for myself whether Im uncomfortable or not Besides , why does it bother you so much ? Are you afraid Ill take advantage of you tonight ? His voice was husky , seductive even but to me , it felt like cruel joke .

Why would the King bother with his ugly maid when he could have any beautiful woman in his bed ? The words came out more bitter than I had intended , my gaze dropping to the floor .

25 LONUS 16 FALLING INTO TEMPTATION In a flash , a strong hand seized my waist , spinning me around to face him .

My breath caught .

Pressed firmly against his chest , there wasnt a sliver of space between us .

His hand gripped the back of my neck , tilting my head upward , forcing me to meet those icy , moon gray eyes .

Dont ever call yourself ugly or worthless in my presence again , he growled , threateningly .

Anyone who dares insult you like that … Ill rip their throat out.

His thumb traced my cheek , brushing gently over the jagged scars .

Rough yet tender .

Harsh but gentle .

Everything about Aldric was so … confusing .

For some reason , I felt the sting of tears , remembering the brutal way I had been marked how my baby had been torn from my body .

S Sir … I choked , a lump forming in my throat .

My eyes burned , but I refused to cry .

front of him

anyone Tell me

to ask … because its your

, Valeria , he whispered , the heat of his breath grazing my

A deadly rage radiated from his entire body , palpable and suffocating Dead , I replied without hesitation , keeping the

had killed him with my

ended

, he muttered through

I wish he was still

recalled the gruesome scene at the castle

too easily … too quickly

, his voice dropping lower as his

feel so safe

bury himself deep inside you to touch you , to scent you ,

if he were barely restraining himself from doing all the sinful things he

stirred low in my

the way hits stormy eyes darkened with

mine , and the tip of his thumb grazed my lower lip , parting it slightly ,

do in a situation like this ? 16 FALLING INTO TEMPTATION

resist him

while his other slid dangerously low his palm splayed over my waist , just shy of my hips , pressing me closer to the hard

say no

I could

tangled , sparks crackling in the charged space between us … I did the

… Waiting wanting to taste that smoky , addictive

To get lost .

a

soft yet searing ,

But then … No.

mistake , he whispered

he pulled away

TO !!! VALERIA I never thought Id feel this kind of humiliation again practically begging a man for something intimate only to be completely rejected

I … I lowered my head , trying to hide the sting of

every little

Its my fault .

, he said , exasperated

watch him turn away , his back to me as he ran a hand roughly through his hair , visibly

and change your clothes

at

ordered bluntly without even looking at me , then stormed out the door

disappointed ? He was the one

What the hell were you expecting , idiot

angry for giving

breaking the one rule I had set

the mistake of falling

are disposable toys for a single

bored , toying with the

perhaps it was revenge for rejecting

served as a brutal reminder to get my priorities

my heart shattered once I wouldnt let it

inn like a damn coward

I was

filthy words in her ear , consumed by my uncontrollable urges

streets , heading

beast ,

burn off this frustration … Anything to

I caught that bitter chocolate scent , havent I been able to stop fantasizing about devouring her ? Deeper into the woods , I embraced the savage side of my nature , yearning to shed my human skin once more

stripped my clothes , stashing them under a bush

DONT WANT TOILE My muscles expanded grotesquely , bones twisting , lengthening , the pain both

into the beast in the most powerful Lycan alive

the most wretchedly alone

bed , none could l the void gnawing at my chest

first time in