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

of anyone

dared to ask … because its

, Valeria , he whispered , the

deadly rage radiated from his entire body , palpable and suffocating Dead ,

with

ended

a shame , he

wish he was still

the gruesome scene at the

had died too easily …

his voice dropping lower as

so safe around

to touch you , to scent you

was as if he were barely restraining himself from doing

low in my

hits stormy eyes

, and the tip of his thumb grazed my lower lip , parting it slightly , teasing me open for

this ? 16 FALLING INTO TEMPTATION Why

resist

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

say no

the dungeon , I could reject him again

crackling in the charged space

parted my lips slightly … Waiting wanting to taste that smoky , addictive

To get lost .

for a moment

lips barely touched mine , soft yet searing , and I was already surrendering already melting into him

But then … No.

, he

pulled away abruptly leaving me completely humiliated

TO !!! VALERIA I never thought Id feel this kind of humiliation again practically begging

sorry , I … I lowered my head , trying to hide the sting of disappointment and shame

every

Its my fault .

he said ,

, his back to me as he ran a hand roughly through

a bath and

at

he ordered bluntly without even looking at me

and disappointed ? He was the one who

the hell were you expecting ,

giving in

the one rule I

make the mistake of falling for

women are disposable toys for a single

just bored , toying with the scarred freak to see how fast Id crumble

was revenge for rejecting

reason , it served as a brutal reminder to get

once

left the inn like a

I was

consumed by my uncontrollable urges only

the narrow streets , heading straight for the forest

unleash my beast , to fight

off this frustration … Anything to forget those heartbroken eyes

hell is happening to me with Valeria ? Why , from the moment 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 ,

, stashing them under a bush ,

DONT WANT TOILE My muscles expanded grotesquely , bones twisting , lengthening ,

over my skin as I shifted into the beast in the most powerful Lycan

yet , the most

bed , none could l the void gnawing at my chest

first time in centuries