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 .

in front of him

in front of anyone

dared to ask …

cant hold it in any longer , Valeria , he whispered , the heat of his

alive or dead ? A deadly rage radiated from his entire body , palpable and suffocating

him with my

ended him

he muttered

now , I wish he was still

recalled the gruesome scene at the castle walls

had died too easily … too quickly

wrong , Valeria , he continued , his voice dropping

shouldnt feel so safe around

touch you , to scent you , to

if he were barely restraining himself from doing all

low in my belly

eyes darkened

grazed my lower lip , parting it slightly , teasing me open for

16 FALLING INTO TEMPTATION Why was he acting this way

resist him

splayed over my waist , just shy of my hips , pressing me closer to the

say no

I

in the charged space between us … I did the stupidest thing

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

To get lost .

for a moment

soft yet searing , and I was

But then … No.

is a mistake , he whispered hoarsely

he pulled

Id feel this kind of humiliation again practically begging a man for something intimate only to

I … I lowered my head , trying to hide

for every

Its my fault .

elses , he said

dared to lift my eyes just enough to watch him turn away , his back to me as he ran a hand roughly

and change

having lunch at the Alphas residence

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

feel so hurt and disappointed ? He was the one who

did I do wrong ? What the hell were you expecting , idiot ? I

for giving

the one rule I had set

make the mistake of

him , all women are disposable toys for a single night

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

perhaps it was revenge for

the reason , it served as a brutal reminder to get

once I wouldnt let it

inn like a damn

what I was

filthy words in her ear , consumed

the narrow streets , heading straight for the forest

to unleash my beast , to fight something wild and dangerous

off this frustration … Anything to forget

been able to stop fantasizing about devouring her ? Deeper into the woods , I embraced the savage side of my

them under a bush ,

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

my skin as I shifted into

, the

bed , none

for the first time in centuries