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

anyone Tell

never dared to ask … because its your private

he whispered , the heat of his breath grazing my

you so cruelly is he alive or dead ? A deadly rage radiated from his entire body , palpable and suffocating Dead , I

him with my

ended

, he muttered

I wish he was still alive

gruesome scene at the castle

too easily … too

, Valeria , he continued , his voice

feel so safe around

to scent you , to

were barely restraining himself

stirred low in my

intoxicating tension the way hits stormy eyes

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

a situation like this ? 16 FALLING INTO TEMPTATION Why was he acting this way ? Despite his

resist

my waist , just shy of my hips , pressing me closer to the hard length straining against his

could say

, I could reject him again

our breaths tangled , sparks crackling in the charged space between us …

Waiting wanting to taste that smoky , addictive flavor of his kiss

To get lost .

for a moment

, soft yet searing , and I was already surrendering already melting

But then … No.

mistake , he whispered

just like that , he pulled away abruptly

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

I … I lowered my head , trying to hide the

apologizing for every

Its my fault .

one elses , he

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

and

having lunch at the Alphas

you later , he ordered bluntly without even

so hurt and disappointed ? He was the one who

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

giving in so easily

one rule I had set for

make the mistake of falling for King Aldric

women are disposable toys for

the scarred freak to see how fast

revenge for rejecting

as a brutal reminder to get my

already had my heart shattered once I

left the inn like a

I

, whispered filthy words in her ear , consumed by my uncontrollable urges only to back away

streets , heading

needed to shift to unleash my beast , to

this frustration …

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

stashing them under a bush ,

twisting , lengthening , the pain both

shifted into

, the

No matter how many women warmed my bed , none could l the void

for the first time