The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation romance Capítulo 10

VALERIA

It’s not like I have much to pack.

On the bed, I make a small bundle with a few old clothes you’ve donated to me and, most importantly, the money the King gave me.

That’s all I have to survive.

Shielded by the night and the darkness, I wander through the corridors, glancing around fearfully, clearly intending to escape.

I reach the kitchen and search for the back door—obviously, I won’t risk leaving through the main entrance.

When I glance at the counter where the King’s meals are served, a surge of anger rises in my chest.

Why would they do something like this?

Who could be so cruel as to send an innocent woman to certain death?

The maid who helped the one who cut her hand is my main suspect—the one who had the opportunity while I was distracted.

Perhaps both of them are working together.

I step out into the inner courtyard and run toward the gate where the carts with supplies and goods enter.

The forest welcomes me—dark and menacing. It’s frightening, and I have no idea where to go now.

I think about shifting into my wolf form and simply running far from these lands.

However, fireworks echo in the distance, coming from the pack's lands, drawing my attention and deepening the indecision in my chest.

I have nowhere to go. Maybe they’re still searching for me out there. And if not... what would I become?

Just a rogue without a pack, bait for any scum to abuse me or sell me as a slave to an even worse pack.

Maybe the housekeeper can help me—give me another position if I explain everything to her properly.

She’s far more rational than the King.

I gamble everything on that decision and start following the stone path down the mountain toward the valley where the Golden Moon pack lies.

*****

Knock, knock, knock.

I knock repeatedly on the door of the house belonging to the housekeeper.

I had asked a woman, and she told me she lived here, yet the window was dark, and no one responded.

Could she be at the celebrations?

I thought about circling the house to be sure no one was home, but then, the angry voice of a man made me freeze.

"Hey, you! What are you doing snooping around someone else’s house?"

I turned, startled, to see an intimidating warrior with two other men behind him.

"Sir, I—I was just looking for Madam, the King's housekeeper. I work for her," I replied, trying not to sound too nervous or suspicious.

"I know exactly who you are—the King's maid. And I’ve been looking for you. The King has given orders. You’re coming with us," he said, and panic gripped my heart.

"W-With you? Where...?"

"Wherever we want to take you, traitor! Don’t think we don’t know you tried to poison His Majesty. Grab her!"

"No, no! I didn’t... wait! Let go of me! Aggh!" I groaned in pain as a brutal punch landed in my stomach, cutting me off and making me double over in agony.

But soon, my mouth was gagged with a cloth, and only muffled sobs escaped.

"Finally shut the fuck up. So damn annoying. Should we start this shit or what?" the man on top of me asked the leader.

"Do whatever you want with her. Nice tits, but with that face so scarred, I’m losing my appetite. Get it over with—we can't be out here too long," the leader answered.

Horrified, I watched as the man straddling my waist shifted, beginning to unbutton his pants while casually talking to the other behind me—discussing how they were going to violate me, splitting my body between them as if I were nothing but a piece of meat.

They said Aldric had ordered this.

And something inside me shattered.

I would have preferred he killed me with his own hands rather than face this humiliation.

It must be true.

Only he knew about the aphrodisiac… unless they were working for whoever set me up in the first place.

But who could hold that much power to command three of the pack's warriors?

"Wait... hold up. I’m losing my hard-on with all these scars. Fuck, what an ugly face. She could’ve been a bit prettier," the one pinning me suddenly grumbled and then removed his shirt, tossing it over my face.

The stench of sweat and rot filled my nose, making my stomach turn with disgust.

The only monsters here were them.

I was blind in the darkness, making me feel even more vulnerable, more defenseless.

I struggled with all my strength as their hands pried my knees apart, forcing them open against my will.