The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation romance Capítulo 18

ALDRIC

I should push her away completely—distance her from me for good.

But the very thought makes every fiber of my being roar in protest.

Valeria clearly carries secrets and a painful past.

She deserves a good werewolf. Someone who can love her unconditionally.

Not a Lycan.

Not even Quinn, who seems to have taken some interest in her.

I won't allow it.

He’s not worthy of my little she-wolf.

No one is.

All Lycans carry violence and darkness within them—the curse of destroying what we love most.

And Valeria will be no exception.

I’ll end up breaking her into pieces with my own hands.

*****

VALERIA

We headed toward the Alpha's house, walking through half-empty streets.

This pack felt gloomy and damp.

No one spoke much, and the few who dared glance our way did so with suspicion and fear.

I walked beside the King.

I should be trailing behind him like a servant, but he had ordered me to stay at his side, as if I were his equal.

Once, that might have stirred something in me.

Now, it made no difference.

I was just a maid.

My job wasn’t to question his behavior—it was to serve and obey.

"Your Highness, please, come into my humble home. We've been expecting you."

The chestnut-haired man who had barged into the inn earlier greeted us with a bow as we reached a modest two-story house at the end of the street.

As I suspected, he was the Alpha of this pack.

"This is my wife, Clara, and my daughter, Adele," he introduced, motioning to the two timid blonde women standing behind him.

"Your Majesty, you should have stayed in my home. If I had known you were coming—"

"I'm fine at the inn. Besides, if you truly wanted me in your pack, you would have summoned me properly. Wouldn't you?"

Aldric’s words sliced through him like a blade.

The Alpha barely managed a stammered response.

Without waiting for more apologies, Aldric moved past him, heading straight to the dining area for a meal that was now closer to dinner than lunch.

I remained standing in the corner of the room, quietly observing.

"What are you doing?"

Aldric’s voice suddenly cut through the room, his sharp gaze fixed on me.

"And did you retrieve what was stolen?"

"N-No, Your Majesty... I failed. I am an incompetent Alpha," the man confessed, lowering his head in submission.

Perhaps he thought Aldric would soften.

But he knew nothing of the Lycan King.

Aldric doesn't forgive stupidity.

"I could already tell you're incompetent. That's why I’ll be staying in your pack for a few days to investigate personally—"

BANG!

A loud crash interrupted him as a metal tray slipped from the trembling hands of the Alpha’s wife, clattering loudly onto the floor.

Fortunately, it was empty.

"Y-Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was an accident! We're all just so distressed... My husband has been searching tirelessly for those criminals," she pleaded, attempting to ease the rising tension.

Across from me, the Alpha's daughter offered a shy, nervous smile when our gazes met.

I returned it out of basic politeness.

But no matter how polite the gestures were—

This was, by far, the most uncomfortable meal of my life.

I could barely swallow the steak, and all I wanted was to get out of there.

When Aldric finally released me from my punishment at the table, I practically fled to the porch, desperate for fresh air while he continued a private conversation with the Alpha in his study.

"Are all meals with the King always this... life-or-death?"

A soft female voice whispered near me.