The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation romance Capítulo 97

ALDRIC

"Your Highness, this woman is dealing with the Dark Realm! Look at my brother—he doesn’t even remember us. She’s convinced him he’s her grandson and does everything she commands!"

The woman threw herself at my feet, sobbing.

"She’s blackmailing me with my brother’s life and my parents, who are prisoners in that hut, just like she tried to blackmail Valeria. Look—look at what she’s wearing around her neck!"

She lunged forward, ripping a locket from the other woman’s neck amidst screams and resistance. The woman froze when I stepped closer.

"Activate it. Only for me," I commanded, taking the pendant from the girl and grabbing the other woman’s hair tightly. "Try any trick, and you’ll last less than you think."

Trembling, she muttered a few words, activating that cursed magic, which revealed the truth through a memory.

I stepped forward, facing the strange creature I had never seen before.

It wasn’t a vampire, nor a witch, nor a specter—nothing familiar.

But when she raised her gaze, those intense ruby eyes filled with bloodied tears of suffering streaking down her cheeks made it unmistakable: it was my Valeria.

I remembered that argument we had, the time she seemed like she wanted to tell me something.

So many moments when sadness and despair flashed in her eyes—how could I not have seen it?

"I don’t care if you reject her or hate her. If I have to fight you, I will. I won’t let myself be locked away again. I will take control, Aldric, and I will go to my mate. Whatever Valeria is, it doesn’t matter. She didn’t kill our family. She’s innocent—she’s mine!"

"She’s ours, Azarot. She’s ours," I replied to my wolf, lowering my hand to caress the intangible dark hair of the woman now sobbing, kneeling before me and the remains of the man who had destroyed her life—and whom I had also failed.

"I’m sorry, my love. I’m so sorry for not giving you the trust and security to believe in me. I said I would protect you from everything, yet I couldn’t even protect you from my own grudges and resentment. You are good—I know you are good, Valeria. It doesn’t matter what race you are. I know your heart."

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. This wasn’t the time to dwell on mistakes—it was time to face them and fight.

I opened my eyes, resolute and focused.

"Tell me everything you planned with the Vampire King. What did he promise you in return, and what is your connection to the Dark Realm?"