The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation by Luna Nova

Chapter 20 20 BETRAYAL AND PARKNESS BETRAYAL AND DARKNESS VALERIA Really? I thought I heard you murmuring something, she approachedwith suspicion.

No, I was just thinking out loud.

Did you manage to sort things out with your boyfriend? I descended the steps and found her sitting on the last one, suddenly bursting into tears.

Between sobs, she confessed her struggles with her mate and her parents being the Alphas daughter wasnt easy Dont be like that.

Theres got to be a solution.

Dont you have anyone who supports you? Maybe a sister? No! Why are you askingif I have a sister?! she snapped, lifting her gaze defensively.

I mean ...

Sorry, I didnt mean to be rude.

All of this hasreally nervous.

And no, I dont have a sister or anyone else.

I nodded, though her reaction felt strangely defensive for such a simple question.

Oh no, its way too late! My parents will kill me, and the King must be furious searching for you! Lets go, lets go now! She shifted from distress to panic, grabbing my hand and practically draggingback toward the woods at a near Wait this isnt the way I cfrom, I protested, slowing my steps as I noticed we were heading in the opposite direction, This is a shortcut ! I cthis way, she insisted, but she kept pushing forward through the dark underbrush.

I stumbled several times over roots due to the poor lighting and the speed we were moving.

Something felt wrong For starters how did she know I was at the Goddesss altar ? The pieces werent fitting together, and as I looked up, I spotted a raven flying overhead, weaving between the branches.

Its caw was sharp nothing like when it guidedto the temple before.

It felt more like a warning.

Stop.

Wait a minute ... I said stop ! I yanked my arm back, halting in a clearing where the trees thinned.

What is it now? she turned, clearly frustrated.

Where are you taking me? This isnt the way back to the pack, is it? I feel like were heading somewhere else.

I stared at her, alert, scanning the area aroundand already planning my escape.

Why would I take you somewhere else? Stop with the paranoia ! Con, I dont have tfor your nonsense! She reached foragain, but I stepped back.

Frustration and irritation flashed across her face.

I had already seen betrayal up close and it was obvious this girl was leadinginto danger.

20 BETRAYAL AND DARKNES Without thinking twice, I shifted into my small wolf form and bolted into the dark forest.

The moonlight barely filtered through the thick foliage, offering minimal visibility, yet I ran blindly, hoping the shadows would conceal me.

The ravens I need to find them.

I focused on the thought, praying they would guideback to Aldric.

But the sound of paws behindmade my heart race faster She was chasing me.

1 focused entirely on escaping, leaping over roots, pushing through thorny bushes despite the sharp stings on my legs.

But Adele was stronger.

The daughter of an Alpha .

She caught up quickly, and before I knew it, her jaws sank painfully into my hind leg.

Aaaggt! I howled as she draggedback with force, slamming my body hard against a tree .

1 whimpered, feeling my spine crack dangerously.

You just had to resist, huh? Damn it! All you had to do was followand stop making things complicated! The gray she wolf snarled from a few feet away.

Why are you doing this? What do you want from me? 1 demanded, struggling to get back on my feet.

I had always found it strange that, despite my weaknesses, could hear wolves in my mind and respond to their pack messages.

You need to cwith me... Its where the relic the King is looking for is kept.

You can retrieve it and be a hero ! she spat, lying poorly.

I dont want to be a hero ! If you know where it is, go get it yourself! I finally stood, snapping back with anger and preparing to run again.

But she lunged at me.

Of course, I fought back like a wild animal .

I wasnt going to let myself be captured.

We rolled through the grass, her claws raking my sides while I bit down hard on her fur, raking her body with my own claws.

But once again, she overpowered me.

I found myself pinned against a tree, belly up, her massive form pressing on my chest with a paw digging into my throat, cutting off my air.

I hated how small and weak this wolf form of mine was.

It was the only shape I could shift into fragile and helpless.

They never said you had to arrive in one piece anyway! 2/3 20 BETRAYAL AND DARKNESSY Her furious NOV thoughts echoed in my mind as she bared her teeth, saliva dripping onto my fur. She was going for my throat.

If they wantedalive, she was doing a terrible job showing it.

I struggled desperately, baring my own canines, twisting to snap at her.

Pain radiated from my neck where her claws dug in, but just as I thought she would endAdele froze.

Her head snapped up, her eyes shifting from bloodthirsty red to sheer panic.

I felt her entire body trembling, her paw loosening against my throat .

What could possibly terrify her so much? My pulse raced faster when I noticed she wasnt even looking atanymore but past me. Something behind the tree.

Something I couldnt see.

Her whole body trembled as she backed away, growling weakly.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing fromto whatever m loomed in the shadows then bolted, vanishing int the darkness like a spirit fleeing a demon. And I had the sinking feeling that a demon was exactly what was behind me.

When I finally managed to push myself upright, turning shakily- The massive black shadow towering overwasnt just darkness.

It was something else.

Something that made every hair on my body stand on end. Tonight, it truly felt like my last.

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