The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation

 My body was exhausted, not just physically but mentally as well.

Ever since I was tricked into fighting Aldric on that cliff, up until the moment everything around me fell apart, I had been tense and stressed, overthinking my options, fearing the future, not knowing how to survive in the present.

I dont know where I am or what has happened.

My confused mind reconnects with reality, but something immediately comes to mindIm pregnant.

Scared, I shift my senses, checking my belly where my pups healthy life continues to grow and develop.

Ilet out a sigh of relief.

That was the most important thing, and then I focus on the person beside me.

Someone is breathing behind me, a warm body, much larger than mine.

Im lying down, blinking as I try to focus on the strange furniture in the room.

The hand around my waist tightens gently, possessively, pulling me closer to the broad chest, merging me with the powerful body.

Vale, are you awake? The rough, familiar male voice pours into my mind.

The man behind me tenses, and I feel him shifting, trying to turn me onto my back.

Ido as he wants and move into position on the bed where we are resting.

---- His beautiful face, with worried gray eyes, looks at me intently.

Little one, answer me.

Does anything hurt? Do you feel any discomfort in your belly? Id better call the sorceress...

No, Im fine, Aldric.

Im fine, and so is the baby, I stop him as he starts to get up.

Hes lying on his side, almost on top of me.

I lift my hand and take one of his reddish strands between my fingers, then move to caress his beard.

He looks somewhat haggard, his furrowed brow full of worry.

His eyes close, and he leans into my touch when I stroke his face.

This is my man.

I dont know how I ever imagined living without him by my side.

Youre going to turn into a wrinkled old man if you keep this up, I say, running my fingers over his furrowed brow.

He lowers his forehead to press it against mine, sighing, his broad hand descending to caress my belly tenderly.

All his love, the promises for us, pour through the strengthened bond that connects us.

Tve been so scared, baby.

Ever since I realized on that cliff how wrong I was about you, not a second has passed without fear, he confesses against my lips, and Im even surprised that a man as proud as him would speak this way.

T feared for your life, feared your rejection, losing you forever because I was a fool.

His tormented eyes open as he carefully lays his body over mine.

Tlove the feeling of him dominating all my space, skin to skin from head to toe.

He cups my cheeks in both hands, making me look at him through the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the window slats.

Valeria, I love you.

Im telling you again, I dont want you to have any doubts about it.

If you had told me, I know I would have been in shock, maybe acted like the animal I am at first, but I would never hurt you, my love.

Never.

And I couldnt stay away from you even if I wanted to.

Youve captured my heart, Selenia Valeria.

I swallow the lump in my throat with effort, and tears of emotion spill from the corners of my eyes uncontrollably.

T love you too, King Lycan, I whisper, running my hands down his strong back muscles.

For along time, you managed to make me fall completely in love with youwith your rough ways, your toxic jealousy, and your crude ways of showing me your heart.

I guess I must be a masochist deep down.

Ismile and am gently embraced, savoring the peace and healing this moment brings me.

His delicious, wine-flavored lips touch mine in a kiss full of promises.

The most important one is that we would never be apart again.

We would raise our pup together, no matter the obstacles destiny threw our way; we would face them united.

Aldric, what happened? Where are we? We stop kissing, breathing heavily, our legs tangled, and our bodies joined.

We're in the village of the Happy Witch, he answers, pulling me closer to his chest and turning us to our sides.

I then notice the canopy bed, the white gauzy curtains hanging from the four posts, a wardrobe in the corner, a dresser with a huge mirror.

Whose ---- house is this? Tt belongs to that conniving, scamming sorceress, he replies, as if reading my thoughts.

We got here after that psychopath blew up the door, the bridge collapsed, and I protected you the whole time.

Thanks to your mothers magic, we resurfaced through the underground currents and walked all night back here.

But...

did that woman just let us stay in her house like that? What do you think? he asked, raising an eyebrow, and I could already imagine the mess he must have caused.

You fainted and wouldnt wake up.

I was nearly in agony with worry; your magic seemed depleted, and the whole situation was chaos.

Then she appeared in the forest in front of us, that White Sorceress who healed Celine and treated everyones wounds.

We needed a place to recover.

Kael is no longer king.

We arrived at the village, and I took control.

This was the best house, so I kicked out its owner and handed her over to the villagers.

It was best that you werent awake for it.

He tells me, and with all the mischief hes done and the hatred they must feel for him, I dont even want to imagine her fate.

And how are the others? Quinn and Celine, I ask, even though I can feel their presence nearby.

They had survived, and Aldric confirmed it.

Valeria, theres something...

he suddenly gets too serious.

Queen Gabrielle...

she...

Did she die? I sit up, my chest tightening, the fragmented memories before I passed out starting to take shape.

Its true.

She was standing by the door, so close to the danger and the ---- explosion...

It couldnt be.

She was too powerful! No, no, relax, baby, breathe.

Breathe.

You cant get upset, think about the pup, he immediately holds me by the shoulders.

Valeria, Ill take you to see her, but you have to be strong.

Your mother...

she sacrificed herself to save us all and seal the door with the power of the Selenias.

She...

shes not doing very well.

Take me to her, I said decisively, moving to get out of bed.

I thought things would be bad, but when I entered that dark room and saw herthe powerful, unstoppable, indomitable, and beautiful Selenia seeing what she had become now filled my heart with pain.