The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 24

ALDRIC

“They were looking for a woman who could read what was written on the Altar. Adele tested all the locals and visitors, but we didn’t even know there was anything written there! I did it to protect my family. You would have done the same!”

“I would have asked for help, you idiot! Vampires are the most treacherous creatures in existence! What the hell are the Guardians for then?!” I roared, nearly losing control.

This was far more serious than I had imagined.

“You handed over a sacred relic of our race, deceived innocent women, and were willing to let them access our secrets! Did you honestly think you or your family would walk away unscathed?!”

The man kept crying, repeating that he did it for his daughters, but my patience was gone.

My priority now was finding out where they had taken Valeria.

“Tell me where the vampires are,” I demanded in a deadly voice.

“I don’t know exactly. They were always very secretive. I never met their leader. We met in an old cabin near the lake…”

SWOOSH!

I sliced off his head without hesitation.

This incompetent Alpha had lived too long already, and his mistakes were unforgivable.

I began running toward the lake, leaving the bloody scene behind.

Only his wife was spared—for now. I’d need to interrogate her later.

I followed the strange scent they had left to mask their trail from other werewolves.

But I’m a Lycan.

They can’t hide from me so easily.

My body shifted as I ran under the moonlight, gaining momentum to leap across a wide, deep ravine.

A savage roar escaped my open jaws.

Whoever had taken my maid would pay dearly.

*****

VALERIA

The vampires had struck deals with traffickers in our kingdom, selling us at low prices to reap greater profits at their underground auction.

They moved us from the original site, cramming us onto a wagon like livestock.

We traveled through forested areas, far from the pack boundaries, under the cover of the dark night.

The women around me wore the same desperate, hopeless expressions.

I curled up in a corner, clutching my knees.

A dull ache throbbed in my chest and stomach, joined by feverish sweats.

I didn’t know what that wretched woman had done to me, but it felt like the heat wolves experienced during their mating cycles.

At least, that’s what I assumed—I’d never gone through one myself.

Laughter and jeers echoed from the shadowed figures seated in the audience.

In the end, a wealthy werewolf bought us. He also purchased two younger, prettier girls who were quickly loaded into his carriage.

As for us, the servants, we were hauled out of the cage by two muscular men.

I could barely resist or even think straight—I was seeing double.

A heavy iron collar clamped around my neck.

We were all chained together, collar to collar, with the first woman tied to the back of the carriage.

The whip cracked against the horses, and we were dragged away, heading for an unknown pack.

For a moment, I glanced back at the old house that hid the underground auction and then up at the night sky.

Would anyone come to save me?

Did Aldric think I had run away?

I sighed, barely able to stand as the forced march continued.

*****

ALDRIC

After crossing the lake and following the trail, I arrived at an old building.

The stench of vampires was unmistakable, reaching me long before the structure came into view.