The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 319

KATHERINE

Oh no, no, no—this was terrifying.

I was trembling uncontrollably, gripping the bread knife like a deadly weapon in front of me. I sharpened my hearing, moving cautiously to avoid making a sound that would give me away.

I couldn’t hear footsteps anymore, but with the chaos of the battle outside—screams, the clash of weapons—it was impossible to tell what was happening.

Suddenly, the handle of one of the carriage’s side doors began to turn slowly. My heart nearly burst from my chest, fear tightening around my senses, indecision flooding my mind.

It was the door facing the forest—of course, the least guarded side. The fight was happening on the other side of the carriage, out on the road.

I straightened slightly, my head brushing against the ceiling, gripping the knife so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I was shaking all over, my eyes locked onto the entrance, debating whether the smarter move was to escape through the other door.

Too many choices, too little time. Then, in a matter of seconds, the handle stopped moving.

I braced myself, expecting them to fling the door open and take me by surprise.

But my real shock came when the wooden panel beneath my feet was yanked away.

"Aaahhh!" I screamed as I fell into the void.

A trapdoor—one I hadn’t even known existed—opened in the carriage floor, and I crashed hard onto the ground below.

Crack!

My head struck the earth with a brutal force, making me groan in pain. The sound of my suffering was swallowed by the chaotic battle raging above.

Hands gripped my ankles with crushing strength, hard enough to bruise, and yanked me violently under the carriage.

I fought with everything I had, trying to scream for help, struggling desperately, but two men restrained me, tying my hands and gagging me before dragging me toward the dark forest.

Flashes of past nightmares attacked my mind—my own imprisonment, the suffocating darkness, the smell of blood and dirt, the cold dread curling around my spine.

I screamed into the gag, my eyes filling with tears, frantically searching for Elliot, desperate for any sign of him.

But the massive carriage was a perfect barrier, keeping me out of sight.

Within moments, the shadows of the trees swallowed us whole.

"Damn it, stop struggling, you stupid woman," one of them hissed, his claws tightening around my arms like a hawk sinking its talons into prey.

It hurt, but I refused to go with them like a meek lamb. I dragged my feet, making myself dead weight, forcing them to struggle with every step.

"Pick up her legs! Let’s carry her—hurry up, damn it! The Duke will realize she’s missing any second," the other one ordered, and they started lifting me.

Out of pure survival instinct—the same way I had once fought to protect myself in the past—I raked my nails across his face, aiming for his eyes, carving deep gashes into his skin.

"Aaahh!"

"You idiot, scream louder so everyone knows we’re here!"

"That bitch clawed my whole damn face!"

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