The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 35

VALERIA

"Vale!"

Walking toward the training gym, I heard the hurried voice of Juliette behind me—the maid who had always been kind to me.

"Hi, Jul… wait! You’re going to trip and fall face-first!" I exclaimed, grabbing the large basket of laundry she was carrying before she nearly toppled into it.

"Whew! I thought you wouldn’t hear me! How are you feeling? Still in pain?" she asked, looking me over as if searching for injuries.

"In pain?" I blinked, confused.

"Yeah, the housekeeper said yesterday when I asked about you that you weren’t feeling well and had gone to your room. Oh, Val, you missed everything!" she exclaimed excitedly, then glanced around the hallway before stepping closer to me, whispering.

I tensed slightly at her closeness, always expecting people to criticize my scarred face, but Juliette never seemed to care about that.

"Let me tell you—His Majesty was furious yesterday! There was a whole scandal in his chambers with those women you selected!" Her eyes sparkled, brimming with gossip.

"They didn’t want to leave and caused a full-blown rebellion. His Majesty dragged them out and threw them naked in front of the castle without a care! Oh, it was humiliating—every servant was at the windows, whistling and offering them money for the night!"

"The entire staff came out to watch them cry and scream like maniacs. And get this—when they started insulting you, His Majesty finally reacted and roared so loudly that one of them… well, let’s just say she wet herself."

"They shut up immediately, as if their mouths had been sewn shut, and they were carted off in the garbage wagon! Oh, it was hilarious!" Juliette burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying the humiliation of those women.

"Honestly, you missed a show, but look on the bright side— you got rid of cleaning the “substance” that the cow releases" she teased, winking at me.

I suddenly remembered what had happened with the King in the woods, kneeling in front of him, my mouth open.

All of Aldric’s “substance” had ended up in my stomach.

I coughed awkwardly, trying to dispel my impure thoughts.

"Yeah, the housekeeper told me I wouldn’t have to do the selections anymore," I replied as we walked together down the hall, speaking softly.

"Oh, they wiped the floor with the housekeeper! His Majesty called her to the throne room, and she came back looking like a serial killer—worse than usual," Juliette whispered conspiratorially.

I figured it was because she had sent me to choose those women.

I just hoped the housekeeper wouldn’t hold a grudge against me for it.

"Well, thanks for checking on me. I’m feeling better," I said, stopping. I supposed the whole "not feeling well" story had been an excuse to explain my absence during the drama.

I’d never seen him before. He seemed younger, with dark brown hair and piercing green eyes.

"That’s why I hate fighting pups. They always end up whining," the bald, bulky Lycan grumbled irritably as they shoved each other apart.

Then the younger Lycan looked toward me, and his face lit up as if he’d seen heaven.

A sinking feeling of bad premonition washed over me.

"Hey, maid! Come over here, you’ll be our judge! You’ll decide who’s the strongest!"

"No, I just… Wait!" I protested, but he dashed up the wide stairs in no time and grabbed my hand, dragging me into the battle arena.

"You’re insane, Dave! Let her go, now!" the burly Lycan roared as soon as he got a good look at me.

His face was full of panic, as if I could knock him out with a single punch. It might have been amusing if I didn’t realize he wasn’t scared of me.

He was terrified of someone else.

An enormous, ferocious wolf who could show up at any moment.