The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 88

VALERIA

“Specters? Why haven’t you reported this to the Guardians so they can investigate?” Aldric interrogated him coldly.

“It’s just… it’s just that there haven’t been any sightings in years. But in our pack, there’s a story—those who venture into this place are cursed, marked by specters to die later. That’s what happened to a couple, good people, members of our pack.”

He spoke with his head bowed, sounding sorrowful. I had a strong feeling he was talking about my parents.

“They found an abandoned baby in this forest, at the Altar, they said. Can you imagine? What baby could have survived here? We warned them repeatedly not to bring it to the pack, that the child was strange, but they didn’t listen. A few years later, they were torn apart by a specter, and only that abomination survived.”

I clenched my fists at his words, wanting to lash out and defend myself, but Aldric beat me to it.

“So, you would have left a baby to die in the forest out of fear?” Aldric interrupted, his voice nearly a growl, his commanding aura burning with anger. The man trembled even more.

“No, not me! I’m just warning you about the monsters, I…”

“Just shut up and get the hell out of here! Honestly, who’s the real monster here? Don’t show your face in front of me again while I’m in this damn pack!” Aldric roared, and the man ran off.

A warm, strong hand gripped mine, pulling me along the stone path deeper into the forest, with Celine and Quinn following silently behind.

“That baby was you, wasn’t it?” he asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

“Yes, it was me.”

“You’re no abomination. You’re my beloved mate. I’m grateful to your kind-hearted parents for saving my chance at happiness.” As we walked, he leaned down to kiss the top of my head, giving me a small glimmer of hope. But then…

“Some cursed she-wolf must have abandoned you here in this forest. How can they blame an innocent child for a specter attack? Brain-dead idiots. Don’t worry. Once we’re done with these altars, we’ll find a way to break your curse. I’ve already got someone tracking down one of those rogue witches.”

I sighed without responding. Aldric, I’m not afraid of specters.

They’re the ones who should fear me.

*****

We found the Altar, and though I tried to stay calm, my nerves were on edge. Quinn kept stealing glances at me, while Celine remained alert, scanning our surroundings.

I was about to respond when a half-hidden set of markings caught my attention.

Reaching out, I brushed away the moss, my heart skipping a beat as I uncovered my name, crudely carved into the stone.

The letters didn’t seem to belong to the original monument.

They weren’t even in the same ancient language, yet I understood them perfectly.

«My little raven, if you’ve made it here, it means all my efforts were worth it. Don’t reveal the information about this Altar to anyone yet. Trust your old nanny, Valeria. The ravens will soon guide you to me»

A lump formed in my throat, and tears burned in my eyes. I tried to hide my reaction, but Celine was already looking at me with a questioning expression.

I didn’t even know why I felt this way—so sad, so nostalgic. I had no idea who had written those words, which clashed entirely with the rest of the monument.

It seemed foolish to trust an unknown phrase. It could be a lie, a trap. Yet every instinct I had screamed at me to believe it.

My little raven. Someone, long ago, had called me that.