The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 90

VALERIA

It felt as though time had frozen, taking me back to that moment when she walked into the room and saw her son dead in my hands.

I don’t regret a thing. Dorian killed my pup first, so an eye for an eye seemed more than fair.

I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin defiantly. If she thought I was going to fear her or show her the respect I once did, she was sorely mistaken.

I knew she might try to accuse me in front of Aldric. After all, my former friend Sophia must have seen my transformation. But it would be her word against mine. Let’s see who the King chooses to believe.

“Alpha, I didn’t know there would be additional guests,” Aldric said beside me, his tone as cold and sharp as ever.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to greet you personally earlier. The Alpha didn’t inform me of your arrival,” she said, stepping forward and bowing with sickening servility in front of my mate.

“And you are?” His Majesty raised a questioning brow.

“I am currently acting Regent. My young grandson is the future Alpha of the Autumn Forest pack, which annexed this smaller pack. So, I manage both,” she explained, and I froze in shock.

Grandson? What grandson? Dorian was her only child.

“Come, my love. Greet the Lycan King and his subordinates as I taught you,” she said, and a small boy, no older than two, was placed in her arms.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Where had this child come from? He was now bowing to Aldric as instructed.

He had to be Dorian’s son, possibly with Sophia—or someone else.

The timeline made it clear he was conceived while Dorian was still married to me.

Rage swirled inside me, but I held it back, doing my best not to let Aldric feel the storm of emotions threatening to escape.

“She is my mate, your future Queen. You will address her with respect,” Aldric said, pulling me closer by the waist and instructing the child to call me “Your Majesty” as well.

“Your Ma…jesh…ta the Queen, welco—wait, how do you say that word, Grandma?” The boy turned to ask her, then gave me a sweet, childish greeting. I managed to smile at his innocent eyes, even as my heart shattered.

I knew he wasn’t to blame. I would never take my anger out on a child, but the pain was unbearable.

My son could have been this big by now.

And this pup, the result of such a painful betrayal, only made it worse.

“My, what a well-behaved pup. I’m sure you’ll make an excellent Alpha,” Aldric said, clearly pleased. I noticed his weakness for small children, and bitterness seeped into my heart.

I might never be a mother.

I tensed at his words. I had no intention of returning to that dreadful place, and I wouldn’t let Aldric support her either.

I felt sorry for the child, but if I could influence Aldric to have that woman thrown out of power, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. You are the greatest leader. Dorian could have learned so much from you,” she gushed, and I nearly vomited at her gall. She had even given the boy the same name as her infamous son.

*****

That night, we had an uncomfortable dinner, but I hadn’t even finished swallowing my food when a sentinel burst in, reporting a strange creature sighted in the forest.

It looked like a vampire and had attacked some people passing nearby.

Aldric immediately rose from the table, and so did everyone else.

“Quinn, protect them with your life. I’ll go investigate,” Aldric commanded, stepping onto the porch.

“My love, don’t do anything reckless, Valeria. I’ll hunt that creature and return quickly, alright?” He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. I sighed and nodded, watching as he left with the Alpha and the sentinels.

I turned to go back inside, but suddenly felt something cold splash onto my chest.

“Your Highness, I’m so sorry! What an embarrassment—I must be so nervous with all of this… let me help you,” said Anaís, my ex-mother-in-law, her expression falsely apologetic after deliberately spilling wine all over me.