The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation by Luna Nova

Chapter 21 WHAT IS THAT MAIDEN ?! VALERIA I had only ever heard of them in childrens horror stories.

They were almost impossible to find, and nearly no one had survived after seeing them.

Beings of pure dark energy and evil rotting, murderous magic.

Its red eyes, like two deep abysses filled with flames, stare atfrom that shapeless face, makingtremble in fear.

Its body was made of a black mist, with long, dangling strands that hung from every part of it as it advanced toward me.

Its arms were far too long, disproportionate, with massive, razor sharp claws that could sliceclean through I crawled backward, dragging myself across the ground.

I couldnt feel my legs.

My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would stop at any moment.

I tried to get up multiple times, failing each attempt .

It loomed over me, and through the darkness, I saw with terror as it opened a wide mouth filled with crooked teeth and grinned, making every hair on my body stand on end.

AAAHHH! I screamed, covering my face as the intimidating shadow envelopedin its darkness, swallowingwhole.

Suddenly, forgotten memories from my childhood cflooding back.

I had been happy with my parents.

We would take vacations at a lakeside cabin.

I went out fishing, exploring freely.

But when I returned, I couldnt find them anywhere.

I saw myself climbing the stairs again, the strong scent of blood reaching my nose.

My trembling hand pushed open their bedroom door and then I saw them.

Their lifeless bodies were sprawled on the floor.

And above them, that sspecter, feeding on their blood and flesh.

Hearing my scream at the door, it noticedand lunged to levouras well.

I dont want to die I want to live! I want to live! Those were my thoughts then and now .

I shifted back into my human form, pain searing throughfar beyond what anyone could endure like my skin was being flayed off my body.

Something insideawakened.

An uncontrollable rage surged through my veins, a power filling every muscle with infinite strength.

I opened my eyes and roared at the darkness consumingI dug my hands, now bearing long, sharp claws, intol that shadow.

1/4 WHAT IS THAT MAIDENT I wanted to consit instead to hurt it, destroy it.

A flurry of raven wings began circling us, their war cries echoing as they attacked.

And I felt it.

The specter was afraid of me.

It was weakening, its power being drained as I screamed like a madwoman, tearing into its faceless void.

It was it who was now trying to escape from me.

Youre going to die, you bastard ! I wont let you kill anyone else like you did my parents! I WONT LET YOU ! A high pitched screech erupted from its twisted mouth as the ravens continued their relentless attack.

It felt as if my connection to them strengthened they followed my will, obeying my command .

Kill.

Kill Kill.

Following pure instinct, I opened my mouth to devour the black mist, the evil within.

But I underestimated it.

I took in far too much.

The power exploded inside me, far too overwhelming knockingunconscious, leavingvulnerable once again.

ADELE Hiding behind a bush, I could barely believe what I was witnessing.

My trembling hand covered my mouth to stifle a scream.

That woman... that woman lying there on the ground she was fighting the specter.

And then a flock of ravens swirled around her, pecking at that monstrous thing.

How ... how could she be resisting it? And worse the specter was screaming in pain, as if it was the victim.

The ravens blocked sof my view, but there was no doubt this had to be the woman they were looking for.

The one who could read the secrets engraved on the Goddesss altar.

If I could lead them to her if they captured her maybe they would finally leave us alone.

Maybe theyd return my older sister unharmed.

My heart pounded like a drum, torn between fear and hope But then everything changed.

The ravens suddenly scattered into the sky, and Valeria lay unconscious on the ground.

The specter... it was backing away from her like it was afraid.

What was she? WHAT IS THAT MAIDENT She had completely lied to us.

I hesitated for just a moment lost in those chaotic thoughts.

And that moment costeverything.

A cold chill ran down my spine.

Sweat soaked my clothes.

I lifted my head, peering over the bush where I hid- The shadow loomed above me, seething with hatred and resentment.

In the distance, I could hear footsteps those men approaching.

I had called them here to capture Valeria .

To deliver her.

I opened my mouth to scream for help- But the sound never came.

The darkness swallowed my voice forever.

ALDRIC I reached the market just after finishing my conversation with the Alpha That bastard was hiding something, but no matter how much I pressed, he refused to speak.

1 was already losing patience.

If he pushedfurther, Id force the truth out of him.

But my mind was somewhere else entirely focused only on her.

On how cold and distant she had become.

I knew it was for the best.

But still, I craved the way things used to be .

I wandered the market, asking about Valeria but I couldnt find her.

Panic set in.

The night was deepening Sstalls were already closing Lifting my head, I sniffed the air, searching for her scent- Something was wrong.

A foul, bitter stench mixed with her trail.

Alarms blared through my senses, and I broke into a run heading straight for the forest .

Her faint scent lingered there.

I arrived at an ancient temple.

She had been here.

Circling the stone structure, Inoticed dried blood hidden in the grass below.

•25 DONUS WHAT IS THAT MAIDENH Blood from someone powerful .

Not my kind.

And not Valeria either.

I scanned the forest, following the trail further.

The closer I got, the stronger the stench of death and decay rew I knew that smell all too well.

No..

no, please, not her.

Not again.

Not her, too.

A suffocating panic grippedsomething I hadnt felt incenturies.

Memories Id buried long ago resurfaced, and this tI wouldnt survive it again.

I reached the clearing and froze.

A corpse.

Stripped of flesh, organs, everything just a husk of bone and rotting black sludge.

The remains clung to the frlike a grotesque shadow.

One glance at the torn clothes and the pale strands of hair realized.

It wasnt Valeria It was the Alphas daughter.

VALERIA ! VALERIA ! I roared, searching the entire area like a madman.

But besides the stench of death someone had covered her trail with a powerful masking scent.

I was ready to shift.

If I had to tear this entire wretched pack apart stone by stone, I would.

But then- A scream behind me.

I turned- The Alpha and his mate, as they collapsed, crying hysterically as they.

catching their chests. They must have felt the severed bond felt the death of their daughter.

The Alpha stumbled to her remains, trembling and broken No, no, no! They promised they wouldnt hurt her ! My baby, why?! WHY ?! AAAAHHH! CURSE YOU, DAMN YOU ALL! I didnt care. I stormed toward him, seizing his collar and yanking him to his feet.

Youre going to tellright now what the hell is happening here and where they took Valeria OR YOULL DIE WITH WITH HER! mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1