The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 180

VALERIA

He looked at me and then down at my slightly rounded belly.

"Prince Zarek, we need to talk about absolutely everything. For my family’s sake, I’m willing to reconsider everything about our races," Aldric stepped forward, facing him dominantly, making me proud that he had decided to let go of his hatred.

"Alright, but first, breakfast. Let’s all eat, and then we’ll talk," Zarek proposed, inviting us into a massive dining hall where I devoured an exquisite breakfast of bacon and eggs.

My stomach was like a bottomless pit, and that was with me drinking Aldric’s blood like an alcoholic with a barrel of beer.

Some time later, we found ourselves seated in a lounge.

Each couple relaxed on comfortable sofas in front of a warm fire, surrounded by drinks and desserts in a laid-back atmosphere.

I had expected us to head straight to the throne room for negotiations, with us women holding back our beastly husbands to stop them from tearing each other’s throats out. But things didn’t go that way.

"Celine and I discussed it, King Aldric. We have no interest in ruling the Dark Realm’s throne," Zarek stated plainly, sipping from a cup of what I hoped was wine.

"I can’t handle all the lands. It’s too much responsibility, and honestly, the ones I already have are enough to drive me up the fuc—"

"Ahem… What my mate means to say is that with the pup on the way and so much chaos in the realm, it’s too much for just the two of us," I interjected, squeezing my wild one’s thigh.

"Prince, I know the throne has always belonged to the Selenias, but things have changed. Unless my mother wants to be Queen again, I honestly have no interest in ruling."

I glanced at my mother with slight apprehension, hoping not to see disappointment in her eyes. But I had to say it— I couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer.

"I know, my child. I know you don’t want it, and I never intended to pressure you, Vale. I only wanted to make sure the Dark Realm didn’t fall into the wrong hands. And thanks to the Goddess, it didn’t," my mother reassured me, easing my heart.

"It wasn’t thanks to the Goddess. It was thanks to my mate, Celine," Zarek corrected immediately, and I watched as Celine gave him a slightly awkward smile, discreetly pinching his arm.

For the love of the heavens… was the future of the realms really being discussed by this band of lunatic outcasts? Myself included?

"So that leaves us at square one. No one wants the responsibility," Aldric stated the obvious.

"It’s unbelievable. People are out there killing each other for the throne, and here you guys are tossing it around like a ball," Quinn commented lazily, sipping his drink as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Actually, I think the best person for the job is someone who already knows how to run the realm," Zarek said, looking straight at my mother.