The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 369

NARRATOR

They were trapped. They had managed to slip into the cave, but it was just another dead end.

"Aldo, staying here is worse."

"Wait, shhh, don’t make too much noise. Let’s just wait, Tomas. It took us a hell of a time to find this hiding spot—maybe it’ll be just as hard for them," Aldo said to his restless friend.

"But the dogs…"

He had barely mentioned them when their sharp wolf ears picked up the sound of claws scratching against rock.

"Stay calm," Aldo ordered, moving closer to the faint light that seeped through the narrow entrance. His predatory gaze locked onto the outside, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

The dogs had caught their scent, but the massive boulder blocking the entrance had stopped them. They weren’t as big or agile as the giant wolves hiding inside.

—Ggggrrr…

Aldo’s wolf let out a low, menacing growl.

Cross this threshold, and I will rip you apart.

No matter how brave those hounds were, they instantly sensed the beast lurking in the shadows—and their instinct for survival took over.

"Did you find something?"

"Looks like no, it must have run off in another direction. Damn mutts, they must be hungry, they’re getting distracted by every scent!"

Aldo and Tomas breathed a quiet sigh of relief as they heard the men’s footsteps retreating.

Their natural refuge, cloaked in darkness, was safe for now—but for how long?

"Set up camp here and keep searching! They couldn’t have vanished into thin air!" Arthur ordered as he mounted his horse.

He was furious—all this chasing through the forest, only for the bandits to disappear like magic.

"Sir, we found wolf tracks. Maybe they were eaten…"

"And where’s the blood, the bones, the clothing?! Are you a goddamn idiot?!" Arthur roared, kicking his adjutant in the chest from atop his horse.

The man staggered back, nearly falling flat on his ass, but gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay upright.

"If they don’t turn up, you’ll pay for it with your skin! Search the woods—find that crate! They must not take it to the other side!"

He barked out commands, leaving his men behind to continue the search, while he rode back toward camp.

With an angry tug on the reins, his horse neighed, then took off at full gallop.

"Damn bastard," the adjutant muttered under his breath, spitting blood onto the ground.

"You heard him, bastards! Search well, or your heads will roll too!" he snapped, taking out his frustration on the men under his charge.

They set up an improvised camp, spreading out to comb the forest—never realizing that the fugitives were right under their noses.

*****

Thesio’s general was determined to get every last piece of information out of that spy.

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