The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 416

NARRATOR

"Nora, we've already talked about this..."

"I'm scared! This seems like a miracle! Oh, Aldo, what if it's a trap to capture us because we're supernatural beings?"

They exchanged glances, communicating only in their minds while the children, unaccustomed to such long journeys, slept soundly.

"The Duke is an honorable man. Believe me, I made sure of that before taking this step," he assured her, convinced. The impression Elliot had left on his mind was strong and vivid.

"You were calling him a pompous idiot less than a month ago!" she reminded him, throwing back the most refined insult he had ever given the noble when he thought he was the cause of their misfortunes.

"He just got a little overconfident, but he’s already fixed it. Now stop clucking like a hen, woman!" he scolded her with a huff.

"And be careful not to let anything slip that he might hear in his mind. Remember, Nora, he's a lycan."

That was another thing keeping her up at night.

Goddess, she had never seen such a powerful creature.

They descended from weaker hybrids, the typical werewolves.

Why would someone so powerful, in every sense, want them by his side?

Soon, all their questions were answered.

Her eyes could hardly take in the enormous castle when they finally stepped out of the carriages with their meager belongings.

"Dad, are we really going to stay in this beautiful place?" the little girl asked Aldo, who was trying to act like the leader, though his own eyes were also drawn to the overwhelming opulence.

Was this the castle's back entrance?

And why was there a row of maids waiting on either side?

If this was the servants’ entrance, she didn’t even want to see the one for the lords.

"I hope so, sweetheart. Let’s see," he replied, turning to make sure that the scatterbrained Tomás and his "Tomitas" had arrived safely.

The simple laborer approached with his wife and children, his nervous gaze fixed on Aldo.

As always, he followed him in all his wild plans.

"Aldo! Tomás!"

The sharp voice of the Duke of Everhart snapped their attention back to the top of the wide staircase, where the imposing man was descending alongside the beautiful Duchess and a little girl who looked like a porcelain doll.

Nora couldn’t believe this was the woman she had almost set to scrubbing floors in her house.

"Your Excellencies," they all bowed deeply before the noble Duke and Duchess.

"There’s no need for such formality. You must be tired from the journey. While we settle things, you will stay here as our guests..." Elliot said, his gaze settling on the werewolf before him.

Deep in his chest, he felt immense gratitude toward Aldo—and Tomás as well.

"Your Excellency, forgive my bluntness, but above all, I need to speak with you. We brought our families here, but your letter was... let’s say, a little too simple," Aldo dared to voice what they were all thinking.

It still wasn’t too late to turn back.

"I understand, and I expected as much," Elliot nodded.

One of the things he liked most about this man was his straightforward nature—no schemes, no games.

"Aldo, you know better than I do that we won’t age like the Elementals. My plan is to establish a safe, hidden place in this realm where we can retreat when the time comes," he revealed his intentions. "Maybe we can return once this generation is gone... I don’t know, leave a place for our children."

The room fell into silence for a few seconds.

Tomás looked at Aldo.

Elliot was offering them paradise—something they never would have dreamed of.

Their families were about to live in a way they never thought possible.

"We accept, Duke..."

"Call me Elliot when we’re in private."

"Alright, Elliot Everhart. We don’t know how to thank you for this opportunity. The only way we can repay your generosity is with gratitude and loyalty," Aldo suddenly stood from his chair, and Tomás followed.

"Ours and our descendants'."

They knelt on the rug, pounding their left fists against their chests as their fathers had taught them.

"We recognize you as our Alpha and leader," they bowed their heads before his power.

"And I recognize you as my people," Elliot assured them. "Rise, my brothers of the race."

The Duke nodded in satisfaction.

Under the guidance of his wolves, they sealed their alliance and founded their pack:

The Everhart Pack.