The Lycan King and His Dark Temptation Novel

---- I circle around to the other side and sit on the edge of the mattress, beside her.

"We cant understand what you went through unless you tell us.

Look at me, Sigrid." Iplead, and she pulls away from her mothers chest to meet my gaze.

It hurts my soul to see her eyes swollen and darkened with exhaustion.

Waves of sadness and suffering hit me head-onjust as I share a bond with my mate, I share one with my pups.

"Talk to us.

Do you want to tell just us?" I ask, ignoring the presence of Gabrielle, Zarek, Quinn, and Celine, who have also entered.

Right now, Sigrids feelings are all that matter, and too many people might only overwhelm her further.

"No, no...

..

'm sorry, Grandma, Zarek," she murmurs, running a trembling, pale hand over her face.

"sweetheart, you dont have to apologize to us.

No one here is judging you, and I hope you can do the same.

We dont know the past like you do," Gabrielle replies gently.

"| know, Grandma...

Im sorry for yelling.

I just...

I'll tell you where I went...

and what I went through..." ---- She lifts her gaze, her gray eyes locking onto Zareks most of all.

And then, I start hearing the most insane, unbelievable things.

And thats saying a lot, considering I was once turned into a ravenI thought I'd seen it all.

"What?! What do you mean you found your mate?" I ask, tension shooting through me.

Not only was she in danger, but some man took advantage of her while I wasnt watching?! Of everything she just said, thats all you heard?" Valeria smacks my shoulder, her eyes filled with reproach.

Baby, this is serious" "Its going to be even more serious when I tell you who he is, dear father." Sigrid stares at me, and something tells me shes about to drop a bomb.

A faint, sad smile tugs at her lips.

"My mate is the villainthe one everyone hates unjustly.

Its...

Umbros." Okay.

That, I did not see coming.

The collective gasp in the room is deafening.

"So thats why that damn lunatic sent you to the pastto create a bond with him," Zarek mutters under his breath, piecing it together.

---- Sigrid nods, lowering her head and sniffling.

Vale gently wipes her face with a handkerchief again.

I think I can speak for all of us when I say we're utterly stunned "Is it true, what you screamed at me? Did my parents betray you?" Zarek suddenly asks, stepping forward.

I now theyre his family and all, but if he says anything to my pup, ll break that pretty-boy face of his.

Istill havent forgiven him for monopolizing Sigrids attention.

"Yes, Back then, they were all rotten, fighting for power and to expand their bloodlines.

Thats why they exterminated the elementalsthey were...

disgusting," Sigrid spat through gritted teeth, her face twisted in fury.

"Umbros is the way he is because of everything they did to him.

They slaughtered his parents, enslaved him, raped him, broke him.

Thats what happened to the elementals...

You know it well, Zarek." She stared straight at him.

"Maybe not everyone else here understands, but you do..." "T do," he answered, his eyes flaring red, his expression dark with rage.