The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 215: Chapter 215

{Moon realm… A few days later}
Tarven…
“More ale, you little bitch!” a gruff, drunk male roared, kicking the girl lying helplessly before him. Her arms flew up in defense.
“Get up, cûnt!” Kick. “Why—” kick “—are you wasting my—” kick “—time!”
She whimpered, blood trickling from her nose, ears, and lips.
“Come on, Brat. How do you expect her to tend to you while you kick her like that?” another man said, forcing a female against his table as he played with her bréast.
“Look who’s talking,” the gruff male spat, then shot a look at the girl. “Do you want some more?”
The young girl scrambled to her feet without being told twice. She ignored the pain tearing through her body and went to get more ales.
When she returned, the gruff male scanned her from head to toe.
“How old are you?”
She hesitated, keeping her gaze low.
“Fourteen, sire.”
“Fourteen,” he echoed, voice softer but laced with taunt. “What’s your name?”
Another pause. “Mea, sire.”
“Mea…” he licked his lips, scanning her again. “Can you suck a cock?”
Her eyes met his then—wide, horrified, as if he’d grown a second head.
“Huh?”
“Get down here,” he parted his legs, “and make me happy.”
“But sire, I’m fourteen—”
His nose flared, jaw ticked. He rose and grabbed her by the hair, yanking and slamming her head against the table. He then pinned both her hand behind. She winced, heart racing with fear.
The owner of the tarven stepped forward. “Sire, we can prepare another female, but—”
“I want her. And if you don’t want your head shoved into the floor, step back,” the gruff brute warned.
The owner clamped his mouth shut and recoiled. The man was a high-ranking soldier. A Beta.
Mea trembled, struggling—but it only made things worse. She had tried to avoid situations like this. Today was not her lucky day.
The owner cast her a worried, pitying look that made her heart drop in dread. No. She couldn’t let this happen. She had promised Diana she would survive.
Due to her slim frame, Mea managed to slide one hand free. She grabbed the goblet and smashed it over the man’s head.
He staggered, stunned—just enough for Mea to slip free and bolt out of the tarven.
The gruff male chuckled darkly under his breath. The tavern had gone silent, everyone holding onto the same grim conclusion:
Mea wouldn’t live to see another day.
She ran through the crowded street, earning curses from those she stumbled into. She didn’t care. Her tears blurred her vision. If they catch her--it's over.
What was she thinking, hitting a soldier?!
She took a sharp corner, breathing heavily as she looked back. But as she continued, she halted—realizing it was a dead end.
Shit.
She turned to leave but met the gruff male already approaching.
“What a rebellious little cûnt you are,” he said, taking a step forward as she instinctively stepped back. “Did you really think you could just hit me and escape?”
Mea swallowed, trembling from the inside out. But then—she noticed an unmistakable figure seated at the corner, cloaked entirely, face and body hidden in shadows.
“Please… help me,” she whispered to the figure without hesitation.
The figure looked up, but darkness veiled the face.
“Little cûnt asking for help,” the gruff male sneered behind her. “Sorry, sweetheart. This area fears soldiers—they won’t do a damn thing to help you.”
Mea turned her gaze back to him, holding her ground. She refused to give up like this.
“I would’ve gone easy on you if you had simply obeyed… but that wouldn’t have been fun. Doing all sorts of things before taking your life?” He smirked. “Now that would be exciting.”
He launched without warning.
A blaze of red light burst like lightning—striking him mid-step.
Mea flinched, eyes squeezed shut. When she slowly opened them, the gruff male was on fire. Burning. His body writhing and dancing across the street. His screams tangled with horrified gasps from passersby.
Mea’s gaze flicked to the cloaked figure who now gently pulled down her hood.
A woman. One who controlled fire?
She rose to her feet and walked toward her in calm, powerful steps.
When the dim light kissed her face, Mea stopped breathing.
She stared at the silver-haired woman in disbelief.
“Elise…? You're the king's woman?”
Arianna gave a crooked smile. “You’ve grown up well, Mea. I’m glad you remembered me.”
The girl burst into tears, trembling. “Is this real? Y-you’re alive?” Her hands flew to her lips. “You’re alive… alive… you’re alive!”
Before Arianna could reply, Falcon and Eryz appeared at the corner, ignoring the burning man behind them.
“Are you hurt?” they asked in unison, then gave each other a sharp look.
Apparently, the two had been competing to protect her the most.
“I can protect myself,” Arianna said flatly, then turned to Mea, voice softening. “Are you alright?”
Mea answered by hugging her tightly. “Thank you, my Queen… thank you for coming back.”
Arianna froze as the girl sobbed in her arms.
“We’ve prayed day and night for you. Rumors said your body wasn’t found. It gave us hope,” Mea cried harder. “Please save us… we know you didn’t kill the King… those on seat—they're the devils. Please save us, Elise.”
Arianna’s eyes darkened.
The aura that poured from her was so powerful, even her two protectors felt it.
•
{Lunaris Citadel}
Sahrak—the dark mage—gasped awake from his slumber, head splitting like knives through his skull. Sweat soaked his body as he trembled in panic.
“That power…” he stuttered, scrambling to the window.
He stared beyond the trees, toward the distant towns. His fingers gripped the windowsill, shaking.
The power he felt in his nightmare… was real. And terrifying.
“She is… here?” he rasped. “S-she made it back… how?”
“What are you talking about?” another voice echoed behind him.
Sahrak turned to see Lord Valoreth standing at the threshold, brow furrowed.
“Who made it back?”