The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

King Duncan watched as the slave hesitated.
Her trembling hand reached for the rope that held her clothing. She let it slide down, revealing delicate skin illuminated by the moonlight.
Just as he expected, his Lycan beast rose to the surface with a guttural sneer. Mine.
His eyes slipped shut, and he drew in a deep breath to keep his Lycan at bay.
'Not now. Stay still!' Duncan scolded. The beast reluctantly obeyed, retreating into the recesses of his mind.
"Leave them," Duncan said sharply when she reached for the rest of her undergarments. "Get in."
Heat crept onto her cheeks as she nodded. His eyes never left hers. Not once.
Swallowing, she stepped into the water. The warm temperature relaxed her tense nerves a little.
It had been forever since she had a warm bath, and this water was so satisfying.
She hadn't realized how much she had missed this-such a simple comfort.
"How does it feel?" Duncan's voice cut through the quiet.
It was surreal to think she was in a lake with the King, and he was asking her this.
She thought he had summoned her to mount her, but instead, she was here.
"It feels amazing and beautiful," she admitted, her voice soft.
Duncan let his eyes study her. He lowered his half-submerged form deeper into the water before approaching her.
"Tell me about your parents," the King asked, catching Arianna by surprise.
Why would he ask that? Was this a test?
"I... I'm not sure where to start. What would you like to know about them, Your Grace?"
"How about everything," Duncan replied, his voice low. A flicker of curiosity flashed in his gaze.
His tone held no emotion, making it hard for her to know what he was thinking.
Arianna took a deep, shaky breath, her eyes lowering to the water.
"My father, Alpha Thane, was a great leader," she began. "He loved his people more than he loved himself. Brilliant with strategies, always calculating, and always protecting."
"And my mother... she was no less than him. She was kind, beautiful, and the perfect Luna for the pack. She gave everything to ensure we thrived."
Duncan said nothing, only watched her. She returned her gaze to the water and continued.
"My parents loved each other and would do anything to give the best care to me and my sister. However, everything changed when she died. An unknown sickness took her."
"No one knew where it came from or how it could be cured," she said, her voice trembling. "I watched my father's heart bleed as my mother grew weaker-her vibrant, strong self fading day by day. My sister and I tried to console him, but... she was his mate. Every bit of pain she felt, he felt too. He couldn't save her. And when she left us..."
The words caught in her throat, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.
"My father locked himself away for days. The pack was worried-terrified, even. They thought they'd lost their Alpha to despair. Some even doubted he'd ever lead again."
Duncan remained silent.
"I took charge, handling the pack's affairs just as my father had taught me. I did my best to keep things running until he came back, but... he wasn't the same. He was cold, ruthless. Every mistake made by his people was punished harshly. The pack feared him."
"I tried to talk to him," Arianna continued, her voice almost a whisper now. "To tell him how the pack was struggling under his rule. But he wouldn't listen. He shut everyone out-even us, his daughters."
"Until one night... he died. They said he couldn't handle the pain anymore, that losing his mate broke him in ways no one could mend."
She paused, her mind beginning to wander. If the mate bond was that strong, then why was hers different with Kael? Perhaps because he never marked her or fully accepted her.
Silence fell between them, broken only by her faint breaths. Arianna inhaled deeply, the cool night air mingling with the heat of the lake.
"I thought I could lead after that. I was his chosen heir, after all. But I was wrong. I trusted the wrong people, made the wrong decisions, and it cost my pack everything. My sister is now left all alone. It was all my fault. She warned me never to marry him, but I never listened."
Her voice wavered, and she finally met Duncan's gaze.
Oh heavens. Maybe she had spoken too much.
Tears slipped freely down her face despite her struggle to contain them.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace," she apologized, knowing the king likely didn't care-but his actions shocked her.
Duncan shifted closer, his hand emerging from the water, slowly reaching to touch her face.
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, Arianna forgot everything that had been happening to her. The pain, the struggle, the sadness that had gnawed at her soul.
Everything seemed to disappear for a fleeting moment as her eyes met Duncan's golden-amber ones, which were no longer cold.
He let his thumb gently run across her skin, brushing away the tears that fell from her eyes.
The contact stirred something within her-a spark between them. Strange, yet strong. Her pulse quickened.
The way she felt around him was inexplicable, despite the danger clinging to every edge of him.
"Your Grace," she whispered, her voice barely reaching him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
He stared at her so deeply that everything else faded into darkness. It was just him. Only him.
His lips parted slightly, and before she knew it, he pressed his nose to her neck, inhaling her scent before kissing her there.
Arianna's body quivered beneath him, her head tilting, giving him more access.
Her breath hitched, nipples hardening against his wet chest. The warmth of his lips against her neck sent a shiver down her spine.
"My king..." she whispered. She wasn't sure if it was from pleasure or protest.
His lips trailed to her collarbone, a low guttural growl rumbling in his chest.
He cupped one of her breasts in his large hand, giving her erect nipple a squeeze.
Her moan echoed in the air, pleasure rippling through her.
Duncan grazed his teeth along her skin, inflicting pain that quickly morphed into pleasure as he soothe it with his tongue. She pressed herself against him, melting at his touch.
Then, he suddenly pulled away, as if snapping out of a trance.
His eyes shifted back to their usual coldness, and without a word, he emerged from the water leaving her unsettled.