Chapter 6 The King's Contempt And An Unexpected “Wall Slam”

• Aria POV
• Valen’s palm was burning hot, like a shot of adrenaline straight to my heart, calming the wild pounding fueled by my thirst for revenge.
• But that calm shattered the moment we stepped out of the territory gates.
• Several black SUVs blocked the road ahead, with Lucas standing right at the front.
• The second he saw me and Valen walking out hand in hand, his face twisted into pure rage.
• To him, the coat I wore—Valen’s coat—was nothing less than a blatant betrayal and a slap in the face.
• “Aria! You shameless woman!”
• Lucas roared, veins bulging on his neck.
• He took a furious step forward, unleashing the full force of his Alpha presence without holding back:
• “Get over here! Now! Get on your knees and admit you’re wrong!”
• My knees instinctively buckled, but a big hand caught me firmly at the waist.
• “Let’s see who dares make her kneel.”
• A terrifying, ancient power exploded from the man beside me—thousands of times stronger than Lucas’s.
• It was the legendary Lycan Aura.
• That terrifying force was like an unbreakable wall, standing between me and Lucas, bouncing back every attack he threw.
• Then, what happened next blew me away.
• The elite guards of the Blackwood Pack went pale as death and dropped to their knees in perfect unison!
• And Lucas, caught in the eye of the storm, looked utterly defeated.
• He gritted his teeth hard, legs shaking violently, cold sweat soaking through his shirt, eyes bloodshot and blazing red.
• “You… you are…” Lucas’s eyes widened in horror, and when they locked onto Valen’s dark golden glowing eyes, he completely lost it.
• “Kneel.”
• Valen didn’t even lift a finger—he just said the two words flatly.
• Lucas couldn’t hold on any longer and crashed down on both knees right in front of me.
• I stared, stunned.
• This was the man who’d controlled me for five years under the Blackwood Pack—now trembling, kneeling at our feet.
• Head bowed low, utterly broken and submissive.
• Valen wrapped his arm around my waist, calmly fixing my collar that the wind had messed up.
• “This is the guy who made you cry for five years?”
• Valen sneered, dripping with mockery and contempt:
• “Doesn’t even have the right to stand and talk to me. And you cried over him?”
• Looking down at Lucas, kneeling there, unable to even lift his head, I couldn’t help but feel a little amused.
• ```
• “We should get out of here.”
• I turned my head, gripping Valen’s hand tight, my voice way calmer than I felt. “The air here’s way too thick.”
• A satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of Valen’s mouth as he pulled me around, walking away, leaving behind my ex-husband kneeling on the ground, eyes full of despair and venom.
• …
• Back in the main building’s hallway, shutting out all the noise from outside.
• The second my nerves relaxed, I realized my legs were still shaking a little.
• I stumbled, my foot catching on the loose hem of my trench coat.
• “Careful,” Valen’s voice whispered right beside me.
• Panicked, I reached out instinctively to grab something to steady myself. My hand flailed in the air and ended up grabbing the expensive silk tie at his chest.
• There was a dull thud.
• Valen’s back slammed hard against the Roman stone pillar in the hallway.
• Then I crashed right into his arms.
• At that moment, one hand was gripping his tie like a lifeline, the other pressed against his hard, burning-hot chest, striking a bold, almost possessive pose.
• I froze for a second, my eyes dropping to his slightly open collar. The pale little mole on his Adam’s apple moved up and down with his breath, sending a silent wave of sexual tension through me.
• “S-sorry…”
• My face instantly flushed bright red. I tried to pull my hand away and step back.
• But Valen’s warm hand suddenly wrapped around my slender waist, pulling me back into his embrace, even closer than before.
• He lowered his head, his nose almost brushing my burning cheek. A shiver of electricity shot through me from head to toe.
• “What’s wrong?”
• His voice was playful, dripping with deliberate seduction.
• “Didn’t get enough of me out there just now?”
• My brain went blank, my heart pounding so hard I thought it’d jump out of my throat.
• I looked up. His dark golden eyes locked onto mine, dangerous and hungry, like he wanted to swallow me whole.
• “I… I didn’t mean to. I just lost my balance…”
• I stammered, my voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
• “Oh yeah?”
• He grinned wickedly and leaned in closer. His fingers slid slowly down my spine, stopping at the sensitive spot on my lower back, gently stroking.
• I shivered all over, nearly melting into his arms.
• “This kind of move usually means one thing—either you’re asking for it, or… you’re daring me.”
• His lips brushed right against my earlobe, his voice low and tempting, like a spell.
• “Tell me, Aria, which one are you?”
• My face was burning so hot I thought it might bleed, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. That sweet scent that was mine alone seemed to spill out uncontrollably again, all thanks to the mix of nerves and shame.
• Way too close.
• Way too damn dangerous.
• This guy’s breath was like a walking aphrodisiac.
• I shut my eyes tight, heart pounding, when suddenly something warm and soft touched my forehead.
• He pressed a gentle kiss there, but it was loaded with a possessive kind of care that left no room for doubt.
• “Alright, I’m done teasing you.”
• Valen let go of my hands but his eyes burned with heat. “Go back to your room and rest. But I’m keeping track of this debt…”
• He paused, a deeper smirk curling at the corner of his mouth:
• “You’ll pay me back double later.”
• I covered my scorching cheeks and bolted into my room, slamming the door shut behind me with a loud bang.
• Leaning against the door, I gasped for air, my heart pounding so loud it felt like it might burst.
• Even with the door between us, I could still feel that man’s burning gaze lingering on me from the hallway.
• The dark cloud Lucas brought had long since vanished.
• Right now, all I could think about were those dark golden eyes and the heat of that kiss.
• This was insane.
• Aria, are you seriously gonna fall for this dangerous guy?
• ```