Leah's POV
I didn't answer his question.
"What have I done to make you hate me so much, Leah?" he murmured. "All I've ever done is follow the Moon Goddess's will and protect you."
"You learned from the Moon Goddess that I was the chosen one, destined to bring an end to your reign. But the only person you care about in this world is your son, Lucian! So you encouraged me to marry Lucas to send me away. Every misfortune in my life was orchestrated by you. You sacrificed my Batair for your sick enhancement project. You want to sacrifice me, just like you sacrificed your own brother years ago. You want Lucian to be the next Lycan King!"
The old King struggled to stand but failed. Eventually, he settled on the edge of the bed, panting.
"Leah, you're a smart girl. You know that's not true. Do you know how many people have wanted you dead over the years? I killed all my wives because they plotted to kill you! Everybody around me insisted I should never tolerate your existence—it was a degrading shame to my entire family! You're still alive because I shielded you, even against my own destiny! Why do you think I pursued the enhancement project? Not for me! For you! Once complete, I will become an almighty deity and protect you forever!"
"And I'm supposed to be grateful for your leniency, Your Majesty," I said coldly.
"But you aren't."
"No, I'm not." I approached him. "You killed my mother right after I was born. She never even had the chance to hold me."
"She was an ungrateful, slutty whore!" the old King roared. "She seduced Lucian and was pregnant with his child! What would you have done in my place?!"
"And what about Leo?" I pressed.
He froze.
"You didn't see that coming, did you?" I said. "You've never been ready to be confronted about what you've done to Leo, especially now that you're soon to die and this dark secret will be buried with you. You exploited and brainwashed him to work for you, only to kill him once the project is complete. But the project failed. That's why you wanted to punish him by abandoning him, which drove him mad. Am I right, Your Majesty?"
He remained silent.
"Am I right?!" I roared in my Lycan voice.
He stood from the bed, still looking weak. I couldn't clearly see his face, but his fury was evident in the bulging veins on his neck.
"I am a Lycan King," he said as he approached. "I ask questions without answering to anyone. But now, I'll make an exception for you, my most beloved grand daughter. What you said is true. I planned everything. I thought I could change my fate by eliminating those in my way. It worked when I strangled my brother to death. So, I assumed it would work again for my son. All I can say now is that I love him and want to protect him..."
I stood firm and cut him off, "Enough! Your Majesty, I never really knew you. Even when I had suspicions about your deeds, I couldn't believe it was true. But now, after the shameless justification you've given, I understand. You've lost your mind and your way. Do you know how many lives you've destroyed because of your insanity? And how dare you pin every disgraceful act on others, under the guise of love and devotion? You're nothing but a self-indulgent, lunatic hypocrite..."
Before I could finish, he lunged at me with all his strength, trying to strangle me.
"Stop talking! Shut up! You ungrateful brat! I should have listened to Dire and killed you long ago!" he roared in a voice more terrifying than I'd ever heard.
He had been a great werewolf warrior in his youth. I had heard many stories of his prowess, like how he strangled his own brother with these very hands. Now, these giant claws were squeezing my neck. His eyes shone red with vicious ferocity as he tried to kill me.
But he miscalculated. I wasn't his deadbeat brother. He was no longer that fierce young warrior, and he had no Batair to protect him now. I flipped him off me and pinned him to the floor. Despite his struggle, I locked him down fast with all the force I could muster.
"Let go of me! What do you think you are doing?! I am the King of—"
"You’re nothing but a walking corpse," I said plainly. "You died a long time ago. All the insane things you've done to prolong your life are just illusions. It's time to accept your fate, Your Majesty."
The door burst open, and Lucian rushed in.
"What are you doing, Leah?!" he shouted.
"I'm strangling His Majesty, Lucian," I replied, my voice cold and unrecognizable even to myself.
"Stop it, Leah! Are you out of your mind?!" He grabbed my arms, trying to pull me away.
I shook his hands off with Lycan force. Lucian was tossed back and slammed into the wall.
"Leah, what happened?! Talk to me!" Lucian cried out in despair.
"Lucian... Help me! Help me, my son!" the old King stretched out his hand towards Lucian. "Leah is killing me!"
"Stop it, Leah! Please, just get off His Majesty and talk to me!" Lucian pleaded, holding back his Lycan force, but his eyes were turning red.
"Stay out of this! This is between His Majesty and me!" I roared.
Royal guards swarmed into the room, but Lucian stopped them at the door.
"Get out! Get out now!" he barked.
The guards stepped back immediately. Lucian slammed the door shut and leaned against it, sliding down until he sat on the floor.
"I'm sorry, Leah. I know you’re mad right now. But please let go of His Majesty. Be mad at me! It's all my fault. If you want to kill someone, kill me. I am your father, Leah. That’s why I’ve been overprotective. I know it must have driven you crazy, and you wanted to run away from me..."
"Shut up!" I growled in anger and pressed harder against the old King, who groaned in pain.
I roared hysterically, "Why can’t you just leave me alone?! I want nothing from you! I don't want your throne! I don’t want your pathetic excuses! I don't want your hypocritical love! I just want my own family with my mate and to live an ordinary life! But you’re all consumed by power. You’ve all turned blind and deaf! What do you know about love?! Love doesn’t make people kill!"
"Enough, Leah!" Lucian shifted into a giant Lycan wolf and lunged at me.
I tried to raise my arms to block him with my Lycan force. The old King seized the opportunity and grabbed my shoulders. As his nails dug into my skin, dark-colored blood oozed from the wounds.
As Lucian's wolf used his claws to pin me to the ground, a flash of black light burst into the room from the windows. Against the full moon, I saw a massive black wolf snarl and bite Lucian's neck.
Lucian's wolf released me to fight the black wolf. I rolled across the floor, slamming into the wall as Lucas's black wolf knocked the old King to the other side.
"No!!!" Both Lucian and I screamed.
The black wolf stood protectively in front of me, its giant, sturdy body shielding me.
"Leave. My. Wife. Alone," the black wolf roared.
"Lucas..." I mumbled.
My mate and husband came to rescue me.
Against the whole world, he came.
He stood there still between my fate and me.
My vision started to blur.