The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 176: Chapter 176

Falcon was still on watch when he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. For almost an hour, not only had the Grand Lord not returned from Lady Mearina’s abode, but he couldn’t hear the other warriors on guard speak.
It was too quiet, and it troubled him.
He rose to check on the nearest warrior. It was Isla, she was assigned to watch the east side of the perimeter.
He went to the large tree where she was supposed to be and was shocked to find her unconscious.
“Isla?” He rushed to her. Her face was flushed, and her pulse was slowing. A drug. Something meant to put them to deep sleep.
They must have eaten Owen's soup, despite his warning to them not to. They had insisted they were hungry.
Falcon turned back, found Owen, and immediately grabbed her by the collar, not caring she was older.
“What did you put in the soup?!” he roared. Owen dropped the bucket of herbs she had fetched for Mearina.
“Nothing, sire! I put nothing in the soup. I did nothing!” Owen shook in fear, seeming to speak the truth.
“Then tell me why the fuck are my comrades asleep? You drugged them?”
“No, sire! I didn’t even prepare the soup. Lady Mearina did, I swear!”
Falcon’s head spun, eyes wide open. Why would Lady Mearina drug them?
Just as he opened his mouth to ask another question, an arrow struck Owen through the back and burst out through her stomach.
Falcon’s eyes widened but more arrows came, piercing the poor, middle-aged woman. The sickening sound of her flesh being torn echoed.
Owen's lifeless body slipped from Falcon's grasp. In shock, he looked up and spotted several shadows emerging from the woods.
Without wasting a second, he ran to inform Lord Lucas only to be met with another horrific scene.
Lord Lucas lay on a small wooden bed, with Mearina poised to plunge a knife into his heart. Her hands were shaking, as though she’d been hesitating.
Falcon rushed forward and dragged her away. She fell on her tailbone, sobbing.
“What did you do to him?!” Falcon shouted, trying to wake Lucas.
The ancient male was unconscious. His heartbeat was slowing.
“Cor Triantha?” Falcon muttered with teary eyes.
No. No. No—fuck! This can’t be happening!
He turned to Mearina, but she was no longer there.
Shit. He needed to get her. If she was still alive, there might still be a way to save Lord Lucas.
Drawing his sword, he dashed out to catch her but froze at the sight of soldiers approaching.
The West Emissary’s soldiers.
Lord Merek’s men.
He? of all people, supported Valoreth? No wonder everything had happened so fast, and so unexpectedly.
He betrayed the King?
Falcon watched, heart pounding, as Mearina knelt before the seven brute werewolf soldiers.
She smiled sadly.
“Tomorrow, the realm shall have a new beginning. A new king. A new life. We’ll live without worry as long as those who bear or support the enemy’s blood are all dead. The realm will be safe now,” she whispered, almost to herself. “My children and husband will be safe. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Her eyes slipped shut.
One soldier raised his sword. Its sharp blade flashed under the moonlight and then came down, severing her head. Another blade drove straight into her heart, ending her life in an instant.
Her body crumpled to the floor with a soft thud, blood soaking the earth.
Falcon couldn’t scream. Shock froze his entire being. Every nerve in his body wanted to cry out, but all that escaped him was a light, broken laugh.
It was too devastating to cry about.
Falcon lost his senses right there.
How could fate be this cruel?
The leader of the soldiers looked up at Falcon and gave the order in a flat voice:
“Kill that soldier, confirm the Beta’s death, and burn every damn thing to the ground.”
••••••••••••••••••••
Meanwhile, back at the Citadel, Duncan finally returned to his chamber, surprised to find Arianna still awake.
“Dun,” Arianna rose from the bed.
“You haven’t slept?” concern etched on his face.
How could she? Anxiety had been eating her up and she needed her male's warmth.
“Not without you. Besides, I haven’t gotten my goodnight kisses.” She smiled, and he leaned down to kiss her forehead, her nose, and finally, her lips.
A deep kiss.
He turned off the candlelight, lay on the bed, and drew his woman close into his arms. She rested her head on his broad chest, those hooded eyes of hers-- she must had tried to stay awake just for him.
“It’ll all be over tomorrow. Rest well, my love,” he whispered in a sleepy voice, feeling dizzy himself. It must have been from the stress he endured today.
He had sent secret men to check on Lucas and report to him first thing in the morning.
“Finally,” Arianna whispered back.
Then both fell into darkness.
Light footsteps echoed gently against the wooden floor. A hand stretched out to open a dark, secret room. The figure lit a single candle and walked over to sit on a chair.
She pulled out a thick sheet of paper, dipped her quill pen into lemon, and began to write.
This was the same method she had used to inform Valoreth that Arianna was pregnant.
‘It is done,’
she wrote, then set the pen down before sending the message out with a crow.
After watching it leave, her blank gaze shifted to the single lit candle.
Its soft glow revealed her face.
Selene.