The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 178: Chapter 178

The chains biting into her skin crackled beneath her as the soldiers dragged Arianna out of the cell she had been kept in for a few minutes.
In those few minutes, she had broken down, screamed until there was no voice left in her throat.
Especially when she heard the trumpet. It tore her inside and out, like several sharp, brutal blades puncturing her heart in the most vicious way.
There’s no way Duncan is dead. Her mate was strong—the greatest guardian of the realm. How could everything suddenly end up like this?!
The distant chatters and cries of the gathered people, nobles, lords, and commoners reached Arianna’s ears.
“Dun…” she croaked, and her eyes snapped shut at the sudden light that shone on her face. When they opened again, she found herself at her supposed gathering.
One that was meant to be her redemption had turned into her doom. They had killed the king, framed her for it, and were going to execute her in front of the very people she had sworn to protect.
Their eyes bore into her as if she was a monster. The dye in her hair had come off. Duncan said it wasn’t proper to hide her identity anymore, not when she was going to reveal her bloodline to the world.
She had washed it out last night, so most of her hair was now silver.
The soldier dropped her to her knees, the stone cracking beneath her. Her head lowered like a woman who had lost everything.
“Kill her!”
“Kill the devil!”
“She is a monster! She killed our king! End her!”
“Devil! Kill the fucking devil!”
Arianna let out a soft laugh under her breath. Fate must really hate her. Couldn’t her life be happy, just once?
Blood dripped from her nose. She still didn’t understand what that strange thing fake Selene had given her last night was, but she knew it wasn’t going to end well.
“Remember this, Arianna Greystone,” Lord Damaris, now standing beside her, muttered. “This realm will never accept you. As long as even a drop of enemy blood resides in you, you are nothing but chaos.”
Arianna’s fists clenched against her knees.
“The king lost himself trying to protect you. He knew the realm wouldn’t care. The war won’t stop. Even if you keep trying to prove your worth, certain people will always look at you and whisper ‘destruction,’” Damaris said to her in a law taunting voice. “We swore to protect the realm no matter what. Even if it takes extreme methods. This realm deserves better, and you, Arianna, are not part of it. Die with that blood.”
Arianna lifted her face slowly, the metallic taste of blood bitter on her tongue. Her silver hair clung to her cheeks, streaked with dirt and tears.
In the crowd, she caught familiar faces. Helen. Blondie. And finally Diana, holding little Mae, all in tears, all looking shock. Little Mae had her head buried in Diana’s dress afraid to look.
Elder Varyn was also among the crowd, the old male looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
She had failed them. They had come because of her, and she had failed them.
So this is it then? Somewhere out there, those who joined hands to plot against Duncan were watching.
The executioner drew his axe, and as he approached, he asked, “Any last words?”
Arianna chuckled—a sound that strangely silenced the crowd. She laughed, bitter and broken, lowering her head. But as she raised it again, rage burned in her eyes.
“I had a speech,” she began, her voice low, soft—yet firm enough to cut through the noise.
“I had something I wanted to say to you all. Today was meant to be the start of something.” Her gaze swept over the crowd. “I wanted to ease your fear. To tell you I wasn't here to harm you. That despite the blood in me, I chose this realm. That I’m one of you. I chose peace. I chose you.”
Her lip quivered, but she held it in. She swallowed the tears and lifted her chin.
“I wanted to honor Duncan’s faith in me. He saw me—not the dragon blood, not the wolf, not the chaos. Me. And I wanted you all to see the same.”
A breath. The silence thickened.
“I was going to ask for your trust. I was going to beg for it if I had to. To plead for the chance to prove I wasn’t your enemy.”
“But you killed the king!” one of them yelled.
“Would you believe me if I told you I didn’t? That the king’s downfall was caused by those who were supposed to fight by his side and support him? They framed me. Labeled me a monster.”
Murmurs rose among them.
“They’re listening,” she smirked. “Hear me well… you should have killed me before the first trumpet blew.”
Her eyes darkened, still locked onto them.
“Because if Duncan is truly dead, then let this realm know grief the way I have.”
Again, they raised their cries for her execution.
But among the crowd were two disguised males, both cloaked in garments not meant to draw attention. Beneath their hoods, their silver eyes were locked on Arianna.
Ouroboros.
“Should we help her?” one of them asked.
“No. It’s dangerous, we can't risk getting our identity revealed, but if she’s truly the goddess’ daughter, then this won’t be her end,” the second muttered.
“What about the two wolves in our custody?” the first asked, and the second paused to consider.
“Well, we’re about to find out. Let’s get out of here,” he said, and they both disappeared into the crowd.
Meanwhile, a dark-cloaked fire appeared. Fire torches lit the corridor leading to the execution podium—convenient for what came next.
Before the guards could speak, fire burst forth, slamming toward them. She was quick. Rage burning through her bones.
Before the executioner's axe could touch Arianna, fire struck his face. Selene, used most of her power, pushed the guards away from Arianna. She grabbed the axe and slammed it hard against the chains, breaking them.
The crowd panicked, screaming at the strange display.
Selene managed to drag Arianna away, surprised that Damaris didn’t interfere.
As they fled, Damaris looked down at the panicking crowd.
“People of the Moon Realm, do not worry. She will be killed, and her head will be presented before you,” he said and turned to leave.
Selene locked the passage entrance, holding Arianna tightly. When she noticed how Arianna clutched her belly, the head maid stopped, worried.
“What happened?”
Arianna scrambled out the words—the beeswax, the herb. “I fear that herb was meant to kill my child.”
Selene’s jaw clenched.
“I almost thought you betrayed me, Selene,” Arianna’s throat tightened. Selene’s eyes widened.
“My lady, I would never betray you. Every moment we shared, every word I spoke—everything I did was true,” she cupped Arianna’s face. “Betray you? By the gods, you’re like my daughter. I’d rather die than stab you in the back.”
Arianna smiled sadly, knowing that even with those words, everything was still crumbling beneath her feet.
“Lylah? Have you seen her? Is she okay?” she breathed.
“She is. Trust me. Let’s get you to safety first.”
Selene led her toward the yard to steal a horse. She hadn’t seen Valoreth or the others and assumed they weren’t in the Citadel yet. The yard would be the last place they'd go.
As they stepped in, Arianna quickly pulled her back.
“They're here,” she whispered, and just like that, an arrow flew toward Selene—but the head maid dodged swiftly. They turned to retreat, but several arrows struck the entrance.
Soldiers emerged above and below, all armed. Among them stood Lord Valoreth with a smirk. Beside him stood Brigid and many men ready to shoot them.
They were trapped.