Goodbye, My Mate

Chapter 163

Leah's POV

I lowered my head and saw black blood trickling down my face, dripping onto the floor. I tried to stand, but my limbs felt leaden, and my head was growing heavy.

"What... what have you done?!" I screamed, struggling to rise, only to collapse back onto the cold ground.

"It's wolfsbane, Leah..." the old king hacked, black blood spewing from his mouth as he smirked wickedly. "I hid it in my nails..."

"Father!" Lucian shifted rapidly into his human form, rushing forward to cradle the old man in his arms.

Lucas' wolf padded over to me, curling his massive, black tail around me. He was trying to hug me, but he couldn’t shift back to human until the full moon had waned.

I stretched out my arms, wrapping them around his thick neck. "Everything will be alright. I'm here to protect you, Leah," his voice echoed in my mind.

I wanted to respond through our mindlink, but I couldn't focus. The moonlight streamed into the room, and the scratches on my shoulders seared with unbearable pain.

"I'm dying, Lucian..." the old king wheezed, his withered hand caressing his son's face. "This is the last thing I could do for you..."

"Father! No!!!" Lucian's roar was soaked in tears.

"Do not cry, my son..." the old king's voice was a faint whisper as he attempted to wipe the tear tracks from Lucian's face. "Kill your firstborn and be a king... This is the only way..."

His hand fell lifelessly to the ground.

"Father!!!" Lucian’s scream filled the room, a sound of pure agony.

Mustering my last bit of strength, I shouted to Lucas, "Run... Lucas... run for your life..."

Then, I passed out into oblivion.

Lucas' POV

"We need to talk," my wolf communicated urgently in my mind.

My wolf rarely spoke to me. Over two decades of our bond, he had always been the silent partner.

"I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no. I'm not running away. I won't leave Leah here."

"Stay here, and you'll both die. You've heard her family's history; it's the typical Lycan complications, far beyond our control," my wolf warned.

My wolf was still weak, slowly recovering from rejection. That's why I had full control of our form. I knew risking our lives like this was foolish, but I had no other choice.

"I'm not leaving my wife," I insisted.

My wolf grunted, circling impatiently around Leah's unconscious body. He was ready to flee at my command.

"We killed the Lycan King, Lucas. We need to run," he urged.

"He was trying to kill my wife and your mate," I countered. "If your mate dies, so do you. I was just trying to save us both."

"Try telling that to the mourning Prince over there," my wolf glanced at Lucian. "Think he'll forgive you for killing his father?"

Lucian was cradling his father's lifeless body, a complete wreck. I had never seen eye to eye with him, but seeing him like this was unsettling – especially now that he was effectively my father-in-law.

"We need to run," my wolf reiterated.

"If Lucian wanted me dead, he'd have ordered it already," I argued. "He wouldn't dare kill his own daughter."

"Want to bet on a Lycan's familial loyalty? Are you insane? Lucian's father killed his own brother for the throne. Like father, like son. He wouldn't hesitate to kill Leah and us."

"You're unusually talkative today," I remarked. "Quiet down. I've got this."

Finally, Lucian ceased his mourning and laid his father's body on the ground. Rising, his body trembled slightly.

"What on earth are you still doing here, Farrow? Why didn't you just run?" he demanded. "Do you think I won't kill you?"

The moon disappeared behind the clouds, and I shifted into my human form.

"I'm here to help you, Your Highness," I said, grabbing some linens to cover myself.

"Help me?" Lucian's expression was incredulous. "Do you know who I am? Soon, I will be the Lycan King! Why would I need your help?"

I let the torn linens fall. "You won't be a legitimate King while Leah is still alive. You know that. The Moon Goddess proclaimed Leah as the next Lycan Queen."

Lucian's voice trembled, "Why shouldn’t I just kill Leah too?"

"Because you're not your father, Your Highness," I replied.

Lucian stepped forward, his voice deep and menacing, "You think you know me, Farrow?"

I stood my ground. "Yes, Your Highness. Alpha Mick has rallied all the Alphas in the Kingdom. They can’t wait to see you and Leah fight for the throne. They’re likely already on their way here, ready to challenge your authority."

I lowered my voice deliberately, "I'm sure with your precious Beta Jalin Cleary's aid, they would eat you alive."

"I don't need your help, Farrow," Lucian snarled.

"No, you don't. But this time, you don't have a choice," I replied.

"You just killed my father," he roared.

I remained calm. "You saw what he did to himself. He had wolfsbane in his nails; he would have died anyway. Besides, he killed your most beloved – Leah's mother. I'm guessing she was your mate. That's why you've been alone all this time."

Pain flickered across Lucian's face.

"Let’s stop playing the grieving son and start dealing with the real issues," I continued.

Lucian stared at me as if seeing me for the first time.

"And one more thing, Your Highness," I added. "My wife, your daughter, needs medical treatment immediately before the wolfsbane reaches her heart. I'm too weak right now, so do you mind giving us a hand?"

Lucian didn’t respond but called for the Royal Guards.

"Tell the kingdom the King died of natural causes," he ordered authoritatively, casting one last look of disgust at his father's corpse. "And take Her Highness Leah to the Royal Clinic immediately. I want her to receive the best care. As for you, Farrow..."

I cut him off mid-sentence by dropping to one knee, raising my voice with conviction, "Hail to His Highness Lucian! Hail to the next Lycan King of the Kingdom!"

Around me, everyone followed suit, kneeling and raising their arms in unison, echoing my declaration.