Chapter 167

Serena’s POV.

My blood drained from my face as I saw Lucien's smug face, it was not the first time he betrayed me, and it was all my fault for believing him. He doesn’t deserve the joy of seeing me devastated nor does he deserve that throne.

He did everything in his power to take that throne and now I would make sure that I burned that fucking throne, for which Lucien and Douglas were ready to kill so many people.

A loud shriek came from my side and I noticed that a shadow tendril had covered Raymond and Graham, they both were struggling hard to get free from it, but all their efforts were in vain, the more they struggled the tighter the shadow tendrils got.

“Leave them,” I growled in anger, my heart tightened in my chest as I saw Graham struggling, but he was not showing signs of any fatigue or pain, he was cool as a cucumber.

I narrowed my eyes at Douglas who was standing in the middle of the room. His eyes had a wicked glint in them, it was a sign of victory, he believed that he won, and maybe he did, but I wasn’t going to lose the lives of my friends and lover.

This meant a lot to me, Lucien had betrayed me, he betrayed the friendship and the trust I had in him, but I wasn’t going to do that to Eliana.

No, I was going to fight till my last breath. Douglas was cruel and heartless, but he forgot one thing: I was his daughter after all, and I wasn’t going without a fight.

“I gave you a chance, a chance to rule. You were supposed to be the ruler of the empire I have built, but what you did, you gave all up. And for what? For this lowly wolf. What do you even see in him, if you would have asked, I would have brought him in. All to dance on your fingertips.” Douglas growled.

“And you were supposed to be better than this, you were supposed to act like a father, but what you did. You abandoned me! My whole life I longed for a father who loved me and when I got him the first thing he did was break my mate bond with my mate. You broke my heart, you broke me, for what? For this bloody empire, that is not even yours. This empire that you built upon the blood and corpses of innocent people. You fucking killed the real ruler and usurped the throne. This empire is not mine like it’s not yours. It can never be yours!” I screamed at him, my hands shook as shadows danced above my hand, they understood how angry I was, and were ready to attack whoever was making my heart hurt, but I wasn’t sure if they would attack Lucien, the last time they didn’t. I didn’t want to take the chance with it.

Douglas’s reaction was instant, he roared in anger, his shadow tendrils came toward me and mine reacted instantly, they increased tenfold and created a protective translucent bubble around me, making him stop in his tracks.

Douglas was baffled, his eyes were wide open, but there was underlying anger hidden beneath those confused expressions.

“She taught you this, she fucking taught you everything. Shadow cloaking, traveling, she made you learn everything and you acted like you didn’t know anything. She is one hell of a woman.” Douglas cursed as his expression turned furious.

“What are you talking about? Nobody taught me anything. If you are talking about your wife, she taught me nothing, she should have but she didn’t. If she did I would have not suffered for years in that pack. I might have killed those sharks in an instant and anyone who would have dared to hurt me or humiliate me like I would kill you if given the chance. I hated it in there, for years I wanted to get out of that place but nobody came, nobody helped.” I yelled and my eyes glowed and turned pitch black.

My emotions were fueling my rage, anger was coursing through my veins.

“Nobody helped you, not even your so-called friends, Eliana was there, and so was Raymond. What about Graham, he is your mate, he should have protected you.” Douglas’s voice snaked around me. My vision blurred, no colors could pass through it, the bubble was getting thicker, and I was not able to see anyone.

“They were not my friends and Graham…” I trailed off, the memories of the night of rejection slammed into my mind, I squeezed my eyes but I couldn't stop the onslaught of emotions coursing through me.

I never smiled, never at once, it was always pain and hurt. I was there, but barely existing.

“Serena!” Raymond screamed, but I was not listening to his pleas.

No, I was reliving those painful moments, I was seeing my humiliated face, those petty remarks, those snubbed looks, and Max, who tried to do everything in his power to have me. He disgusted me, but I had to bear it. For what? For whom?

Nobody helped me, they always belittled me. Raymond too, and Graham…

He belittled me, humiliated me, things could have been different but he chose to do it the hard way. He knew things would only get difficult for me, but he did it anyway. Even after coming back, he never helped me, the sharks tried to kill me, he didn’t do anything.

His love, was it even real or was he trying to play me?

My mind was filled with doubts and dark thoughts slithered around me, maybe he came back to me because he needed the power, maybe he never wanted me and it was always about the power.

And not forgetting I marked him forcefully, I seduced him.

Now the bubble was completely opaque, I couldn’t see anything. I was trapped inside the darkness, my shadows were the only company I had, tears danced around my eyes and I couldn't help but let them roll down my face.

A week’s appreciation cannot erase years of neglect. I wanted to believe them, but I couldn’t, I wanted to kill something, destroy everyone.

A loud gut wrenching scream left my mouth and my hands glowed in silver light, as if the moon goddess herself had blessed me with this moonlight. I should have been amazed but I wasn’t, I was enraged.

“You are indeed my daughter, you should have killed them. As you can still kill the whole Mooncrest pack, I can fulfill your wish. You don’t need a mate, you can’t acknowledge you. You don’t need friends who are far beneath you. The winner stands alone, the ruler rules alone. In darkness, even shadows leave you, but the shadows that my blood has blessed you with will only grow stronger. Come to my side daughter and you will never have to worry about these petty things. We will rule this kingdom with an iron fist. Take what was always supposed to be yours, and never beg for something.” Douglas’s voice felt like a symphony in my ears, his words were sweeter than honey and even somewhere I knew they were wrong, but at that point I smiled, I wanted all those things he promised me.

I wanted destruction.

I wanted chaos.

I wanted the Shadow Throne.

Maybe I needed to kill someone.