Chapter 176 FIRST PICK

Chapter 176 FIRST PICK
MALIA'S POV:

No..." Lucien rasps out and he glares up at Valir. "No... that's a lie…”

Valir scoffs and my blood turns to ice as he turns his gaze slowly toward me. “Well? Is it a lie? Tell your Mate… Did you or did you not hand over his blood to us out of pure, unadulterated hatred for him? So you could destroy him and finally be rid of the monster you’ve been shackled to all this time?”

The hall goes dead silent…

I stand there, paralyzed with dread now as hot tears continue to stream uncontrollably down my face… Lucien’s silver eyes flutter to me weakly and my throat closes up…
Oh Goddess... I feel like I’m going to be sick and yet… I can't look away from Lucien’s face!

"I'm sorry..." I choke out and my voice breaks into pathetic, ragged hitches. "Lucien... I'm so sorry... I'm so, so sorry..."

Murmurs ripples through the room and Viktor, Hylos, and Loki all freeze. I can see the profound look of hurt and betrayal flash across their faces. Even Laena, standing near the guards, stares at me with wide, horrified eyes before breaking into tears and covering her face with her hands…

But nothing… Nothing compares to the look on Lucien’s face.

The color completely drains from his skin… The fire in his silver eyes from mere seconds ago dies out in an instant, replaced by a hollow, broken emptiness that slices through my heart deeper than any blade ever could! I’ve never felt as disgusted with myself as I do right now…

“Malia…” Lucien whispers, his voice is barely an audible breath now but I hear it… And it sends a painful pang of regret straight to my chest… My heart feels like it’s been wrenched apart now!

What I have done is unforgivable… I made him believe I loved him... manipulated his feelings and betrayed him… He’ll never forgive me...

Valir throws his head back, howling with laughter. “Oh this is priceless! Don't tell me you actually thought the mutt was in love with you, Lucien! Seriously? Who are you kidding? As if anyone could ever love a monster like you! She hated you! She only used you! She leapt at the chance to betray you!”

“No… No I didn't! I wasn’t… I… Lucien… I was confused at the time.” I choke out.

I don’t think he’s listening though… In fact I don’t think he going to want to hear anything from my mouth ever again… I watch as Lucien bows his head slowly. He closes his eyes, dropping his forehead against the floor as if he can no longer bear to look at me… The weight of my betrayal seems to have weakened and broken his spirit far more than the poison ever did.

"No… Please Lucien… I’m sorry!” I cry out, trying to step toward him but Kieran tugs on my hand roughly, pulling me back to his side. "Cut it out, Malia!"

Suddenly, a sudden burst of frantic movement erupts at the bottom of the steps as Lucien lets out a raw, desperate growl, using the last tiny shred of his failing strength to lunge upward at Valir’s ankles!!!

But before Lucien can even grab his leg, Valir lifts his foot and slams it down mercilessly on the back of Lucien’s head!!!

There’s a loud CRACK!!

And Lucien’s face is crushed violently against the stone floor. He lets out a muffled grunt of pain and his body goes limp under Valir’s boot!!!

"STOP IT!!!!” I scream at the top of my lungs, trying to run toward the platform. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!! STOP!!!!”

Before I can take two steps, Kieran grabs me roughly from behind, hauling my back against his chest and locking heavy, solid silver cuffs around my wrists!!!

What the hell!

"Stay out of it, Malia!" Kieran growls into my ear. "What the hell are you doing? Stop defending the monster!"

"You hypocrite!!!” I scream into Kieran's face, thrashing wildly against him. "You call him a monster?! Look at who you're standing next to! You're working with a more sadistic, lying psychopath! Why are you doing this, Kieran?! What did Valir promise you?! He's a snake!!! He’s going to betray you the second he doesn't need you anymore!"

“I guess it takes one to know one…” Kieran stares down at me coldly with his grip unyielding. “I am not dumb Malia... Valir and I have a mutually beneficial arrangement. After he takes the throne, the werewolves will finally have our own independent territory... under my rule as King."

The realization hits me like a freight train to the chest.

“Of course… Power..." I whisper, staring at him in utter horror. "You did all of this... you slaughtered people, you lied to me, you used me... just so you could be King of all the werewolves?!"

I let out a bitter, disbelieving laugh as more tears blur my vision. "I can’t believe I was so blind! All those years... I thought you were the most noble man to ever exist… I thought you cared about our people! But you're just another power-drunk fool! How could I have ever loved someone as pathetic as you?!”

Kieran’s jaw clenches tightly and a dangerous, dark scowl twists his features making him look sinister.

"Watch your mouth, Malia..." he warns coldly, his voice drips with venom. “Like I told you I still love you, but don't test my patience… If you keep pushing your luck, I will happily find someone far more suitable to take your place by my side... Someone malleable."

He turns his head, nodding directly toward Sapphire, who notices him staring and preens under his attention.
How disgusting!

"You bastard! I’d rather die than stay by your side!!” I snap. "Where are my father and brother, Kieran?! Where are they?! Did you kill them?!”

Kieran rolls his eyes dismissively. "I don't know where they are… And frankly, I don't care. They're probably dead by now."

My breath hitches. "What?"

"They were too much trouble," Kieran says nonchalantly, leaning in closer. "They were getting in the way of my plans. Truth be told, they were supposed to die on the day of the raid with the others anyway."

A cold, horrifying realization settles into my gut and my stomach churns violently as the pieces connect in my head.

"The raid..." I choke out and my eyes widen with shock. “Our wedding day... You knew… You knew all along that the Lycans were coming to attack our pack!"

Kieran doesn't even deny it… He just stares at me silently.

"You set us up!!!” I scream as the full weight of his heinous crimes crashes on me. "The whole wedding was just a distraction! A front to get everyone in one place so the Lycans would slaughter them! That's why your pack didn't show up for the wedding at all! You fucking smiled at me... you held my hand... knowing my whole life was about to be burned to the ground!”

"Does talking about the past change anything, Malia?" Kieran cuts in coldly, grabbing my chin forcefully between his fingers. "No… So stop being such a wimp and crying about what's dead and start thinking about your future as my Queen… Think of it… We can rule together. Rebuild all the packs remaining, unified under us. It’s more than you’ll ever get… And it’s far better than being the glorified cum-bag of some monster…”

"I will never be your Queen!” I spit right into his face. "I was a fool to ever trust you. But I swear on my life, Kieran... I will make you pay for every single blood drop you spilled!!!”

Kieran’s eyes turn into twin pools of ice and he shoves my head back roughly, letting go of my chin with a look of pure disgust.

"Fine…” Kieran says flatly. "If you refuse my offer... then you will suffer the exact same fate as these Lycan dogs."

A suffocating dread wraps around my throat and more tears roll down my cheeks… The tears aren’t for me though. I’m less concerned about what happens to me. I would give anything to undo what I’ve caused to Lucien and the others…

On the throne, Valir leans back with a sick, satisfied grin spreading across his face as he watches our exchange.

"Save your tears, Mutt…” Valir mockingly calls out, gesturing toward a nearby werewolf guard. "Save them for the main highlight of the evening."

The werewolf soldier steps up, handing Valir a long, gleaming silver spear and Valir takes the weapon… his fingers caress the cold metal lightly, almost affectionately.

He stands up from the throne and I wince as his boots step right onto the back of Lucien’s neck at his feet… He gazes down at his four kneeling, weakened brothers and there’s a mad gleam in his eyes now.

He turns those dark, sadistic eyes to me and a shiver of dread runs down my spine as his smile widens into a terrifying nightmare.

“It’s time for your reward… In order to thank you for all your hardwork in making this coup a success… You’ll get first pick.” Valir drawls, gesturing with the tip of the spear towards his kneeling brothers. “Now tell me…”

He raises the spear and my blood runs cold. “Which one of my dear brothers should I murder first?”