Chapter 23 The King’s Last Words
Dawn broke red and angry across the sky.
Mara stood with Zevran, Riven, and the others near the execution platform. All around them, thousands of wolves waited in silence.
King Darius was brought forward. His chains rattled with each step. He walked with his head high, even though his eyes were empty.
Elder Sage stood on the platform. "King Darius of the Wolf Kingdom. You have been judged guilty of murder, conspiracy, and abuse of power. The packs have sentenced you to death. Do you have any last words?"
Darius looked out at the crowd. At the wolves who had once bowed to him. At the kingdom he had ruled for twenty years.
"I have many words," he said. His voice was surprisingly steady. "But I doubt anyone wants to hear them."
"Speak anyway," Elder Marcus said. "You have earned that much."
Darius took a deep breath. "I was not always a monster. When I was young, I wanted to be a good king. I wanted to make my father proud. But somewhere along the way, I forgot what it meant to lead. I forgot that power is not about control. It is about service."
He paused, looking at Zevran. "My brother, I wronged you in ways I can never fix. I took ten years of your life because I was jealous. Because I was weak. You should have been king, not me. You always had the strength I lacked."
Zevran said nothing. His face was like stone.
Darius turned to Mara. "And you, Moon Wolf. I tried to kill you many times. I saw you as a threat. But the truth is, you were never my enemy. My real enemy was always myself. My fear. My pride. My inability to accept that I was not worthy of the crown."
"Why are you saying all this?" Mara asked. "Why now?"
"Because I am done lying. Because I am done running from the truth." Darius smiled sadly. "I deserve to die. But before I do, I want everyone here to know something. The Moon Wolf is not your enemy. She is your salvation. Follow her. Trust her. She has something I never had. A good heart."
"Do not try to make yourself look noble in death," Brutus shouted from the crowd. "You are still a murderer!"
"I know what I am. But at least I will die with truth on my lips." Darius knelt down on the platform. "I am ready. Do it quickly."
Elder Sage nodded to the executioner. A massive wolf stepped forward carrying a silver blade.
"Wait!" A voice called out.
Everyone turned. Prince Ronan stood at the edge of the crowd. He was dirty and wounded, but very much alive.
"I challenge this execution!" Ronan shouted.
"You have no authority to challenge anything," Elder Marcus said. "You are a fugitive."
"I am still a prince! And I demand the right to speak!"
"You lost that right when you murdered Selene," Zevran growled.
"I did what I had to do! For the kingdom!" Ronan pushed through the crowd toward the platform. "My father is weak! He always was! But I am strong! I can lead better than he ever did!"
"You are delusional," Elder Sage said calmly. "Guards, seize him."
But Ronan pulled something from his cloak. A small vial filled with dark liquid.
"Stay back! All of you! Or I will drink this!"
"What is that?" Mara asked Nyra quietly.
"Shadow's Blood," the witch whispered. "It is the same dark magic King Darius used to become a monster. But that much all at once will kill him or transform him into something worse."
"You would kill yourself rather than face justice?" Elder Sage asked.
"I would transform myself into something powerful enough to destroy you all!" Ronan's hand shook as he held the vial. "Give me the throne! Make me king! Or I will drink this and burn this entire gathering to the ground!"
"Do not be a fool, boy," King Darius called from the platform. "That magic will consume you. You will become a mindless beast."
"Better a beast than a coward like you!"
"Ronan, please," Mara stepped forward. "You do not have to do this. Put down the vial. Surrender. We can find another way."
"There is no other way! Not for me!" Ronan's eyes were wild. "I killed Selene! I helped curse Zevran! I sent assassins to murder my own father! Do you think anyone will let me live after that?"
"We could show mercy," Mara said. "We could—"
"I do not want your mercy! I want power! I want what is mine!" Ronan raised the vial to his lips.
"No!" King Darius jumped from the platform. His chains broke as he transformed into his wolf form. He was not a monster anymore, just a normal black wolf. But he was still fast.
He tackled Ronan before the prince could drink. The vial flew from Ronan's hand and shattered on the ground.
The dark liquid spilled out. Where it touched the earth, the grass died. The ground turned black.
"No!" Ronan screamed. "My power!"
"You do not need power," Darius said, pinning his son down. "You need help. You need to stop before you become what I was."
"Get off me!" Ronan fought and struggled but his father was stronger.
Guards rushed forward and grabbed Ronan. They dragged him away from Darius, putting him in chains.
"You ruined everything!" Ronan screamed at his father. "I hate you! I have always hated you!"
"I know," Darius said sadly. He transformed back to human form. "And I am sorry for making you into this. I should have been a better father. I should have taught you love instead of fear."
"It is too late for apologies!"
"I know that too." Darius looked at Elder Sage. "Do what you must. Execute me. But please, show my son mercy. He is young. He can still change."
"After everything he did?" Brutus demanded. "He should die too!"
"He should face consequences," Elder Sage agreed. "But death is not always the answer." She looked at Ronan. "You will be exiled. Stripped of your title. Banned from all packs. You will live as a lone wolf for the rest of your days. That is your punishment."
"No! Exile is worse than death!"
"Then you should have chosen better." Elder Sage turned back to Darius. "Your sacrifice for your son has been noted. But it does not change your fate. You must still die."
"I understand." Darius walked back to the platform. "I am ready now. Truly ready."
He knelt again. This time, he looked at Zevran. "Brother, I know you will never forgive me. But I hope someday you can find peace."
Zevran's jaw was tight. His eyes were wet but no tears fell. "I do not forgive you. But I understand why you did what you did. Fear makes monsters of us all."
"Yes. Yes it does." Darius closed his eyes. "Do it now. While I still have courage."
The executioner raised his silver blade. It gleamed in the morning light.
Mara looked away. She could not watch.
The blade fell.
There was a sound like thunder. Then silence.
When Mara looked back, King Darius was dead. His head had been taken clean off.