Crowned by Fate Chapter 157

Adrian’s POV

Maxwell's eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as I held him by the collar. He didn't struggle or try to break free.

Instead, he laughed.

"Your father?" He shook his head slowly. "You want to know if I let him die? That's the wrong question, boy. The question you should be asking is why a supposed Alpha couldn't handle a simple pack of rogues."

I tightened my grip. "You were supposed to send reinforcements. You were his brother!"

"Brother?" Maxwell spat the word like it tasted foul. "Your father never saw me as a brother. I was always just the spare, the backup plan if something happened to the golden son. Well, something did happen, didn't it?"

My mother stepped forward, placing her hand on my arm. "Adrian, please. Let him go."

I shrugged her off, keeping my focus on Maxwell. "He trusted you. The pack trusted you to protect them!"

"The pack needed a strong leader," Maxwell said, his voice dropping to a growl. "Not some poet who spent more time reading books than training warriors. Your father was weak, Adrian. Too weak to survive in our world."

My wolf surged forward, and I felt my claws extending.

"Take that back."

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" Maxwell's smile widened. "Just like it hurt when those rogues tore through his defenses. I heard he called for help three times before they finally brought him down. Three times, Adrian. A real Alpha would have handled it himself."

I slammed him against the wall, the wooden boards creaking under the impact. "You let him die. You wanted his position, so you let rogues kill him!"

Maxwell's expression shifted to mock sympathy. "Speaking of letting people die, I heard about that girl who followed you when you left Stormhowl. What was her name? Nadia?"

My blood turned to ice.

"Such a waste," he continued, watching my reaction with satisfaction. "She was an excellent warrior. Strong, loyal, beautiful. I had plans for her, you know. Alpha Leon needs strong females for breeding stock. "

"Shut up," I growled, but he kept talking.

"If she'd stayed in Stormhowl, if she'd accepted my arrangement, she'd be alive right now. Comfortable, protected, honored as the mother of future Alphas. Instead, she followed you into the desert to build your little refugee camp. And where is she now, Adrian? Oh, that's right. She's dead."

The rage that had been building inside me exploded. I released Maxwell and shifted partially, my claws fully extended, fangs dropping.

"Don't you dare speak her name!"

Maxwell shifted too, meeting my attack head on. We crashed through the kitchen table, sending dishes flying. The small cabin shook with the force of our battle.

I was faster than him, stronger than I'd been four years ago when I'd left Stormhowl. My claws raked across his chest, drawing blood. He stumbled back, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"You've grown stronger," he admitted, circling me warily. "But strength without wisdom is just destruction waiting to happen."

He lunged at me, aiming for my throat. I dodged, spinning to strike at his exposed side. But suddenly my mother was there, moving with supernatural speed to block my attack.

Time seemed to slow as my claws, already in motion, met flesh that shouldn't have been there.

The sound was soft, almost gentle. Like puncturing wet paper. My claws slid through her chest as if she were made of mist.

But the blood that sprayed across my face was hot. Real. The metallic taste filled my mouth as I stared in horror at what I'd done.

My mother looked down at the claws protruding from her chest, then up at me. Her eyes held no anger, only a deep, infinite sadness.

"Adrian," she whispered, blood bubbling from her lips.

I yanked my hand back, and she crumpled to the floor. The blood spreading beneath her was too bright, too real to be an illusion. I could smell it, taste it, feel its warmth on my skin.

"LILLIAN!" Maxwell's roar shook the cabin. He dropped to his knees beside her, gathering her into his arms.

I stood frozen, staring at my bloodstained claws. This couldn't be real. The maze created illusions, not reality. But the blood was so warm, and my mother's eyes were already glazing over.

"Mom?" I fell to my knees beside them. "I didn't mean to. I wasn't aiming for you. Please, this isn't real. This can't be real!"

She reached up with a trembling hand, touching my face. Her fingers left bloody streaks on my cheek.

"My boy," she breathed. "My sweet boy."

Then her hand fell limp, and the light faded from her eyes.

"You killed her," Maxwell said, his voice hollow with shock. Then louder, filling with rage. "You killed your own mother!"

I shook my head frantically, pressing my hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding that had already stopped.

"No, this is the maze. This is just an illusion. She's not really dead. She can't be!"

Maxwell stood slowly, my mother's blood staining his clothes. His eyes burned with hatred. "First you got Nadia killed with your foolish dreams. Now you've murdered your own mother. How many more people will die because of you, Adrian?"

"I didn't kill Nadia," I said, but my voice shook. "I tried to save her!"

"You led her into danger. You convinced her to leave the safety of Stormhowl for your pathetic desert pack. Her blood is on your hands, just like your mother's." He gestured at the body between us. "Look at what you've done. Look at her!"

I couldn't look away. My mother lay still, her chest no longer rising and falling. The blood had stopped flowing, pooling dark and thick around her body.

"You're just like your father," Maxwell spat. "Weak. Reckless. Destroying everything you touch. He got himself killed, and you'll do the same. But not before you take down everyone foolish enough to care about you."

"Your mate, your pack members, anyone who gets close to you," Maxwell continued relentlessly. "They'll all die because of your incompetence. You can't protect anyone. You can't even control yourself!"

I felt myself breaking. The carefully constructed walls I'd built around my guilt and grief crumbled. Nadia's face flashed before my eyes, the way she'd looked in those final moments. Now my mother joined her, another ghost to haunt me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to my mother's still form. "I'm so sorry."

The cabin door creaked open.

Through my tears and the haze of grief, I saw a figure silhouetted in the doorway. Silver hair caught the light as Skye stepped inside, her green eyes taking in the carnage before her.