Still A Coward

Libianca's Point of View 

Nikolai was lying; there was no way he was going to let them off, but my delusional aunty seemed to have bought his words. Melissa forgot what she said moments ago about how Nikolai was a tyrant, she was trying to hold on to the slightest chance of hope to escape the death that could come her way.

She crawled towards Nikolai with her eyes glimmering with hope, " Melissa, don't believe him. Don't fall for his trick twice!! " Ezekiel screamed at his mate, who had turned deaf to any warnings.

"My Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned." Melissa cried, bowing with her head pinned on the ground. It was strange to see my proud aunt who always walked head held high in such a pathetic state.

My hands gripped my dress, and my jaw clenched as several complicated emotions ran through me. I should be happy she was suffering after everything she did to Alexei and Zina, but it didn't sit well with me for a strange reason.

I glanced at alpha Nikolai who was enjoying the spectacle with a devilish smirk that sent goosebumps down my spine.

"Melissa, please don't do this," Ezekiel screamed, trying to rush towards Melissa but was knocked out by one of Nikolai's warriors.

"My Lord, you said I would be spared," Melissa said with her voice shaking. She was barely able to look Nikolai directly in the eye. "If your words manage to interest me," Nikolai smirked.

"Thank you, my lord." Melissa bowed again before looking up.

"The last alpha and Luna didn't die because of Zina. The story about how they died during the rogue's attack trying to save their daughter was a lie. " Melissa stated, silencing the entire hall. All the pack members alive and present were immediately stunned.

" Their death was planned by me and Ezekiel. We contacted the rogues to attack the pack while we used the chaos to kill the alpha and his Luna. " Melissa's words were cut off by a loud growl.

My heart felt like it had been pierced by daggers when I heard the sad pitiful growl. Melissa gave Alexei a pitiful look after hearing his growl. She didn't look guilty or anything, but Alexei was hurting by discovering the truth.

" Yes, I killed my only brother for power and that was not all. To make sure none of his children could rise to the position of alpha, I started spreading rumours that the heir to the throne, Alexei, was not my brother's child and that his wife had an affair. " My jaw dropped because I had no idea Melissa had done such a degrading thing. I don't remember much about when Zina's parents died because she was very young.

Melissa then went ahead explaining how she and her mate Ezekiel had spread rumours, bribed officials and many more to make sure they rose to the throne and why Zina and Alexei were ostracized by the pack. They even went far enough to pay someone to tell the elders that he was Alexei's biological father.

Everything was too much for me and Alexei to take in, and I didn't know when I broke into tears. Zina had hated them, blaming her aunt for her misfortunes, but the crimes Melissa committed were more than what she would have imagined.

"Finally, to make sure there would be no resistance, we used the first two years of our reign to take out everyone loyal to my brother. " Melissa said on a final note after recounting everything.

Tears poured down my eyes wondering how Zina had survived. It was funny how I thought in my past life my life was horrible. Zina had it worse. Alexei's face was dark, with his eyes red; his wolf was probably clawing him inside, trying to come out.

"You have an interesting family," Nikolai taunted, glancing at me. I had a strong urge to glare at him, but I still loved the fact my head was still attached to my head.

"Tell me, how should I punish her princess?"

"Huh." My eyes shot out, stunned and confused by his words, which swept me off my feet. I was not the only one puzzled. Melissa was equally shocked. I could see the blood draining out of her face.

" What are you saying? You promised to spare me. " Melissa's voice was shaking, unable to believe what was happening.

"When did I promise you that?" Nikolai asked Melissa, still smirking with a slightly confused look..

"Get rid of her and her mate." He instructed them casually, as taking their lives meant nothing. Melissa was thunderstruck with fear and panic. Her eyes grew wide and wary at Nikolai, looking at him like the devil.

Ezekiel's unconscious body was pulled close to Melissa, and my heart started beating wildly. I could hear it in my ears because of the anticipation.

"Stop!" Nikolai's voice boomed, Melissa stared at him with her eyes wide open, hoping maybe Nikolai had changed his mind, but his next words were unexpected.

"Give the former princess a silver dagger, she will exact her revenge with her own hands." My eyes shot out, and my face drained out of colour. My already erratic heart that was beating more wildly already started beating louder than I could ever imagine..

The image of Nyx's figure after she stabbed her resurfaced in my mind, and the feeling that ran through my body, realizing my mistake, was etched in my mind.

I shook my head aggressively, unable to imagine myself doing something similar; watching them die in front of me was already hard. How did he expect me to end them myself? Someone held my shoulders, stopping me from moving backwards.

I didn't know who he was, but I recognized him as one of Nikolai's officials who were with him in the alpha office. "Stop shaking." I heard him say in a low tone, but how could I stop myself from shaking? "It would not make him mad if I were you." His words came as a warning, and I looked back at Nikolai, who was not pleased.

His face was darkened, and the room temperature had plummeted due to the pressure he released. Melissa still hadn't recovered from the shock while Alexei was trying his best to hold himself. I have never trained as a warrior in the past two lives, so how does Nikolai expect me to do such a thing? The same official placed a silver dagger in my hand and nodded at me.

I gulped nervously and walked slowly towards Melissa. I could feel Nikolai's eyes on every step I took, which felt like a chore due to the suffocating pressure.

"Zina," Melissa muttered when I got before her, she gave me a sad smile that shook my insides. My entire body was fidgeting, and my hands couldn't hold the knife straight. My lungs felt heavy as it became difficult for me to breathe, the look in Melissa's eyes reminded me of the look Nyx had in her eyes.

I let out a shrieking scream and the dagger fell from my hands. I covered my ears while screaming; my breath was haggard, and my heart was beating beyond my control. I could not do it. Disappointment and regret took over me, and my fragile heart stopped me from taking revenge. Why could I not just do it? Why? I kept on asking myself.

Melissa's sad smile turned into a smirk, her eyes were taunting me. She whispered something inaudible, but I could read her lips. She was calling me a coward and a failure. It was not a lie because that was what I was; a failure.

I bowed my head, not daring to look back at Nikolai or Alexei. Afraid to see the look of disappointment in their eyes. My hand could not stop shaking, it was covered with blood. The blood Nyx had shed that day, everything around me froze and the only thing I could hear was the thumping of my heart against my rib.

"You are a disappointment, Zina, your parents will be sad from their graves." Melissa's words broke my daze.

"Do you know the expression they had in their eyes when they realized I and Ezekiel wanted them dead?" Melissa smiled at me like a psycho and a broken piece.

"Disappointed and shocked, My brother could not believe his sister he grew up with and protected wanted him dead. I loved the way he stared at me with shock while taking his last breath, I never regretted killing him even though it haunted my dreams for years." Melissa screamed every word, she had lost it all.

Maybe it was the feeling of her imminent death that made her behave this way. She then smiled at me and her eyes turned red because launching towards me with her elongated claws half shifted.

"If I am going to die, at least I will take their precious daughter with me." She screamed, shooting fast towards me. I saw her attack coming, but my legs were shaking, and I didn't move away. I pressed my eyes together waiting for the pain to come.

A deafening growl ran throughout the hall, and I was swept into someone's arms. My heart was still beating fast, and I slowly opened my eyes to see the outline of Nikolai's face from the side. His eyes shone like the brightest gold jewellery I could imagine.

Those gold eyes that looked like the devil's eyes were locked on Aunt Melissa, whose head was already rolling on the floor. ' Did he save me?' I asked myself because my vision grew dark and I lost consciousness. My body couldn't handle the pressure anymore.