LYDIA'S POV

　　A gasp rippled through the crowd as Oleg's admission echoed around the courtyard. The full extent of his manipulation was laid bare, and the weight of his words settled heavily on everyone present. My mother's face contorted with anguish and fury. She stepped back, her fists clenched at her sides.

　　"You disgust me," she spat. "I betrayed my mate, my kingdom, and my daughter for you. But now, I see you for what you truly are."

　　"So what? People do worse things when they want to be in power, I did nothing to you, except using your body. I must say though, you are quite needy when it comes to our bedtime adventures and I enjoyed that too." He smirked and my blood boiled when he used those words for my mother.

　　She turned to me, her eyes filled with a determination I hadn't seen in years. "Lydia, let me decide his punishment. I have the correct punishment for him. Something that he totally deserves."

　　I nodded, my resolve strengthening. "Sure, Mother, do whatever you want with him. Let him see what a queen is truly capable of."

　　"Guards, bring it," my mother clapped and ordered, her voice commanding and resolute.

　　Curiosity stirred within me. What was she planning? The crowd watched in anticipation, and the guards brought forth a jug, a huge glass, and a bowl containing a powder-like substance.

　　Oleg's eyes widened in fear and confusion as he saw the items being laid out. "Kate, what are you doing?" he demanded, trying to regain his composure. "You can't do this to me!"

　　Kate's expression hardened, a fierce determination in her eyes. "Let me return the same courtesy that you have granted me for these past years, Oleg. The same slow drug that you have been giving me, but this time I will make it quick for you. You deserve a quick but painful death."

　　With deliberate movements, she poured the powder into the tea, stirring it until it dissolved. The air was thick with tension, the crowd silent as they watched the scene unfold.

　　"Kate, please!" Oleg pleaded, his voice cracking. "You don't have to do this. We can start over. We can rule together."

　　Her laugh was bitter, devoid of any warmth. "Rule together? After everything you've done? After using me, manipulating me, and destroying everything I held dear? No, Oleg. Your reign of terror ends here."

　　She held the glass up, looking at it for a moment before turning back to Oleg. "This is for every lie, every deceit, and every moment of agony you caused me."

　　Without another word, she approached him. Oleg struggled, but the guards held him firmly. With a determined look, she forced the glass to his lips, making him drink the poisoned tea. He tried to resist, but Kate was relentless, ensuring he swallowed every drop.

　　The crowd watched in a mix of horror and grim satisfaction as Oleg's fate was sealed. His eyes widened in terror as the poison began to take effect, his body convulsing with pain.

　　"You should know, Oleg," Kate said, her voice steady, "that I willingly drank the poison you gave me, thinking it was love that bound us. But now, I see the truth. You never loved me. You only loved the power I could give you."

　　Oleg's eyes filled with agony and disbelief as the realization of his fate dawned on him. He collapsed to the ground, the life draining from his body as the poison took its toll.

　　Kate stood over him, her expression a mix of sorrow and relief. "Goodbye, Oleg. May you find the mercy in death that you never showed in life."

　　The crowd erupted into murmurs, the tension slowly dissipating as they processed what had just happened. The nightmare was ending, and justice had been served. But something else also happened that no one expected.

　　As Oleg took his last breath, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. My mother, standing over Oleg's lifeless body, began to tremble uncontrollably. Her eyes, once filled with determination, now looked wild and unfocused.

　　"Mother?" I called out, stepping towards her, but she didn't respond.

　　Instead, she let out a heart-wrenching howl, her body convulsing as she began to shift into her Lycan form. Panic surged through me. I quickly shifted into my true form, hoping to control her, but it was of no use. Her mind had snapped, and she was lost to the madness.

　　Her Lycan form was massive, radiating uncontrolled rage and sorrow. She lashed out, claws swiping through the air, her howls echoing with grief and fury. The crowd backed away in fear, the scene descending into chaos once more.

　　"Lydia, stop!" Brandon's voice broke through the din. He signaled me urgently, his eyes wide with concern. I hesitated, not understanding why he wanted me to stop.

　　Brandon mind-linked me, his thoughts clear and urgent. "Lydia, Kate's Lycan truly considered Oleg as her true mate. And now, because of his death, she's lost all control. She's lost her sanity."

　　The realization hit me like a blow. Despite everything, despite the betrayal and manipulation, my mother had truly loved Oleg. His death had shattered her already fragile mind, leaving her Lycan in a state of uncontrollable madness.

　　I shifted back into my human form, knowing that brute force wouldn't help. "Mother, please!" I shouted, my voice desperate. "Come back to us! It's over now. He's gone."

　　But my words didn't reach her. She was beyond reason, her grief and rage consuming her completely. She let out another agonized howl, tearing at the ground, her claws gouging deep furrows in the earth.

　　Brandon stepped forward cautiously, his own Lycan form rippling beneath the surface, ready to protect if necessary. "Lydia, we need to sedate her. It's the only way."

　　I nodded, my heart breaking. "Do it."

　　With a quick signal, Evan and a few of our strongest warriors moved in, armed with tranquilizer darts. They circled my mother, their movements careful and precise. With a few well-aimed shots, they managed to sedate her, the tranquilizers taking effect swiftly.

　　Her massive form wavered, then collapsed to the ground, her breathing ragged and pained. I rushed to her side, tears streaming down my face. "Mother, I'm so sorry," I whispered, stroking her fur gently. "I'm so sorry."

　　The crowd watched in silence, the weight of the tragedy settling over them. The kingdom had been saved from Oleg's tyranny, but at a great cost. My mother's mind was shattered, her heart broken beyond repair.