GOING UNDER (THE LAST LUNA) S2

THE ALLEGATION

　　The cells were cold, damp and dingy, with little amenities. Only a bed, toilet and basin were given to Stella, a single blanket being the only thing to try to warm herself. Each cell has a little space, that made of stone walls and bars along with one door.

Stella had been stayed in the cell for seven days. And today, she will stand to the trial for the alleged murder case. She knew the evidence was stacked against her, it would be almost impossible for her to win the case imposed to her. The only hope she had left is Sophie, that, if she was still alive. Sophie had been inside her chambers all weeks. Therefore, she can be testified for who were the true Intel to have poisoned Thea, Then they would be forced to open, another investigation for the possibility, that Stella was not the culprit.

　　"Get up," a guard said from outside of the cell. Stella recognized him. His name was James and she had visited his family on multiple occasions on behalf of the ranked members over the years.

　　Stella stood up shakily, having not eaten properly the whole week from stress, and made my way to the side.

　　James came in and pushed her up against the stone wall. Stella winced from the pain but she knew the bruises would just blend in with the others she received already. Due to anxiety and lack of food. Her injuries were not healing also, as quickly as a werewolf normally would.

　　"Will Sophie be at the trial?" Stella asked, after he had shoved her out of the cell. James didn't reply, instead choosing to remain completely silent as he continued to push her towards the door.

Stella couldn't tell if he had been instructed not to talk to her, or if he just genuinely hated her now.

They were passing several cells and Stella's eyes checked each one through the bars, desperately searching for Sophie. She needed her to be there. Sophie is her only witness, to prove her innocence.

　　However, once they passed the fifth cell, Stella's eyes glanced across a woman with familiar brown hair.

　　"Marie! " Stella cried out, struggling to move towards her, against the strength of James.

　　"Stella..?!" Marie gasped. "What are you doing down here?" Marie yelled

　　Stella struggled some more against James, but his grip was far stronger than her. He kept trying to shove her to the door. 　"James! Please!" She begged. Turning her best as she could, to face him.

"If I die today then please let me talk to my Aunt, for one last time. I know you may not believe me, but I truly didn't hurt anyone and I would especially never hurt a baby. If I am wrongly executed today then please don't deprive me of my last chance to say good-bye."

　　James' face was stern, trying to be unreadable, but it could see the uneasiness in his eyes. His jaw clenched as he stared down at Stella.

　　"Please... James. I was there at your wedding... I was with your mate when she gave birth to your child! Please just grant me five minutes to say good-bye. Please," tears began to well up in my eyes,

" Please.. just give me this one thing. I promise to cooperate fully on the way to the trial grounds after."

　　James's still looked conflicted but he gave her a stiff nod in agreement. Stella sighed in relief, eternally grateful for his compassion. "Thank you, James, thank you so much."

　　Then Stella rushed to her Aunt's cell who was already waiting for her at the bars, her expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief.

　　"I'm sorry I couldn't get you out," Stella cried to her.

"I wanted to, really I did, but I knew it would be impossible with the security measures in this place."

　　"Shhh, don't be ridiculous, I knew that there wasn't anything you could do," Marie soothed.

"You know, when you were a kid my biggest fear, is how I can take care of you and ensure your good future. My nephew, my only love. Just seeing you happy is enough for me. It just hurts my heart, that at this moment, I can't defend you. If only I had known, I wish I would have never agreed, to marry you to Richard."

Marie touch Stella's face, like a mother who's very attached to her nephew.

"Don't think about me, I knew what I was doing. I already accepted this consequences. But why are you down here anyway? Did you say you're on the way to the trial grounds? What's happened?"

　　Stella grimaced at the thought.

　　"It was Thea's baby," She said.

"They all think I poisoned her with some sort of herb to induce a miscarriage."

　　"What?! Thea lost the child? But that's insane! Why would they accuse you?"

　　"Isn't it obvious?" Stella smiled bitterly.

"Of course everyone is going to point fingers to the scorned mate of the Alpha. They searched my room too. They apparently found the herb in question under my bed, even though I'd never seen it in my life. I have no idea how it was planted in there."

　　"Oh, Stella... my baby girl... I'm so sorry." Marie said, her eyes were started watering at the sight of her tears. Stella never seen her show so much emotion before, so much sadness. Stella realized, that she kept herself strong and confined to hide her emotions from others. So the two of them would survived.

　　"I'm sorry I was such a disappointment to you, to our family," Stella cried, looking up to the ceiling to try and stop her tears. She couldn't look at her.

　　"Stella, no, never. You've never disappointed me, nor could you ever." Her voice was so gentle, so quiet, yet filled with so much sorrow.

　　Stella stared at her in shock. "But you've always looked at me as such. When my infertility was announced I saw how you were. You looked as if I had brought the greatest shame to us."

　　"No! Of course not," she said, almost offended.

"I was disappointed in how the Goddess had brought you on this luck. I was disappointed in how a diety had chosen you for one of our highest ranks, only to let you suffer so much. For I knew, how Richard treated you, and I didn't do anything. I should be the one apologizing, not you. I should have taken you away sooner. I'm so sorry, Stella."

　　Marie cried, tears falling down her face heavily. Marie Ortega, Sister of the previous BETA of the White Stone pack, so strong, the richest female in the community and powerful, was crying to her, apologizing about how she didn't commit treason by helping Stella escape sooner. It was overwhelming.

Stella's body was shaking. Her arms were cuffed behind. But she did pressed her forehead against the cold metal bars closed to Marie. Marie tried to wrap her arms around her, with the bars between them, and pressed her forehead against Stella as they both cried together.

After another minute passed James cleared his throat behind us. "It's time to go," he said awkwardly.

Stella knew this was the difficult sight for him to watch. Not too long ago he had served under both of them, looked up to them. Yet here now, sobbing together between cell bars, saying their good-byes.

Stella nodded her head and reluctantly moved away. This was one of the hardest things she ever had to do in her life. Would it have made it easier to leave this world knowing almost no one cared about her? She thought, It had been just Sophie, but now there was her Aunt Marie.

How could I ever let them go? Marie sobs as she walked away from her Aunt Cell. They were almost definitely going to die because they had tried to help Stella. Loving her, had brought them to death.

"I love you, Stella.," Marie said one last time, right after James grabbed her.

"I love you so much, I always have. Please don't forget that." She added and continued to cry over the walls.

"I love you too, Auntie..," Stella cried.

As James moved her towards the door. Stella walked her best, without needing to push her this time. Her eyes burned so much from the tears she had shed, her vision blurred, but she managed to walk somewhat steadily. She had agreed to not make it harder for James to take her to the trial grounds and she owed him so much for those short moments he had given her.

"I will walk with myself, head's up as "NOT GUILTY" for this allegation."

Stella said. James heard her. They walk the rest of the way in silence and without protest.

When Stella get the outside, she can sense the smell of dried leaves on the ground, the strange breeze were likely calling her. It's called the forest calling..

It's only a few minutes away from that forest to the trial grounds. The pack were considered a sacred place within, the woods was surrounded by a huge circle of large mossy stones that had been placed by their ancestors. However, Stella has a plan.

The trials were always held at night when the moon was high in the sky; this is the primary rules, so the Goddess could witness the trial herself personally.

The arrival of Stella was immediately clear, where the entire pack was present. So many had attended that they had to joined the crowd, even outside of the circle. Their eyes were all filled with malic as they parted to let the two walk through the gathering, screaming all around, some spitting or cursing Stella as she walked.

Stella entered the inner circle, where the clearing was on a slight mound, the higher up it was, until the ground levelled out at the top. This was so everyone around, could easily witness her death.

On the right side, Stella could see a few key figures. Richard, stood behind a podium, Wearing the traditional dressed smartly, as the Alpha of the White Stone pack, and the pendant around his neck. Looking at him now felt weird.

Stella remembered how not too long ago butterflies would have filled her tummy and her heart would have raced just seeing him. But now there was nothing except fear; fear that he would end up executing her today. Fear that he would hurt her, for one final time. Even with the bond was broken, the Alpha held her life in his hands to torment.

And Of course, Thea was present, she was sitting in a chair to the right of Richard, the place was typically reserved for the Luna. Stella wanted to feel angry about Thea sitting there but she couldn't.

Either, Stella couldn't care less about her former position anymore. She never had asked for it anyway. It would take the pack descending in power to nothing before they realized their mistake. Knowing that Thea was no Luna at heart.

The Elders sat in a semi-circle around Richard and Thea, and to the left is Bryan and her cousin, Alfred, were also present. She wasn't surprised to see her cousin in that place, since the pack required a beta. And Ortega's lineage has no other direct children left, aside from Stella.With out a beta, they would have had to of turned to his younger brother's children.

Alfred had been training to take the Beta position for a while now so it was only fitting that he finally take the position. He looked similar to Stella but his hair was more blonde and he sported blue eyes, not violet. They had never really been close, but then again Stella had never really had the opportunity, to get close to anyone growing up. From the moment she was born the pack had determined her destiny.

A large oak stump laid before the podium. Stella knew what it was, her stomach felt queasy. She had seen it used only a couple of times but it was enough to bring nightmares. This was where the guilty would lay their heads to be executed, a large ceremonial broadsword doing the honours. She sat just in front of this stump on the cold ground, her body already shivering from the cold. she wore only a thin white dress, her previous clothes having been taken off her, not long after she had been locked up in the cell.

"It looks like everyone is here now,"

Richard said, projecting into the crowd. His eyes scanned over the faces of everyone around before finally landing on her.

"Today, we gathered here to bear witness to the trial of Stella Ortega, prior Luna to the White stone pack."