Chapter 3: The Poisoned Luna
1458 Words
Nyra's POV
“Arrest her!”
The captain’s voice echoed through the prison hallway and I stared at him.
“What did I do?”
Two guards grabbed my arms before I could move, their grip hurt, I winced in pain. “I asked you a question!”
No one answered me, they dragged me out of the prison building and my feet struggled to keep up.
“Please! I didn’t do anything!”
The captain finally spoke. “The Luna has been poisoned.”
I stopped fighting. “What?”
He glared at me. “Don’t pretend.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
One guard pushed me forward. “You’ll understand soon enough.”
My heart began to pound. Poisoned? Who?
Then I remembered. There was only one Luna now.
Seraphine.
“No…” I whispered. “No, I didn’t…”
The guards dragged me across the palace courtyard and servants gathered everywhere. Some pointed at me and others whispered.
“I knew she couldn’t accept the divorce.”
“She wanted revenge.”
“I always knew she was dangerous.”
Their words stabbed deeper than knives and I shook my head again and again. “I didn’t poison anyone.”
Nobody listened, they dragged me into the main hall and pushed me to the floor.
The palace was in chaos. Healers ran in every direction and warriors surrounded the room. I heard crying and then I saw her.
Seraphine lay on a large bed and blood stained the corners of her lips. Another cough escaped her, more blood.
Kaelen knelt beside her and he held her hand tightly. “Stay with me, Sera,” he whispered pleadingly, squeezing her frail hands.
The palace healer checked her pulse and his face became serious. “It’s poison.”
The room fell silent and one of the elders growled. “Search every room. No one leaves this palace.”
The guards saluted. “Yes!”
I stepped forward. “Alpha…”
Kaelen finally looked at me, but his eyes held anger, not concern, not trust, only anger.
“I didn’t do this,” I shook my head.
He said nothing.
“I swear on the Moon Goddess,” I continued.
Still nothing and I took another step. “You know me.”
Before I could get closer, a guard blocked my path.
“Stay back!”
Another guard rushed into the hall and bowed before Kaelen. “My Alpha. We searched the palace.”
He turned to him, “And?”
“We found something.” He held up a small glass bottle and green liquid moved inside it. “The poison.”
My stomach dropped.
“Where did you find it?” Kaelen demanded in a hoarse voice.
“In Nyra’s room.” The guard answered without looking at me.
The world stopped.
“My room?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head so hard that my neck hurt. “No. That’s impossible, I’ve never seen that bottle before.”
“It was hidden beneath your bed.”
“I didn’t put it there!” I turned toward Kaelen.“You have to believe me. I don’t even know what that poison is. I’ve never touched it.”
Seraphine let out another painful cough and blood ran down her chin. She slowly opened her eyes and her weak voice filled the room. “Kaelen…”
“I’m here.”
She reached for him.
“I… saw her.”
Everyone turned to me and my heart sank.
“No…”
Seraphine began crying. “She came to see me. She said…” Her breathing became uneven. “…that I stole her husband.”
“I never said that!”
“I begged her to forgive me.” She continued, ignoring me, “I told her I never wanted to hurt her.”
More tears fell from Seraphine’s eyes. “Then… She smirked.” She swallowed, “And threatened me that if she can’t have you… no one will."
The room erupted.
“How shameless!”
“She admitted it!”
“I never said those words!” I screamed until my throat hurt. “She’s lying!”
One of the elders slammed his staff against the floor. “Silence!”
I looked at Kaelen again, he still had not spoken. My heart refused to give up, he knew me, he had to.
“Kaelen.” My voice shook. “Please. Look at me, I would never hurt anyone.” Tears rolled down my face, “I helped raise orphan pups. I treated injured warriors. I spent three years serving this pack. I am not a murderer!”
For one moment…his eyes met mine and hope rose inside me. But he looked away and that tiny hope died.
His voice was calm, too calm. “I gave you a home. I gave you my name, Nyra. I never expected this.”
Fresh tears spilled down my face. “You think I poisoned her?”
“The evidence speaks for itself.”
I pointed towards the surrounding servants, “No! I was cleaning prison cells. Ask anyone. I wasn’t anywhere near her.”
No one answered, no one supported me. The servants lowered their heads and the warriors avoided my eyes.
Not one person spoke for me and I finally understood.
I was alone.
The palace healer stood. “My Alpha. If Lady Seraphine doesn’t receive treatment immediately…”
He did not finish his sentence. Kaelen gently brushed Seraphine’s hair away from her face. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded weakly and then looked at me but only for a second, but it was long enough for me to see it.
A smirk,
It was small and hidden. No one else noticed but I did.
My heart stopped, she was not afraid, she was happy and she planned this. I pointed at her, enraged, “She framed me!”
The room gasped.
“She hid that poison herself! You all have to believe me!”
The captain grabbed my arms. “Enough.”
I struggled against him. “I didn’t do anything! I have never even seen that bottle!”
Kaelen finally stood and walked toward me. His face was void of emotions, but every step filled me with hope again.
He stopped in front of me and, for one foolish moment… I believed he was going to protect me, but instead, he pointed outside the palace, “Throw her inside.”
I stared at him. “What?”
“The dungeon.”
My knees almost gave way. “Kaelen…”
He turned around before I could speak and walked back to Seraphine.
He never looked at me again, the guards dragged me away and my cries echoed through the palace.
“I didn’t do it! I’m innocent! Kaelen! Please!”
He never answered.
The dungeon door slammed shut behind me and darkness surrounded me. I slowly slid down the wall and let out a broken laugh.
“Yesterday… I was his wife, today… I am his prisoner.”
Hours passed, and the dungeon became noisier. I heard servants run outside, someone laughed and another person shouted.
“The Moon Goddess Ceremony starts tonight! Every unmated wolf will receive their fated mate!”
“I can’t wait!”
“I hope the Moon Goddess blesses me!”
Their excited voices faded away, I closed my eyes and a bitter smile formed on my lips.
The Moon Goddess Ceremony. Every young wolf dreamed about this day. The day destiny changed everything.
I lowered my head.
Who would ever choose a prisoner? Who would choose a woman accused of poisoning?
No one.
I wrapped my arms around my knees.
For years, I never asked the Moon Goddess for anything. I only prayed for Kaelen’s happiness.
Today and for the first time, I prayed for myself. I slowly knelt on the hard stone floor. Tears fell onto my hands.
“Moon Goddess…” My voice trembled. “If I truly deserve happiness… If there is still a place for me in your heart. Please… Don’t forget me.”
The prayer had barely left my lips when suddenly a loud crash shook the dungeon and the heavy iron doors burst open.
Some guards rushed inside and grabbed my arms before I could stand.
“What are you doing?”
The captain looked down at me, his eyes held no pity. He signaled his comrades to drag me along, “Your punishment isn’t over.”
I struggled against them. “Where are you taking me?”
His answer made every drop of blood leave my body.
“The Alpha wants the entire kingdom to watch your humiliation.”
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