Phoenix

Chapter 3

Isabelle

2 days before

I feel like something inside me has changed, ever since the royal dinner . The day started as usual, where I got a beating for something trivial and several condescending remarks. But instead of telling myself I deserved it, I wondered if I really did?

Afterwards, when he kissed and caressed me, I couldn't help but think that he has completely stopped apologizing for what he does now. He just follows it up with a show of love, usually involving the bed, and thinks it enough.

I still love him deeply. My wolf calls him mate, and I crave his appreciation and love, but the questions have started swirling in my mind. Even my wolf's protests are getting stronger. I wonder, where I went wrong with this. It all seemed so perfect in the beginning.

It was finally at night, while I was lying awake beside him, that I let myself think back to it all.

Everyone was envious, when Matt's wolf called me mate at his eighteenth birthday. I didn't meet him before. But, I knew he was the only son of the Alpha of the Blue Stone pack, a pack that rivaled our own in size and strength. I was accompanying my father, the Alpha of our White Moon pack, to his eighteenth birthday party. And when his wolf called me mate, I was left astounded.

'She's so lucky, ' every female in attendance whispered with envy.

And the situation called for such emotions.

I was truly blessed. I was also the only daughter of my father, the Alpha of the White Moon pack, and was therefore set to inherit it.

And mating with someone equal wasn't something that happened every day. The union was perfect. Our mating would join our packs and establish us as the largest, most powerful pack of the kingdom.

I remember looking towards my father, when Matt's wolf called me mate, he looked like I won a lottery for him. I had never seen him this proud of me. I tried to do everything he taught me to perfection, be it learning to fight or learning about the arts of negotiation and politics, but I longed to see him praise me. He would keep quiet at my achievements but would scold me badly if he felt something lacking in my performance.

I didn't blame him. My mother died giving birth to me, and I knew he loved me, for I was his only child and heir. But, a part of him also despised me and I didn't blame him. I was a walking reflection of my mother. So, when he looked at me, he not only remembered her but was also reminded that I took her away from him.

So, I tried my hardest at everything to please him.

But now, with my approaching eighteenth birthday, something was changing. My father, who never mated with anyone after my mother, but still maintained his strength and hold as the Alpha, was getting weaker and weaker. He tried to hide it, but it showed. He grew cranky, and would reprimand me severely while I scrambled to do everything right. This was also getting apparent to some betas of our pack, who started murmuring about the packs' future and how could a puny little princess safeguard their rights as an Alpha in case anything happened to my father. They didn't dare defy my father, but my father had started worrying about my future. Failing to establish my role as an Alpha, meant death.

He counted the days to my eighteenth birthday like a prisoner, counting the days to his freedom. He wanted me to have a mate, to protect and strengthen me when he was gone.

So, when a future Alpha called me mate, my father looked as if he prayed for a diamond and got the whole mine, instead.

My friends in the pack, who always said all I needed was a prince, congratulated me at finding him. And I couldn't help but agree. He was perfect.

Three months remained till my eighteenth birthday, so I had yet to experience what it felt like to have a mate but Matt was too perfect, that I already started falling in love with him. Our engagement was announced a few days after his birthday, and the marriage was decided on the day, I turned eighteen.

He started visiting me continuously, and when it was time for him to leave, he would look like in physical pain. I knew what he felt was a lot more intense than what I was feeling, and I could see him straining against his desire to touch me, kiss me and claim me. And I had no doubt that I would feel the same way about him.

I remember the first time he kissed me. He came to meet me after my usual practice lessons at hand to hand combat. He surprised me that day, because as soon as I finished, I turned back to find him watching me, curiously.

I was out of breath, covered in sweat, strands of my auburn hair had come loose from the braid I tied them into and were sticking to my neck and cheeks. I was in my old jeans and a tank top, now coated in dirt, from rolling on the ground during combat. My coach, Sarah, a muscular, she- wolf with a broad build and strict expression, had given me a hard time during this session. My father was no longer watching me, instead he was resting at home. And I suspected it was his orders that resulted in Sarah releasing all her fury on me.

I tried to smoothen my hair and wipe the sweat off my face subconsciously, as I walked slowly towards Matt. It felt like a nice surprise but I wish he had given me a heads up, before coming. I knew I looked like hell.

But there was something in his eyes that made me stop. He was eyeing me up and down, almost..... hungrily. He looked ready to claim me there and then.

My mouth went dry. I forgot what I looked like then. My heart started beating frantically in my chest, as I scrambled to find something to distract him.

I looked back nervously to find Sarah gone. I was alone with him.

It took me a minute to gather my thoughts.

" What a nice surprise," I managed to say, but my voice was high pitched and slightly trembling.

" I was dying to see you, and turns out I decided to come at a perfect time." He said, and looked at me, approvingly.

I followed his eyes to find that my shirt was sticking to my body, and was almost see through.

I bit my lips nervously, and he gave a low growl.

And before I could even look up at him, I was suddenly pushed on the ground, with him on top of me.

My heart almost stopped. I could barely breath. I looked up at him as he slowly lowered his lips to mine, until they were barely touching, and whispered.

" I can't......" He left the sentence, unfinished and looked at my lips and licked his. I could feel his body pressed invitingly on top of mine, with his lips so close, and I wondered what it would feel like to surrender myself to him. To feel his lips on mine.

I was about to say something, when he kissed me. No, calling it a kiss would be an understatement. He devoured my lips, bit them and it seemed as if he wouldn't be able to last a minute without it.

I had to break the kiss to catch my breath. He reluctantly rolled off me and we both lay there for a while, just catching our breath.

I touched my lips. It felt like his lips had left an imprint there. I could still feel them on top of mine. He got up off the ground, dusted his clothes and extended his hand to help me up.

As soon as he picked me off the ground, he pulled me towards him and kissed me again. I could feel his tongue fighting to get inside my mouth, so I let him in, and I melted.

It felt like he painted my mouth with his, tasting and caressing everything, as if memorizing it. My legs felt weak and I think I forgot to breath. This time, he broke the kiss first and whispered in my ear, huskily.

" I can't wait to make you mine "

I snap out of the memories. My heart beating fast, just thinking back to that day, and I look at my husband who's sleeping soundly beside me. I wonder again how can someone who loved me with so much passion, could stand to hurt me too?

Can you really hurt the one you love?

****************************

1 day before

I wake up to find myself alone in the room. Matt is gone, which is odd. Usually, Matt wakes me up with all the noise he makes while getting ready, and once I am awake he always wants me to do one thing or another. He loves getting pampered.

I get off my bed, and look out the window. The sun hasn't come out yet and the world outside is coated in a dark bluish light of the early morning. A few birds are chirping in the distance.

It strikes me as weird again, because I have never known Matt to leave the house so early.

Maybe he hasn't, I think to myself, maybe he's here somewhere around the house. I go looking for him to see if needs anything.

Our house is still dark, with a weak morning light trickling in from the large windows of the main hall. Everything is cloaked in silence. The omegas, who usually come to clean our house and prepare breakfast, haven't come in yet.

I slowly descend the stairs, straining my ears for a sound that might indicate, where Matt is.

As soon as I reach downstairs, I hear muffled voices. They are coming in from the end of the hallway, to the left of the main hall. Matt has set up his study room there.

I walk towards it, when I start making out the words. It's Matt's voice.

"....can't wait any further."

"....need to find a way."

"..... before she finds out."

I strain my ears to listen.

Why does he sound so worried, I wonder. And who is he talking about?

Curiosity gets the best of me, and I start inching towards the room, instinctively tiptoeing.

I just reach the door, when I hear a female voice.

I feel something strange inside me. What is he doing with a woman, alone in a room at this hour? How long were they in there?

Something fiery starts spreading to my heart.

I almost miss what she's saying, but force myself to pay attention.

" .... need to be patient. And don't worry so much, everything is about to fall into place." She almost purrs and something inside me, twists uneasily.

My wolf growls.

" I may not be your mate, but I think I know how to take your mind off this, " she says invitingly.

And I snap.

I yank the door open, almost tearing it off its hinges. My wolf is roaring inside me.

I see Matt sitting on a chair with a woman in a tight, red dress straddling him. She is trailing kisses on his neck.

When I enter, I expect her to jump up in surprise but she doesn't. Matt also looks unperturbed at having been caught red handed.

She just turns her face towards me, and smiles mockingly.

" Oh look, there she is. Right on time." She says chuckling.

Before I can think about what she means, she grinds herself onto Matt's lap and he groans.

Almost, without my control, my wolf comes roaring out. I hunch on all fours, ready to jump and tear her to pieces. But all of a sudden I see smoke surrounding me.

What the heck, I think in surprise. Almost immediately, my mind starts going hazy, and my body which was ready to tear this s**t to pieces feels heavy.

I look back to her, and she is looking at me calmly. I look towards Matt, and he has small smile playing on his lips.

I try to take a step further into the room, before I slump to the ground. I see her red heels quickly walking towards me, before everything goes dark.

****************************

I wake up to the smell of rain, and birds churping in the distance. I squint my eyes, against the bright light. My head feels as if someone is banging on it from the inside.

I raise my hands to shield my eyes. I feel hot, as if I have been lying in the sun for too long.

Where am I? I silently wonder.

I try to get up and something cracks underneath me. I freeze.

I slowly look down to realize I have been lying on the ground, covered with dried twigs and leaves.

What?

I look around in panic, to realize I'm in the forest.

How did I get here? I almost say out loud.

I strain to think of the last thing I remember.

The woman in red, Matt, smoke..... It's all a bit hazy. Almost like a dream. But I manage to recall most of it.

Thinking about it now, makes it seem like a ridiculous dream.

I need to find Matt, I tell myself.

Ignoring the pounding in my head, I struggle to stand.

My clothes seem too stiff and stuck to my body.

I reach down to straighten my shirt and almost scream in horror.

I am covered in blood. Dried blood. It is on my hands, my clothes, all the way down to my feet.

My heart is pounding and I feel a bit dizzy.

I struggle to focus. Aside from a massive headache, I feel fine.

So it means... It means .... My heart constricts with fear.

The blood is not mine.

I want to throw up.

How is this happening? How am I here? My mind is buzzing with questions.

Is Matt ok? Maybe he was harmed too. I suddenly think.

My wolf instincts dominate. The thought gets my body and mind out of shock, and I start running.

I need to find Matt, I tell myself. I need to make sure, my mate is safe.

I don't know where I am, but my mate instincts keep me moving. I keep running trying to find a way to my mate.

It seems as if I have been running for hours, when the forest starts thinning and I start to recognize a familiar path.

The path leading to our house.

My heart whoops with joy and I start to relax.

I am quite near my house, when I hear him. Matt. My mate. He is alive. He is safe.

He's calling out to me.

I pick up speed.

I see him from a distance. He is standing near the edge of the forest, surrounding our mansion. He is calling out to me. He sounds worried.

I can see him clearly now. I am running to him. My whole body is desperate to feel the safety of his arms. I want to tell him everything.

He sees me now but his expressions change. I know he must be wondering about the blood.

I want to tell him that it's a mystery to me too. I want to warn him to be careful, and I want both of us to figure out what happened.

Suddenly, two muscular arms reach out and grab me from either side, stopping me from reaching him.

What?

I look to either side to find Jacob and Ryan, two betas of our pack holding me. Their expressions grim and stern.

My confusion is quickly replaced with anger.

How dare they? My wolf growls.

I struggle to free myself but they bend their heads and don't let go.

I look towards Matt.

And for the first time, I realize Matt's not alone. He is surrounded by most of our pack.

Someone screams and howls. I look to my right to find Leah.

Her face, contorted with fury and her eyes red rimmed and swollen, from crying. She is the mate of Tyler, who is a beta and the right hand of Matt.

I am about to open my mouth to ask her what's wrong, when she points her finger towards me, it's already turning into claws, as she turns into her wolf form, but not before screaming at the top of her lungs.

"It's her. She killed him ..... she killed my Ty."

I feel a chill down my spine. Someone killed Tyler.

I look around and everyone is looking at me. Their faces telling me that they believe her.

Leah is in her wolf form, ready to attack, when Matt intervenes. He roars and uses her Alpha influence to subdue her, she growls in protests but doesn't make any move further. Her tawny wolf looks at me with fury in her eyes.

Thank God for Matt, I think relieved. He will defend me, and will find out the real culprit behind all this.

But he turns towards me suddenly, his face unreadable, and his voice authoritative.

" Isabelle de Luca, you are hereby under arrest for the murder of Tyler Desmond, Beta and the second in command, of the Blue Moon pack. You shall be presented to our packs' jury where a punishment befitting your crime would be carried out, tomorrow."

Before I can react, Jacob clamps heavy iron shackles laced with wolfsbane to my arms.

I cry out in pain as I feel my strength waning.

" I was framed Matt, you have to believe me. " I cry out before they drag me away. " I am the Luna of this pack. I can't be treated with such disrespect without solid proof " I roar to everyone standing there.

" Oh... but we have a witness who saw the whole thing," Matt says with an odd expression. "She described the whole murder and described you as the culprit "

I follow his eyes to a woman, standing at the far corner of the crowd. She is clutching a woolen cloth to her body and trembling slightly. She looks up and says with tear- filled eyes and a trembling voice.

" Its her. I saw her rip his throat..."

I feel as if someone has punched me in the stomach. It's her. The woman in red, from this morning.

I look towards Matt with wide eyes and something clicks in place.

Jacob and Ryan drag me to my cell, but not before I spot a small satisfied smile on my mate's face.

***************************

The day

It seems as if I have woken up from a long slumber. I can clearly see the betrayal now.

But why? That's what I struggle to understand.

I gave him everything.

I have paced my cell, all night, thinking back to my life and where it all went wrong.

I know what's coming for me. Killing your own without cause is a mortal sin, only punishable by death.

My cell door opens and, Jacob and Ryan, reappear. They make to drag me out, but I shake their hands away and exit the cell, with my hands shackled and my head held high.

I enter our mansion's ground where our pack is gathered in a circle, to witness my punishment, leaving a space in the middle.

The wolves make way to let me enter, their faces contorted with hatred. Someone spits on me. And the familiar whispers, start.

" How could she do it?"

"She ought to die .."

"Murderer..."

"This is how she repaid our Alpha's love.."

" It must be so hard for him to do this .."

I look towards Matt and as much as he tries to look the part of a lover in pain, I know him enough to see right through his act.

I smile sarcastically. I let him take the reins, and soak up all the popularity while I cowered in the shadows. I weakened myself to let him shine, and I did it for love. How stupid...

" Oh look at her smiling, she absolutely feels no remorse..."

I look around and see no sympathy, anywhere.

Jacob and Ryan force me down to my knees. But I refuse to bend my head.

Leah is brought again to recount how she found her husband dead, lying near a stream in the forest, where he went for a hunt. She sensed her mate bond vanish an hour after he went, so she went looking for him, sensing that something had happened. His throat was slashed with animal claws. She starts crying uncontrollably and is escorted by her sister, back to her seat.

And then comes the witness. Her. If I hadn't been restrained by wolfsbane, I would have liked to s***h her throat. I keep looking at her venomously.

But she just looks towards Matt. Her whole demeanor is now that of a scared, timid woman, who has been traumatized beyond her wits.

" Tell everyone what you saw?" Matt commands her.

" I ...I am a lone wolf." She began in her shaking voice and started twisting her fingers, nervously. " My pack died at the hands of a rival pack, and I was the only one who survived...." She stops with tears in her eyes.

" Tell us, how you came to be in this forest." Matt interjects.

" I... I was looking for food. I came hoping to hunt something, when I heard her..." She looks at me, her eyes wide with fear.

"LIAR!" I can't help but scream. I am ignored.

" Continue, " Matt says.

" She was walking stealthily somewhere, and I thought she saw something to hunt, so I followed her. Hoping to get something as well. But she stopped behind a man crouching near a stream, and turned into her wolf form... She crept up behind him and he only had time to turn before she attacked.... a-and slashed his throat. She turned back again. She was smiling the whole time." She shuddered again.

The whole crowd started murmuring at this.

" What did you do then?" Matt asked calmly.

"I muffled my screams and hid. As soon as I saw her leave, I ran and ran, and found myself at your house, where that man's wife was also there. I told everyone what had happened until she arrived."

She is dismissed and directed back to her seat.

Matt clears his throat and looks at me now.

" Do you have anything to prove your innocence?" He asks me now.

He already knows the answer.

" No," I spit out.

" Does anyone here, have any doubt regarding Isabelle de Luca's grievous crime?"

"NO," the pack answers in unison.

" Isabelle de Luca," he addresses me again, with a hint of finality in his voice" you are hereby stripped of your title of the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack, and sentenced to death for the murder of Tyler Desmond." He pauses and looks pained. The crowd murmurs in sympathy.

" The sentence will be carried out.... immediately."

With a slight tremor in his hands, he picks up the silver dagger, with a large oval sapphire embedded in the handle, that was lying to his right. The packs' law states that every punishment is to be carried out by the Alpha himself.

He walks towards me with measured steps, all the while trying to look as if all this is killing him.

He's my mate. It will affect him too. A voice inside me says.

But he also betrayed you. Another voice intervenes and at that moment I have a strong desire to live. To get my revenge.

I want to struggle and somehow break free.

But I won't give him the satisfaction to see me beg and claw to live.

So instead, I look at him defiantly.

He reaches me, and bends down on hus knees. We are face to face now. I smell something unfamiliar, but can't place it.

I see him closely, from his golden eyes gleaming in victory to the cruel set of his mouth.

He places his left hand on my shoulder, while the dagger in his right hand point towards my heart. Its cold tip touching the middle of my chest.

I don't break eye contact, as he pierces my heart. I gasp in pain as my wolf cries out.

" Why?" I barely whisper.

A tear escapes his left eye, as our bond breaks. He buries the dagger further.

My wolf gives out a long, final howl

As I welcome death, I hear another howl in the distance. Then, everything goes dark.