Phoenix

Chapter 11

Isabelle

"This is not happening......this is not happening." The person who came calling to Prince Keiran, and is presumably someone from a higher rank judging by his clothing, is rocking back and forth with his arms wrapped around his body. He is sitting near the Prince's unconscious body

I agree with him.

This is not happening.

How is this mess getting bigger and bigger?

I have a murderer of a husband, his mysterious accomplice, a dying father, a betraying godmother and on top of all that, this?

I am not naive enough to think that the Prince's love would bring me any good. On the contrary, if word gets out I will lose all credibility as Luna for betraying my mate and our pack, because I am sure Matt will do anything to twist this situation to his advantage and the pack already believes him. And to be involved with the Prince, the Crown Prince no less, comes with it's own complications.

I can't deal with all this.

I don't need this.

I need to clarify it all to the Prince and tell him to never come here again.

If only, he wakes up first before anyone sees us.

I look around nervously.

How will I explain all this? How long have I been out here?

The man beside him is still in shock.

" Get up." I say firmly. He doesn't seem to hear me.

"GET UP!!!" I call out sharply.

He looks up with bloodshot eyes. There are tears in his eyes.

Clearly, this guy has led a spoiled and peaceful life, to be crying at the first sign of trouble.

I envy him and at the same time, it makes me angry.

" We can cry after we have dealt with this...." I try to stop myself from snapping but I can't.

" Y-Yes but what....d-do.....we..d-do?" He chokes out between sobs and looks around in a panic.

"We are going to die a horrible death at the hands of the King. You, for hurting the Prince and me.... for allowing this to happen..." He grabs his head between both hands and starts crying again.I look at the Prince, he is still unconscious. I wish he would wake up, soon. He will, for he is a Royal wolf and they heal themselves quickly but we can't exactly wait around for long like this in the open.

And we are not going anywhere like this. I have to do something before someone finds us. And just then, a twig snaps behind us.

The blood freezes in my veins.

" Isabelle..." It's Matt's voice. He must have woken up, and is trying to find me.

It's too late to go anywhere now.

The man beside the Prince scrambles to get up, but I push him down, and put a finger on his lips to silence him.

'I' ll go stall my mate. You stay here, and as soon as the Prince gets up. You two should leave.' I let my wolf talk, afraid to make a sound which Matt would find suspicious.

And thankfully, the man nods, silently.

I leave him with the Prince and race towards the sound of Matt's voice.

He is not far from where we are, and it scares me to think that he might smell the other wolves, because the Alpha's senses are superior.

I have to distract him.

" Matt!" I call to him, and start running opposite to where he is.

He calls and follows me, running. I run in the opposite direction, letting him follow me, and taking him far away from the Prince and his companion.

It's only when I am satisfied that we are at a safe distance that I stop and let him catch up.

He is panting now.

" Isabelle.... what are you doing here?" There is a hint of annoyance in his voice, and I am wise enough to know what would happen if I don't do anything to change his mood.

"I-I was worried sick about my father. " I let myself stammer and twist my fingers. The tears in my eyes are real, though because I am worried sick about him.

" So I couldn't sleep, and I...I had to get out." I stop and let my tears fall silently.

His expressions soften considerably, and he takes off his jacket and wrap it around my body.

It's then that I realize that I am shaking because my clothes are in tatters after transforming into my wolf form and transforming back.

Matt hugs me, rubbing my back as he places his chin on my head.

I am suddenly paranoid. What if Matt can smell the Prince's scent on me? I think in a panic. I can't be too careful about all this.

I have to do something to distract him. I push against his chest until he lets me go, looking surprised.

" I have to tell you something. While I...I was in here. I saw someone." I am looking at him the entire time.

His expressions freeze to something unreadable but he looks all ears for what I am about to say.

" A woman." I continue slowly as I look at him and his left eye twitches.l continue slowly, all the while looking at him.

" She was in a cloak, and there was someone else with her too. Giving her something."

Matt is trying hard to hide his expressions, but it's evident that he looks unsettled.

" I don't know Matt, it really scared me. She seemed upto no good. I think I should come back with a few wolves and search the area myself....."

"No!" Matt says quickly.

I let myself look surprised.

" But I am the only one who saw her...." I try to protest but Matt interrupts again as he cradles my face in both of his hands.

I guess he doesn't mean to but he is gripping my face almost too tightly.

" You are very precious to me, and I can't have you risking your life for some lone wolf. Yes, she must most definitely be some lone wolf." Matt nods fervently, and almost looks relieved for having thought of that.

" Let me look into it to put your mind at ease. In the meantime, why don't you go back to the house, change and then rest. You look like you haven't slept at all. Hmmm?" He kisses my forehead and suggests.

" But...." I try to protest again and his hands tighten around my face. I look into his eyes where a fire has started burning although he keeps his expressions soft.

I know that I can't push him any further.

" Let's go back to the house. Shall we?" He asks but it's more of a command.

I nod and let him take me back.

I look back once and pray that the Prince has woken up and gone back in the meantime and I pray that he never returns.

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

I hear a distant crash and someone yelling, as I changed and was getting ready for bed.

It was about to be morning as we returned from the forest.

I immediately think of my father. Matt is lying on the bed with his eyes half closed.

He doesn't react to the sound, and I look at him helplessly once or twice but he doesn't say anything.

I grab my jacket and run out of the room.

The noise is coming from my father's room.

He is yelling and roaring.

As I open the door, I see four men trying to restrain him while the fifth is holding an injection of a thick green fluid.

The smell in the room again strikes me as familiar.

" Let him go," I call out to him.

" Isa... Isabelle. You are here. They are trying to kill me." My father calls out.

All of them hesitate, looking at each other.

" Leave!" I let them hear my wolf growl. They all whimper and leave except for one who hesitates by the door.

I recognize his scent too late in the smell of the room, and my heart sinks.

He is the Prince, disguising himself as one of the wolves of the pack.

He is in clothes which are too loose for him, and there is a cap hiding his eyes, while a handkerchief is hiding most of his face.

He takes it all off and let me see him.

There is a scratch on his left lower jaw, and bruise on his right cheek.

I stagger to the bed beside my father, who is calm now but muttering something to himself and, rocking back and forth.

" Isabelle, listen to me..." His voice is gentle and soothing, like he is speaking to an animal who might escape.

It angers me.

" No, you listen to me," I snap angrily. " Why are you here when I think I made it pretty clear to you that I am not interested in you."

He looks hurt for a moment, but quickly composes himself.

" Look, I get it. You have a mate already and considering the situation, I am the last thing you need right now." He says in a calm voice.

" Damn right." I interrupt.

" Ok... but I am also the only person who knows what happened to you and will happen again. So, at least let me help you."

I choke out a bitter laugh.

" How do you suppose you can? I found nothing, and I am living with that murderer .." I say with exasperation in my voice.

The Prince smiles.

" Because, you are trying your hardest to catch Matt in the act, while the proof is all around you..."

" What do you mean?" Even though, I want him to leave but he's got me curious now.

" Did you notice that every wolf who is involved in taking care of your father is from Matt's side of the pack, and not just this. Ever since I snuck into your house, everyone I have encountered is from his pack. That night, which will come again soon, when we met for dinner you and Matt hosted. I noticed that every important official on that table was from his side of the pack. Those guys respected Matt as their Alpha but I could sense how they looked at you."

I am stunned into silence.

I remember that night clearly, and now that I am hearing Prince Keiran say it, I can't believe how stupid I am. The Prince continues.

" There is a reason Matt can get away with your murder, even, by building a flimsy case. He has all the power in the pack, while you have none. I suggest if you want to live, you should start there.

And one more thing...." The Prince hesitates, as he looks at pitifully.

" What?" I am eager to know what more he has to say.

" It's about your father, and I am sorry I can't break it down to you gently because I think those wolves you threw out will be coming back with Matt any time soon."

" Just tell me." I feel dread settling into my stomach, like a heavy brick.

"Matt is poisoning your father. That injection he is receiving is called Mortelar. It's a slow poison."

I look at my father in a panic who smiles back at me serenely as he hums a tune.

" How can I save him?" I choke back a sob.

" We can't." He says gently. " Given the state he is in, he is receiving it for a long time and it's too late now He has only a few days to live."

" But.... but I just got married to Matt about ten days ago. Then who?" I say in a tearful voice and then it clicks. Nora. My own Godmother. I feel a searing pain in my chest. She was in on it all along.

We hear footsteps from a distance. I look to Prince Keiran who rushes close to me and whispers.

" Listen to me. I need you to think about what I told you. I am leaving my most trusted companion here, I want you to keep him close. He will report everything to me and also take care of you in case I don't make it in time. In the meantime, try to get your power back. I will see you soon." He whispers urgently and bounds out my father's window and disappear into the forest before the door opens.

Matt walks in and looks around.

" Bill told me, you didn't let them give your father the injection."

" Yes, he was too anxious but he calmed out once they went out. What's it for anyway? " I ask.

Matt gives a cold smile.

" It's to help him sleep."

A shiver runs through me but for the first time in a long time, I know where I should start to make him pay for what he did.