Poisoned

Every step of Isabella echoed on the floor while her heart thumped with rage. Someone took over the Alpha's seat? What were they trying to do? Were they trying to overthrow their Alpha without any information about him?

What the hell was the pack that Lucas had given everything to planned. Behind her, Elara stood. Even as the Alpha's sister, she was a part of the warrior's.

“I am behind you Luna,” Elara declared as soon as they reached the chambers door. Immediately, Isabella pushed the door open.

“Who dared to occupy the Alpha's position?”

Every voice stopped, every heads turned to Isabella as she stood at the doorway, jaw clenched, heart raging. Isabella took her eyes forward and it rested on the throne, perfectly carved from the swords of each successor before her mate, Lucas became the Alpha.

And the maids words were true. Someone had indeed occupied it.

“How dare you?” Isabella walked in immediately, her steps echoing on the concrete floor. She didn't stop until she was standing in front of him— the Beta, the Alpha's second in command.

“That's not your position, Beta.”

“And this is not a meeting for you,” a council member countered immediately. “The Alpha has been away for months, the pack is in shambles and what we're arguing about is who should be sitting on his throne.”

“I as the Luna of Crestwood Pack command you, Viktor, the beta to stand and move away from the Alpha's seat,” Isabella's voice boomed in the air and she turned, “or else I'd have the guards do it on my behalf.”

“I am happy to,” Elara dragged out her sword that was always hung to her thighs, “say the word, Luna.”

Isabella turned to the throne and held eyes with Viktor. Every muscle inside of her screamed to be used, her brows tightened and her eyes shone, “Do not let me repeat my words, Beta.”

“I am second in command,” Viktor gritted, his hold on the edges of the throne tightened and anger pulsed in his veins, “you're not.”

“What even are you?” He looked around mockingly, “a barren woman that couldn't give the pack a heir.”

“3 more seconds,” Elara chipped in as she ran her hands over the edges of her sword, “3 seconds and if you're not from the seat, I make sure you never do so yourself.”

The beta froze. Sweat dampened his skin and his teeth chattered against each other before he gripped the edges of the throne and stood.

“Good,” Elara smiled, “I had already counted to one.”

“You have no right!” Viktor screamed, “this barren woman has no right to stomp into our meeting. I am the second in command, I give orders in the disappearance of the Alpha.”

“Barren,” the words didn't sting Isabella but hours ago, she knew how much it would have hurt. Because it was different now. She forced a smile and turned to the elders, “Disappearance. The Alpha has been on a mission for months and we've been in contact. 2 days without contact from him and suddenly it is disappearance,” she clicked her tongue as she walked the aisle of the chambers, “is that how it is? Did you all gather here to sideline this family?”

“This is not sidelining,” one of the elders stood, “this is running the pack.”

“Running the pack,” the words were cruel against Isabella's mouth. Her mate was missing, her mind was reeling and they didn't gather to discuss that. Instead, they gathered to discuss how to run the pack— obviously for their own benefit.

“Every affair of the pack stays on hold!” Isabella commanded, her tone rigid. Her hands clasped behind her as she shot each man a stare, “if the alpha is not back tonight, by dawn, we're sending soldiers!”

“Every nook and cranny must be searched. Until the Alpha is back.”

“You're not the one to give orders,” Viktor countered immediately, “this should come from the council members and we're here to discuss it. We can't go into the woods to just start searching.”

“We need strategy.”

“You're right,” Isabella nodded as she looked to every man in the room, “we do need strategy,” then she turned to Elara, “but you forget we have the queen of strategy here. Before day break, Elara will provide a strategy for the mission.”

“Yes,” Elara nodded before and bowed. Just as she bowed, she gripped her chest at the sharp pain before she coughed, “yes, Luna.”

“Good,” Isabella turned to Viktor, “do you have any more inputs, Beta?”

“You can't control all of us like the Alpha. Only the Alpha gives orders, not you. And I was in that throne to give orders just like Alpha Lucas will do. You have no right whatsoever to run the affairs of the pack on our behalf.”

“This is not an affair of the pack,” Isabella's voice was low, quiet and scared, “this is for my husband, my mate. This is to keep my family safe.”

“Family?” The elders burst out laughing, “Oh right, a husband and a wife could also be called family.” The crowd burst out laughing before another elder spoke.

“If you love your darling Alpha that much, then give the pack an heir. Not all talks.”

Isabella's teeth grounded against each other and everything in her itched to tell the council what she had just found out, to make them know that she wasn't barren; that she had the ability to conceive.

But she swallowed hard and forced a smile, “thank you Elder, I'm working on that,” she barely completed her words when Elara coughed behind her.

Isabella turned swiftly, “are you okay?”

“Yes,” Elara grabbed her chest as she shut her eyes, “yes, I think something is stuck in my chest,” her face squeezed and she gasped.

“In your chest,” Isabella rushed to hold her, “what do you mean?”

“I had something earlier,” Elara coughed, “I ate,” she looked to the door, “the drink the maid brought, it should help.”

“I'll go get it,” Isabella wanted to leave but Elara grabbed her hand, “no. Take me with you,” Elara held tightly to Isabella and Isabella nodded quickly.

“The meeting has been adjourned,” she announced and lended Elara a hand, dragging her out of the chambers. As soon as she reached the room, she flung the door open as Elara gasped repeatedly.

“What's happening to you?” Isabella grabbed her friend, “what's going on?” She asked as she rushed to grab the earlier drink.

“Burning sensation,” Elara gasped and coughed, almost spitting out her intestines. She watched the fluid on her hand and her hand trembled in her sight as she blinked repeatedly but the colour didn't change— the red stains didn't leave.

“Will this help?” Isabella turned to her friend with the mug before she paused seeing the blood on Elara's hands.

“Elara—”

“Poison,” the words escaped Elara's mouth slowly and Isabella's eyes widened before they dropped to the mug in her hands and at once the mug slipped out of her hold, shattering hard on the floor.