Chapter 3 The New Luna

Isabella's POV

"No."

I said the word without being aware of it.

I could not relax my hands on the thin hospital blanket as I looked at the doctor standing next my bed. Her face was still serious, and her eyes were down as though she did not want to see me in the eye.

"I am sorry, Luna Isabella, I am sorry," she said.

I kept on hearing those words.

My baby... stillborn.

"No!" I let out a blood curdling scream. "That's not possible."

I felt my voice shaking and my chest felt tight, panic beginning to build up. I compelled myself to sit up though it was very painful in my body.

"I want to see my baby," I said.

The doctor did not react right away. She just stood, with clasped hands before him.

"I want to see my baby!!" I screamed again.

The nurse who was close to the door moved impatiently.

"That will be impossible," the doctor replied, and said nothing more.

My heart beat was increased by his answer.

"It is not possible, what do you mean by that?" I demanded.

"That's my child," I continued. "You can not simply tell me the baby is dead, and expect me to take it without seeing--

"The body had been already taken away," she interrupted.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Taken... away?" I repeated slowly.

"Yes," she said. "The matter has been handled."

Handled.

The word sounded so cold.

"That was my child," I whispered.

My face was filled with tears and all the burden came crashing down on me. My baby was gone. I had not even been given a chance to hold my child. I put my hands over my face and wept and wept.

"No..." I sobbed. "No... this can't be real."

The room was silent during a few minutes only, save for the sound of my weeping. And then there was a knock of the door. The nurse looked up first.

One of the young pack messengers came in.

"Doctor," he said quickly. The Pack Council demands Isabella be present at the meeting room, now."

The words sliced my sorrow like a knife.

"The council?" I repeated hoarsely.

The messenger nodded. "They desire that she should come to the council hall at once."

I let out a weak laugh.

Immediately?

I had just given birth. My body was still sore and heavy and I could hardly sit up.

"Tell them..." I started, my voice shaking. "Tell them I can't-"

"We are to use force should you refuse." The messenger said,forcing me to swallow my remaining words.

The physician heaved a sigh, and gazed at me again.

"I'm afraid you'll have to go."

My heart sank.

Of course. I wasn't the Luna anymore. I was a prisoner. Some minutes later two guards came into the room. They helped me off the bed. Each and every step was painful as I went down the corridor.

My mind felt even worse.

The baby was gone. The same thought kept on replaying in my mind. I had been bearing that child months. I had talked to my baby day by day.

And now... Even now I was not permitted to look at the body. It seemed a long walk to the council hall. As the big doors were opened, what I saw first was that the elders had been seated.

Elder Rowan was seated in the centre with his face as gloomy as ever.

But something felt strange.

Adrian wasn't there.

I frowned slightly.

Where was he?

Was he mourning the loss of our child?

My eyes were sweeping slowly about the room. The members of the council were mumbling to one another. Some of the pack members were standing close to the walls watching.

It seemed that all the eyes focused on me as I was escorted into the premises by the guards. In the middle of the hall I stopped.

Elder Rowan said in a formal way, "Luna Isabella."

His tone sounded distant.

"We have called you to finalize some things."

My chest tightened.

Finalize?

The big doors behind me flew open once more before I had an opportunity to inquire what it was. The noise reverberated in the hall. They all looked in the direction of the entrance. I slowly looked back.

Adrian walked in.

My heart skipped.

Painfully I felt relief. Perhaps he had gone to make it all plain. Possibly, he had learned the lesson. But I looked who stood beside him.

Clara.

She moved with dignity alongside Adrian like she was part of him.

My stomach dropped.

Then my gaze went toward her stomach.

The shape could not be missed because her dress was tight around her body.

Clara was pregnant.

My thoughts had completely cleared.

No.

That couldn't be right.

I looked back and forth between Clara and Adrian, who were heading towards the front of the hall.

Clara appeared totally confident.

Her lips even smiled a little.

They both paused before the seat of the Luna and alpha.

My seat.

I stood with a speechless amazement and Clara walked away and sat down on the chair of the Luna.

Everything appeared to stop.

After which all members stood up and bowed their heads a little.

Elder Rowan stood up from his seat, "Luna Clara."

The title hit me like a slap.

Luna.

Adrian stood there with her. His hand touched her back lightly. The gesture looked natural. Familiar. It was as though he had done it many times. I could feel the pain in my chest.

I looked about in the face of Adrian.

He looked calm.

Cold. Quite indifferent to the consideration that I was standing only a few feet away. Clara sat back in the chair with ease. She smiled to the members of the council and put her hand on her stomach.

My best friend.

My mate.

Together?

"Luna Clara?"

What was happening?

My voice came out weak.

"Clara..."

She turned her head slowly towards me. For a moment, our eyes met. Her face was free of guilt. No shame. Only quiet satisfaction.

"How are you feeling, Isabella?" Clara asked casually.

Her tonewas rather distant.

Almost.

It was as though the room was spinning.

"You..." I whispered.

My voice became tremulous as the pieces fell together.

The testimony of Clara at the trial.

Her accusations.

Adrian's silence.

Her pregnancy.

Her sitting in the Luna's seat.

It all suddenly made sense.

The dreadful reality began to sink in the pit of my chest.

Clara had betrayed me.

Not just betrayed me.

She had replaced me.

My dearest friend... had stolen my mate... and my Luna place.

I was chilled to the core of the hall as it had all dawned on me.

Clara Wells was sitting in my seat now.

Beside my mate.

As new Luna of Shadowfang Pack.