Chapter 2: Black Mask

Isadora's POV

I asked, doing my best to ensure my voice did not quiver. Nyxen's lips curled up into a thin and almost unpleasant smile.

"I simply came over to see how you were doing," she replied.

"I can only imagine how painful the information about the ceremony and the new heir must be for you."

My facial expression was pretty evident as I opened my eyes wide and cocked an eyebrow.

"This is betrayal," I swore out loud.

It was betrayal—a poison that coursed through my veins and threatened to rupture the thin veneer of civility I wore so well. How could my best friend cheat on me with the Alpha of our pack?

I stopped when Nyxen whirled around and glared at me, her beauty a mask of vengeance.

"Oh, and by the way', she sneered, 'You will never be able to provide Ragnar with an heir. " "You're sterile. "

Those words struck me right in the gut, knocking me out … I reeled in shock and horror, my hand clutching my breast as if I could physically repel the hurt.

"How could you? I swear, my knees weakened, and I had to force the words out in a barely audible whisper.

"How dare you put that in front of my face?"

Nyxen simply smiled and shrugged. 'Well, Isadora, it is accurate: Ragnar must have a proper mate to produce a worthy heir." And, of course, that is not you. "

I stood still with the gravity of her words, pursuing me down.

Saying such horrible things, what got into her? Why did she have to do this to me?

'Come on, Isadora, Nyxen said, her voice getting annoyed. "The very least you could do is show up at the ceremony and congratulate the new heir. "

The words hung in the air, and I stood open-mouthed in the middle of my room, staring at her. Among other things that she did to me, she could not expect me to be joyful for her and Ragnar.

"I am not glad for him," I replied in a rather uncomfortable manner. "I can't pretend to be."

Nyxen looked at him for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, that's too bad," she huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Because you were born to be. " You are supposed to feel happy when he gets what he wants—an heir. "

I moved a little closer to him, and my blood boiled. I told him, "You do not love him; all you want is power and control over him.

Nyxen let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, do stop it," she demanded. "It has nothing to do with love."

It is our pack that I care about; an heir will mean the continuation of the gene line. "

And who knows what else?

Perhaps he will make me a Luna, too. Her eyes emitted a fiery glare that made me cringe. She turned to leave, but not before dagging one more cut at me. I might always be the Luna without an heir. "

With that, she left, and I was in my room seething with anger, feeling rejected, betrayed, and lied to. The words from her lips had cut me to the core.

I stood before the window, my eyes fixed on what was happening outside. My pack had gathered to rejoice about Nyxen's pregnancy news. My closest friend is now pregnant with my husband.

Wow! I almost wanted to kill him with my bare hands, and I could sense hatred simmering in me along with the pain. It felt like a stab.

What could he have done to me? To us?

I was their Luna, their Alpha woman, their pack's good example, yet I was entirely sure I was losing grip on all situations then. The door was opened with a loud sound, and glancing at the man and stepping aside, my brother, Drogan, the pack's beta, entered. He came over to me with this troubled look on his face.

Oh, Isadora, you must come quickly and drink with us! Nyxen is pregnant with our heir.

I was livid, and my voice reflected it when I rounded on him, staring straight into his watery brown eyes.

"How can you expect me to be happy over this?"

This is none other than giving a blank check to the murderers: "How can you accept what they did?"

He placed his hand gently on my shoulder and hissed some words in my ear. Despite the quiet tone of his voice, the command was clear. "It is done, Isadora."

"You are still ours."

"Everything will be all right now, Luna. It is high time to change, darling. You are expected to lead them. Be strong, dear."

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe out, hoping to overcome the adrenaline mode. He was right; I was still Luna of the pack and had to remain impartial, regardless of how I felt deep inside. I looked him around and straight into his eyes, and without saying a word, I nodded my head.

I stuck to his heels going down a staircase; the pain was something I had to set aside and focus on the job. I could not fail the pack since everyone was beginning to rely on me for leadership, and I had no intention of letting them down by being an indecisive Luna.

We paused at the steep, grand stairs, where I had to go down with Drogan's arm around me. All the sounds of celebration—people laughing and cheering, the thrill of the new year—I could hear it all, and all it did was bring me sadness.

With my heart pounding like crazy, I had to take a deep breath and fake a smile so that when the moment arrived, I would be ready.

As I stepped into the room, I was greeted by cheers and applause. My pack was happy to see me, and there was a twinge of warmth in my body and soul again. My brother took me to Ragnar, the Alpha of our pack, and I greeted him, congratulating him on the future heir.