Sadness and hopelessness ranged deep in my bones, seeping like rot. I was filled with an overwhelming sorrow of experiencing two losses at once.My heart hurt, and I felt a deep regret, blaming myself day and night for being responsible for all of this. I sat in my dark room, staring blankly at the wall. It had been over three weeks since her disappearance.We had no idea if she was alive or dead, and fear ate at me from the inside. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.The guilt weighed heavily on me. I'd have made wiser decisions and released her sooner. Maybe she wouldn’t have been adopted. She was paying the price for a crime she did not commit, and I didn’t think I would ever forgive myself.Day and night, I sent lifeguards to search for her at the shore. Perhaps seeing her washed up and dead would let me grieve properly, but I just couldn’t give up. I needed to be sure.Someone knocked on the door, but I didn’t bother to respond. Fred walked in holding a tray of food.I hugged my kn
Justin was cutting off the heads of the fish he had caught the night before. He slit the belly from the vent to the head and removed the innards carefully before peeling off the skin and rinsing the catfish thoroughly in the water to clean off the scales. He planned to sell some and then give the rest to his mother to make a delicious catfish stew and some fillets. Lost in his little world, he didn't realize his mother was calling him until he heard her urgent voice behind him. "She's awake!" his mother cried out. Justin's heart skipped and he dropped the fish, washed his hands and rushed inside. "Are you sure, Mother?" he asked, wide eyed and stood in the hallway. His mother nodded excitedly. "Her eyes are open. She kept staring at me without saying anything." Justin didn't hesitate. He rushed to the spare room where the girl he had rescued from drowning three weeks ago. She had been unconscious, and initially, they thought she was dead. He entered the room quietly, careful not t
IrisI basked in the warmth of the sun and the gentle touch of Justin's hand on my hair as we lay on the grass together. With a contented sigh, I felt my eyelids growing heavy, surrendering to the peace of the moment.Justin and I shared a bond that felt natural and comforting. He showed me kindness and made me feel less isolated. His fingers gently tangled in my hair, and his soothing scalp massage calmed me. Although I was diagnosed with episodic memory loss, where I couldn't remember personal experiences, events or faces, I had grown to adore Justin and his mother, Mary. Mary approached with our lunch and a playful grin spread across her face. She was a blessing, always preparing tasty meals that I eagerly looked forward to."Justin, why not take Ruby to the fair? I bet she would love it there. Maybe even take her on a nice little date," Mary said, her voice crisp and clear.I heard Justin's sharp intake of breath, and he began making excuses that sounded hastily put together."R
AdonisI carefully positioned my dad's portrait on the easel, and my mind raced with emotions. My body trembled, and I felt self-conscious under the gaze of the others. I tried to limit my responses to brief nods or monosyllabic answers, avoiding eye contact and hoping to minimize the attention on me. Pack mates and my dad’s friends gathered for his funeral. We sat on rows of velvet-colored chairs with mourners dressed in formal black attire.Axton, Natalia, and Fred were behind all the preparation. Axton got a lavish coffin that had a royal crest. Natalia took care of refreshments and flower arrangements, and the royal guards stood at attention with their uniforms decorated with medals.I watched everyone pay their respects with gentle sobs and sniffles. The elders began prayers and the ceremonial chanting, and my mind was far away, filled with bitterness.Everyone expected an emotional outburst from me, but I managed my grief well. After all, I’ve been in that state for weeks.I wi
AdonisI stood there, my mouth wide open, struggling to process the surreal moment. My eyes were fixed on Iris, and my heart sang.The woman I loved, my everything, was standing right in front of me, alive and well, yet it felt like a dream I couldn't wake up from.I hadn't won a jackpot before, nor had I taken any substance that could make me high, but right now, I felt like I'd just taken an overdose.My knees were weak and shaky, like I had just been through an earthquake. The world started spinning around me, and I swayed on the spot like a drunkard, unable to hold myself upright any longer.The moon goddess had finally smiled upon me, granting me a second chance at happiness. I rushed to embrace Iris but stopped midway.My excitement was met with a chilling disinterest. Iris didn't even acknowledge my greeting, let alone return my smile. Instead, her eyes held fear, and her nose scrunched up as if she was seeing a monster.Fuck me.My arms, which had been open wide to embrace her
IrisI stayed in the room, my feet planted firmly on the ground, refusing to come out until the strange man left the house. The thought of facing him again made my skin crawl. I didn't like being surrounded by strangers like that, with their prying eyes over excitement.And this new development was weird. I couldn't even remember him. How could someone I supposedly knew so well be a complete stranger to me?My fear and anxiety felt real and goosebumps pricked my skin. My heart pounded away in my chest and I remained in the room, waiting for the coast to be clear.All that excitement and familiarity was just too much for me because my mind was a complete blank.I wondered if I was being too harsh, but honestly, I couldn't help it. He was just so overwhelming. And then there was Justin, who had just asked me to be his girlfriend. I didn't want to look like I was betraying him by running into the arms of this stranger.Justin and Mary came into the room and I sat up, fixing my eyes on t
AdonisRestless as a leaf in a storm, I paced around the lobby of my mansion. My mind raced with thoughts of Justin and how much I loathed him."I can't fucking stand him.”My voice hardened ruthlessly. Fred clamped his lips together and Natalia swallowed her laughter. “Why though? He's just a stranger,” Natalia said and I shook my head. "He carries an air of importance as if without him, Iris would have died.”Fred turned away to collect himself. The fool was laughing. “What's funny?” I snapped "Are you happy that my life is a complete mess?”“Ah, come on, Adonis. He's just trying to help."I stopped pacing and turned to face them. "You think my feelings aren't valid? You think I'm just being paranoid?"Natalia stopped laughing. She hesitated before speaking. "It's possible that you're transferring your aggression to Justin because Iris is channeling all her love to him and you feel jealous."I scoffed. "Jealous? Of him? Please. I'm far better than him in every way. How could I po
IrisJustin and I strolled around the exterior of Adonis's mansion. The place was nothing short of beautiful, and I felt a wonder at being here.Forgetting to blink, I moved carefully to admire the fountain, the stone sculptures in various shapes and sizes, the manicured lawns, and every detail of it all.The structure was a far cry from Justin's small home. The grounds seemed to stretch on forever. I couldn't resist the urge to explore further. It was hard to fathom that one person could own so much wealth, and I wondered what kind of person the alpha was.Justin's voice broke into my thoughts. "He's ridiculously rich. I mean, it's almost illegal. How can one person have so much wealth?""Wow," I said softly so as not to break the spell. "And why would someone like that care about me? Does that mean I was rich before...?"My voice trailed off, and Justin looked at me. "I think you were. And I think staying with people from your past could help you remember."I stopped walking and lea
Iris“Why did I get so turned on in that cell when you flogged and degraded me?” I asked Adonis, curious about his answer. I rolled over to my back and he chuckled as he ran his fingers gently along my jawline, making goosebumps erupt under his touch. “Because you’re not as innocent as you think. You don't like vanilla sex.”“What's that?“It's when you have sex that involves more of a mutual give and take of pleasure. You don't like that.”“That's not true,” I countered. “I like sex with passion. But I like a little pain.”He looked at me with a broad grin and I flushed with embarrassment. “Don't make this difficult.”“Tell me what you like?” He said, his voice husky as he nuzzled my nose and peppered kisses around my chin.”"I have no idea,” I said truthfully. “You're the more experienced one.”“Power imbalance, that's what it is. You want me to dominate you. You delight in the sexual abandonment that comes with forfeiting control of your body and actions.”I bit my lip and my body
IrisThe sorrow and pain in my heart was overwhelming; I couldn't stop sobbing. Adonis carried me over to his bedroom. Once there, he gently laid me down on the bed and sat down beside me.His hand brushed through my hair as he whispered soothing words in my ear and rubbed my shoulder. I continued to sob and felt utterly powerless to do anything but cryMy aunt used me as a pawn in a sickening game, and there was no getting rid of the feelings of betrayal and resentment. And then there was Natalia. Their betrayal ripped open wounds inside of me . The secrets and lies I had uncovered were like a heavy weight crushing my heart."Please, Iris, take your pills," Adonis begged me. But I shook my head, my eyes welling up with tears. "Take those damn pills away,” I yelled at him. “You don't understand what I went through. All the suffering and pain of being an Omega in an alpha household. I was constantly humiliated by my dad and stepmom who made my life a living hell!” My voice cracked a
IrisMemories burst forth like fireworks in my mind, sharp and explosive. Each recollection came with a stabbing headache, like a dagger twisting in my brain. I winced and squeezed my eyes shut against the pain. But even the agony couldn't dim my joy. I was remembering things! Fragments of my past, long buried, were resurfacing. Faces, names, moments – all flooding back like a dam breaking.Adonis looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. His mouth fell open in a gape. The way he grew still and serious made me chuckle. “You remember?” Was all he could say and I nodded. “I remember.”He went on his knees and grabbed my hand tightly, his breath hitching slightly. “Oh goddess…You really remember…” “It doesn't take a lot of effort on my part to remember how you locked me up and spanked my ass cheeks”He leaned back on his haunches and grinned widely, showing all his teeth. “Well, if it turns you on, I'm at your service all day. Just say the word.”I wanted to laugh, but
AdonisI stood beside Natalia in the Lycan court to finalize our divorce.We had signed the papers a week ago, and today was the final step. Natalia's parents and Fred were present as well.The elderly judge looked over the papers and then gazed at us with a warm smile. "Adonis and Natalia, you have both agreed to this divorce, is that correct?""Yes, your honor," we replied in unison.His smile grew and he looked thoroughly amused. “ I must say, I've never seen a couple as amiable as you two. Happy divorce, I guess. Your marriage is hereby dissolved. May you both find happiness on your separate paths."“Congratulations to us,” Natalia said to me with a wink. Her parents and Fred applauded, and the judge was so dumbstruck which added more humor to the scene.I was about to walk away with Natalia when she grabbed my arm to stop me.“Oh yes, there's one thing I forgot to mention," she said. “Don’t give up on Iris.”My response was a pinky promise. I stepped out of the court and Fred drew
IrisNatalia burst into my room, bouncing from foot to foot. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Okay, girl, let's get you ready for your big night!"Her energy was infectious and I felt a lightness in her chest.She began pulling out dress after dress from a bag and lay them on the bed. They all looked expensive."I think these are a bit too much for a garden date, don't you?" I ventured, eyeing the designer gowns. Natali ignored me, too busy sorting through the dresses and matching shoes and jewelry to each one."Ooh, this silver clutch would go perfectly with this dress!” she exclaimed, holding up a tiny bag that seemed to be made of pure moonbeams. "You're really getting into this, aren't you?" “Mm-hmm.”She continued to coordinate outfits with an intensity that rivaled a military operation, completely absorbed in her mission to make me look "absolutely stunning""Natalia, are you always this invested in your friends' dates?" "Maybe a little.But I just want to see you happy, Iri
AdonisMy smiling was unrestrained and I felt all tension leaving my body and the temporary breathlessness after I pulled away from Iris' lips. It was like my life had snapped back to normal, and all the pain I felt this past month disappeared.Happiness was indeed a powerful emotion. One that was difficult to find when you've spent your whole life being miserable. My eyes were fixated on hers and they were shining brightly. She smiled back at me, and my heart skipped a beat. Her smile lit up her whole face and it made my heart fucking soar."I think I need to learn how to kiss properly. You seem like a pro,” said Iris, grinning.With great difficulty I tore my gaze from hers and grinned, unable to speak properly. "You're doing just fine. I don't mind sloppy kisses, I love you regardless. I love you much more than you can ever imagine.”Her face blushed pink and the grin slipped from my face."Did I say something uncomfortable? I'm sorry, I-”"No! No. Don't apologize.”"Then why did
IrisA knock on my bedroom door broke my concentration. I was playing chess with Justin, and he was explaining the rules of the game to me, teaching me about the different pieces like the king, queen, knight, and their various moves.One of the maids came to inform me that my meditation instructor was waiting for me. I got off the bed, and Justin followed me downstairs.I was expecting a middle-aged man, just like the other doctors treating me, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a young woman, about my age, with long raven hair that reached her waist and an amazing cologne.“I'm Yolanda. It's a pleasure to meet you, Iris,” she smiled warmly as we did our introductions. I noticed she was subtly staring at Justin, and Justin, on the other hand, looked highly uncomfortable, as if he was both shy and in awe of her presence.His reaction amused me at first, and I made a mental note to joke about it later while I tried to focus on the task at hand.Yolanda gestured for me to sit down on
Iris I sat in a dark room, crossing and uncrossing my legs and surrounded by the silence of anticipation.Fred, Justin, Natalia, and a few unfamiliar faces were all waiting for Adonis to emerge from his bedroom. He was unaware of the surprise that awaited him.I fought to keep my eyes open and was fighting with the weight of my medication, but my body was succumbing to exhaustion. My head nodded forward, and I jerked myself awake.We heard the sound of Adonis' bedroom door opening. Fred whispered that we get ready. Adonis walked into the room, looking different from his usual polished looks.Fred flipped on the light, and we all screamed, "Surprise!" in unison. The room erupted into chaos as everyone began singing "Happy Birthday" to Adonis.He was wearing a fluffy night robe, his hair was tousled, and his sleepy eyes widened in shock.“What's going on?” he asked with a chuckle, and his gaze darted around the room. When they landed on me, they lingered for a moment. He looked surpris
IrisJustin and I strolled around the exterior of Adonis's mansion. The place was nothing short of beautiful, and I felt a wonder at being here.Forgetting to blink, I moved carefully to admire the fountain, the stone sculptures in various shapes and sizes, the manicured lawns, and every detail of it all.The structure was a far cry from Justin's small home. The grounds seemed to stretch on forever. I couldn't resist the urge to explore further. It was hard to fathom that one person could own so much wealth, and I wondered what kind of person the alpha was.Justin's voice broke into my thoughts. "He's ridiculously rich. I mean, it's almost illegal. How can one person have so much wealth?""Wow," I said softly so as not to break the spell. "And why would someone like that care about me? Does that mean I was rich before...?"My voice trailed off, and Justin looked at me. "I think you were. And I think staying with people from your past could help you remember."I stopped walking and lea