chapter four

Chapter four

Exposure

Sleep wouldn't come that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Mitchell slipping from Lucas's chambers, saw that genuine smile on his face as he watched her leave. By morning, my mind was made up. I would expose them both - not just for my revenge, but to see the look on my supposed mother's face when she realized her precious son wouldn't be marrying me after all.

Mitchell came to serve my breakfast.

"My lady?" Her voice trembled when I didn't acknowledge her. "Have I done something wrong?"

"Leave." I didn't bother hiding the ice in my voice. "I don't want you near me."

Her eyes widened with hurt, but I did not care.

I requested to see the nobles including Lucas and the Lycan king before everyone goes back to their various places.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," I said, my voice loud, despite how scared I was.

The king nodded. "What troubles you, my dear?"

"First, I need a witness brought in." I kept my voice steady. "Mitchell, the maid. Please have her summoned."

"I have an announcement," I declared as she walked in.

"I will not be mating with Lucas."

Gasps echoed through the hall. My mother rose from her seat. "What are you saying?"

I smiled and continued. "Your son," I turned to the king, then pointed at Mitchell, "is having an affair with this maid."

Mitchell bent her head, her shoulders trembling. I felt a surge of satisfaction watching her crumble.

The king rose slowly from his seat, his eyes fixed on his son. "Lucas, is what she's saying true?"

My heart stopped when Lucas stood up. Instead of denying it like I expected, he lifted his chin and faced his father.

"Yes." His voice rang through the silent hall. "And Mitchell is carrying my child."

The words hit me like a physical blow. History was repeating itself, but this time, he wasn't hiding it.

"I love her," Lucas continued, moving to stand beside Mitchell. "And I want to marry her."

My hands started shaking. In my past life, he'd murdered me for carrying his child, but now he was willing to declare his love for a maid in front of everyone?

"You will do no such thing!" The king's voice thundered through the hall. "I will not allow my son to marry a maid."

"Father—"

"Silence!" The king cut him off. "Mitchell, you will leave this palace immediately."

Lucas stepped forward to protest, but his father's glare stopped him cold.

I couldn't breathe.The pain I felt within was suffocating.

"I need to go," I whispered, already turning away.

"Lady Iris," the king called after me, "I deeply apologize for my son's behavior."

I barely heard him as I fled to my room. Tears threatened to fall, but I refused to let them. I was gathering a few things I'd brought when a knock echoed through my chamber.

"My lady," a guard bowed. "The king requests a word with you."

"I truly am sorry for my son's disgraceful behavior," the king said softly. "You deserve better than this."

I tried to respond, but the weight of everything suddenly crashed over me. Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

The king moved closer, and before I could step away, he pulled me into his embrace. Instead of pulling back, I found myself crying harder against his chest. His hand stroked my hair gently as sobs wracked my body.

When my tears finally subsided, reality crashed back. I was in the king's arms, the father of the man who had murdered me in another life.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, embarrassed. "I shouldn't have—"

My words died in my throat as I looked up at him. Our eyes met, and suddenly I felt it , that pull, the same one I'd once felt with Lucas, but was stronger and different.

The king's eyes darkened as he leaned closer, one hand cupping my face. My heart thundered in my chest as his lips neared mine.

I jerked away, stumbling to my feet. "I need to go."

Without waiting for his response,

I raced back to my room, my heart still pounding from what had almost happened with the king.

When I finally reached home, my mother stood waiting in the entrance hall, her face twisted with anger.

"What was the meaning of that display?" she demanded. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"What I've done?" I laughed bitterly. "Your precious son-in-law is the one having an affair with a maid."

"You humiliated our entire family!" She stepped closer, jabbing a finger at my chest. "We had everything arranged perfectly. The alliance with the royal family—"

"Perfect for who?" I cut her off. "For you? So you could have your daughter married to the crown prince?"

The irony of her anger wasn't lost on me. In the past life, she'd helped murder me for being an omega maid pregnant with Lucas's child. Now she was furious that I'd exposed him for impregnating another maid.

"You ungrateful child!" She raised her hand to strike me.

I caught her wrist mid-air. I wasn't that helpless omega anymore. "Don't you dare."

Her eyes widened at my defiance. "What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing," I released her wrist. "I just finally see things clearly."

"You've ruined everything," she spat. "Lucas was supposed to be your mate!"

"He was never meant to be my mate," I said quietly.

"What are you talking about?" Mother's voice rose.

"Is over." I turned away from her. "And I won't apologize for exposing the truth."

I headed for my chambers,slammed the door, pressing my back against the door, my heart kept racing.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Iris?" Mother's voice came through the door. "Please, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to upset you."

I stayed silent and I heard her retreating her steps.

I was still leaning against the door when another knock came.

"Iris?" Mother's voice was gentle this time. "The king is here to see you."

My heart stopped. The king? Here? At our house?

"What?" I whispered, more to myself than her.

"He's requesting to speak with you," she said. "I know you're upset, but... he's the king, Iris. We can't refuse him."

She was right. No matter how angry I am, I cannot reject the king’s presence. I took a deep breath and stood up, my legs shaking slightly as I opened the door.

"She's opened the door, Your Majesty," Mother called down the hall, then gave me a concerned look before walking away.

My heart pounded as his footsteps approached. I quickly sat on my bed, keeping my head down as he entered.

"Lady Iris." His voice was soft, nothing like the thundering command he'd used with Lucas earlier.

I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, afraid of what I might feel if I looked up at him.

"I want to apologize for my behavior earlier," he said. "It was inappropriate of me to..."

I nodded quickly, not wanting him to finish that sentence. The memory of his lips almost touching mine was still too fresh. And I was not about to let history repeat itself again.

"But I need to ask you something." He paused, and I could feel his eyes on me. "Did you feel it? When we were close?"

I stammered, pretending not to understand. "F-feel what, Your Majesty?"

"You know what I mean, Iris." His voice was gentle but firm. "The pull. The connection."

"No," I whispered, still not looking at him. "I didn't feel anything."

I risked a glance up, instantly regretting it when our eyes met. That pull intensified, making my breath catch. His gaze softened, and I could see the confusion there.

"The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes with mate bonds," he said quietly.

"Lucas was supposed to be my mate," I whispered, more to convince myself than him.

The king moved closer, sitting beside me on the bed. I tensed but didn't move away.

"My son never deserved you," he said. His hand reached for mine, hesitating before touching me. "May I?"

I nodded, despite every instinct screaming to pull away. When his fingers touched mine, warmth spread through my entire body. It was nothing like what I'd felt with Lucas. This was deeper, steadier.

"I don't understand," I admitted. "How can this be happening now?"

"Sometimes the Goddess works in ways we cannot comprehend," he replied. "But I need you to know that I would never treat you the way Lucas did."

His words sent a chill down my spine. Did he somehow know about my past life? Impossible.

"I should go," the king said, releasing my hand when I remained silent. "Think about what you felt today, Iris. We can't ignore the Goddess's will forever."

The silence that followed felt endless.