Chapter Nine- chains and scars

Thor POV

The taste of Iris and the softness of her desirable lips were imprinted in my mind, and I felt guilty for wanting to protect and love her because it was a sign of betrayal to my pack.

I felt apologetic to my people that I am weak and desperate for her. The craving of my wolf to be with Iris was becoming hard to suppress, and although I detest her pack, I want to keep her safe because she is the only part of this place that I don't hate.

Could I have both, revenge and her? It was… I know it's possible. But will Iris still be the same and her beautiful soul perfectly intact?

A wolf can only hope. After all, I have left my mark on her tongue. There's no telling how much damage that much has done to her innocence.

With me, she is something fragile, and I know that... I fear that. My only hope is that I don't break her too soon before she can fall in love with me.

The robust sound of the door suddenly opening caused me to raise my head, and I gazed ahead to see a gamma and ten betas walking towards me.

At first, I wanted to be hopeful and believe that they were here to take me to the imperial mansion as Iris said. But their eyes looked way too hostile to this to be a casual meeting.

Just one look into their bloodthirsty eyes, and I could tell that this was going to be something painful and outrageous.

When they got closer,  the gamma scowled at me and commanded, "Chain him up!'

How ironic. One minute, Iris is preaching peace, and the next, she's treating me like a savage. I guess a Doukas will always be a Doukas, even a one with innocent eyes, fair skin, and honey lips. She shares the blood of a traitor, how could I see her as anything but that?

Yet, the enraging part about it all is that I didn't want to hate her. My mind keeps giving me excuses of why she would do this, although they were all nonsense, I was forcing myself to believe just so I could have the chance to hold her in my arms again.

As I kept still, a beta approached me, wearing gloves. Then he threw me a disgusted look before snapping a heavy silver chain on my wrist.

The burn from the silver caused me to feel a deep ache in my bones, and I know that I should be used to these by now, but the pain is nonetheless real, and it still hurts.

"Get him to the torture room and make him bleed for every drop of tears our Luna share this morning!" The gamma shouted, her eyes rimmed with hate.

Cry! Why would Iris cry? She left here with her eyes dried and calm. How come she was found crying?

My sense of worry wouldn't let me be, and I turned to face the gamma and asked, "Did Iris tell you why she was crying?"

"How dare you question me, you filthy slave!" The gamma screamed, yet I could sense that she was nervous.

"All I want to know is why Iris cried?! Was she by any chance hurt?!" 

Poking her finger at my chest, rage burned in her gaze as she lashed out, "You! Why faking caring about our Luna! Do you think brainwashing her will earn you favors with her and your freedom!" 

When I didn't answer, she scowled and said, "Do not dare look me in the eyes like that! Do you think you are still a leader?! No, you are a dog, and a dog yelps at his master's feet for scraps. Now, knee!"

"Can you shut the fuck up and tell me what happened to Iris?!" I lashed out at her, feeling my wolf becoming restless.

"How dare you!" She shouted, attempting to hit me in the chest, but I pulled back, disgusted at the thought of her touching me again.

Suddenly, the doors opened, and Rona walked in, her cold gaze piece into my soul.

Immediately, the beta raised a sliver whip, viciously lashing my back with it, and the pain lashed across my lower back, lancing through me, and I dropped to my knees, feeling too weak to put up a fight.

"We were about to take him to the torture room, but he suddenly put up resistance and started asking for our Luna." The gamma said.

"Our Luna doesn't want to see or have anything to do with a filthy slave. Drag him to the torture room and if he put up resistance, just beat him until he stops breathing." Rona said in a dead tone.

"But…"

"He's a disposable animal. Even if he dies, our Luna will not grief him or remember his existence."

Memories of the look in Iris's eyes when she whispered my name this morning, prevented me from believing those words, although I was enraged by them. 

When we kissed, I knew what I felt, and I believe she felt a powerful connection too. This couldn't be her words. It can not be her doing. I refuse to believe so.

"Stand up, dog!" A Beta shouted.

But I was too into my thoughts, and he raised his chain, and as it rushed downward, toward my back, I felt a sudden whiff. Then Within a flash, Iris was standing in between the beta and me, with the chain in her grip.

"Who gave you all the authority to beat him!?" Iris shouted, squeezing the chain in her grip.

The way she clutched so tightly onto the chain had me worried about her getting a scar in her palm, and yet a part of me didn't want to care.

"My Luna, you are hurting yourself!" Rona cried. "Please drop the chain."

Swaying her gaze on me, Iris's eyes look wet with tears, and she reluctantly tossed the chain on the floor without breaking eye contact with me.

So, this was not her doing? Or was this another method she was using to earn my trust while bending me to her will?

Staring at the pain in Iris's eyes as she stared at her palm, I wanted to believe that this wasn't her doing. But it's a moment like this that makes me see her as her uncle and not the one that I so desperately want to protect.