Hi, my wonderful readers. It's your author again. This is a story of Iris and Gradel and I hope you dive into the book and savor every chapter. It's filled with drama, suspense and mystery. Please, don't forget to read, comment and vote for it. It will really motivate me to do more. Take care of yourself, guys. Love ya.
Chapter 16Gradel "Did you find her?" I barked amidst my agitation, even my father knew better than to interfere with my ceaseless pacing in his chamber."No, Prince Gradel, but I assure you that our sentinels are presently combing through the woods to find her and they will—" Hegar responded while I sent him a murderous glare. His response further infuriated me, but it wasn't just his baseless reply, it was the confusion that accompanied my reaction towards Iris's escape. My wolf was restless, snarling incessantly so I couldn't relax as well. I should be happy that she had made good use of her brains and ran away to save both of us from the stress of being mates, but my wolf didn't share in the relief."Will they find her the same way they failed to find my bracelet, Hegar?" I snapped. "That woman is alone in the woods where the rogues can feed on her vulnerability and harm her and you're busy trying to assure me that she would be found?" He inclined his head, his shoulders strai
Chapter 17GradelOne minute I was getting ready to find my mate, the next I was in the courtroom, my ass glued to my seat with the other elders, my twin, and my father whose expression was troubled."I told you that lady is a witch. A few hours of escaping and she has already been kidnapped by our worst enemy? Why don't you listen to me, Gradel?" Father yelled at me and banged his fist on the table."If we had ignored the fact that she was his mate and killed her as we planned we won't be in the mess. We aren't even ready for war," Simon, the head sentinel replied angrily before I could respond and fury spiked within me.Blinded by rage, I couldn't tell when I flew across the room and grabbed his neck. He didn't expect my assault so he was unable to defend himself from my endless punches. By the time I was dragged away from him, his face had turned to a puddle of blood."How dare you suggest killing my mate while I'm here?" I roared through my clenched teeth, struggling to break out
Chapter 18IrisI felt lonely again, worse this time because I didn't know what my fate would be. Back in the pack, I knew that I'd be sentenced if the bracelet wasn't found, but here, I didn't know what would be done to me.The door to my room was pushed open and Zera came in with a tray in her hands. Her expression was warmer than it was yesterday which gave me some glints of hope to hold onto."Good afternoon, Zera," I yawned and stretched my limbs.I climbed out of bed to collect the tray from her as I'd been sleeping all day. Thankfully, my hands and legs weren't chained so I could move about freely, except leaving the room."How do you feel?" She asked, sitting beside me."Better, I guess." I uncovered the plate and my mouth watered immediately.The aroma of the chicken soup wafted to my nostrils, causing my stomach to grumble with hunger. The sound was quite embarrassing but I shoved aside the feeling and dug into the food.I was only halfway into the meal when I realized that
Chapter 19IrisIt felt like a bucket of cold water was emptied on our bodies as I slowly regained my senses. "Get on my back," He ordered with a note of urgency in his tone and I hopped on, knowing that I was to be blamed for our predicament. "The ride is going to be rough because I can sense some of our attackers coming closer, and I'll have to shift so hold me tight for your safety.""Yes, Prince Gradel," I replied and wrapped my arms around his neck.I should have been scared that we were ambushed, but being on his back was quite relaxing and it felt good to know that he cared about me against all odds.The work of the mating bond, I guess.He moved stealthily, his pace fluid and steady while he carefully evaded the guards who were drawing close to us.From afar, I saw one of their sentinels on the tower with a quiver on his back, stretching forth an arrow against us, towards him. Blood rushed to my pulse and I patted Prince Gradel's back aggressively."Look!" I urged him, pointi
Chapter 20IrisStanding by the doorway with my attention trained on the unconscious prince, I felt my strength failing me. No one had said anything to me yet, but I knew that there was going to be a series of backlash against me once they finished attending to Prince Gradel.Heavy footsteps traipsed towards the Prince's room, my knees weakening in fear. I quickly hid behind the hallway adjacent to his room where I could hear their conversation without taking the heat directly."How is my son doing?" He barked and I nearly jumped out of my skin.I wasn't sure I would survive it if the Alpha yelled at me in such a manner, after all, he already wanted me to disappear and now I was the reason for his son's injury. "He's not doing so well, Alpha," The healer confessed with little confidence in his voice, I could sense his fear from where I stood. "The wolfsbane is doing so much harm in his system and the only thing preventing him from going to the great beyond is his nature. He has stron
Chapter 21IrisSince I wasn't keen on getting intimate with him, I took a stool and decided to follow my heart. They could do whatever they wanted to me, but I won't go that route, at least, not without Prince Gradel's permission."Hi, Gradel. I'll call you by your first name because we are mates and I have something to ask of you," I took in a deep breath."You've never liked me. Your hatred for me has always been evident just like the sun in the sky, but today, you did something that no one has ever done for me, not even the people I expected it from. While I was away in the Red Sea pack, I thought of how I might never see your handsome face and that scared me to death. My feelings are conflicted right now so it will be unsafe to admit anything, but one thing I'm sure of is that I'll always have you in my heart." I sobbed.My eyes darted to his thumb which jerked and slowly I reached for his hands. This was the only advantage of his unconsciousness. Being able to talk to him and po
Chapter 22GradelHer jaw dropped and she stared at me wide-eyed. Shock masked her beautiful face and her eyes simmered with sympathy for me.Strangely, I liked that she felt my pain, which was weird because I didn't enjoy having other people throw a pity party for my sake, but hers felt different. It felt proper."Oh my! I'm so sorry to hear that, "She gushed. "How were you able to cope?" She asked, pushing closer to me."I didn't try to cope, I just lived with it. There's nothing that can make me forget that night, sometimes the memories hide in the darkest part of my heart only to resurface whenever I think of her." My voice cracked.She sniffed and when I glanced at her, I realized that she was crying. "I'm sorry," She whispered, "I can't help the tears." She said, drying her eyes.I nodded curtly and drifted into the memory lane. "It all started one fateful evening. I'd just returned from the woods where I engaged in a running session with some of the sentinels that were assigned
Chapter 23IrisMy heart ached for him and I began to understand why he despised me so much from the first time he saw me. It was because I reminded him of his pain.The fact that he was telling me his story showed that his resentment for me had been assuaged, but I wasn't sure that it had gone completely so I took what he could give."According to her, the necklace should be given to my brother, and the bracelet to me. She knew that I had eyes on the bracelet, but I didn't know that I'd be getting it from her that soon." He croaked. I didn't know how to console him any more than I'd already done, but I was sure that my presence was making it easier for him to grieve. My heart bled for him when I imagined how long he had to bear the cross alone. "Do you know the worst part?" I shook my head. "He was never there in all of this. My father acted like my mother didn't matter to him and I began to wonder if she was truly his mate. It was so bad that I asked some of the elders and then
Chapter 107IrisONE YEAR LATER"Maria, are the sweets ready?" I shouted, standing before the edge of the baluster.Gradel and I had planned a family reunion and I couldn't wait for everyone we considered family to start trooping in. Devin had gotten a mate about three months back and I kept wondering how he got her pregnant in less than two months. I'd so tease him about it once he comes around. Hazel and Hegar had been on sabbatical leave for a while so I had to plead with Hegar to release her since I was nearing at the time of delivery. I was both excited and filled with panic and I honestly couldn't understand how I managed both extreme emotions. Gradel kept reassuring me that I wouldn't encounter any issues, but after hearing stories of women who faced several complications, his words would just fall on deaf ears."Watch it, princess," A firm grip stopped me from tripping over when I swirled around without looking.I smiled and fiddled with his stubble. "Thank you for always be
Chapter 106IrisONE MONTH LATERThe sky was quite gloomy, the dark clouds threatening to turn the day into a rainy one. We should have stayed back in the house and cuddled all day, but there was something important to be done, and that was visiting the late Alpha Cronus's grave.I stood beside Gradel, whose shoulders were squared, taut, showing how uneasy it was for him to be present here. If it was possible, I'd have suggested that we return home and come back when he was more comfortable, but he was as stubborn as a mule so I let him. We stood in silence for a while and then he cleared his throat. I touched his shoulder lightly and some of the tension dissipated. "I guess I'll have to leave you alone with him. Call on me when you're done," I informed him and turned around to leave. But he grabbed my wrist swiftly and tenderly, prohibiting me from taking any other step. With a low tone, he said. "Stay with me. I want you to be here with me while I reconcile with my father," He s
Chapter 105HazelMy heart throbbed in pain as I hugged my pillow tightly, genuinely wishing that it could be exchanged with the competent arms of Hegar. I was beginning to get offended. Why hadn't he checked on me, yet? What could have kept him so busy that he didn't bother to ask after me to know if I was doing well or not? Iris kept assuring me that he still loved me and he'd come for me soon, but was it too early to lose hope?A knock sounded on the door, jolting me from my reverie and an irritated sigh exited my lips. Hunger pangs gnawed in my stomach and the last thing I wanted was for anyone to drag me out of the room unnecessarily.Sluggishly, I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open and immediately, I froze. My breathing paused for a moment and I could tell that the world had stopped rotating.Hegar stood before gracefully me, smelling like an edible flower. His lips spread into a wide grin and he splayed his arms, urging me to come closer to him. Several emotions ra
Chapter 104 Gradel Inhaling the floral fragrance of my mate and enjoying the warmth of being in her arms was very tempting, but until I took my pound of flesh and ensured that the monster Elda wouldn't be a threat to anyone in the pack again, I wouldn't be at rest. Gently, I slithered from her embrace, feeling cold almost immediately and then I pushed the covers over her body and gazed lovingly at her beautiful lips that were pouted as if she was aware of my plans to be absent for a while. My heart skipped a beat when she stirred and calmed when she turned to the other side. I giggled lightly and put on a black vest and a pair of black sweatpants. After ascertaining that she was still deep asleep, I crept out of the room and shut the door quietly behind me, veering toward the same pack cell he had locked me in. He grinned cynically the moment I stepped in though I could see the faint marks of the strokes he had received from Hegar. After the fiasco last night, I'd asked the sent
Chapter 103Iris"Not today," I murmured through gritted teeth.Tonight, I didn't need saving; not from Gradel whom I knew was seconds away from bursting through that door to fight for me or Hegar who I guessed was around.My wolf was around growling, desiring to be freed from the cage it was in and right now, I'd have to do as she wanted."Tell him to let her go right now," Gradel demanded authoritatively.Elda snorted and spat some blood on the ground. "Sure, but we have to do some trade by barter kind of business before that. First, you'll let me out of here without unharmed. Secondly, I stink and I can't walk around, oozing animal blood so your dear mate will have to clean me up,""That isn't going to happen," Gradel disagreed in the shadows.He laughed briefly and glanced at the man behind me. "Alright then. Watch her die,""Wait—"My claws had already stretched out and before Gradel could complete his statement, I'd dug them into his skin. The knife fell off his hands and I quic
Chapter 102IrisFear took a strong hold over me after he muttered those words and I instinctively clutched onto my neck, intentionally avoiding his gaze.I drew in a very deep breath and exhaled. "That's a huge accusation to lay on me tonight, Elda. We are supposed to be celebrating," I replied with a surprisingly calm tone.That was a good thing because I planned to deny every claim he'd lay against me until I found a way to reach Eliana."I thought the same until I removed the mask from that girl's face and realized that you weren't the one who seduced me. So what did you promise her? That she and her family will be safe? Come on, Iris, what power do you have without me?" He asked with a derisive tone.A deep feeling of dread stirred in my stomach, my knees weakening. No matter what happened, I couldn't allow her family to be caught up in this plan."You can't hurt her family, Elda. What fun do you have in hurting innocent people?" I asked through gritted teeth.He chuckled lightly
Chapter 101Author's POVHer eyes widened, nearly falling out of their sockets and she clamped her lips shut, her heart pounding hard against her chest in trepidation while he violently snatched the knife from her and got up. She gasped, wondering how she messed it up just at the point of achieving her goal and a tear slid down her cheek because she knew she wouldn't be getting out of this alive.Elda burst into a heavy peal of laughter that was filled with intense mockery and threw her effortlessly over him. Then he rose, zipping his slacks and turning on the light."You aren't Iris, are you?" He asked but she didn't respond.Enraged, he crossed over to her and yanked the mask off her face, her hair falling out of the messy bun she packed it in. A deep scowl formed on Elda's face and he clenched his jaw, balling his fingers into a tight fist."Eliana, you're that girl I banged a few weeks ago, right?" He barked."I wish I was fast enough in killing you," She retorted spitefully. "At
Chapter 100Author's POV She lay on the bed, still and scared, her heart racing faster than sports cars in a race but she had made her choice and that was to end the man who had wrecked her life with her hands, even if her life was on the line.Iris had told her to disarm him but she had other plans as she didn't want him to continue creating havoc in the pack.Her mask was still on her face and she wore a wig that was exactly like Iris' hair to confuse him, and the turned-off light was to her advantage. The door was pushed open and the light from the hallway shone into the room, showing Elda's drunk figure. The feast wasn't in full session yet and he had already filled his system with alcohol. It would make things easier for her, she thought. Elda squinted his eyes and his lips stretched into a cynical smirk when he caught the sight of a seductively dressed woman whom he thought to be Iris lying on the bed. "Hey, woman. I thought you wanted to tear me into pieces several hours a
Chapter 99GradelWe wandered into the forest, my body smeared with blood. Thankfully, I sustained no injuries from convincing Elda's men to defect to my camp.Along the line, my eyes caught the sight of a figure walking toward us and I paused to make out who the person was. Though I had no direction, I wasn't expecting anyone else to be there.As the person drew close, I realized that it was a man and he looked familiar."Hold your horses," I said to them and they halted behind me.I squinted my eyes, waiting patiently for him to get closer and happiness coursed through me when I noticed that it was no one else but Hegar."Hegar?" I called out his name and he peered at me, his eyes widening in surprise.He also froze on his steps and after a brief scrutiny, he broke into a run and bumped into me for a hug. We stayed glued to each other until I remembered that weren't alone."Gradel, is this really you? How were you able to leave that cell without risking your life?" He questioned wit