PROLOGUE

Third Person POV

Iris, what is the problem?' Millicent asked, when she saw tears in her daughter's eyes.. She just came to check on her daughter after having a steamy mating session with the wolf king Sylvester.

'It's nothing mum!' she replied. 'It is finally over. I am free now!' she said, the tears starting up again. She had just had a lengthy discussion with her ex husband Adrian. After months of refusing to see nor speak with him.

'Oh, my baby, come here!' Millicent said, hugging her. 'You will be alright!'

Iris nodded, smiling through her tears.

'This was what you wanted, right? Or do you regret rejecting Adrian, would you rather go back to him?'

'Yes, this final break with him is what I want and hell, no! There's no going back to him for me', she replied hastily. 'I am just sad for what might have been, the pups I would have had'.

'You will be a mother as soon as you settle down with someone, I do not doubt it!' Luna Millicent consoled her. 'The Goddess will definitely compensate you for your loss!'

Iris nodded, wanting to believe her mother - that all was going to be alright. But was it? Fate had played a cruel trick on her, dangled the joy of motherhood' before her only to snatch it back. How was she sure she was ever going to be a mother?

'Since the saga of Adrian is over, do you have anyone else in mind yet?' Millicent asked.

'Mum!' she exclaimed in shock. 'It's too early yet. It is barely six months since Adrian and I broke up. Is it that easy to fall in love?'

'I thought that you might have developed feelings for his younger brother, Andrew, the new Alpha of the Moonlight pack!' Millicent teased.

Iris recalled, the last time Andrew had come visiting.

'You look stronger now, I'm glad!' he said.

'I can never thank you enough for all you did for me while I was in that hellhole of a marriage', Iris said, smiling gratefully at Andrew.

'I ask for pardon for myself and all the members of my family, for all we have put you through', he said,his face and voice very sorrowful. 'I feel ashamed to come from a family that has caused a kind and gentle soul like you, so much pain!'

'Do not say that Andrew. You didn't do wrong being born into your family', Iris said, taking his hands and looking into his eyes. Nothing that happened between our families, in the past and now is your fault nor mine. It is just the way some of our family members chose to respond to it that is to blame'.

'Iris', there is something I have been meaning to ask you', Andrew said hesitantly.

'What is it?' she asked. 'You know you can ask me anything. You're my friend afterall!'

'That's the problem, Iris', he said earnestly to Iris' surprise. 'I do not want to be just a friend to you. I want us to be something more', he implored. 'You know how I feel about you. I tried to deny it because you chose my brother and later got married to him. But there's no reason for me to keep my feelings under wraps now. You are free and I still love you dearly. Will you consider being my Luna?'

'Oh, Andrew', Iris started, not knowing what to say so as not to hurt his feelings.

'I know it is yet too early', he said. 'With everything that has happened, you need time to get over your hurt, loss and all. I can help you get over all that very easily. But you don't have to give me an answer just yet, I am willing to wait. I have been waiting for so long, since I met you actually. I can wait a little longer if that's what it takes for us to take the toxic relationship we started in the past, much further', he smiled and she smiled back.. 'Just wanted you to bear it in mind because I know that other suitors will soon come knocking at your door. Give me the first consideration, please?'

She nodded, and smiled a little. She was not ready for any relationship right now and though Andrew was a great friend, she could not raise his hopes. Her heart was in shreds and she was confused right now, hurting, still mourning the loss of her pups. She could not give her broken self to a fine and promising young Alpha male like him. It wouldn't be fair. She also wanted to relish her freedom and cherish her time with her parents and siblings. She didn't think she would be ready to commit to anyone anytime soon. But Andrew was a young man and once he got tired of waiting, if he waited that long, with the girls already flocking round him, he would definitely choose a mate or find his true mate, Iris though smiling. She truely wished him happiness.

'Iris?' Millicent called. 'Iris!'

'Yes mum?' she answered.

'You seem to have gone to a far away land', she teased. 'and this smile on your face, is it for Andrew? You do like him, don't you?'

'Mum, will you stop?' she implored exasperatedly. 'I need time to heal before you and any other person start with your match making!'

'It is sad about your sister Roxy!' Millicent observed.

'Yes', Iris agreed.

Her father had forgiven Roxy once she gained consciousness. Her only punishment was to live with them and never act wickedly anymore.

'I am grateful to you, Alpha King.. father.. but I couldn't possibly live with you all now. I'd rather stay on here till I recover fully, if Iris does not mind it, of course!' she said turning down the offer, remorsefully.

'I have no objections whatsoever', Iris said. 'You are welcome to the pack and everyone and infact everything in it!'

'I shall not stay on here forever. Once I am well enough, I shall leave this place and try to find my kind - from my mother's side of course', she said.

'Feel free to come stay with us if they do not accept you in your mother's coven. You are family afterall but ensure you act kindly from henceforth or I shall not be so understanding next time!'

'You have nothing to fear, father', she said. 'Thank you, mother for everything. And Iris, it is insufficient but I'm sorry for everything I have caused you!'

Iris shut her eyes. She didn't want to think of all the losses she had incurred. Of course a mere apology could never suffice but neither would over stretching the issue bring back her pups who had been murdered in cold blood. Innocent children whose lives were taken even before they were fully formed. It was so painful and she wasn't going to act like it wasn't, so she just raised her hands to stall other words of apology from her half sister and walked away, into her room.