Chapter 9
Arthur
I searched for Iris for five years, and today, I finally saw her.
At first, I felt a mixture of heartache and longing. Finally, I found my fated mate.
But the longer I watched her today–her smile, her ease with the man and the children–the more the ache turned to anger. How
can she look so at peace when she has torn my world apart?
My chest tightens at the memory of her defiant face in that alley. I’ll admit that the anger took hold of me then, and I couldn’t help but mock her for leaving me for money.
And then I tried to offer her more than whatever that bastard could give her. But for some reason, she refused. And she looked like
she wanted to kill me.
Now, as I sit in my study later that night, the confusion consumes me. And so does the anger.
品
The thought of her having children with someone else cuts deeper than I expect. Judging by their age, she must have moved on
almost immediately after leaving me and aborting our child.
My jaw clenches at the image of her in someone else’s arms. And that man–Brian, is it? There is something familiar about him,
something that makes my instincts bristle. I am her fated mate, and yet she has the audacity to take the money another man
offered her and cut ties with me?
She could have had everything: status, a wonderful, large home to live in, money, a child with me. But she throws it all away,
aborts the child, for what? A lackluster life with some man who could never make her happy the same way I could?
In the alley, I impulsively kissed her. I couldn’t help myself. As a top Alpha, women have always thrown themselves at me, and
yet I had to resort to extreme measures to get a kiss from Iris. I guess I thought it would remind her of what we once had, what we
could have now if she would just come back.
But she rejected me. And now the kiss just feels all the more bitter.
My jaw feathers and I use my Mindlink to contact my
v Beta,
Ezra
“Yes sir?” Ezra’s voice echoes through the pack bond. Once, our people lived in packs, and each Alpha had the ability to command
his legions through the Mindlink. Now, that’s a skill only reserved for the Alpha President, although mates can Mindlink each.
other.
I could never Mindlink Iris, though. She’s my fated mate, but she’s still a human, and thus devoid of many of the powers that we
werewolves possess.
“Find out everything about the man Iris has been cavorting around with. His name is Brian,” I tell Ezra. My mental voice is colder
than I intend, but I need answers. “His relationship to her, his background, everything.”
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“Iris? You mean… Iris Iris?”
I resist rolling my eyes. “Yes. Do I need to repeat myself?”
“No, Alpha President,” Ezra replies. “I’ll have a report tomorrow.”
With that, I close the link and sink back in my chair, the weight of the day pressing down on me.
Selina’s name flashes on my phone screen then. I hesitate before answering.
“Arthur, darling,” she purrs, her tone sweet and cloying. “Are we still on for lunch tomorrow? We need to finalize the wedding
plans.”
The wedding. The agreement between her family and mine. I have been avoiding it for weeks, years even, hoping for clarity. Seeing Iris today has only muddied the waters further. But I have no reason to break off such an arrangement for a woman who
left me and built a life with another man.
“Yes, I’ll be there,” I say curtly.
Selina giggles, oblivious to my mood. “Wonderful. I’ll see you at noon.”
The
next day, I arrive at the restaurant, my mind still replaying the encounter with Iris. It doesn’t help any that the restaurant is so close to the gallery where I saw Iris yesterday.
Selina is already seated, waving at me with a bright smile. I force myself to return it, though my heart isn’t in it.
“Arthur, you’re distracted,” she says, leaning forward with a coy smile. “Thinking about our wedding night, perhaps?”
I sigh. “Selina, let’s keep this professional. There’s no need for theatrics.” And it’s true; Selina knows very well that our relationship is purely for business and not love. We’ve never been intimate, and we never will be.
Her smile falters, but she recovers quickly. “Of course, darling. Now, about the flowers-”
Her words fade into the background as I notice someone entering the restaurant. Iris. She is rushing in, her cheeks flushed, her
hair catching the light in a way that makes my breath hitch. She speaks briefly to the hostess, her voice too soft for me to hear,
but I catch snippets of her words: “celebration… birthday… family.”
Family. The word twists in my chest. She smiles as she speaks, a genuine warmth that I haven’t seen in years. And then, just as
quickly, she is gone, leaving the air charged with her presence.
Selina notices my distraction. “Arthur, is everything all right?”
“Excuse me for a moment,” I say, standing abruptly. I walk to the front desk, my heart pounding.
“That woman who just made a reservation,” I say to the hostess. “What time is it for?”
The hostess
The hostess hesitates, glancing nervously at me. “Seven o’clock, Alpha President.”
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“Cancel all reservations for tonight,” I order. “I want the restaurant for myself.”
The hostess’s eyes widen. “But, Alpha President, some of the guests…”
“Do it,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.
I have never used my Alpha President authority to do something as trivial as rent out an entire restaurant just to get back at
someone. But it isn’t just someone; It’s Iris.
The hostess immediately complies. No one is going to deny the Alpha President’s request. Hosting an event for me would
certainly boost the restaurant’s business, too.
As the hostess hurriedly makes the changes, I hear an incoming Mindlink coming from my Beta, a persistent buzz at the back of
my mind.
“Well?” I call out mentally, knowing exactly why he’s linking me.
“Alpha President, I have the information you requested,” he says. “Brian isn’t Iris’partner. He’s married… to a man. The children
are his, born through surrogacy. Iris is their godmother.”
The air seems to leave my lungs. Not her children. Not her family. Relief and confusion war within me.
“Understood,” I say, closing the link. I turn back to the hostess. “Never mind. Leave the reservations as they are. And add one for
me at seven.”
“As I return to my seat, I think about what tonight might bring. What on earth I am supposed to do. How many people will be with
her? Undoubtedly her fake family, but anyone else? A celebration could have a crowd. Do I really want to do this with all those
witnesses who will undoubtedly eavesdrop? What am I even supposed to say?
Selina’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Arthur, are you even listening?”
“Yes,” Ilic, forcing a smile. “Tell me about the flowers again. You said yellow?”
Selina smiles and nods, launching into her spiel about daisies or roses or something similar. I really couldn’t care less. My mind is
still whirring, counting down the hours until seven o’clock.
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