(Iris)
Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. The tension in my chest made it hard to breathe, and my heart pounded in my chest. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomi’s big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. “It is for the best,” I whispered to my wolf, Molly.“My life will be more livable after the rejection,” I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. “Naomi’s resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.” My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. “I know, Molly,” I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. “It’s just… this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybe… maybe it is better this way.”Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. “Let’s just get it over with,” he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasn’t even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. “Sure,” I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasper’s expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. “You know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little house…” The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “No need,” I said quickly. “I am fine being Naomi’s maid.” His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. “You despite me, don’t you?” he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didn’t answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didn’t despite him. Even now, I still couldn’t. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. He got on top of me, the intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His lips crashed against mine, a forceful and demanding kiss that left no room for hesitation. The kiss was an eruption of pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands roamed my body and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing the hard planes of his chest beneath. Jasper’s hands found the zipper of my dress, and with a swift motion, he pulled it down. The fabric was tossed aside, leaving me laying in my lingerie. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. Jasper’s hands moved to the clasp of my bra, and with a deft motion, he had it undone. He tossed it aside, his mouth descending to my breasts. I arched into him, a moan escaping my lips as he took a nipple into his mouth, sucking and teasing with his tongue. His hand found the other breast, kneading and squeezing, driving me wild with need. His lips traveled lower, kissing a path down my stomach, and I shivered in anticipation. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of my panties, pulling them down and discarding them. I was completely exposed now, vulnerable and at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. Jasper’s mouth found its way between my thighs, his tongue flicking out to taste me. I cried out, my hips buckling against his mouth as he skillfully brought me to the edge. The sensations were overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and pain that left me breathless. “Jasper,” I gasp, tugging at his hair, needing more. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. He moved up my body, positioning himself at my entrance. He entered me with one swift thrust, filling me completely. The sensation was intense, a mix of pleasure and pain that made me gasp. He set a relentless pace, each thrust driving me closer to the edge. Our bodies moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. The room was filled with the sounds of our lovemaking - moans, gasps, and the rhythmic slap of skin against skin. Jasper’s hands roamed my body, fingers digging into my hips as he drove into me with increasing urgency. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in my belly ready to snap. Jasper’s thrusts became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. With a final, powerful thrust, we both tumbled over the edge, crying out in release. The wave of pleasure crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling.Jasper collapsed beside me, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasper… I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. “I’m glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,” he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. “Don’t.” He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing from his lips. I spoke in a shaky voice, but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid between my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood.I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body a few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence.Could it be...(Iris)I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. “Wake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!” The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomi’s attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, my body aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. “We could have had a lovely little puppy.” I heard her painful whispering.The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tear
(Elias)I watched the scene unfold with a mixture of dread and anticipation. My brother Jasper stood on the raised platform, a self-satisfied smirk plastered on his face as he surveyed the assembled crowd. Beside him, a group of our pack’s elite warriors flanked him, their expressions stern and vigilant. But my attention was fixed on the slender figure standing on Jasper’s right. My mate. Iris.“Our mate looks so thin. They must have treated her pretty bad,” my wolf’s voice echoed in my mind, a growl of disapproval lacing his words. His anger mirrored my own, a seething rage simmering just beneath the surface. Iris’s once vibrant green eyes now seemed dull, shadows darkening the skin beneath them. Her auburn hair, while used to flow like a river of fire, hung limp around her face. The sight of her, so diminished, sent a pang of guilt through my heart. This was my doing, my fault for abandoning her and the pack when they needed me most. I studied the people on the stage, espe
(Iris)The crowd was a blur as I sprinted toward Elias, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn’t believe he was alive, he was here. After everything, after all this time, he had come back for me. Hope surged through me, giving my legs wings. When I reached him, I threw my arms around him, clutching tightly as if to anchor myself to reality. But the man didn’t move. Confused, I pulled back slightly and looked up. My heart plummeted. The eyes staring down at me weren’t Elias’s warm brown ones. They were blue, cold as ice, and held no recognition or love. My arms dropped to my sides, the elation of moments ago replaced by anguish and embarrassment. I had so missed Elias that I had caused a scene and hugged a stranger. Before I could step away, another man’s firm grip pulled me back. “What do you want with the Lycan King?” he asked, his voice as frosty as his eyes. The shock of his words reverberated through me. Lycan King? My thoughts whirled as I tried to reconcile this m
(Iris)I stood before the Lycan King, my legs shaky, my heart pounding. I waited for the Lycan King to acknowledge me. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room with an almost tangible aura of power. The scent of him, earthy, musky, and intoxicating, wrapped around me, making my head swim. My wolf was practically purring in delight, making happy noises in the back of my mind, as if to remind me that this man was our mate. I was well aware and needed no reminding. “Calm down,” I whispered to myself, though it did little to steady my nerves. The Lycan King’s piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. His gaze was intense, as if he could see right through me. “Come forward,” he commanded, his voice deep. I took a hesitant step forward, my heart racing faster. I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, every inch of his being focused on me. As I approached, he gestured for me to sit in a chair across from him. I obeyed without hesitation. He
(Iris)Naomi’s face was a mask of fury as she stormed into the room, her eyes blazing with anger. “You insolent fool!” She screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. “How dare you embarrass me like that?” I knelt on the floor, my head bowed, trying to block out her harsh words. Naomi’s tirade continued, her insults growing more venomous with each passing moment. She jumped up and down, gesturing wildly as she planned out various ways to punish me. Jasper stood off to the side, his expression unreadable. He watched in silence, not moving to intervene or to support Naomi’s outburst. I could sense his discomfort, but he did nothing to stop her. Suddenly, the room fell silent as the Lycan King entered. His presence was commanding, and everyone turned to look at him. One of his warriors, who had been with Naomi earlier, had apparently informed him of what had transpired. “I don’t think what she did warranted that much fuss,” The Lycan King said calmly, his voice cutting through
(Iris)I knew what he meant when he said that. The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and inescapable. Just like I know and Jasper knows. It was a silent understanding. I nodded, a small, almost imperceptible gesture that conveyed my acceptance. No words were necessary. They would only dilute the gravity of the moment. I turned and left the room, each step echoing in the silence that followed. The door closed softly behind me, but the unspoken words lingered in the air, a reminder of the decisions we had made and the path we were on. I walked back to my room slowly, not really wanting to go. My room was moved recently. Now it was next to the room Naomi and Jasper shared. The day had been exhausted, and all I wanted was to retreat to the solitude of my room. It had been a week since my room was moved to the new location and I wasn’t thrilled about the change, but I had no say in the matter. As I trudged down the dimly lit corridor, I heard the muffled sound of raised voi
(Iris)“The Lycan King is going to be mad,” my wolf said, her voice filled with worry, echoing the unease that had been gnawing at me since last night. “Of course I know that,” I replied, frustration lacing my words. “It’s just… I think I am still a little weak when facing him…” “Yeah, I understand, I guess. They were our mates for a year,” she said, her tone softening with empathy. The weight of her words settled over me like a shroud, the memories of the past year flashing before my eyes. It had been a tumultuous time, filled with conflicting emotions and complicated relationships. But now, things were even more tangled, and the Lycan King’s presence only added to the confusion. I couldn’t take the time to think through everything. I had to get up. So, I pushed my wolf’s voice out of my mind and got dressed. I walked to the dining room, keeping my head down. I couldn’t avoid the curious glances of the pack, so I decided to ignore them. The scent of roasted meat and fresh br
(Iris)The big pack meeting was around the corner, and I had been given the mundane task of taking out the garbage. It was, at least, a welcome distraction from the tension that had been hanging over me since my encounter with the Lycan King. As I dumped the garbage out the back of the kitchen, I sighed, wiping my hands on my jeans. When I turned to go back inside, I found the door had been locked. Panic set in as I realized I was trapped outside. Before I could process my situation, I noticed several men approaching me. They were strangers, men I had never seen around the pack house before. Given the recent influx of visitors for the meeting, it wasn’t unusual to see new faces, but there was something sinister in the way they moved, their intentions clear in their leering eyes. One of them stepped forward, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “Looks like you’re all alone, sweetheart,” he said. I took a quick step back, my heart racing. “What do you want?” I demanded.