Chapter 7 The Lycan King

(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 man with the image of Elias in my mind. This wasn’t him. This wasn’t my Elias. He’s not a Lycan at all.

 Why did I feel like I was being my mate for a moment? There must be some misunderstanding. My mate shouldn’t be this Lycan King staring at me coldly.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else,” I stammered, my face burning with humiliation. Without another word, I turned to flee. The overwhelming mix of emotions left me raw and exposed. I didn’t see the woman until I collided with her, nearly knocking us both over. 

“Whoa there,” she said, steadying me. Her voice was gentle, with a hint of amusement. “In a hurry, are we?” 

I looked up and met the gaze of a beautiful woman with long, raven-black hair and striking features. She had a kind smile, but there was a glint of steel in her eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, trying to pull away, but she held on. 

“It’s okay,” she replied, her tone reassuring. “I saw what happened. But let me give you a bit of advice.” 

She glanced over her shoulder, nodding toward the man I had just hugged. 

“He’s not a good-natured man, so don’t go hugging him without warning.” 

I tried to smile, but it felt hollow. I felt hollow. The grief was consuming me. 

“I’m really sorry,” I managed to say. “I thought he was someone else.” 

“Evidently,” she said, laughing a melodious laugh that eased my nerves slightly. “No harm done. My name is Seraphina. The one who grabbed you is Xander. We’re his loyal warriors.” 

Seraphina’s words sank in slowly. This cold-eyed man was not Elias, but the Lycan King. These were his warriors. It was all too much. I felt like the ground was shifting beneath my feet, and I wanted to throw up. 

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “I won’t make the same mistake again.” 

I turned away, mentally cursing my luck with my wolf. 

I made my way back to the stage. It seemed that I would never find a normal mate in my stupid life. Being the mate of an unstable Lycan King was not going to be better than being Naomi’s maid. 

By the time I got back to the stage, Jasper was waiting. His eyes were fixed on me, his expression unreadable. There was a tension in the air, a sense of foreboding that made my skin prickle. 

I stood there, feeling exposed under his scrutinizing gaze. I wanted to disappear, to melt into the shadows and escape this relentless scrutiny. But I held my ground, my heart pounding in my chest. 

After the ceremony, I slipped away as quietly as possible, heading back to my room. I needed to be alone, to process everything that had happened. But as I reached my door, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Jasper following me, his face dark with unresolved emotions. 

“Iris,” he called, his voice low and urgent. “What were you doing back there?” 

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the conversation I had been dreading. 

“I thought the Lycan King was Elias,” I admitted. “I made a fool of myself.” 

Jasper’s eyes flashed with a mix of emotions - jealousy, anger, and something else I couldn’t quite place. 

“Elias?” He repeated, his tone sharp. “You thought that rogue was Elias?” 

“Yes,” I said, meeting his gaze. “For a moment, I hoped he was.” 

Jasper’s jealousy and lust were palpable, and the atmosphere between us began to shift. It was almost like old times, but I knew better. We were no longer mates. He should be with Naomi now, not here with me. 

“Iris, you can’t keep chasing ghosts,” Jasper said, stepping closer. “Elias is gone. You need to move on.” 

I could feel his breath on my skin, and the proximity made my heart race for all the wrong reasons. 

“We’re not mates anymore, Jasper,” I said, my voice trembling. “You should be with Naomi.” 

He reached out, his fingers brushing against my arm. 

“Iris, I…” 

Just then, the door swung open, and Seraphina stood in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise. She quickly suppressed her laughter with her hands, but the amusement in her eyes was unmistakable. 

“Isn’t this a cozy scene,” she said playfully. “But I’m afraid I must interrupt.” 

“What’s going on?” I asked. 

She met my eyes. 

“The Lycan King wants to see you, dear.”