Chapter 3

I accepted my fate and got out of the bathroom. I went to my drawer and grabbed the handkerchief the alpha had given to me during our first encounter. I caressed the T symbol engraved on it.

"So it meant Troy after all" I said to myself. I had wondered what the T stood for. I sniffed it smelled like him. I had thought I'd never see him again but I met him again in such a situation. I'd have to seek him out and try to resolve the misunderstanding. I'd also have to return his belonging back to him.

I got dressed and went to the kitchen.

I paused in my steps when I saw dad serving breakfast with his apron tied to his waist. He looked up to meet my eyes and he had a blank expression on his face.

"Someone's in trouble." Amelia smirked as she brushed past me and sat down.

"Come eat." Dad said in a neutral tone and I slowly walked over and sat down.

He didn't say anything but just served our food and sat down.

Amelia was staring at me with a suspicious expression.

"What?" I asked.

Her eyes narrowed. "You look like shit! And your smell..." She moved closer to sniff me but I pushed her off.

"Stop being weird." I said nervously.

"Stop that and eat." Father cautioned and she sneered before focusing on her food.

Amelia and I were sisters, but we were nothing like sisters, as she had always hated me. We have the same father but different mothers. She was four when my dad brought me home, and her mom wanted nothing to do with me, she strongly despised me until her death. Amelia hated me because she felt I had destroyed her happy family, and she felt I always wanted everything she had. I tried my best to keep my distance so as not to upset her. She and our father, Dr Eli, were Deltas, so they had better opportunities in society. Delta's were second only to the Alphas. They were the same psychologically but not physically. Dad was the one who brought me my pills when I started to experience heat. I was probably lucky that my father was a doctor and knew how to handle my condition.

"Always taking her side," Amelia muttered but father didn't say anything else

Soon, everyone was done eating and I took the cue and quickly gathered the dishes, eager to escape from questioning. As I reached the doorway, father's voice halted me.

"Iris come to my study when you're done with the dishes?"

Amelia's sing song voice chimed in, "Someone's is up for some scolding!" She giggled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. I swallowed hard, the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. My father's study was his sanctuary, a place where he dealt with matters both personal and professional. My pulse quickened as I imagined the worst. I feared that he might catch the lingering scent of the alpha on me.

I finished washing the dishes mechanically as my thoughts wandered. Each clinking plate, each sloshing of water, seemed to amplify the sound of my own heartbeat. Finally, I made my way to father's study, my knuckles white as I knocked on the door.

"Come in Iris," his voice sounded from inside. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever awaited me.

He stood at a corner with his back to me as he sorted some things.

"Come help me dear." He said and I moved stiffly to where he was. As I got closer, I saw it was my suppressants I took to control my heat he was sorting out.

"Your supply is running low," father said, his eyes finally meeting mine. "Don't forget to take them. It's important for your safety."

I nodded mutely, my throat too tight to speak. He continued, his voice softening, "I heard about Archie's wedding."

My heart stung at the mention and I didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry about it Iris," he said, his gaze filled with an unexpected tenderness. "He isn't worth you. You'll find someone who deserves you."

He placed a hand on my shoulder, a comforting gesture that surprised me. I looked up at him, my eyes brimming with unshed tears. He wasn't scolding me, wasn't punishing me for not being home yesterday. He was simply being…fatherly.

"Thanks dad." I hugged him tight and he hugged me back. I really needed this.

I felt so relieved as I walked out of father's study. The tension that had coiled around me before our conversation seemed to dissipate, leaving a strange sense of calm in me. I headed towards my room to get a rest. Then my phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration startling me. It was Madam Maureen. My stomach twisted. I knew this call wouldn't be pleasant.

"Hey brat," her voice crackled through the line as I picked up. "You just ran away from the event like a crazy person and almost got me in trouble."

The words hit me like a physical blow. "I'm sorry I… I…" I stammered, searching for an explanation, but the words caught in my throat.

"Whatever," she scoffed, the anger in her voice palpable. "But I'm not paying you a dime, you hear me!"

I didn't argue. I knew I didn't deserve to be paid anyway. My abrupt departure had undoubtedly caused a scene, and I could only imagine the damage it had done to Madam Maureen's reputation.

"You are lucky I like you," her voice softened, the anger receding slightly.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Anyway," she continued, her tone regaining its businesslike edge, "I have something to discuss. Come meet me at S&M Restaurant."

"What's it about?" I asked as my curiosity piqued despite the lingering fear.

"When you get here I'll tell you," she insisted, then abruptly hung up.

I stared at the phone, not knowing exactly how to feel about this. S&M Restaurant was a discreet, high end restaurant frequented by the city's top class. What could Madam Maureen possibly want to discuss with me there? I couldn't help but wonder.