Chapter 005

Ava's Pov

Suddenly, my life felt like a movie. Everything was happening so fast that I barely had time to process it all.  

Lycan Iris? My one-night stand was now the father of the child I was carrying. What was going on? Was I stuck in some kind of dream with no way out? I couldn’t stop questioning myself.  

“Impossible!” Councilman John’s voice boomed across the room. “You can’t just show up here out of nowhere and make demands, Lycan Iris. This woman was responsible for killing the future heir of this pack. She has to be punished, and we cannot simply let you take her away.”  

I saw Lycan Iris’s eyes darken. His expression became so intimidating that it sent chills down my spine. Even Councilman John looked uncomfortable. From his face, I could tell he was shaken by the look Lycan Iris had just given him.  

“Remember years ago,” Lycan began, his voice steady, “when I stepped down from the alpha position for my brother? I believe I stood in this very council room then…” He took a step forward, the sound of his shoes echoing in the now-silent room. “You told me back then, ‘Feel free to come back one day and ask for anything. It shall be granted to you.’”  

I glanced briefly at my sister’s face and saw fear flicker across her features—a mix of fear and confusion. Was the idea of me being free and unharmed really that terrifying to her? And as for Lycan Iris, why was he so determined to help me? 

“And here I am, asking for her. What’s the delay?” Lycan Iris said. The whole court fell silent. The council looked stunned, as if they were searching for the right words, but no one spoke.  

What’s going on? Are they really going to just hand me over to him?  

“No!” Betty suddenly screamed, collapsing to the ground in fake tears. “That woman killed my child! She deserves to be punished! Don’t disrespect my child’s grave by letting its murderer go free!”  

“Silence!” the council’s voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. The room went still as the council members began whispering among themselves.  

My eyes darted to Rob, who stared at me with confusion. Then I looked at Lycan Iris. His face was cold and unreadable.  

“Well…” Councilman John finally spoke, his tone icy. “We did say Lycan Iris could make a wish, and now that he has…” His voice faltered before he added, “The murderer is free to go with him.”  

Chaos erupted in the room. Without waiting, Lycan Iris grabbed my wrist. His touch sent my wolf spiraling out of control, an inexplicable bond sparking at the contact.  

I heard curses and wails as he led me out of the council room.  

“Get in,” he commanded as we stood in front of a sleek, expensive car. I hesitated, confused.  

“Where are we going?” I asked.  

“If you stay here, they’ll kill you. Get in,” he said firmly. He was right. I couldn’t give my sister the satisfaction of watching me die for a crime I didn’t commit.  

I climbed into the car. In seconds, he sped off. I was too tired and in too much pain to speak.  

Bruises covered my body from how rough the guards had been. After hours of silence, we arrived at a massive mansion.  

My jaw dropped at the size of the place. “We’ll stay here for now,” he said, getting out of the car. “Tomorrow, we’ll travel to Normia. That’s where I live.”  

He wants to take me to his home? Why?  

He opened the passenger door for me. “There are no maids here because I don’t live here. I hope you can manage on your own until we leave in two days.”  

I didn’t know how to respond. I got out of the car, my eyes widening as I took in the size and beauty of the place. Everything around me screamed luxury, from the polished floors to the beautiful decorations. Lycan Iris walked ahead of me, his long legs making it hard for me to keep up.  

“Stay here in this room. I will get you something to eat,” he said before disappearing down the hallway.  

I looked around the massive room. The space was breathtaking, with high ceilings, nice furniture, and soft lighting. Even my room back at Alpha Rob’s castle wasn’t this grand. The mattress was soft, almost cloud-like, and I sank into it, letting out a small sigh.  

But the smell of dirt and sweat clung to me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed into the shower without a second thought, even though I wondered briefly if I should have asked first. At that moment, I didn’t care.  

When I came back, my hair was wet, and I was drying it with a towel. I was still wearing the dirty dress I had been forced to wear earlier.  

“I see the shower helped,” Lycan Iris said, his deep voice startling me.  

I jumped a little, not realizing he was there. He stood by the door, leaning casually against the frame. His dark hair was slightly scattered, giving him a rugged yet effortless look. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of the tank top he wore, and his muscular arms were on full display, veins trailing down his forearms. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes had an intimidating presence, while the calm confidence in his stance made him impossible to ignore. Has he always been this, impossibly handsome? 

“You can’t wear that,” he said, gesturing toward my dress. “Change into this when you are ready.” He pointed to a neatly folded outfit on the sofa.  

I nodded, too distracted by his appearance to say much.  

“Sit,” he said suddenly.  

“What?” I asked, confused.  

He didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes flicked toward a chair, silently commanding me to sit. Hesitantly, I did as he asked. He pulled another chair over with ease and sat across from me. Before I could react, he gently lifted my legs and placed them on his lap.  

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I could feel the warmth of his hands through my skin, and the contact made my wolf stir in ways I didn’t understand. His touch was steady and firm, but there was also a gentleness that felt oddly familiar.  

“Stay still,” he said, his voice calm, noticing how tense I was.  

He examined the bruises on my legs, his brows furrowing slightly. After a moment, his eyes met mine.  

“I am a wolf. This will heal in a few hours,” I muttered, my voice quiet as embarrassment filled me.  

“Not a very strong one,” he replied, opening a small first-aid kit.  

He worked carefully, cleaning my wounds with skilled hands. Despite his strength, his touch was soft and deliberate, as if he was afraid of causing me more pain. I watched him in silence, unsure what to think of this man who was both intimidating and gentle all at once. 

I winced in pain when he poured a strange liquid on my bruise. His head shot up, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. “Are you fine?” he asked, his tone cold, but his concern was clear in the way he looked at me.  

“Yeah,” I replied softly.  

“Tell me if it hurts,” he said. I nodded, and he went back to work on the wound. Slowly, the stinging pain began to fade, replaced by a strange, numbing relief.  

But something else was happening—something I couldn’t explain. Was it the way he looked? My wolf stirred restlessly as I watched him.  

Dark thoughts crept into my mind, ones I couldn’t control. His biceps flexed with every careful movement he made, strong and powerful. Yet, his touch on me was so gentle, so precise. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, framing his perfectly sculpted face. My wolf wouldn’t settle, urging me toward thoughts I had no business thinking.  

Unwelcome images flashed in my head. Memories I had buried. That night… our night. The night we both had something. I had forgotten that night, so having the memories suddenly appear at this time was puzzling. 

I could remember it—his hands on me, his lips trailing over every inch of my skin. It felt wonderful, unlike anything I had ever experienced. Although I couldn’t remember all that happened that night, from the brief memory I got, I could tell it was perfect. 

I had just survived one of the hardest moments of my life, and yet here I was, thinking of something so foolish.  

“I’ll take care of this myself,” I said abruptly, pulling my leg away before I lost the last shred of control I had left. This stupid mate bond was ruining me.  

I stood, ready to leave the room, but his hand suddenly caught my wrist. I froze, staring at him with wide, questioning eyes.  

Without a word, he pulled me closer, and before I could process what was happening, I found myself collapsing onto his lap.  

We locked eyes, his face so close I could feel his breath. Heat rushed to my cheeks, my heart pounding as his hands settled on my waist, holding me in place.  

“You can’t go yet.” He paused, his nose brushing lightly against mine, sending a shiver through me.  

“Not until we talk about us…”