Chapter Three: A Deal With My Worst Enemy

Iris’s Point of View

It’s been three days, I think. It’s hard to keep track of the time when you can’t see the sunlight. They have tortured me all this time. Apparently, they can’t offer me to the King if I don’t agree with it, so they need me to “change my mind.”

Yeah, right, like that is going to happen. They can kill me first, for all I care. They do not take into account that I have an incredible pain tolerance because of the torture that they subjected me to all these years. In fact, they are doing the same thing they do every day, just adding a couple of whippings and cuttings here and there.

It won’t make me budge; it isn’t enough to make me sell my body.

My cell is small; I have a “bed” to get some sleep (in reality, it is a cot), a hole to do my business, and that is all—no fancy stuff, of course. According to them, I don’t deserve anything, and if they are giving me basic stuff, it is because they want me to last longer. They haven’t even fed me. Not even a piece of moldy bread.

If this keeps going on, I’m sure I’m going to die. The only thing that I have drunk is wolfsbane, so my throat is severely burned.

I never entirely understood why that happened. I’m not supposed to have a wolf, but my body reacts like it would if I were one. They discovered it years ago when I accidentally touched wolfsbane; otherwise, that injection would have killed me.

Maybe it is because my dad is one, and I carry the gene with me, even though I didn’t manifest a wolf.

My hair is a complete mess, covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. I suppose I have a few broken bones, especially my ribs. They love to kick them. I think they also broke my skull because I can feel blood oozing from my forehead.

At least I have some comfort. I feel my life slipping away, and I’m pleased about it. I can finally see my mom again and ask her for forgiveness.

The only thing that I regret is not leaving this pack sooner. I thought that they were going to change. It was a stupid dream if you ask me now, but I believed it. I thought that my father was going to change, that he would care for me, but he didn’t. That is why I haven’t even seen him in the last year.

Yeah, it was a dream of mine that one day, everyone would be nice to me. Sadly, dreams don’t come true. Especially not for me; the Moon Goddess probably hates me too.

I heard a pair of footsteps approach the cell. If I have to guess, I suppose it is Alpha Cory again. He has come every single day to see if I have changed my mind, and every time I refuse to be a breeder, he beats the shit out of me. He is the main reason for most of my injuries. I guess he enjoys hurting me.

“Little Iris,” Stephanie’s voice flooded the room.

Why the hell is she here? Was it not enough that she was the one who began all my suffering?

“What do you want, Stephanie? Come here to rejoice!” I sneered

I looked up at her and saw that sinister smile forming on her face. She has always been that way; she loves to make me suffer. Why? I have no clue, but she has had everything she wanted.

“Dear sister, this is only getting started; I wanted to end you for good. As long as you exist, you will always be a threat to Alec and me.” She said.

Is she delusional? She is with MY MATE. She was the one who stole the bond away from me, not that I was complaining.

“Are you kidding me right now?” I started laughing.

So, she caused my rejection, and now she wants me gone because I’m a threat? What did I ever do to her? I didn’t tell anyone what happened with Alec. They all believe that he chose Stephanie because his mate was dead. So why is she targeting me?

“You were given what was originally mine.” She seethed.

Damn, did I say that out loud?

She is going to beat me for sure.

“If you are talking about Alec, he was my mate first,” I retorted. I should learn when to keep my mouth shut. It has caused me great trouble and continues to do so.

“Alpha Alec to you, Iris.” She interrupted me. I wanted to laugh at her, to show her she was speaking nonsense, but I knew what she was capable of, and she wouldn't hurt me; she would go to the people I cared about.

“Whatever, he was my mate first. You decided to break the bond given by the Moon Goddess, and I accepted the rejection. I don’t even want him.” I muttered.

It was the truth. It hurt at first to see them together, especially because I had a crush on him. Then, I learned he was my mate, and everything made sense, but he chose his path, and I chose mine.

“Liar, you always wanted your mate. When you found out who it was, I bet you thought your place would change.” A soft whimper came from me because it was true. Indeed, I thought it was my chance to prove my worth to everyone. To change how the pack saw me. “See, you can’t even deny it.” She rejoiced.

“What do you want?” I asked again through gritted teeth.

She came here for a reason, and after she told me whatever was going on in her head, I wanted her gone. The least she could do was let me die in peace.

“Nothing, really. I just wanted to see how long you would last. After you die, that little friend of yours is coming here, as she attacked me, her future Luna.” She said while she smirked.

This bitch must have made Silvana lose her temper. She knows how to push everyone’s buttons.

“What. Do. You. Want?” I repeated to her angrily. She was really pissing me off.

She knew where to get me. I would never break down with physical violence.

“You know what I want.” She said.

This might be the only way I could accept what they wanted, and my sister discovered my only weakness.

I couldn’t even blame Silvana. I know Stephanie, and I know that as soon as I was brought to this dungeon, she went to find her. She made her lose her temper, and Silvana was probably defending me as she always has. Silvana and her family have lost too much because they have helped me out, and the least I could do was repay those favors by not letting my sicko sister hurt my only friend.

“Tell your boyfriend and his dad that they have their breeder.” I sighed, defeated.

She had won, once again, as she always did. I hated how she always got away with what she wanted.

My sister smiled wickedly and left my cell. She couldn’t contain her happiness; Alec would be glad that they got what they wanted.

I couldn’t let them hurt my friend. I am going to protect her even if it costs me my life. I looked at my hands and cried. From now on, I will be the King’s breeder. They didn’t even let me see if my wolf came by my 18^th birthday, but they had already sold me off. What a great pack that I live in.