Thor POV
The taste of Iris and the softness of her desirable lips were imprinted in my mind, and I felt guilty for wanting to protect and love her because it was a sign of betrayal to my pack.
I felt apologetic to my people that I am weak and desperate for her. The craving of my wolf to be with Iris was becoming hard to suppress, and although I detest her pack, I want to keep her safe because she is the only part of this place that I don't hate.
Could I have both, revenge and her? It was… I know it's possible. But will Iris still be the same and her beautiful soul perfectly intact?
A wolf can only hope. After all, I have left my mark on her tongue. There's no telling how much damage that much has done to her innocence.
With me, she is something fragile, and I know that... I fear that. My only hope is that I don't break her too soon before she can fall in love with me.
The robust sound of the door suddenly opening caused me to raise my head, and I gazed ahead to see a gamma and ten betas walking towards me.
At first, I wanted to be hopeful and believe that they were here to take me to the imperial mansion as Iris said. But their eyes looked way too hostile to this to be a casual meeting.
Just one look into their bloodthirsty eyes, and I could tell that this was going to be something painful and outrageous.
When they got closer, the gamma scowled at me and commanded, "Chain him up!'
How ironic. One minute, Iris is preaching peace, and the next, she's treating me like a savage. I guess a Doukas will always be a Doukas, even a one with innocent eyes, fair skin, and honey lips. She shares the blood of a traitor, how could I see her as anything but that?
Yet, the enraging part about it all is that I didn't want to hate her. My mind keeps giving me excuses of why she would do this, although they were all nonsense, I was forcing myself to believe just so I could have the chance to hold her in my arms again.
As I kept still, a beta approached me, wearing gloves. Then he threw me a disgusted look before snapping a heavy silver chain on my wrist.
The burn from the silver caused me to feel a deep ache in my bones, and I know that I should be used to these by now, but the pain is nonetheless real, and it still hurts.
"Get him to the torture room and make him bleed for every drop of tears our Luna share this morning!" The gamma shouted, her eyes rimmed with hate.
Cry! Why would Iris cry? She left here with her eyes dried and calm. How come she was found crying?
My sense of worry wouldn't let me be, and I turned to face the gamma and asked, "Did Iris tell you why she was crying?"
"How dare you question me, you filthy slave!" The gamma screamed, yet I could sense that she was nervous.
"All I want to know is why Iris cried?! Was she by any chance hurt?!"
Poking her finger at my chest, rage burned in her gaze as she lashed out, "You! Why faking caring about our Luna! Do you think brainwashing her will earn you favors with her and your freedom!"
When I didn't answer, she scowled and said, "Do not dare look me in the eyes like that! Do you think you are still a leader?! No, you are a dog, and a dog yelps at his master's feet for scraps. Now, knee!"
"Can you shut the fuck up and tell me what happened to Iris?!" I lashed out at her, feeling my wolf becoming restless.
"How dare you!" She shouted, attempting to hit me in the chest, but I pulled back, disgusted at the thought of her touching me again.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and Rona walked in, her cold gaze piece into my soul.
Immediately, the beta raised a sliver whip, viciously lashing my back with it, and the pain lashed across my lower back, lancing through me, and I dropped to my knees, feeling too weak to put up a fight.
"We were about to take him to the torture room, but he suddenly put up resistance and started asking for our Luna." The gamma said.
"Our Luna doesn't want to see or have anything to do with a filthy slave. Drag him to the torture room and if he put up resistance, just beat him until he stops breathing." Rona said in a dead tone.
"But…"
"He's a disposable animal. Even if he dies, our Luna will not grief him or remember his existence."
Memories of the look in Iris's eyes when she whispered my name this morning, prevented me from believing those words, although I was enraged by them.
When we kissed, I knew what I felt, and I believe she felt a powerful connection too. This couldn't be her words. It can not be her doing. I refuse to believe so.
"Stand up, dog!" A Beta shouted.
But I was too into my thoughts, and he raised his chain, and as it rushed downward, toward my back, I felt a sudden whiff. Then Within a flash, Iris was standing in between the beta and me, with the chain in her grip.
"Who gave you all the authority to beat him!?" Iris shouted, squeezing the chain in her grip.
The way she clutched so tightly onto the chain had me worried about her getting a scar in her palm, and yet a part of me didn't want to care.
"My Luna, you are hurting yourself!" Rona cried. "Please drop the chain."
Swaying her gaze on me, Iris's eyes look wet with tears, and she reluctantly tossed the chain on the floor without breaking eye contact with me.
So, this was not her doing? Or was this another method she was using to earn my trust while bending me to her will?
Staring at the pain in Iris's eyes as she stared at her palm, I wanted to believe that this wasn't her doing. But it's a moment like this that makes me see her as her uncle and not the one that I so desperately want to protect.
Iris POVIt's like fate is against my hope for peace, and it's hell-bent on ruining plans to earn Thor's trust.Considering the meeting that I just had with Elder Elder Lykaios and now this, I feel drained and annoyed all of sudden."Get the chain off him!" I command, striving not to lose myself to my anger."Yes, my Luna!" A guard hastily said as he rushed over to Thor.My heart ached when he unlocked the chains and I saw the burn marks on Thor's wrists. It looked so painful. I could only imagine the anguish that he must be in."Whose fault is this?!" I shouted, clutching my fist tight as I gaze a
Thor PovHer eyes bore reluctance in them as Iris slowly drew her hand out of my grip and rested it on her lap, darting her eyes away from me.Her body language gave it away that she was nervous. But I didn't mind because I wanted her to come to me willingly… I desire for her to tell me with her lips that she wanted this… she wanted me, not just for the sake of peace."Do I get to know why you were crying after leaving this room?" I asked.Eyeing me, Iris's eyes grew dark with sadness, and she lowered her head before whispering, "Just because… Just because…It's a habit I developed after uncle Hatzis's past." "How old are you?" I whispered, realizing the look she had.Raising her gaze, she gave a weak smile, and mumbled, "Eighteen years, three months, and five days old."So young, and yet, so much pressure upon her. It reminds me of my young self. The only difference is that I was raised for such a task, and she looks like she is crumbling slowly fro
Iris POVI haven't agreed yet, and still, I am in captivity. My mind has been imprisoned by Thor, making me unable to close my eyes without being haunted by his enticing whispers in my head.It has been a couple of days, and my dreams are all fantasy about him. Sometimes, I am afraid to look Thor in his eyes, believing that my thirst for him will be seen in my eyes.But since that day that I left his room, turning his offer down to serve me, he has been distant, keeping to himself, in his room most of the days.I hardly see him, and when I get the chance to, he simply smiles, not saying much, which left me with thoughts about him, and now, I realized why my dreams are about him.None of the elders has visited or spoken to me since I released Thor, and I think their silence is a way of protesting against his release.The pressure to do the right thing is becoming too much of a burden to think about, and today, I feel too drained to get out of bed. So, I g
My heart was still pounding as I walked into the great hall, marching gracefully to the table, even though my brain was elsewhere.How was I supposed to sit and have a stable conversation with these Alphas after what happened between Thor and me and how he just left without uttering a word.After arriving at the head of the table, I stroked my palm against my dress, striving to calm myself down before taking a seat.The Alpha on my right side was ornate, and his spicy aroma was appealing. When our eyes met, he winked at me, and I kept a straight face, darting my gaze on the Alpha on the left.His casual clothes made him appear more approachable, and his smile was gentle."The rumors had underestimated how striking the mere sight of you is! I must say, Luna Iris, you stole the very air out of my lung the moment that I rested my sight on you." The Alpha on the right abruptly uttered.A yawn tried to escape from my lips, b
Thor POVWhen I reached Iris, her lips twisted in a tight pout as she shot me a what-are-you-doing-here gaze, but I smiled at her.Not giving a shit about the stares I was getting, I pulled out a chair and sat beside her.Call at jealousy because that's exactly what I felt, and I wanted to see my competitions, look them in their eyes, and remember their faces, imprinting them in my mind for future purposes."What are you doing here!" Dach shouted, jumping to his feet.If I wasn't at a disadvantage here, I would have rushed to him and slammed his face into this table until his blood soaked its smooth wooden surface.That unfortunate night, he stood beside Hatzis, laughing with a glass of wine in his hand, and treating me like an ally just to spit in my face at the end of the night while the silver chain burned into my skin."Remis, Zika, it's good to see you two after nineteen years," I mumbled
Iris PovWhat was Thor thinking doing such a dangerous thing and putting himself at such a risk, placing me in between him and three packs, including mine?!As Thor stood to his feet, I shot him a warning look, but he looked enraged that it had me puzzled about what he was thinking about to look so pissed."I will take my leave now, Luna Iris. But expect to see my face again. I was serious with my words, and I hope you would consider them." Alpha Zika said, smiling at me as he woke from his seat.I was about to return a smile when I caught Thor staring at me, his hand in a tight fist, and I finally had a picture of what must be going on in his head. He was jealous, and I would have found it cute if he didn't look like he wanted to murder Zika and Ramis.My gaze followed Alpha Zika out the room and so did Thor. He didn't look away until Zika was out the door. Then he eyed me, his eyes raging with anger, and I swallowed down my fe
Thor POVSqueezing my fist tightly, I rested my head against the wall, waiting for Iris, dying to pick up her voice and scent within the walls of this mansion.How could she cage me in this room while she's out there, doing who knows what! These walls seemed to be closing up on me as my anger grew uncontrollable.But finally, I picked up Iris's scent and heard her say, "You all can leave now."Casting my gaze on the doorway, I watched as it opened, and Iris walked inside.After shutting the door, she crossed her arm, staring intensely at me as her face hardened.When it was just us in the mansion, Iris threw her hands in the air and lashed out, "What were you thinking Thor, walking in there! You could have gotten your ass killed! Are you trying to make life harder for me!" She was already hysterical, and I knew letting my anger determine my words would make things ugly, so suppressing my rage, I decided to be the reasonable one in this conversation."I guess all that you have said bef
"Are you not going to help me?" Iris whispered, pouting hard.When I didn't respond, she narrowed her eyes and mumbled, "Fine. I will do it myself."I have tried to refrain from touching Iris until she wanted this because that's what she yearns for and not because of the sake of peace. But I couldn't hold back as I watched Iris pull her dress hand downward, off her shoulder, and did the same to her other hand.Fear danced in her eyes as she allowed her gown to slide off her body, revealing the bareness of her skin to me.One looked at Iris, and I wanted to imprint my touch everywhere on her skin and make sure that she wouldn't forget this moment, ever in her life. Not saying a word to me, she walked over to the bed, laid down, and looked at me, her eyes calm finally."You don't want this," I mumbled, staring at her alluring body, resting gently against the mattress."Don't tell me what I crave and don't want. Now, are we going to finish off from where we stopped this morning?" Iris s