Chapter Six- Bear my mark

The silence in the room grew louder as Iris and I lay still by each other without speaking. The words that she said kept replaying in my head, and I can't help but smirk at the thought of them.

Alliance, what a beautiful word, a perfect proclamation that led me here on an unfortunate day.

My entire childhood has been about leading my pack to greatness, and that was my only reason for existing, conquering other packs' territories, and bathing the ground with their blood afterward.

After conquering so many lands before the age of eighteen, I realized that the White Fang Pack was better as allies than foes, so I did the dumbest thing and trust Hatzis' word that unity between both packs was something that he also wanted.

Against my better judgment, I gave into Hatzis's lies and visited the White Fang territory. And that was the last time I tasted real freedom.

After getting me drunk with a wine breed with wolfs-bane, Hatzis locked me away in his dungeon, shackled in chains made of silver, and used me as leverage over my pack, killing as many of my people as he could and making the rest become rogues.

"Tell me what I need to do to earn your trust," Iris suddenly mumbled as though she had read my thoughts. 

Nothing. There wasn't anything she could say or do that would make me believe her or any member of the White Fang Pack. Trust is fragile, once broken, it stays damaged.

The sense of guilt that has eaten at me over the past year for betraying my pack and falling into the tricks of the enemies has broken the part of me that gives trust to others.

"What happened between your pack and mine?" Iris whispered in a calm tone.

At that moment, I could sense her gaze on me. But I refuse to look into her innocent eyes. How could I hold her accountable for what her uncle did when she wasn't even born when it happened?

"You know, my mother and father died because of war, and so did uncle Hatzis. Also, all my other relatives left me in the same way, battle and bloodshed. Is it selfish that I don't want to do the same?" Iris softly said.

Turning my head to look at her, I gazed deep into her eyes, realizing that she was being honest, and I gave her a faint smile.

"I like it this way. We can see each other in the eyes." Iris muttered as the corners of her lips pulled upward. "The eyes are the most beautiful window to the soul, don't you agree?"

Her soul was beautiful, undamaged, and pure. How was she mated to me? Staring at her creamy lips curving into a perfect soft smile, I feared… worried that with me in her life, I would destroy her delightful self because of how broken and dark my soul is.

"What do you see when you look into my eyes?" I asked her, noticing that she was staring solely into them.

"It's pitch black… Your soul…" Iris whispered without blinking.

"And you are not afraid?"

"I am, but at the same time, I am mesmerized by them." 

Her boldness intrigued me. As an alpha, I was used to people overpraising me, as a foe, I was exposed to enemies lying to me, and as a captive, I was often insulted with hateful words. But no one has been bold to stare into my eyes and be honest like Iris is.

"I am afraid of war because I feared that some pup out there, within my territory, may lose her or his entire family because I, as their leader, chose the bloodshed instead of peace," Iris mumbled, darting her gaze away from me.

"An alliance between The Storm Riders and The White Fang… What type of pact are you offering?" I teased to pick at her brain.

Even though she didn't speak or look my way, I could tell she was nervous and knew exactly what was going on in her naive brain.

"You and I are fated to be together already. Let's make it official. I'm willing to bear your mark and make you my alpha, allowing you to rule White Fang Pack with me for the sake of peace." Iris mumbled, her gaze still focused on the ceiling.

"Do you know how an alpha marks his mate?" I mumbled, fixing my gaze on her.

Slowly, Iris turned her head towards me until our eyes locked, and she swallowed hard, looking nervously at me.

"Have you ever laid with another before?" I asked her without breaking eye contact with her.

"If you agree to my deal, you will be the first to have such acclaim," Iris whispered, and I could see fear dancing in her gaze as her lashes fluttered, even though she tried to look calm.

What a tempting offer, and how innocent she is to think that bearing my mark would be a sign of unity and peace.

Such an act by us will make her a traitor in the eyes of her people, and I as a backstabber by my pack. The disputes between both packs and the hate we share for each other will only become stronger and unmendable for centuries to come.

Still, it was cute that she wanted a change, even though the damage was far too done to be healed.

Staring into my eyes, Iris clutched onto the sheet, squeezing it gently, and I could hear her heart pounding rapidly as she leaned towards my mouth.

When her lips grew closer to mine and I inhaled her warm breath, I couldn't help wondering what she was thinking in that small head of hers.

Raising my chin, I avoided her lips and pulled her into my arm, pressing her against my chest.

"Why?" Iris whispered, folding hers in my hands.

"Think carefully about if this is what you want because once you bear my mark, you are mine even if things don't work out the way you hope," I uttered, caressing my fingers in her hair.