“Alice, you didn’t have to stand up for me like that.”The curator waves her hand. “Like I said, we’re friends,” she replies, glancing up at me. Her cheeks are slightly flushed. “I mean, I assume we’re friends…”I can’t help but smile. I never expected to make friends with anyone here, but the thoug
IrisI step into the living room as Arthur moves to the home bar to pour me a drink. “What’s your drink of choice?” he calls from the dining room, which is adjacent to where I’m standing. “Still red wine?”“Yeah,” I reply, glancing around before I tentatively take a seat in one of the soft armchairs
“Coffee,” a gruff voice said. “Cream, no sugar.”I looked up to see an Alpha sidling up to the counter, shrugging off a rain-soaked trench coat. I grit my teeth, choosing not to point out the trail of water he left from the door to the stool. Alphas rarely cared if I had to clean up after them, espe
Iris & ArthurIrisI stare at Arthur’s outstretched hand, and the way it reminds me of the first time we shook hands all those years ago isn’t lost on me.“Well?” he asks. “Care for a dance?”I hesitate, looking up at him. A dance sounds intimate, and dangerous, and a whole slew of other things. It
“I should give him his medicine,” I say, moving away from Arthur. I hurry upstairs before he can say anything, where I find Miles sitting up in bed, coughing and rubbing his eyes. His kitten is sitting beside him, mewing and pawing at him as if in worry.“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Miles moans.I le
IrisI wake to the sensation of warmth surrounding me, but it has little to do with the morning sunlight spilling through the window. It’s a pair of arms around me that I feel instead.Warm, sturdy, familiar arms.On instinct, I nuzzle deeper into that embrace, inhaling the familiar scent of my mate
IrisI almost expect Selina to shove me into oncoming traffic or something else that’s equally insane, but to my surprise, she smiles. Perhaps a little too widely, but it’s a smile nonetheless.“Flora! Just the person I wanted to see.”Before I can protest, Selina wraps her arm around my shoulders,
“Lack of media training?” I ask.She nods. “Yes, well, it’s not like you were born in a high-profile household like me, so it’s not really your fault that you didn’t receive the proper training in how to act in public.”“Are you calling me a rube?”“No, no!” Selina laughs flippantly, waving her hand
Climbing into my car, I start the engine and peel out of the alleyway, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe Caleb really was just being nice to make up for spilling coffee on her.But that doesn’t explain the dress. That sapphire blue dress she showed me—I recognize
Iris & ArthurIrisThe shopping bags rustle as I shift them in my arms, stepping out of the taxi in front of my apartment building. My head still feels foggy, like I’m walking through a dream—or maybe a nightmare. I keep replaying Caleb’s words in my mind: You’re my sister. You’re a werewolf.How am
“Alright,” I finally agree. “I won’t tell anyone, but only for a few days. This is too big to keep from my mate for any longer than that.”Caleb smiles, looking relieved. “Thank you.” He glances down at my coffee-stained blouse and winces. “I’m sorry about that. Let me make it up to you.”“It’s just
IrisI blink, surprised by Caleb’s presence. His expression is unreadable as he carefully dabs at my shirt, but there’s something in his eyes—a strange intensity that makes me uncomfortable. It’s the same look he gave me at the hospital when we first met.“Actually, I’ve been hoping to run into you,
While Arthur dresses, I slip out of the bedroom. Miles is in the kitchen now, standing on his tiptoes trying to reach the cereal boxes on the top shelf. Scout curls around my legs, crying for his breakfast too as I make my way over to Miles.“Here, let me help,” I say, retrieving his favorite cereal
IrisSunlight streams through my partially open curtains, painting warm stripes across the tangled white sheets. I wake slowly, my body pleasantly sore in ways I haven’t felt in years. An arm is draped heavily across my waist, and for a moment, I’m disoriented—and then the memories of last night com
“I want to taste you,” I whisper, pushing him gently onto his back.Arthur’s eyes fly open, watching as I move down his body, placing open-mouthed kisses along his chest and stomach. When I take him into my mouth, his hand flies to my hair, fingers tangling in the strands.I remember what he likes—t
Iris“Do you want some wine?” I ask, locking the door behind us. The apartment is quiet, just the soft hum of the refrigerator and Miles’ nightlight spilling into the hallway from his partially open bedroom door. Emi was waiting for us when we arrived, and quickly left once she saw Arthur enter behi
“To new beginnings,” Arthur says softly, clinking his glass against mine. I smile and take a sip. The champagne is crisp and cold, bubbles dancing on my tongue. I lean back on one elbow, gazing up at the mural again.“You know,” I say thoughtfully, “I’ve always loved that this mural shows humans and