QUESTIONS AND CONFUSIONS

The house erupted into chaos the moment we walked through the back doors and I felt that familiar tightness in my chest that always came when I was surrounded by too many people making decisions about my life. Guards appeared out of nowhere, Zayen came running down the main staircase looking like he was ready to murder someone with his bare hands, and Ren practically teleported from whatever room he'd been in to suddenly be right beside me.

"What happened?" Zayen demanded while his eyes swept over me looking for injuries and then locked onto Elias who was still wearing nothing but Lily's cardigan around his waist.

"Five armed men attacked them in the garden," Elias said calmly while completely ignoring the fact that he was mostly naked in a room full of people. "Professional team, coordinated assault, they knew exactly where to find her."

The sound of his voice made my skin crawl and I had to resist the urge to step away from him. Every word that came out of his mouth reminded me of the last time I'd heard that voice, when he was telling me I was too weak to be his Luna and laughing about how pathetic I was.

Ren's face went pale and his hands started shaking slightly. "Are you hurt Luna? Did they touch you?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly because Ren looked like he was about to have some kind of breakdown. "He got there in time."

I couldn't bring myself to say Elias's name out loud because it still felt like swallowing glass.

The look that passed between my two Lykoras and Elias was loaded with tension and I could tell they didn't trust him any more than I did. Zayen stepped closer to me while Ren moved to my other side and suddenly I was surrounded by protection that actually felt genuine instead of calculated.

"Where were you two when she was being attacked?" Elias asked and his voice carried just enough edge to make it sound like an accusation.

The audacity of this man never ceased to amaze me. He was questioning my Lykoras' dedication when he was the one who had called me weak and worthless in another life.

"We were giving her space because she asked for it," Zayen replied tightly. "Something you might want to learn about."

"Can we maybe focus on the part where someone sent armed men after me?" I interrupted before things could escalate further because I really didn't want to deal with a fight on top of everything else today.

"The elders need to be informed immediately," Zayen said while pulling out his phone. "This changes everything about your security."

I groaned internally because involving the elders meant more meetings and more discussions about things I had no control over.

"Wait," I said while grabbing Zayen's arm before he could dial. "Can we just take a minute to figure out what we know before we call in the council of people who want to control my life?"

Zayen looked surprised by my request but he put his phone away and nodded. Ren was still staring at me like he was checking for injuries he might have missed and Elias was watching all of us with those golden eyes that made my stomach turn.

"Lily, are you okay?" I asked my sister who had been unusually quiet since we got inside.

"Oh I'm great," she said while settling into one of the armchairs. "Just processing the fact that my sister apparently has a secret army of gorgeous men who turn into giant wolves when she's in danger. You know, normal Tuesday afternoon stuff."

I almost smiled despite everything because leave it to Lily to make the whole situation sound ridiculous.

"So what do you want in return?" I asked Elias bluntly because in my experience men like him never did anything without expecting payment of some kind.

The room went completely silent and everyone turned to stare at me like I'd just asked him to explain quantum physics.

"What?" Elias looked genuinely confused.

"You saved my life," I said while crossing my arms. "Men like you don't do things like that without wanting something in return. So what is it?"

His face went through about six different expressions before settling on something that looked almost hurt. "Iris, I don't want anything from you. I would never ask for payment for protecting you."

I laughed and it came out bitter and sharp. "Right. Because you're just so noble and selfless. What's the catch?"

"There's no catch," he said quietly but his eyes were burning with something I couldn't identify. "I would give my life for you without asking for anything in return."

"Bullshit," I snapped and felt some of my old anger rising to the surface. "Everyone wants something. What do you want?"

The silence stretched between us and I could see him struggling with something internal. Finally he took a deep breath and looked directly at me.

"I want to be your third Lykora."

The words hit me like a physical blow and I actually took a step backward. Zayen and Ren both made sounds of protest but I couldn't focus on anything except the way Elias was looking at me with desperate hope in his eyes.

"No," I said immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Iris, please," he said and his voice cracked slightly. "I know you don't remember me but I've been trying to find a way to serve you, to be close to you, for years. I've never been allowed to work directly with you because the elders thought it would be inappropriate but I've watched over you from a distance and wished every day that I could be the one protecting you."

I stared at him in shock because this was not the same man who had rejected me and called me worthless. This man was practically begging for the chance to dedicate his life to me.

"You don't understand," I said weakly. "You don't know what you're asking."

"I'm asking for the honor of serving as your Lykora," he said while dropping to one knee right there in front of everyone. "I'm asking for the chance to prove that I would die before letting anyone hurt you. I'm asking you to let me spend the rest of my life making sure you're safe and protected and valued the way you deserve to be."

My chest felt tight and I couldn't breathe properly because this was all wrong. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Elias Stormbane was supposed to be the villain in my story, not the man kneeling at my feet promising to give his life for mine.

"Get up," I whispered. "Please get up."

He rose slowly but his eyes never left my face. "Iris, I know I have no right to ask this of you. I know you have two devoted Lykoras who would do anything for you. But please, just consider letting me prove myself to you."

"Why?" I asked and my voice came out smaller than I intended. "Why do you want this so badly?"

His jaw worked for a moment like he was struggling to find the right words. "Because you're the most important person in my world and I've never been able to tell you that. Because I've loved you from afar for so long that it's become part of who I am. Because the thought of anything happening to you makes me want to burn the world down."

I felt like I was drowning in confusion and conflicting emotions. This man who had destroyed me in another life was standing here telling me he loved me and wanted to dedicate his existence to my protection.

"I need time," I managed to say. "I need to think about all of this."

"Of course," he said immediately. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait as long as it takes."

Zayen and Ren were both staring at us like they were watching a train wreck in slow motion and I realized I probably looked as confused and overwhelmed as I felt.

"I should go," Elias said quietly. "But Iris, please don't go anywhere alone until we know more about who's behind the attacks. Let your Lykoras protect you."

He headed toward the door but paused and looked back at me one more time. "And Iris? Thank you for giving me the chance to save you today. It was the greatest honor of my life."

Then he was gone, leaving me standing in a room full of people who were all staring at me like I'd just grown a second head.

"Well," Lily said into the silence, "that was intense."

I sank into the nearest chair and put my head in my hands because my entire understanding of reality had just been turned upside down and I had no idea how to process any of it.

The man I hated most in the world had just begged for the chance to serve me and I was starting to think that maybe this universe was more complicated than I'd realized.