Chapter 3

IRIS.

“Did you enjoy riding him the whole night?” Constantine roared as the belt landed on my back for the second time. I didn’t answer, and I refused to scream despite the pain. 

I had learned that defending myself would only lead me to more punishment. So I swallowed it all and refused to scream. Tears fell from my eyes as I clutched the small fabric that covered my breasts, terrified that the continued whipping would eventually rip it. 

My body jolted as he gave me another one. I kept swallowing the pain, but this time I couldn’t stop the sobs that escaped my throat. “Enough, please…”

Constantine had never whipped me with more than two lashes. He never punished me twice in a week to allow my body to recuperate. But this was already my second punishment in just four days. 

“Enough? If you had followed my instructions, you wouldn’t be receiving this!” He said it with so much anger in his voice, and my body began to shake as I braced for the next hit. 

I could barely hold myself. I was curled on the ground, trying to make myself smaller, hoping he’ll miss my frame and hit the floor instead.

His hand raised, and my hands flew to my head to cover my face as my body continued to tremble in fear. But the whipping didn’t come. 

Instead, a loud voice ripped through the air and echoed around us. “If you hit her one more time, you will regret your actions!”

“Alpha Draco…” Constantine acknowledged him, and I slowly opened my eyes, peeking through my arms crossed over my face.

“Who gave you the right to hurt her?” He asked in a cold voice as he strode to where my husband was standing. 

“She… disobeyed me.”

“And?”

“I don’t like it when she doesn’t do what I asked her to do…”

“I don’t fucking care! Apologize to her!”

Constantine shook his head as anger flashed on his face. “No! No!”

“I’m ordering you one more time, apologize to her!”

“Don’t treat her as if she’s anything special. I will never…”

He was not able to finish his statement because Alpha Draco’s hand had already moved and clutched the collar of his shirt. And before I could even let out a breath, he grabbed him and swung his body, hauling him until  Constantine ended up flying, his body slamming against the wall at the far end of the corridor with a loud thud before he eventually fell onto the floor.

I gasped in shock and tried to move my body away, terrified his anger would fall on me. My movement made Alpha Draco’s attention shift back to me. He remained standing, towering over me as I lay on the ground. “What’s your name?”

“I…Iris.”

He then crouched and held my arm, but he touched the part that was painful, so I flinched. 

“Dammit,” he murmured. “Go to your room and get yourself something to wear.”

I nodded and scampered to my feet. My whole body was aching, but I did my best to move as fast as I could. I slipped inside my room and closed the door, but instead of rushing to get dressed, I placed my hands on my ears as I tried to block the noise from outside my room. 

I could hear shouting and something or someone being slammed, and it terrified me. I wasn’t sure if I should be thankful that Alpha Draco had interfered, because I knew whatever he had given Constantine, my husband, would give it back to me. And it would be way worse than that. 

Tears fell from my eyes as I continued to tremble, but I stifled my cries. I didn’t want anyone to hear me. This was my fault. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. I should have done what I was told to do. 

The noise outside subsided, and it was only then that I moved and put on decent clothes. I wiped away my tears and began removing my makeup with wet wipes before applying loose powder to my face. I grabbed the lipstick that I had on my broken dresser and applied a thin layer on my lips before I smudged a bit on my cheeks. I stared at my pale reflection in my mirror. Despite the red coloring, I still looked like a ghost. 

Why did my life come to this? 

I wish my mother didn’t die. I wish my father hadn’t taken me under his roof. I wish I hadn’t met his family. Maybe I was better off alone.

But then, being alone didn’t necessarily mean I would have a better life. Because Constantine found me while I was alone. So maybe this was exactly what my life was meant to be. I could only catch glimpses of happiness but could not fully embrace it. 

I swiped the tears about to fall from my eyes and puffed my chest. I needed to come out of my room. The more I hide here, the more my husband will find a reason to beat me. 

I also needed to find Alpha Draco before he leaves. I wanted to thank him for saving me, even though I know in reality what he did would only cause me more harm. Still, I wanted to see him. 

After I downed a pain reliever tablet, I walked out of my room with my head held high. I was trying to act brave. But I was aware that no matter what face I showed the people in this house, they already knew the truth. I was merely a slave to my own husband and his mistresses. 

I headed to the kitchen, ready to start the day by helping out with breakfast, when I was met by one of the helpers, who also seemed entitled. No one in this house valued me as the legal wife. Because again, my own husband didn’t see me that way. 

“You’re late. You’ve been sleeping so well while we are toiling hard here because we have a guest!” She snapped at me.

I swallowed but ignored her and walked past her. 

“Hurry! Master Constantine wants this delivered to his office. He doesn’t like keeping the guest waiting.” I heard her say those words to someone. 

I swiftly turned around and snatched the tray from her hands before she could give it to the woman she was talking to.

“I’ll take this,” I said with a firm voice. 

She didn’t let go of the tray and glared at me. I returned the glare, which I had never done before, and kept my hold on the tray, making it tremble between us. She must have seen something in my eyes because she let go and stepped back. 

Without any words, I turned, holding the tray, and walked out of the kitchen. I headed for Constantine’s office, continuing with my brave front. 

I knew what could happen to me, but the urge to have a glimpse of Alpha Draco was stronger. I had nothing to lose. I’d been suffering all my life, but at least I could make all the pain worth it.