Chapter 3

IRIS

The morning after Katrina’s funeral was worse than the day before.

Camille had somehow convinced me to have breakfast with the rest of the pack, trying to get everything back to normal… but nothing was, not anymore.

“Elder Rain would be furious if she catches you toying with her cooking like that.”

I blinked down at my plate. My spoon hovered halfway to my mouth before I realized I hadn’t moved in a while. I set it down carefully, forcing my hands to stop shaking as I shifted in my seat.

“I just don’t understand how everyone can act so…”

“Normal?” Alpha Kade finished for me.

I nodded weakly, already feeling my throat tightening. He sighed deeply.

“We all loved Katrina.” He said quietly. “You and I more than most but the bitter truth is that we have to look toward the future.”

My jaw tightened.

“The pack doesn’t stop because we’re hurting, Iris. If we fall apart, then everything she’s fought to build falls with us.”

My eyes stung, Alpha Kade’s eyes softened. He reached across the table, holding my hands in his. A jolt of electricity shot up my spine, confusion and fear building.

I slipped my hand away, ignoring the way his brows furrowed.

He obviously didn’t feel that.

What was wrong with me?

He was about to ask what was wrong when a familiar voice cut through the charged air. At first I was grateful for the interruption but quickly regretted it.

“Well, aren’t my two favorite people looking tragically alive this morning?”

Ryker slid into the seat without asking.

Of course he did.

My stomach turned at the reminder that I actually fell for him. I stood. His smile faltered for half a second.

As much as I would love to stab him with my fork, I had better things to do.

“You’re leaving?” Kade asked, his tone annoyed, probably by a common denominator.

I gave him a small smile, “I was supposed to help Camille with something today.”

Lie.

Kade saw through it but didn’t say anything. Just nodded. I caught a glimpse of Ryker’s face before turning. I hated that my pulse still jumped when he was there.

He didn’t stop me from leaving but halfway across the hall, I couldn’t help but listen into their conversation.

They were talking about a phone he’d found in his room and Kade went silent. Then…

“That’s Katrina’s.”

His voice was low, rough but clearer than ever. My steps faltered. Then paused. My pulse roared in my ears, my grip on the tray tightened until it creaked.

I turned on my heel before I could stop myself and slammed my tray down right between them.

The sound echoed through the hall, earning a few wary glances. I didn’t care. Kade and Ryker both snapped their heads to me. Kade wore a weary expression while Ryker, like always, had a lazy grin plastered on his face. Like this was all a damn game.

Rage slithered up my spine. I didn’t wait, I snatched the device right out of Ryker’s hands. He didn’t fight back.

Good.

My chest tightened as I flipped it over.

It was hers.

And it also held a very faint scent of blood. Her blood. How did they miss it?

“Iris,” Kade said softly.

My eyes snapped to him. “It’s hers.”

His jaw ticked. “I know.”

“Her blood… it’s still on here. I-” My throat tightened as it slipped from my shaky fingers.

Kade caught it before it could reach the floor.

“I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

It was a response meant to assure me but for some reason, it only made me more furious. Katrina was my best friend. If anyone was going to figure out what the hell happened, it would be me.

I turned to Ryker.

“Where did you find this?” I demanded, stepping closer.

His eyes darkened.

Why?” he said. “So you can run around chasing ghosts? That’s always been your problem, Iris.”

My pulse spiked.

“You don’t get to talk to me like that.”

Ryker stood slowly.

“Don’t I? You poke at everything. Dig. Tear things open that should stay buried.”

His words hit me like a slap to the face but I acted like they didn’t, focusing on the issue at hand.

“Tell me,” I snapped, stepping closer. “Right now.”

Ryker’s gaze darkened. “You really think chasing this is going to bring her back?”

That made my breath stutter.

“Ryker.” Kade barked.

Now all eyes were on us. Pack members exchanged confused glances at their alpha who almost never raised his voice… all because of me.

But at that moment, Katrina’s warning echoed in my head.

Only if it wasn’t so vague.

I exhaled sharply, taking a step back before turning to Kade.

“There’s no ‘you’ in this case, Alpha Kade.” I said. “You’re not shutting me out of this.”

“I’m not shutting you out,” Kade said. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“I don’t care.”

“Iris-”

“Please,” he said suddenly, softer now. “Just… stay out of this. For once. Let me handle it.”

I clenched my teeth so hard I was certain I heard a crack. I wasn’t going to give up but still, I nodded like I understood before bolting out the hall, away from the curious gazes of the others.

By the time I reached the hallway, my breathing was uneven. My thoughts were louder than my steps. I took a sharp turn. And collided with a hard surface.

Pain exploded through my nose as I stumbled back, almost losing my footing when strong hands shot out and grabbed me.

My head snapped up.

The silent one of the trio.

Ash.