CHAPTER 5

"I refuse!" I answered flatly, which only made him laugh.

"You really are a unique hybrid. Not only do you dare challenge the future Alpha, but you also have the nerve to insult and reject me," he chuckled.

"This isn't entertainment, Young Master. I don't want to get involved in such a troublesome matter, so I am firmly declining. And please, stop playing games with me. Give the pendant back."

Kael stopped laughing. The remaining sparks of amusement vanished from his golden eyes, replaced by an intense, piercing gaze that felt as though it could see right through my mind. He casually weighed the withered rose silver pendant in his long fingers, its chain catching the dim lights of the hockey rink in a rhythmic glint.

"Do you honestly think I’m offering you a choice to negotiate, sweetheart?" He leaned down slightly, bringing his face level with mine. "In this academy, defying the student council president constitutes a disciplinary violation. And as a hybrid without the backing of a powerful pack, what do you think will happen if I decide to hand down a sanction?"

I clenched my fists inside my oversized sleeve, feeling the raw whip wounds on my back throb again from the tension. "Are you threatening me?" I hissed sharply.

"I’m simply stating facts," Kael replied, a faint smirk returning to his lips.

He straightened his posture and closed his fingers tightly over the pendant, hiding it within his palm. "I know how precious this item is to you. Serve as my assistant for one semester, or you will never see this heirloom again. Make your choice, sweetheart."

I stood frozen, staring at the powerful hand that held the last remaining memory of my mother. This man truly knew how to weaponize a situation and corner me into the tightest spot possible.

If I accepted, I would have to face the wrath of his fan club every single day, including Victoria. But if I refused, the only anchor to my past would be gone forever.

"Fine," I said at last, breaking the silence with a voice as cold as ice. "I accept. But don't you dare expect me to be submissive like the rest of your servants."

Hearing my answer, Kael’s smirk widened, looking thoroughly satisfied with his victory.

"Deal. You can't go back on your word," he said, opening his palm and dropping the pendant into my hand. "Take it."

Finally, my property was back in my hands, even if it meant dealing with a massive headache moving forward.

"I'll start working tomorrow." Without another word, I turned on my heel to leave.

"Hey, I'm the boss here! Since when do you get to decide when to start working?" he yelled after me, but I completely ignored him.

"Iris."

The voice successfully halted my steps toward my bedroom. I turned to look at Julius with my usual expressionless face. For some reason, I noticed a flicker of strain in his eyes under my flat gaze.

"How long are you going to keep glaring at your own father as if I'm your enemy?" he snapped.

"And what should I do? Am I supposed to offer a loving gaze to a father who has never once fulfilled his duties?" I countered mockingly.

"You—!" He clearly choked back his rage. "Listen, Iris, I am not in the mood to scold you right now. Tonight, a guest will be arriving, so I expect you to get ready," he commanded.

"A guest?" I arched an eyebrow, staring at him with deep suspicion. "Since when do I have to meet a guest in this estate? Haven't you all always considered my very existence a disgrace that must be hidden away?"

Julius clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tightening as he fought back the volatile fury threatened by my sarcasm. Remarkably, however, he took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. This highly unusual shift in his demeanor only caused my sense of dread to worsen.

"Watch your mouth, Iris! Tonight's guest is extremely important, so prepare yourself," Julius said in a low, forced tone, trying to salvage his authority as the pack leader. "The maids will come to your room. Put on the dress I've prepared for you."

After delivering his orders, he left. This was incredibly suspicious. Who was this guest, and why on earth was I being forced to meet them?

A few moments later, two maids pushed my bedroom door open without bothering to knock. They carried a deep green satin gown that looked far too formal, along with a cosmetic box.

Without uttering a word, completely ignoring the icy glares I shot their way, they began to force me into the dress and apply makeup. Heavy powder was patted onto my skin to mask my pale complexion, while a high-collared gown was intentionally selected—undoubtedly to conceal the fresh whip wounds covering my back.

Once they finished, I was escorted down to the grand dining hall.

The room, which was usually dead silent, was now illuminated by a magnificent crystal chandelier. The air was thick with the scent of an unfamiliar, dominant pheromone. As I stepped inside, I realized everyone had already gathered. The venomous glares thrown by my stepmother and Victoria welcomed me instantly.

At the head of the long table, Julius sat with a stiff, forced smile. However, my attention was immediately drawn to the middle-aged man seated directly across from him.

The man had neatly trimmed silver hair and wore an expensive velvet suit. Lines of age were etched deeply into his stern face, radiating the cold, ruthless aura of a ruler from the pureblood borderlands. He was Count Radcliff.

"Ah, here she is, my eldest daughter, Iris," Julius announced, his tone sounding so sickeningly warm it made me want to vomit. "Iris, greet Count Radcliff."

I didn't take a single step forward. I remained standing right by the entrance. "Why did you call me here, Mr. Julius?" I asked bluntly, deliberately ignoring Count Radcliff and addressing my father without any familial title.

Julius’s face hardened instantly, but before he could bark a reprimand, Count Radcliff raised a single hand, cutting him off.

His cold, gray eyes swept over me from head to toe, assessing my worth as if I were a racehorse up for auction.

"She has quite a fascinating spark of defiance for a hybrid, Lord Julius," Count Radcliff remarked, his voice heavy and raspy. "That kind of stubbornness will be remarkably easy to tame once she resides in my castle."

"Of course, Lord Count. Iris only needs a little guidance once she is married to you," my stepmother chimed in eagerly.

"What do you mean, marriage? I am still a student at the academy," I stated firmly, my voice cutting through their negotiation.

"Iris, I believe there is no need for you to continue your education," Julius interjected coldly. "It would be best for you to marry immediately and start building your future. You will have a much better life in Count Radcliff’s territory."

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