The New Alpha's Return

Iris ripped off the page from her diary, turning just in time to catch her reflection in the mirror. The face that looked back at her yelled one word: weak!

She trailed her finger along the cut on her lips and the purple patches on her face. The memory of Nathan's gaze and his liquor-infested breath.

"Omega whore.”

“No wolf.”

“Stupid bitch.”

Once again, her mate had lost his temper after losing his leadership to the Lycan King.

She'd tried to hide away from him, but last night, he was intent on finding her out, leaving her with a few broken bones and scars.

She was a canvas for his frustration. She knew that from the moment he'd come to stake his claim on her after the report that Caspian, her brother disappeared.

The marriage was all a sham, a way for him to take the property her father gifted to her as his, all because she was no son.

To him, he'd saved her from being the laughingstock of the pack. To him, she should take every pain he inflicted, for she had nowhere else to go.

But he was mistaken. She'd show him he was mistaken.

Iris stood up and left the room.

Seeing her walk out, her servants gasped before quickly lowering their heads. All except Amara, her closest servant/friend, who ran forward, "Madam...what do you think you're doing?"

"I refuse to hide any longer." She muttered, feeling her lips sting as she walked past her confidante, "I'm tired of makeup, Amara. Nathan should see what he does to me."

No, she didn't care that the Lycan king would be there; he wouldn't care about what happened to a random Omega that was lucky to be mated to the Duke anyway.

"Madam..." Amara's voice shook, "Please rethink this, I beg you. I can't stand to see you hurt."

Or even dead if she failed. For Nathan wouldn't hesitate to snuff the life out of her.

Iris looked out the window as she neared the hall, the countless ships packed at their shore.

For a Pack the new Alpha had taken by force, she'd expected more bloodshed as he ascended the throne, but after that day there was nothing. Instead, he was celebrating with the Pack?

He ruled with fear, she understood, for even as she made her way into the hall, she could smell it, their terror.

Iris reached the filled hall, said a desperate prayer to the goddess, took a deep breath, and then progressed in, making her way up to the former Alpha lounging on a dais, Nathan standing dutifully behind him.

Nathan first saw her, his brows knitted at first, and then they hardened, growing darker with each step she took towards him.

But she didn't budge even as the incredulous murmurs pierced into her ears, and before long, she was before the former Alpha, Alpha George.

She dropped to her knees in front of him, raising her face so he could see her bruises. all of it.

"Nathan did this to me?" The first tear dropped. "I want you to grant me a divorce from the Duke."

The crowd gasped, excited for the new gossip.

"He hits me." Iris continued, voice breaking and choking, "If you don't do something, he'll kill me."

"Get up, Iris!" Nathan’s voice sliced through the hall. "Now."

But she couldn't look up at him. Her boldness would falter; the older man could help. He alone could grant her this one wish.

The older man's face became grim with annoyance. He glared down at Nathan. "You hit your wife like this? What if she dies by your hands? Do you know how hard it is to find another mate?"

Iris swallowed the burn, not that hard if they had no bond between them. The people would always take his side, to the point of offering him her replacement.

Nathan was good-looking, with blond hair and innocent blue eyes. He could even be described as fair. Even if he stood on that podium and announced to them that he only married her for the estate, they'd still side with him.

"I'm sorry, Iris." The Alpha said, eyes blank, "But I can't grant you a divorce. I can't risk setting a bad example for the other women of the Pack who think they can just get rid of their mates."

Iris felt her heart falter. Amara gasped behind her, knowing what was to come. Nathan's lips curled into a small, dark grin.

Then he stepped forward, past the Alpha king, and stooped to her level, eyes dancing as he took in her bruised face.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "But someone had to tame you."

Iris pulled back, Off the floor and away from him, "I'll burn it all! I'll burn it all to the ground before I let you have it!" Her fist clenched, "I'd make sure we all die in the fucking fire!"

The old man's face held disdain, now at her, and at that moment, Iris never hated anyone more.

Tears spilling, she looked around her, heart thudding in her chest; she couldn't just go back. That was the same as signing hers and Amara's death certificate.

What to do?! What to do now?!

And that was when she felt it, the eyes, hot digging into her back, freezing her in place and time.

Iris swallowed her main fears, temporarily forgotten.

Her fingers clutching against her chest, curiosity pulling at her sleeves, Iris turned around, and there she saw him.

Not just saw, met his eyes; they were a beautiful gray, almost ash, and they seemed to pull her in.

Tugging her in his direction, she had no clue why.

And he wasn't making it easy for her, his eyes refusing to quit hovering over her face. Iris's breath suddenly became heavier. What was it with this guy?

"...Madame!" Amara's voice hit her with a jolt, "Why are you looking at the new Alpha like that?!"

New Alpha?! Iris's eyes widened as they dropped to the ground. She had been so obvious, the crowd had noticed.

That was the New Alpha? Why was he dressed so ordinarily? Like just anyone on the street? and he was so young, younger than her even. How could someone that young be the new Alpha?

What would people say about his image? Didn't he care about that?!

And... even that did nothing to water down his looks; He was handsome, yes, but intimidating.

Iris felt the blood rushing into her cheeks, and the feeling was cut short when she was roughly yanked back.

"Argh," she groaned, her body crashing against that familiar one, the scent that made her want to throw up.

"You little bitch!" Nathan roared into her face, "This is why you want a divorce, to look at other men without consequences...."

No...that wasn't...that wasn't true! His fingers dug into her palm.

"Nathan! Let me go!" She cried, crumbling to her knees, "Nathan."

Amara rushed forward. "Master, she was just lost..."

But Nathan slapped her hard, sending her to the floor and struggling faintly to keep her eyes open.

"No! No!" Iris's eyes widened. "You hit her! I said, "No hitting, Amara!"

But Nathan's hold tightened around her arm, lips in the ugliest sneer she had seen. "I'll make sure I juice every fucking thing from you, so the last thing you think about as you get dragged to the stake is my fucking... Hey, what the..".

The words had barely left his lips when a hand seized a clump of his hair, yanking so hard they heard his neck snap.

Nathan had left her forcefully, and she stumbled backward, looking up, a gasp catching in her throat.

It was the new Alpha, and...the iciness in those eyes made her heart race, but this time it was from fear.

Nathan thrashed and clawed at the Alpha's wrist in vain. The Alpha remained unfazed Nathan's struggles.

But his gaze continued to burn with rage so hot, she half-expected Nathan to turn to ash.

Smoothly, he veered, dragging Nathan towards the window.

"Wait—!" Nathan panicked, still fighting to get out of that grip.

The Alpha didn't speak.

Reaching the edge of the window, with Nathan still in his grasp and the struggle becoming even more erratic, he slammed him hard against the stained glass.

Nathan screamed as the glass shattered, a scream that was silenced by a sharp thud below.

The silence lingered for a few heartbeats.

Then the hall erupted, screams and gasps hitting her frozen, shattered frame; still, she couldn't look away.

What just happened?

Had to be a dream.

The new Alpha glared down below as though he wanted to revive Nathan just to kill him again.

Iris felt her chest tighten when he looked back at her, but to her surprise, those cold greys softened.

But...why?