Forgive Me

Iris stared out the window; twelve hours had passed since the incident, and her body was still frozen.

She was surprised to learn Nathan hadn't died from the fall, but there were speculations on if he was ever going to walk again.

However, Amara was adamant he was dead, claiming the news was a ruse to keep her in the pack until they came for her.

She couldn't find her feet, couldn't move. The way those gray orbs had settled on her, as if he had fulfilled a promise he was sorry for.

Then, without a word, he looked down at a writhing Nathan and walked away...to his general, who seemed pissed at him.

Why? Why did he do that? Why did he look at her like that?

Amara appeared before her, her right cheek still swollen despite the ointments applied on it. Her eyes glisten. "Do you even hear me? Do you want to die?"

"There's nowhere to go, Amara." She held her maid's gaze. "I've thought about it, but unless we go back to the Valleys, we know nowhere."

It dawned on Amara, and her sobs intensified.

The Valleys were taken by the Pack Midnight years ago, leaving it in ruins, but now that there was a new Alpha, it was all his; it wouldn't take long before she was found there if she ever left.

Unable to hold the tears any longer, she let them flow, shoulders shaking uncontrollably; what was she supposed to do? What?

Would she have to see Nathan again? Take care of him if he ever comes out of the healer's? What if he never came out? Financially, he controlled her. The estate remained hers as long as she remained married to him.

So, with the new Alpha going back to his pack, Alpha George would be back in control, and if Nathan died, her family's heirloom would all go to his brother, Matthew, who was unbelievably worse than Nathan.

Iris buried her face in her hands and broke down. It wasn't fair; she did nothing to deserve this except maybe being the daughter of a man who'd caused pain wherever he went.

She felt Amara's arms wrapped around her.

But she wasn't her father...she'd never be him.

A soft knock yanked the two women from their shared grief, sending them turning to the door, all frozen.

The other servants had left early, after the news of what had happened to their master in his own ballroom had circulated.

Which meant they were alone. Everyone in the pack would know they were alone, and whoever was at that door had come to hurt them.

"I'll get it, you find somewhere to hide," Amara said in a shaky voice.

"No." Iris interjected, pushing her back and rushing past her. "I'll get it."

Ignoring Amara's protest, trembling Iris made for the door, and reaching it, she said a short prayer and opened it.

Her mouth dropped.

For there lined up at her premises were the new royal soldiers. The soldiers and a strange red-haired man dressed in every shade of royalty led them.

There were over five men on her terrace...no six...she thought freezing in shock when HE revealed himself from behind the red-head who was now smiling apologetically at her.

"Forgive my intrusion." Red-head eyes glinted, "Lycan King Asher of Pack Astralis seeking your audience."

Iris's eyes widened further as she bowed her head. He was the Alpha King, not the man who threw her husband, but him? … It made sense, but what were they doing here?

Why couldn't the grey-eyed devil behind him quit looking at her with those innocent eyes?! She knew what he could do. She'd seen him kill...right?

"I—" she stammered, but the words refused to come out.

But the Alpha King raised her chin up, the warmth still oozing out of him. "Please don't be afraid, Lady Iris." He looked past her, "If it's no trouble, we'd like to come in."

To come in? But still slightly trembling, she stepped aside, bowing again. "Please...please, make yourself comfortable."

Only three of them walked in: the Alpha King, the still-looking-pissed general followed, and then him. She felt him stall, watching her lowered head, fingers fidgeting as though he wanted to tell her something.

Iris swallowed. This couldn't be right. It had to be serious if the Alpha kind had to come all the way himself instead of summoning her, right?

Her heart sank as she looked at a landscape she might not see again.

Right?

***

Except it wasn't serious; at least not serious enough for her to lose her life.

Ten minutes later she was sitting opposite the Alpha King in Nathan's study, still frozen but uncertain if she was hearing right.

"Duke Atlas acted on my orders," The Alpha had said, "He just chose the wrong time for execution. So don't feel guilt; it wasn't your fault."

Iris pressed her palms into her lap, attempting to discern their expressions under the dim glow of the red lamp.

Why would they care if she felt guilty to deem it important to come all the way here to tell her?

"I hope you forgive the Duke for taking such extreme measures to keep the peace." He continued with that same infectious smile. "You see, Atlas here has a soft spot for… justice. Always has. Remember that time he tried to ‘rescue’ the chalkboard, General?""

For the first time, the general's composure cracked, a sound he quickly stifled, while the Duke's jaw clenched.

The Alpha King laughed aloud, though. A very lengthy laugh. Was that an inside joke they just shared? Iris wasn't sure, but it felt like these three had known each other for a long time.

Instead, she shoved away the question and nodded slowly. “I… I see. I hope he’s… I mean, thank you, your majesty. I just don’t understand why you’d come all this way to tell me.” She looked up, "I'm nobody."

"No, you're not."

The soft baritone snapped. The Duke's eyes were hard, as though she'd just insulted him. It was the first time she heard him speak, and although her heart thudded wildly, her skin tingled.

The silence festered for too long; his hands still clasped behind him, he turned away. Disbelief surged through her; did he just... blush?

The Alpha King cleared his throat. "Smooth, Atlas. Real smooth. What he means, Lady Iris, is we don’t let anyone get trampled underfoot. Not on my watch. Or his, apparently.” A pause, "Right, Atlas?"

But the young man still had his face turned away from her. Almost as though he was shy. And suddenly she couldn't place him with the same person who threw Nathan out of the window.

"I'll make sure you're compensated for the trouble I caused you. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, Lady Iris... anything at all."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"Please." He held her hand, squeezing lightly, "Asher will do, now that I consider us... friends."

Friends...friends?!

She watched them go, the same way they had come in. But...the Duke stalled. Iris' gaze drifted towards the young man whose soft grays now searched for her face.

Then he bowed so low, Iris felt her heart flutter and sink.

"I apologize for the pain I caused you. I hope I find forgiveness in your sight."

She wasn't sure what had her pulling close even as she clutched at her chest. Why were her eyes fighting to peel him apart, see who he really was...see why it felt like the Alpha King was lying about sending him to cause havoc?

What was she thinking? Iris stopped. He was just young. Young people could barely control their emotions. She should be grateful he had gone after Nathan instead of her.

"Thank you, Duke Atlas." She answered instead.

And for the next three minutes she watched him go and listened to their horses leave her Manor until, once again, it all fell silent.

Scrambling snapped her attention back to the room.

And there at the entrance stood Amara, pale-faced and wide-eyed. Iris didn't need to ask to know she had been eavesdropping.

"What?!" She gasped. "What the hell was that?!"

Iris turned back to the window, their horse disappearing from sight. She wasn't sure.