Chapter 2

Unsettled by everyone's grieving stares and Nolan's exhausted face, I blurted out, "Will they have fresh venison there?"

Nolan answered patiently, "They do."

"Will you still make me a magic wolf fang every month to keep me safe?" I asked softly.

Nolan leaned down and gently kissed my forehead. "Iris, there'll be guards to protect you."

I pressed my lips together and didn't answer. After a moment, I asked, "Then are you coming with me? If you don't come, who will cuddle me to sleep? Who will dig up obsidian so I can buy things?"

Helena heard me and stormed over in a rage, pointing at me. "Iris, do you even have a heart?!

"His father is still unconscious. His two brothers are suffering in cages. And to keep you safe, Nolan is even using the family's last ancient portal to send you away.

"And you're still standing here whining and asking for things?! Don't you know staying here means certain death for him?!"

"Mother!" Nolan cut her off sharply. Exhausted as he was, he suddenly radiated the cold, crushing authority of an Alpha.

He stepped forward and shielded me completely behind him, his tall frame blocking everyone's view.

"Don't blame Iris for what's happening to the pack." Nolan's voice was cold, charged with an Alpha's power. "Iris is the mate I've chosen. I don't want to hear one more insult against her from anyone. Not even from you!"

As I looked at Nolan's broad back, warmth spread through me. In all these years, he was the only one who had stepped in front of me without hesitation, every single time.

Helena was close to tears. In the end, she didn't say anything else. She just turned and left.

But when I left Nolan's room, she suddenly stepped out of the shadows in the hallway and blocked my way.

She shoved a heavy bundle into my arms. "Take this money and get out of here. Go as far away as you can."

I froze for a second and looked down at what I was holding.

"Don't get the wrong idea." Helena turned her face away, her voice still cold and hard. "I still don't like you, you useless thing. But staying here will only drag Nolan down. So get out. The sooner, the better!"

With that, she left without looking back.

Something hard and frozen inside me shifted under the weight of that bundle.

Back in my room, I started packing.

I picked out a few keepsakes that reminded me of Nolan and packed the chests of moonstones that could boost a werewolf's power.

But when my hand touched the rough new wolf fang on my chest, I couldn't help slowing down.

It still seemed to hold the warmth of his fingertips and the faint scent of his blood.

Am I really going to leave?

Over my long life, I'd coldly watched countless things be destroyed, and I'd drifted from place to place more times than I could count.

I'd never felt anything like this before. But now my chest felt so tight it scared me, like something sharp was slowly cutting through my hard shell.

I couldn't help wondering what would happen to Nolan if I left.

A loud crash sounded outside. Several Southern wolves had broken into the territory and were smashing everything in sight.

Nolan's people could only watch in despair, humiliation in their eyes.

Two Southern Alphas strode onto the estate with their guards.

The lead Alpha raked a contemptuous gaze over me and sneered at Nolan. "Well, well. So this is the useless mate you keep around?

"Nolan, once the agreement is signed, your territory and resources are all ours. Since this useless thing is pretty enough, once I get bored of her, I'll toss her to my low-ranking wolves to play with. How's that?"

Before he could finish, bone cracked with a sickening snap, and a single punch sent him flying!

Nolan glared at him as if he wanted to rip him apart, his eyes icy. "How dare you!"

The Alpha slammed into the stone wall and spat out blood and broken teeth.

He staggered to his feet and roared, "Nolan, you still think you're the almighty Alpha of the North?! You're nothing but a stray dog now, and you dare to hit me!

"Ungrateful bastard! To hell with the eight o'clock deadline! I'm going to torture your two brothers to death and tear every wolf in the Frost family to pieces!"

As he roared, deafening explosions erupted one after another outside, and the ground began to shake violently.

Alarm flashed across Nolan's face. He spun around and shoved me toward his men, his voice hoarse. "Iris, run! Get out of here, now!"

In that instant, panic seized me. It felt as though I was about to lose him.

"Nolan..." Without thinking, I grabbed his sleeve. "Come with me."

Nolan smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Iris, I can't go."

He held my gaze for a long moment, as though there were countless things he wanted to say. Then he turned and strode toward the door.

Nolan's men escorted me all the way to the portal, but the image of Nolan walking away consumed my thoughts, and my restlessness grew.

I'd seen enough pack wars to know the Alphas of those five packs weren't going to let Nolan go this time.

I could go back to my carefree life. I could find a new pack to settle down with.

But then Nolan would be gone, and no one in the world would ever make charms for me or stand between me and harm the way he did.

The moment I realized that, I made up my mind!

"I'm not leaving!"

I stepped out of the portal and ran back without a second thought, ignoring the guards who tried to stop me.