Se connecterIris’s POV“So,” Vivian said casually, “how far along are you?”“About four months,” I replied.“And let me guess,” Vivian continued, “your ex is pissed that you moved on so quickly and found someone better?”“Something like that,” I admitted.“Men are so predictable,” Vivian said with a laugh. “They don’t want you, but they don’t want anyone else to have you either.”“That’s nothing new.” Jasmine drawled dryly. “Stop trying to sound like you’re giving some sort of wise saying.”Vivian bit back. “I’m not trying to sound wise, I am wise. Unlike you.”I sighed and glanced between them. “You two are going to kill each other before the tour’s over.”“Don’t worry,” Vivian said without looking away from Jasmine. “If I wanted her dead, she’d already be buried.”“Charming,” Jasmine muttered.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Is this how you make friends?”“Sometimes,” Vivian said with a shrug. “Depends on the person.”Shane chuckled from behind us. “This is entertaining.”“Glad we could provi
Iris’s POVThe next morning, I woke up feeling very refreshed. The exhaustion from the previous night had faded after a good night’s sleep in Rowan’s arms.“Morning,” Rowan murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.“Morning,” I replied, stretching. “What’s on the agenda today?”“A tour of the King’s territory,” Rowan said. “It’s meant to be casual, so we can dress comfortably. Then there’s a smaller dinner tonight.”“Sounds manageable,” I said, though my stomach twisted slightly at the thought of another event.“You’ll be fine,” Rowan assured me. “Yesterday was the hardest part. You survived the confrontation with Zara, the feast, the dancing. Today will be easier.”I hoped he was right.After showering and getting dressed in comfortable clothes suitable for walking, we met Shane and Jasmine in the hallway outside our rooms.“Ready for day two?” Jasmine asked with a bright smile.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied.We made our way downstairs to the main hall where other guests were
Iris's POV I took his arm, and we began dancing. The music had shifted to another slow song, and the King was surprisingly graceful for someone his age.“You may call me Silas,” the King said as we danced. “At least in private conversation. All this ‘Your Majesty’ business gets tiring after a while.”I couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, Silas.”“Much better,” Silas said with a grin. “Now, tell me, how are you finding the ball so far? I heard there was some excitement earlier.”I tensed slightly, but Silas’s expression was kind and non-judgmental.“It’s been... eventful,” I said carefully.“That’s one way to put it,” Silas chuckled. “I heard about the confrontation outside the ceremony hall. Between you and Alpha Eric’s mate.”“News travels fast,” I muttered.“Always does at these events,” Silas replied. “But let me know if they become a nuisance, I’ll be more than happy to kick them out. You don’t need the extra stress in your current condition.”His words were so kind, and understand
Iris’s POVSome time later, servants came and cleared away the last of the dishes.Then the music in the hall shifted. It became livelier, and more upbeat. Several couples were already standing, and moving toward the center of the hall where space had been cleared for dancing.“Are you tired?” Rowan asked, turning to me. “Do you want to go back to our room?”I thought about it for a moment. Part of me wanted to retreat to the safety of our suite, away from all the eyes and whispers. But another part of me, the part that refused to let them win, wanted to stay.“No,” I said, surprising myself. “I’m not tired. I want to dance.”Rowan’s eyebrows rose slightly, then a slow smile spread across his face. “You want to dance?”“Yes,” I confirmed. “Is that so surprising?”“A little,” Rowan admitted. “But I’m not complaining.”He stood and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him lead me toward the dance floor.As we reached the center of the hall, the music shifted to a faster tempo. Rowan
Iris’s POVThe Alpha King was tall, probably in his sixties but thanks to his powerful werewolf gene, he still looked very strong and commanding.His hair was silver, his face had some wrinkles, due to his age, but his blue eyes were sharp and alert. He wore deep purple and gold formal robes in deep purple and gold, and a crown sat on his head.The power radiating from him was incredible. I could feel it even from across the room. This was someone who had ruled for over fifty years, someone who commanded respect from every Alpha.Everyone in the room stood immediately, bowing their heads in respect.The King walked slowly down the aisle between the tables, his eyes scanning the crowd. A kind smile was on his face as he nodded to various Alphas and Lunas.When his eyes landed on our table, he paused. He looked at Rowan, then at me, and his smile widened slightly.The King’s steps slowed as he approached our table.“Alpha Rowan,” he greeted, his deep voice carrying warmth and respect.R
Iris’s POVZara’s face went pale, taking a step back. Eric stepped forward quickly, his hands raised.“That’s enough, Zara,” Eric snapped. “Let’s go inside now.”Rowan ignored them, turning back to me instead as his expression softened immediately. “Come on,” he said gently, guiding me toward the open doors.I nodded, staying silent. My legs felt shaky as we walked through the massive golden doors, leaving Eric, Zara, and Tiffany behind us in the hallway.As soon as we were inside, I felt like I could breathe again. But I was still shaking, trying to hold myself together.“I’ve got you,” Rowan murmured, his arm tightening around my waist. “You did so well, Iris. I’m so proud of you.”“I almost broke,” I whispered. “For a moment, I almost—”“But you didn’t,” Rowan interrupted gently. “You didn’t allow them see you break.”Shane and Jasmine caught up to us, both looking furious.“That woman is vile,” Jasmine hissed.“She’s going to pay,” Shane added darkly. “One way or another.”“Not he







