The following day, he was already by the window staring out of it feeling weird out each time he turned to look at the sleeping figure curled up on the bed.He sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hands, his elbows leaning against the pane of the high window.Out of desperation, nothing to it. He had kept on repeating to himself, knowing he was maybe kidding.Last night, it was intense; he had... loved her? Was this how the bonding was supposed to be? to help you see a different view of your mate?Because how couldn't they see how perfect she was? Her thoughts? Her feelings? Why was she so ethereal?He crossed his hands on his chest; he shouldn't be like this; they were going their separate ways once they figured everything out.It wouldn't do to drag her into his darkness. This wasn't him; his primary self was waiting at the gate of Blood Canine packhouse, ready to escort him into the dark, cold room. That gloom was him.The bond was going to cause a lot of distractions since they bo

Iris POVThe following day, we were already up at three so we could be escorted out of the gates by the vampires and dropped at the borders before sunrise.Waking up grumpy and feeling like something was eating at you was the worst.At one time, I caught myself wishing I could stay here."We could," Caci corrected, and immediately I turned to see Tristan looking out the window, hands on his chin. He raised his chin to scratch his neck, his adam's apple gleaming at me and making me swallow hard.I turned to my side of the window. I should stop staring and getting attached, but that was hard to remember, especially when he was this close.The car went downhill, the snow diminishing as we went farther away from the vampire clan.I hadn't gone too far, and I was already missing the vampire clan.I remembered Tyra hugging me as we said our final goodbyes. "Listen," she said, "it's not all over; we still have some hope.""It doesn't seem like it," I whispered.She caressed my hair and said,

Iris POVI was fighting a rising tide with my heart in my mouth, being forced to watch all of it.I was in a white gown, which the Omega had forced me to wear, with Eric telling me I would get Tristan's blood on it.Damn you, Tristan! You just had to come back, didn't you? You swore you had a plan, didn't you?"In minutes," Atlas whispered, "the spears would be running into him, just like he deserves." He pushed my chin to see the council suddenly surround Tristan, staffs in hand, flowing gowns, and painted faces.They would render him powerless so that he would be a rogue. Only a rogue.Which was okay if they didn't kill him after this.My heart was beating hard against my chest, and tears were stranded with all the fear that ate at my lungs and left me breathless."Isn't he your brother?" My croaky voice was so low I was surprised Alpha Atlas heard me."An offender is no brother of mine," he growled only at me."If he wouldn't do that to you, why are you doing all this?""It just mak

IRIS POV It's been three days in Bloodcanine, and all I could say was that a lot had changed, especially between Alpha Tristan and me.He wasn't the same person, not even giving me a second glance when he passed me, which wasn't very often.These days he was always in his wing, his door shut, and when I went in, I knew it would be dark. His gloom was back, and it scared me. But not enough to keep me away any longer; if he would keep me out, at least saying it to my face was the right thing to do.The light penetrated my window, making me realize I had spent the night thinking.Why couldn't I find a way to get him out of my head, no matter how hard I tried? It would take his words for me to understand his silence on whether he wanted me or not.I climbed out of bed, the pain reminding me of Atlas' abuse. It was a good thing he was keeping her away for the most part, but how long?Pulling the ribbons off my hair, I combed my fingers through it when there was a knock on my door.Without

"You have a mate, Stan! Why am I the only one left in the dark with all this?!" She paced in my room, so I sat back on the bed, staring at her, wondering what to say. "And why the fuck are her eyes like that?" "A long story," I shrugged, refusing to tell her more. She seemed out of control, and though I was a little bit mad at her for acting so crazy outside, I was bent on keeping calm about it. Didn't Iris defend herself already? I stopped the smile that was beginning to rise on my face. "She's so rude," Kath drawled, boot thudding as she walked around, "and you and Aidan just let her be rude to me like I am the problem?" "Kath, you were rude to her first; she only told you she wasn't an Omega." "You're siding with her now?" She looked at me in disbelief, and I shook my head. Kathy hadn't changed at all; memories of her running to me, feigning tears—somehow she constantly manipulated me to avenge her, and either I came back with my ass whooped or we somehow found our way out