บททั้งหมดของ The New Alpha's Return : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 7

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.B

That meeting stayed with her, mainly because Amara wouldn't shut up about it. "The Alpha King, he told you to call him by his name. My lady, don't you think that...". But that was the problem. She would rather not think too much about it. Didn't want to think too much about the Duke's gray eyes and the way they were filled with guilt. How he had apologized after. How her guts had churned but not in discomfort. Amidst all this, there were more pressing matters to consider, such as Nathan's rapid recovery. King George had brought every healer with a weight to their name, and it had paid off. In just a day, there were rumors that the pack's beloved Duke had opened his eyes. They even said he would walk again. Rumors circulated about the actions he might take towards his haggard wife once he was discharged from the hospital. But every time she brought up the topic, Amara shut it down. "Didn't the Lycan King Asher ask you to come to him when you need something? Why not ask him for a

"...""..." Amara smiled.Iris sighed, "Please don't say it.""But how can I not say it?." She did a graceful twirl with the ivory ball gown hung on her arm, "Can't you see, I think Alpha Asher fancies you." Amara shook the letter before her face, the gold royal seal catching the sunlight. "A separate invite for you , asking you to come as an important guest to the king?" She swooned, "Just three days after he treated your wound. Oh goddess"Iris laughed and turned away. "For the last time, King Asher did not treat my wound, Duke Atlas did.""Because he asked him to?""No not because he asked him to" she waved Amara Off, " Besides aren't you in the same age gap as his majesty, perhaps if you brushed that bed nest instead of spying on Knights training and taunting me, you'll have a chance with him."Amara scoffed, "As if." But once again her face broke into a smile, "What if the king was really interested in you, will you give him a chance, My lady, future Luna of Pack Astralis.""

So she ran—away from the sound of his voice calling her back, away from the hall, from Nathan, from all the secrets they carried.Her head felt too heavy, her legs too light.She trembled as the wind whooshed past her ears the faster she sprinted down the deserted road.Because when he had stared into her eyes, when he had muttered, "Happy birthday, Lady Iris," with that flower in her face, it had felt familiar.For once, she hadn't cared about the raging gossips or the scandals that would come later. Instead, she had searched his eyes, hoping to see more, but... it refused to come.Was it really her birthday? Was it? Why did it feel like it wasn't the first time he was raising a marigold to her face?At a distance, lightning seared through the dark sky.A throne... Iris staggered to a stop, dropping to her knees in the middle of nowhere as the rain came down on her, dampening her hair and soaking her clothes.She once had a throne... and today might be her birthday, not that one cold