All Chapters of THE SUBSTITUTE LUNA: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

IRIS. Draco and I were ushered in by the palace attendants to the Great Hall, where the dinner was being served. The Kings’ children had just entered, and they were cued to let us in. I felt Draco’s hand on my back, rubbing it gently before I moved forward, following the men before us. And the moment the door opened and we walked in, all eyes were on us. “I… Iris?” Felicity stuttered as she slowly rose from her seat. I noticed the color was draining from her face. “You’re… you’re alive…”Adessa wasn’t lying when she told us that they instructed everyone who witnessed Draco and me appearing in the forest while they were searching for us to keep that day confidential. It seemed Princes Esriel, Esegar, and Esaias kept it as a secret too, as their two brothers, who were not there, looked surprised to see us tonight. “Hi…” I smiled at Felicity, trying to look meek and pleased to see her. Adessa reminded me not to give Felicity any reason to throw me out of the palace before Draco woul

DRACO.“Have you gone crazy?” Esmond chuckled arrogantly. “Felicity, darling. Reject him.”She didn’t respond, and the room fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Esmond turned around to look at his wife, who was standing alone with her eyes shifting between him and her mother. “Felicity?” Esmond called her again.The door opened, and the King entered together with Adelaine, just the people I was waiting for. “Tell him, Felicity, why don’t you want to reject me now?” I asked confidently.“What?” Felicity asked, snapping at me as her forehead creased. “What are you talking about?”Fuck! Her response rattled me. What if she rejected me right away before I could get the truth out? I was banking on the hesitation she showed and her withdrawal of the rejection she was asking when she saw Iris with me on the night we arrived to join Adessa’s pre-wedding celebration. I hope my intuition was right that she didn’t want to reject me because it would restore my bond with Iris. “I a

IRIS.“Did you use that potion on Esmond? Maybe because a prince is of a higher rank than an Alpha,” the voice continued speaking and all attention shifted to the prince, who was sitting on top of a desk. It was Prince Esaias.“What? No! I didn’t! Why would I need to resort to that when Esmond already loved me…” Felicity said, flabbergasted, as she kept shaking her head. “What the fuck is that question?” Esmond bellowed at his brother. “Do you really love her?” Esaias jumped from the table and crossed his arms as a cocky, sarcastic grin tugged at his mouth. “I was there the first time Alpha Draco introduced Felicity to you and you never gave her a second look. And the same thing happened when we saw her at the second encounter but all of a sudden you were smitten at the end of that night. With how she forged the bond between her and Draco, I could only assume she was also capable of enchanting you…” Esaias continued speaking as my heart thundered. As he explained it, this was also a

DRACO.“What if Felicity was right? What if the rejection would kill my wolf?” Iris’ words cut me, but I knew there was nothing more we could do at this point. If we killed her wolf, I was to blame. I didn’t consider everything. I’d been selfish because all I wanted was to break the bond with her. “I’m sorry…” I mumbled as I cupped her cheeks, at a loss for words. “I’m sorry…” “Are we still going to be okay without my wolf? Will you still want me?”“I want you, and I have loved you even without the bond, Iris. You’re mine, with or without your wolf.”Her lips quiver as more tears trickle down her face. “I wish you could have seen her. She’s small compared to your wolf but she has such fluffy fur that no one could tell she was so undernourished… You would love her.”My eyes watered as I pressed my lips against her forehead. “I’m sure I would. And we can always dream of her. You can share your memory of her with me through the Orebrus… Not now, but maybe one day.”Her body shook with

IRIS. The wind blew against my fur as I ran under the moonlight—carefree and giddy like a bird—because I was fully aware that Draco was just behind me. The moment felt surreal, and even with the big possibility that we were no longer fated mates, this was already a dream. I had my wolf back, and I got Draco to love me. Three years ago, they were both taken away from me, together with the mate bond that I thought would save me from the miserable life I had. It wasn’t an easy journey to get here, and I knew there were more challenges to come, but I didn’t want to think of it yet.Tonight was all about me and my wolf—and Draco. My wolf tried to run faster even though my legs were wobbling. I knew my wolf needed more time to regain her strength, but I was still pushing us to our limit.It didn’t take long before I felt her energy dwindling. It was time to shift back into my human form. I slowed down, and Draco picked up his pace so he ended up running beside me. ‘Are you okay?’ He ask