Chapter 174 Too Little, Too Late

Chapter 174 Too Little, Too Late
Iris's POV

I have never been so humiliated in my life, all because Ryder decided to be an idiot who didn't know how to keep it in his pants. I knew he was searching for Alyssa but I didn't think he would go the extreme length of kidnapping her. And now, I was left with the humiliation of watching someone else take over my position.

And Alyssa? I can't believe she was mated to the Alpha King. I should've gone for him instead of settling for Ryder. He better hope I do not lay my eyes on him.

“I can't believe that girl." My stepmom said, an annoyed look on her face. "Just because Jace chose her, she thinks she's above everyone.”

"She's not welcome here.” I said, "I don't care if she's my brother's mate, what she's not going to do is boss me around.” I added, the embarrassment she was putting me through; calling her Luna, having me move out of my room and making some pack members look down on me like they weren't trying to get into my good grace just a few weeks ago.

“What's the plan?" I asked my girls. “She needs to leave and if possible take my brother with her." He's chosen his side, he might as well stick to it.

Nobody said anything and I frowned. “Can't you guys think of something?"

They looked at one another, “I don't know Iris,” one of them started. "I think she's doing a great job so far. Something you couldn't do in your time as Luna.”

I paused, "what the fuck are you talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from yelling. "Do you know who you're talking about?”

“Actually I do.” She said standing up. "I don't know about them but I'm sick and tired of you acting like the world revolves around you. For once, think of someone other than you…or your son."

“You must be out of your mind if you think you can talk to me like that."

She scoffed, “and what are you going to do? Throw me off your click?” She asked, “let me make it easy for you, I'm done walking in your shadow.”

She stomped out and I shook my head. "She never belonged here anyways. Where were we?"

Nobody answered. I frowned and looked around the room. “What?”

The girls exchanged glances. “You were talking about getting rid of Luna Aileen,” one of them finally reminded me.

I shot her a glare, “Aileen. I'm your Luna not her and I'm going to take back my position soon enough.”

I leaned back in my chair. “Now, let's focus on her instead of worrying about people who suddenly think they're better than me.”

“Maybe you should worry about yourself first.” Another girl said, and my head snapped to her, so fast that I was afraid I'd get a whiplash.

“What did you say?”

She swallowed but didn't look away this time. “I said maybe you should worry about yourself first, Iris. Because Luna Aileen isn't the problem and Zoe is right.”

I stared at her. “Zoe? So that's her name." I thought. “You're all letting yourself get deceived by that conniving snake.”

She shook her head. “No. We're finally seeing things clearly.”

My hand formed a fist.

“Luna Aileen has been here for three weeks and she's already doing more for this pack than you did in years. She's actually listening to people. She's making changes. She doesn't spend all day reminding everyone that she's important.” She said.

"She actually knows pack members names and calls them by it. Maybe for once, the pack needs a Luna like that.”

My jaw tightened. “You're just jealous.”

She laughed, “,Of what exactly? You don't have anything. Even Luna Alyssa was better than you, it's the reason even Alpha Ryder couldn't stop thinking about her. She’s the Luna Queen who’s loved by her mate while you're here dragging a position that was never truly yours.”

She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

“You'll regret this.” I told her.

She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe. But for the first time, I'm thinking for myself and not just following you blindly.” Then she walked out.

I stared at the closed door. One less person. But they were going to come back begging when they saw that like always, I was right.

I looked at the others. “If anyone else wants to leave, you can do that now." I told them and I watched as one by one they all stood up and left until it was remaining my stepmother and I.
I stared at the empty chairs, refusing to let the sting in my chest show.

“They’re unbelievable.” I stood up, straightening my clothes.

I was Iris, I had always gotten what I wanted.

At least, that was what I kept telling myself and all of this was Ryder's fault.

Ryder's POV

I rested my head against the dungeon’s wall, I can't believe that I, an Alpha, has been reduced to a nobody and all for what? An Omega? I wondered what he saw in her.

My body ached and due to the chains and the constant flogging with whip dipped in wolfsbane, even my wolf couldn't handle so it was impossible to heal.

But something I couldn't stop thinking about while sitting there, was what happened in the room. No matter how hard I tried to move close to her, I couldn't. It didn't make sense and no matter how hard I thought about it, the outcome was the same.

“I heard she's the one the prophecy was talking about.” One of the warriors guarding the dungeon said, "Alpha Zayne is very lucky.”

"Prophecy? What prophecy?” Another one asked.

“The one that was sent years ago about the werewolf that would change the werewolf community…she's really powerful I hear.”

Another person joined them, interested in the conversation. I was as still as my body would let me as I tried to listen to them.

"She healed my brother-in-law." The new person said, “he told us he'd be shot with something poisonous and was very certain he was going to die until she showed up and all he knew was that he felt better than he'd ever been."

“Alpha Zayne is alive thanks to her.” The first warrior added. "And I heard she can do even more things…something about moving things without touching them.”

My mind went back to how she'd shut the door even though she was nowhere close to it.

But it wasn't possible, Alyssa wasn't anything special. She was an ordinary Omega…she couldn't have the powers prophesied years ago.

"Is that what you want to believe?" My wolf asked weakly. “You saw her take us down without a sweat."

I shook my head, “it couldn't be, there's no way!" I thought. “I would've known if she was that powerful. I would've–"

“Listened to me when I told you not to treat her poorly?”
My throat tightened. I closed my eyes, remembering all the times she had looked at me with so much love. How she promised to stay by my side and lead the pack with me. But I wanted more and I thought more was Iris.

I thought about the nights I left her crying, the look of betrayal when I chose her stepsister. I made her believe she wasn't good enough but now, she was the most powerful woman the werewolf community had seen.

“Why didn't the moon goddess tell me? She could have been mine,” I whispered.

My wolf went silent.

I lowered my head, tears streaming down my face.
“What did I do?”

And for the first time, I wanted to go back. To the beginning, to the day I found out she was my mate. The joy in my heart when she accepted me. She'd kissed me and it felt like I was in a different world.

I just wanted one chance to look at Alyssa and treat her the way she deserved.

If I had known what she would become, I would've never treated her the way I did.

But now, I was sitting in the dungeon of the pack she now rules and everything I thought I had, was gone and I had no one to blame but myself.

PS: Two more chapters and we can draw the curtain. I'm not sure how I'm feeling about that😩😩