Chapter 13
Iris
He froze, his gaze trained on me and for the first time, I saw him lose control. My heart fluttered and deep down I wished that he would confess that he liked me.
"I'm waiting for your response," I demanded with a harsh tone.
My voice was disrespectful, but I didn't care. After all, I'd die the next day so I could do as I pleased and if he wasn't comfortable with that, he could go ahead and kill me now.
I batted my lashes at him and then he swept swiftly across the cell and grabbed me by the neck, pulling me closer till there was almost no space between us.
"No, wench, I do not care about you. Don't feed your mind with illusions that will never materialize because you're not even up to my standard!" He spat, his nose flared while he breathed heavily.
His blatant rejection caused bile to rise to my throat and though I swallowed numerous times, it remained stuck, unmoving. I'd shot myself in the foot, thinking that the Alpha Prince would be interested in me.
If his brother who I'd never met could reject me without batting an eyelid, then I shouldn't have expected any better from his brother who already had a bad impression of me.
"C-Can... you let go of my throat?" I coughed, my face turning red. "You're hurting me," I forced out.
He gave me an angry once-over, and instead of pushing me away, he removed his hand from my neck, wrapped his hand around my waist and crashed his lips against mine.
My eyes widened, the same way my heart stopped beating. I held my breath and clenched my fists, and for a moment it seemed as if the world had stopped moving.
The more I tried to hold onto my resentment for him, the more his kiss muddled with my senses, setting my body on fire. The grudge I held against him gradually vanished into thin air, leaving me with an insatiable desire for him.
My lips which were unresponsive because of the state of shock I was in followed his lead. I'd never been kissed before and I didn't expect that the man who claimed incessantly that he hated me was physically interested in me.
His tongue pushed my mouth open and then he sucked my lower lip intensely as if his life depended on it. My legs trembled and I wouldn't have been able to remain standing if his grip around my waist wasn't firm.
A gasp tore out from my lips when his fingers touched the small of my back, and then he broke the contact with my mouth and trailed the kisses along my neck.
My walls clenched with unbridled desire and a puddle of wetness coated my thighs.
"Mmmmm, your arousal is calling out to me," He hummed as his tongue did a three-sixty on my ear. "Do you mind me tasting it?"
I nodded absentmindedly with my eyes shut. "Touch me, please," I moaned, squirming against his body.
My abdomen grazed his lower region and my body went rigid. He sensed my hesitation and paused as well, and then he quickly pulled away from me like I was some piece of hot coal that burned him.
My knees nearly buckled at the quick separation and then I got a grip on myself, not wanting to look smitten.
I glanced at him and noticed that he had put on his usual unbothered facade that masked his intense feelings. There was no hint that he had stared at me so passionately some seconds ago, not even a clue that his eyes had turned golden and his wolf had almost risen to the surface.
"You stole my first kiss and you aren't even my mate," I admitted, my face reddened with shame.
He shrugged. "Shouldn't you be happy that the prince of your pack kissed you a day before your execution?" He snickered with sarcasm dripping from his tone.
"If I wanted to be kissed or not has nothing to do with you, Sir. Before this happened, I asked you why you were concerned about my death yet you evaded my questions."
I was trying to avoid the thoughts that were compounding in my mind, like why his touch affected me so much and how he was able to evoke such powerful feelings within me even though he wasn't my mate.
"I'm not obligated to give answers to your questions, Iris... Have a good night," He turned around and headed towards the exit.
"Please, wait!" He halted in his tracks but didn't spare me a glance. "Why is that bracelet so important to you?" I probed, my eyes turning misty.
His shoulders rose and fell, and the balling of his fists didn't escape my sight. "The maids will change your clothes before taking you to the pack's square." He replied tersely and walked away.
I leaned against the wall and allowed the dam of tears to break free. I was confounded-torn between accepting that my death would usher me into a better place where I'd be free from this endless suffering, and daring to hope that the moon goddess would have pity on me and send me a mate.
"Iris?" Hazel's voice resonated in the cell and then she dashed towards me. "What's the matter? Haven't I told you not to worry that the bracelet would be found?" She scolded and took me into her arms.
"It's of no use, Hazel. The Alpha prince just informed me that my case has been taken over by the Alpha and that I'll be sentenced tomorrow." I announced.
She palmed my face, raking through my disheveled mane. "But that's so cruel of him," She lowered her voice, not wanting to be overheard by the guards. "How could he do that without listening to your side of the story?"
I sat up and dried my eyes. "I don't care anymore. I've accepted my fate and I can't wait to be unburdened with this heavy yoke called life."
"Don't say that,"
"What will you have me do?" I asked tiredly, stifling a yawn.
"Don't give up yet, that's what I'll have you do. And, I think there's a way you can survive the Alpha's verdict." She smirked, clapping her hands enthusiastically as she sprang to her feet.
"How?"