Chapter 15
Iris
I cringed inwardly as our bodies touched and right there I knew it wasn't the prince. It wasn't the man I wished to rescue me.
Oh Goddess, what have I gotten myself into?
I struggled out of his loose grip and caught my breath, taking a step backward. Then I peered up at his face and a shiver ran down my spine.
"Who are you?" I probed, quite satisfied that my voice didn't reveal how petrified I was.
He smirked crookedly and the thick long lines that ran horizontally from his nose to his ear became more visible. Panic gradually built up within me as I wondered what kind of man he was.
He wasn't from Grey Rock pack because of his facial features and his body build, and with how rugged he looked, I could tell that he was a rogue.
"You want to know who I am?" He rumbled as his smirk stretched.
I nodded with my lips parted widely. My fears couldn't be concealed now and if the man didn't leave my sight this minute, I'd pee on my underwear.
"I'm your worst nightmare, Iris. You shouldn't have made the mistake of coming out here to the woods." He said.
Surprise washed over me as I wondered how he knew my name, but he didn't even let me ask as he continued speaking.
"Confusion is written all over your face, but I want you to know that we've been watching you for some time now, especially after you were rejected by Alpha Cronus' second son."
No way he did that.
If he had been watching me, then he could be responsible for the missing bracelet. This man right here was the reason for my misery.
"And why have you been watching me? It's not like I'm someone of importance," I spat bitterly. "Everyone in the pack calls me a thief and I was on the verge of being killed before something happened and I left-"
"Before you realized that you were Gradel's mate?" He cut in with a cynical smile.
My mouth suddenly became heavy. I didn't want to be here with this man that I didn't know, but running back to the pack wasn't an option, and if I was being honest, this was the perfect time for the ground to open so I call fall in.
"Look, Sir, I'm not the one you need. My life is a huge mess right now and I'm on the verge of being killed, so can you let me go before the guards catch me and take me back to the pack?"
He snickered and advanced toward me. "What makes you think that I will let you go? You said you aren't important to anyone, but that's not true because you are very important to us."
I turned around immediately and tried to run but he pulled me back to himself and held my arms so tightly I thought my bones would snap.
"You can't run away from me, Iris. I'm taking you to our Alpha who will decide what to do with you."
My life flashed before my eyes and I knew how it would end. But did I deserve this kind of life? Did I deserve to be tossed around by everyone just because I wasn't opportuned to come from an elite family, have a wolf or a mate?
"Which Alpha?" I yelled at the top of my voice, "You'd have to kill me first." I challenged.
He shrugged and slung me over his arms like I had no weight. "You are of no use to us by being dead so stay quiet if you don't want to have it rough with me." He threatened, his tone serious and unkind.
"Where are you taking me to and why are you taking me away?" I writhed under his hold and kicked into the air.
He said nothing and that should have been a warning because when I opened my mouth to scream, I felt a heavy punch on the back of my head which caused my body to become numb and immediately I was met with darkness.
*********
"She's awake," I heard as my eyes opened to the bright room, causing a dull ache at the back of my head.
Two pair of eyes hovered over my face and when I scrutinized their faces, I realized that they were unfamiliar. Even the room looked different.
I tried to speak, but my tongue was parched and my throat felt like several stones were put inside of them to prevent me from making any sound.
My eyes kept darting around in search of the ugly-looking man who had taken me captive and brought me here, but I couldn't find him and I couldn't ask after him as well.
A woman sank onto my bed with a cunning smile. Her hair was packed in a tight bun and with the tight black blouse she wore, I could see the muscles her arms packed. She exuded strength which would have been admirable if I wasn't scared that she could use it against me.
She was about to address me when the man beside her whispered into her ear and left. She moved closer to me with a sardonic smile plastered on her face.
"This would have been easier if you were more obedient, but it doesn't matter because you're here now so I'll go ahead to tell you why you are here and if you co-operate with us we won't hurt you." She smiled, "My name is Zera."
My body was still numb from the weariness so I replied by tilting my head slightly and holding back a wince at the little movement.
"Your pack has something that we want, but they don't want to release it," She began explaining while I listened intently even though I wanted nothing more than to be out of there. "Your Alpha, Cronus, is the most selfish ruler I've ever seen and he made a mistake by undermining us."
Though I didn't care much about the pack since I'd made up my mind to leave, I still had Prince Gradel to think of. He hated me and wanted nothing to do with me, and I tried to return the feelings but it didn't work.
Instead, I found myself thinking about him all the time after all the pain he caused me.
"Are you even listening?" She patted my thighs with a disapproving frown on her face.
My throat was beginning to clear up which I liked because I didn't enjoy being dumb so I asked, "What... then... What do you need me for?" I forced out.
She smirked, her eyes darkening as she played with her fingers. "We need you to bait Gradel who will in turn lure the Alpha to this place."
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "How is that even possible? Prince Gradel despises me."
"No, he doesn't." She corrected. "He is your mate and fortunately, he didn't reject you which means he's bound to you in one way or the other. True, the both of haven't mated but he will feel your pain, your restlessness and he will try to save you." She got up and chuckled, "He was stupid for not rejecting you because we are going to use you to get what we want." She laughed sinisterly, her voice resonating in the room while fear overwhelmed me.