Chapter 40
Iris
I gulped and watched Giga's eyes water while he clenched his teeth in pain and embarrassment.
Seeing him one more time skidded me back to memory lane when he was so brutal and didn't care about my survival. All he wanted was my body.
He even framed me for what I didn't do, thankfully he helped me to meet the man that my heart beat for. My mate.
"Are you sure he has something to say?" I asked, doubtful.
A silent nod was what I got as an answer.
"Start talking now!" Gradel barked out an order that no one in his right senses could refuse.
Giga crawled towards me, his eyes brimming with remorse which I didn't care about. Seeing him again was like reopening old wounds and the only reason I hadn't left was because of Gradel.
He stopped at my feet, his body oozing horribly. I nearly puked.
"I'm so sorry, Iris. I shouldn't have framed you," He whispered.
Gradel kicked him immediately and he slumped, his back hitting the ground which made me wonder how long he had been beaten to feel so weak.
"You had better speak louder because there are several people who want to know the truth,"
My gaze was averted from Giga and then I took a cursory glance at my sides. My lips parted slightly when I saw the huge crowd that had formed. They were twice the crowd of little children who threw rotten items at me that day with adults who stood behind them.
I became breathless. "How were you able to do this?"
He smirked darkly, his hands folded behind him. "There's a reason why my father wants me to be the Alpha." He replied simply and returned his attention to a weak Giga.
"You can continue talking if you want to leave here alive and speak loudly too. The same way you were able to draw my attention that evening," He threatened.
The men behind him pulled him up and he fell on my knees again. "I framed my lady because I was obsessed with her. Just like other young girls who gave their bodies to me, I also wanted to have a taste of her. But when she refused me, I thought to teach her a lesson that would humiliate her and make her beg me for help. I regret ever doing that because she was innocent and now I know better. Please forgive me, My lady," He pleaded loudly.
I stared at him, speechless, my eyes watery. I was reluctant to speak because a dam of tears would follow shortly and I didn't desire to be a blabbering mess.
My case was the story of the rejected stone being the cornerstone but I didn't expect it to happen so swiftly. Was this what he meant when he promised to give me protection and prestige?
This was more than enough.
Now that everyone knew the truth, no one would ever look down on me or accuse me of being a thief. My name had been cleared.
"Take him back to the house," Gradel said to the pack police and they inclined their heads and dragged him away.
Right there, my tears broke free, pouring down in torrents. He took me into his arms, my tears staining his chest. I felt better with his tender caress on my back and gradually the tears ceased.
We didn't say anything to each other and then he led me away from the market square to an empty field. We crashed onto the grass while I enjoyed the feathery caress of the evening breeze on my skin.
Getting a grip on my emotions, I went ahead to ask a troubling question. "How?"
"I've been expecting you to ask me that." He chuckled and took my hand. "After the proposal, we had a discussion where you talked about Giga and how he humiliated you..." He trailed off.
My eyes flitted towards him interrogatively. "And what happened afterward?"
"The urge to make him pay back for humiliating my mate sprang up and I couldn't contain that desire," He confessed. "So I got him arrested in a private house that I own and made sure he confessed everything he did, including the number of girls he had treated unjustly. You were one of his victims, unfortunately, he chose the wrong prey because you are my mate"
My body shivered at the way he buttressed the word 'my mate'. It sounded like his wolf spoke through him.
"I didn't know that you went that far for me. I don't even know what to say or think. The confusion you plunge me into with your unstable feelings is heart-wrenching. Can you clear my doubts, please? I know you aren't into me but why do you keep acting like you care?"
He drew in a deep breath and sighed. "That's because I truly care." I could feel the struggle behind his admittance but that only created a puddle between my thighs.
'Stop thinking with your legs and focus on his response!' I chided myself.
"How?" I muttered.
"I've always cared for you from the first time we met, but I didn't accept it because of my past. I've always been alone after my mother died and it was safer for me until I met you. Then the moon goddess made us mates and I thought she was mistaken. You had stolen my bracelet and you had been rejected by my twin, everything felt like the world was against me. I asked you to come and stay in my room until I got an apartment because I wanted you safe. I've restored your prestige and offered you protection, the same way you've been able to rile up my father so we are even."
Bile was beginning to rise in my throat. At first, he sounded sweet and now I wasn't sure if I wanted him to continue talking. Why was my stomach clenching?
"Gradel..."
"I'm not done," He stopped me, softly. "I realized that you are a good woman who has been a victim of circumstance and you didn't deserve everything that happened to you from the beginning. That's why I'm deciding to let you go."
My ears vibrated and my head reeled as I processed his words. I wanted to scream, kick at him or the sky but the emotions stayed put in my throat as I stared at him absentmindedly.
"What about your bracelet?" I managed to ask, my eyes shimmering with hot tears.
"I'll find it myself. Just stay with me until my father celebrates his birthday then we can separate. I'll return to the human world where you won't hear from me again, but I assure you that you'll be well taken care of. The only thing I ask of is that you remain friends with me,"
Hell no. Friendship couldn't work between us. My mind had already registered him as someone more than a friend and I wasn't ready to change that narrative.
I shook my head as a nervous laughter rushed through my lips and then I got to my feet and looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't be your friend."