Chapter 82
Iris
He obliged and lowered himself with a grunt. We stayed in silence for a while until it became uncomfortable.
"Have you been here before," I threw a question at him.
"No," He answered curtly. "How could I have ever come here? I'm not from this pack, remember? But this place is beautiful." He gushed at the sight. "What is it called?" He sounded curious and I was at a loss of what to tell him.
My trust in people was broken, shattered the more after Gradel had disappointed and betrayed me, but Elda seemed harmless. At least, he was by my side when I needed him.
"Illyra. That's what it is called. Not many people know about this place and I prefer it that way because, in situations like this, I come here to let out some steam and get energized." I explained.
He chuckled softly. "So you come here to recharge your life battery?" He joked.
"Yes, I do..." I bent my head and tried to shove aside the memories from the first time Gradel and I came here filtered in.
We had so much fun that afternoon and that was when I realized that he had forced his way into my heart, took a room and he was never getting out.
Because I couldn't understand why my soul longed for him even when my mind was giving me a hundred and one reasons why I should stay away from him.
"Are you alright?" Elda broke into my reverie.
My teeth sank into my lower lip and I blinked hard to keep my tears from falling. "I... think I am," My voice was shaky and even a child would know that I was seconds away from bursting into tears.
He pushed closer to me and gently tucked away the strands of my hair covering my face behind my ear. And then he tilted my face up so that our eyes could meet.
And I saw concern and glints of affection blaring in his eyes.
"Why are you still with him after how he hurt you?" He mused, but behind the nonchalant question echoed anger directed toward my mate.
I whipped a surprised glance at him, squinting my eyes. "Why shouldn't I be with him?" I retorted.
"Because he doesn't care about you, Iris. Whatever happened to at the market was his fault, you know."
My lips fell open in surprise. "What the hell are you talking about? Have you forgotten that he is your boss and ruler? My mate, whom you speak so badly of saved your life-"
"Not him. You saved my life. He couldn't go against your wishes or make you sad so he had no choice but to accept me. If you didn't save me in the market that day, I'd be dead meat by now. Those angry mob at the market would have torn me into pieces but you stood your ground and saved me so I can stand by and watch you get hurt either physically or emotionally," He spoke vehemently.
"And what are you going to do about my situation?" I questioned.
He stood up and stretched his hand to me. "Runaway with me, Iris. Let's start life afresh together," He proposed and my eyes became dizzy.
I ignored his hand and a scoff flew past my mouth.
"I'm mated to your Alpha already so that isn't an option and what makes you think that my life will be better with you? I barely know you," I argued and ran my lip over my dry tongue. "How did you even come up with this?" I asked in disbelief.
He smirked and shrugged. "You don't need to know me, honey, and have it at the back of your mind that nothing is permanent. Even a servant can become a king one day," He spewed and walked away, leaving me bewildered.
I didn't know what to say to him or what to do about his words. He was speaking in parables and presently, he didn't look like the hungry and wretched man I'd saved at the market.
He spoke like a man who had an intention, a motive. His presence radiated a strange aura that couldn't be associated with a mere man.
There was something about him that I had to find out.
"Are you returning to the pack house or not? You know I can't leave you here," He shouted in front of me.
*********
Hazel waited for me at the dining table, her face glaring with nervousness. Guilt gathered in my chest at how I'd abandoned our friendship.
But it was obvious she didn't feel the same way with how she barreled towards me, her arms stretched for a hug.
Our bodies collided and she embraced me tightly while I unburdened myself on her. I missed my friend but I knew that I had to be away from her for some time to figure out my next line of action.
And it had to be done without anyone's interference.
"You scared me, friend." She rasped and held my hands.
I spared Elda a backward glance and he left after bowing. The tension between us was thick but I hoped that no one else could sense it because I didn't want anyone to have wrong ideas.
"Well, I didn't die as they wanted. I'm sure that they are disappointed wherever they are," I replied sarcastically and settled on a chair.
She did the same, irritated. "Those people, how could they conclude that you're capable of murder? They aren't even sure of what happened," She hollered. "I swear, I'd have fought them with everything in me if I was there. No one hurts my friend and gets away with it."
"Don't worry about them, Hazel. It has been sorted out. All I want to do now is to rest and find something else to do with my life before Gradel is coronated. At this point, I don't think I want to be their Luna," I admitted.
Before the attack, I'd been looking forward to being a Luna and implementing policies that would better the pack, especially the women, but they lost faith in me because of who succeeded in framing me twice and I lost faith in them as well.
"Just give it time, Iris. Everything will fall into place, but in the meantime, we'll dig into this mountain of food that has been set before us while we talk about married life," She joked.
I burst into a peal of laughter, silently appreciating her presence. What could I have done without her?
"And I also think joining you people won't be a bad idea, right?" A deep voice interjected and immediately I knew it was him.