Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Iris Bennett's POV

I selected several desserts that looked absolutely tempting. Though every single one appealed to my taste buds, I didn't dare eat too much.

Amelia's warning still lingered in my mind. For the health of both me and the baby, I had to watch my diet.

"By the way, Iris. If you don't want to return to Silvermoon Pack, you could also come to the King's palace." Lucas suddenly spoke up.

I had been savoring the dessert in front of me and looked up at him in confusion, startled by his words.

"I think I'd better not."

However, a strange thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Perhaps that was exactly why he'd appeared at Silvermoon Pack. He'd come specifically for me, only his purpose wasn't quite what I'd imagined.

He wanted me to work for him.

He had indeed praised me in front of the King's subordinates. But as Bloodridge Pack's Luna, there was no way I could switch allegiance.

"You're not worried I have some ulterior motive toward you, are you?" Lucas chuckled softly.

"Of course not. You're my best friend," I answered instinctively.

But the smile on his face made me start doubting my initial judgment. If he didn't have feelings for me, there were many things he simply wouldn't have needed to do.

"Ah, of course. I know that."

He still wore that gentle smile. But I felt like his thoughts might not be quite so simple.

I just didn't want to ruin the relationship between the two of us.

But now I'd completely lost my appetite. Even the cake in front of me had become bland and tasteless.

This was just too awkward.

Though I should properly discuss Silvermoon Pack matters with Lucas, sitting here, I couldn't say anything at all. I even felt an impulse to run away.

"If you can't talk about it, don't force yourself. Just treat this as an ordinary gathering between friends." Lucas seemed to see through my helplessness and spoke gently to break the tension.

"I'm sorry. I need to calm down for a moment."

I braced both hands against the sink, staring at myself in the mirror.

I still looked somewhat haggard, just not as severe thanks to the makeup.

"Okay... don't overthink it." I tried hard to reassure myself.

Once my heartbeat finally steadied, I touched up my makeup and prepared to leave.

But a familiar figure caught my attention. Curious, I followed the direction where that figure had gone.

It was actually Claire?

The last time I'd seen her, her mother had been forcing her to abort the baby in her belly and become the Birchwood Pack Alpha's mate.

She'd firmly refused and made it clear she wanted to pursue her own life.

Seeing her here now, I was still somewhat curious.

How was this girl who was so determined to pursue her true love doing now? Had she achieved the life she wanted?

Though the one thing I could confirm was that the Birchwood Pack Alpha remained single to this day. Which meant she at least hadn't gone against her own will to become Birchwood Pack's Luna.

Before I could get any closer, a rather handsome man walked up to her. He put his arm around her shoulders, pleading urgently.

"Sweetheart, I'm begging you. Our financial situation isn't ideal right now, and I'm not ready to be a father. Just get rid of this baby, okay?"

Were they really still living like this?

But the two of them were focused on each other, completely unaware of my approach.

"But that's not what you said before." Claire looked up at him, her eyes filled with incredibly complex emotions.

"Didn't you say that as soon as I got pregnant, we could become mates? That I'd leave Bloodridge Pack with you, and we could go anywhere we wanted. This baby is a gift from heaven. I won't give him up."

"Of course, sweetheart, it is a gift, but we need to consider the reality. I have nothing right now. I can't let the two of you wander with me. I'd feel guilty forever." He spoke in an exaggerated tone, his voice breaking with sobs.

Her eyes widened, as if she was being swayed.

"Besides, we're young enough. Life still holds infinite possibilities. Once our life gets better, it won't be too late to have children." He leaned in and left a kiss on Claire's cheek.

"Let's think about this some more, okay?"

But whether or not to have a child should be entirely Claire's decision. What was he really trying to say?

Still, this had nothing to do with me. I couldn't even manage my own affairs properly. I probably didn't have the energy to worry about these things.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Claire's voice grew smaller and smaller. But to me, she looked completely bewitched.

"So this is what people become when they fall in love," my wolf snorted coldly in my mind.

"Iris, you know what? You look just like that too. Your love for Adrian has completely clouded your judgment."

"But what's happening to her is complete deception!" I answered indignantly. How could this be the same as what Adrian had done before?

"But she herself might not think so. If you told her the truth right now, she'd probably challenge you to a duel," my wolf replied sarcastically.

"Incidentally, you're the same. In other people's eyes, you're just that annoying wolf who occupies Bloodridge Pack's Luna position and refuses to leave, while Zoe is Adrian's true mate, the eternal victim."

"I don't even know how they laugh at me behind my back."

I closed my eyes.

There was probably nothing more laughable in this world than me.

I sighed, composed myself, and returned to Lucas's side.

"You look much better now than before. Have you finally made up your mind to be an Alpha?" Lucas's tone was relaxed as he naturally made a joke.

In the past, he rarely spoke this way. Though he was gentle, sometimes he still felt too serious.

His current demeanor made me feel like everything had changed. Even I wasn't the same as before.

"I haven't decided yet. Maybe Silvermoon Pack can choose a new Alpha, like Amelia?" I answered quietly.

"I have too many troubles right now. Perhaps I'm not suitable to be there anymore."

"Then you need to plan carefully where you'll go after leaving Bloodridge Pack. I'm serious—you really should consider coming to the King's palace." Lucas frowned, as if genuinely thinking it over.

"I'm extending a sincere invitation to you."