Chapter 100 Ticking time
IRIS
I blink. The world feels heavy, thick and blurry, like I am underwater and struggling to break through the surface. My limbs weigh down like lead, and every breath tastes like ash.
A rough hand brushes my hair back from my forehead. “Iris? You’re awake.”
Darian’s voice is low, trembling with relief. I turn my head slowly, fighting the dizziness, to see him sitting beside me, exhaustion shadowing his face.
“Iris…” he breathes. “Thank God.”
I try to smile, but my throat feels raw. “I’m… here.”
His hand linger against my cheek, warm and steady. “I was so scared, I thought that...”
I swallow, careful not to reveal the storm inside. My voice cracks when I say, “You don’t have to carry it all, Darian.”
His eyes darken. “But I do. You nearly died.”
I hesitate, then look away, blinking hard as a flicker of gold shimmers in my eyes, just for a second, before I force them back to normal.
I look around and noticed I am not at my grandparent’s house anymore. They must have moved me after Adira pulled that stunt. I don’t want to talk about it though.
“I’m stronger than I look,” I say quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.
He frowns, searching my face. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “I just… I need rest.”
He doesn’t push. Instead, he settles beside me, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry, Iris. For everything.”
“Not everything is yours to carry,” I whisper back.
A silence stretches between us, soft and fragile, like the moment could shatter at any second.
That’s when the ache begins, right between my shoulder blades, a heat flaring in my chest that isn’t quite pain but not far from it. I swallow hard, trying not to show it.
Darian notices. His hand pauses. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile. “I’m fine.”
But I am not.
“Alright, Adrian is on his way with Daisy,” he says with a knowing smile and my eyes light up immediately.
“Are you serious?” I attempt to sit up and he stops me with a hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, she threatened to kill us if we didn’t bring her to you.”
I laugh. Typical Daisy.
“I need to get a few things, I’ll be back soon?”
I nod and he is out the door.
The cabin is too quiet. The kind of quiet that presses on your chest and makes you forget how to breathe. I sit by the window, tracing circles on the fogged glass with a trembling finger, hoping the chill outside will cool the heat burning beneath my skin.
“Hey,” Daisy’s voice startles me from behind. I hadn’t even heard her come in. “You okay?”
I squeal in excitement and he skips over, pulling me into a hug. Oh my goodness, I’ve missed her so much.
“I’m fine.” I reply and she pulls away from the hug.
She doesn’t buy it. Her brows furrow as she moves stands, settling in the chair beside me. “You don’t look fine. You look… exhausted.”
“I’m just tired. The poison.” I try to make it sound casual. Like it is just a scratch on my skin instead of a jagged wound through my soul.
Daisy sighs, eyes sharp. “You don’t have to pretend. Not with me.”
I shake my head and look away. “I’m fine. I’m better than fine.”
Her gaze doesn’t waver. “Iris, your wolf is screaming to be let out. I can see it. You can’t hide it.”
I clench my fists in my lap. “I’m not hiding anything.”
“Your eyes,” Daisy says softly. “They flickered golden when you moved just now.”
I don’t answer.
She waits a moment and then says quietly, “It’s the mark, isn’t it?”
The word hits me like a slap. The mark. Darian’s mark. The one I never wanted but can’t undo.
I meet her eyes, shame and fear warring on my face. “It’s stronger now. I can feel it. Like it’s burning into me.”
Daisy’s voice is gentle but serious. “That’s because it is. The mark isn’t just a symbol. It’s alive, growing, and binding you both in ways you don’t fully understand yet.”
“Tell me,” I whisper, voice breaking. “Tell me what it means.”
She nods slowly and leans forward, her fingers knitting together in front of her. “The mating mark, it’s ancient. Royal Lycans have known about it for centuries. It’s how a bond is sealed.”
“Bond?” I echo, bitter. “More like a chain.”
“Not always,” she says. “But yes, it does come with weight. The thing is, the mark isn’t just about being connected emotionally. It’s a physical bond between your wolf and Darian’s.”
I swallow hard, the lump in my throat growing. “I don’t want it.”
“I know. And that’s why this is dangerous.”
I stare at her, wide-eyed.
She takes a breath and presses on. “If you two are meant to be mates, the mark triggers a mating ceremony. It’s a process your bodies are supposed to complete together. If it’s left incomplete...”
I shiver.
“...your wolf starts to reject your human form. It doesn’t understand why it’s been marked but hasn’t fully bonded. It tries to take over.”
“Like losing control,” I murmur.
“Exactly. Your wolf will fight to break free, and your body will weaken. The more time passes, the worse it gets. If the bond isn’t completed, your wolf will consume you.”
I close my eyes and fight back tears. “That sounds like death.”
Daisy nods, biting her lip. “It is. It’s happened before.”
I let out a shaky breath and finally ask the question I’ve been afraid to say aloud. “Is there a way to stop it?”
“There’s only one way to end the pain,” Daisy says softly. “Complete the bond. The mating ceremony. But that means accepting Darian as your mate, fully and forever.”
I bite my lip, a bitter laugh escaping. “Forever? What if I don’t want that? What if I don’t want to be his?”
Daisy’s gaze is unwavering. “Then you fight to survive. But the longer you wait, the more your wolf fights back.”
I look away, heart pounding. “And if I refuse? If I run?”
“Your body will betray you. The wolf will start to break down your strength, your mind. You’ll lose control, become dangerous, even to yourself.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “That’s... terrifying.”
Daisy reaches over and places a hand on mine. “I’m here, okay? You’re not alone.”
I squeeze her hand, grateful but still scared. “Why didn’t Darian tell me? Why didn’t anyone?”
“Maybe he doesn’t know.” Daisy shrugs. “Or maybe they thought you’d figure it out in time. Or maybe... they wanted to protect you from the truth.”
“Protect me?” I laugh hollowly. “From dying?”
Daisy looks away, then back. “Sometimes love makes people blind.”
I nod slowly. “I don’t want to be blind anymore.”
A heavy silence fell between us.
Finally, Daisy says, “You need to decide soon, Iris. Because your wolf won’t wait.”
I swallow hard. “What do I do now?”
“You rest. Take care of yourself. And when you’re ready, talk to Darian. Be honest. No more hiding.”
“I’m scared.”
Daisy smiles softly. “Good. Fear keeps us alive.”
I let out a shaky breath and close my eyes, feeling the ache inside my chest, the ache of a wolf caught between worlds, of a girl caught between love and survival.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“For what?”
“For listening. For not turning away.”
Daisy nods. “Always.”
The wolf is waking. The fire inside me is growing. And the mark… the mark is no longer just a symbol. It is a ticking clock.