Chapter 160 The Tearful Vow

Chapter 160 The Tearful Vow
"I wake up wanting you." He said and swallowed. "Then I remember you're not just mine."

He looked away.

"And I hate myself for even thinking that way."

Iris reached for his hand. He let her take it.

"I don't want to become someone who locks you away because I'm afraid you'll choose somebody else." His eyes met hers again. "And that's what scares me."

She frowned through her tears.

"What? Why? I don't understand."

"If I keep you close...." He hesitated. "...if I keep waking up beside you, touching you, smelling you..."

His jaw tightened.

"My instincts may become stronger than my judgment."

He looked ashamed.

"I could become obsessed."

Iris stared at him.

"I might tell myself I'm protecting you when I'm actually keeping you." His fingers tightened around hers. "I could do something wild just to keep you from leaving."

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"And I don't want to become that man."

Iris shook her head immediately in disbelief.

"You wouldn't."

"You don't know that." He gave her a sad smile. "That's the problem."

She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. Alexander held her tightly.

"I don't want to break your trust." His voice disappeared against her hair. "I'd rather lose you honestly than keep you by force."

Iris sobbed.

"Come on. Don't say that."

"I have to. You need to know."

"No, I...." She clung tighter. "I don't want to lose you. You deserve to be loved by me and I, you."

Alexander's arms tightened around her.

"I know."

"I don't want to lose Armari either." She cried harder. "And Liam... and Jasper..."

She pulled back, frustrated with herself.

"I hate this thing. I hate that I can't understand what my own heart is doing." She wiped her cheeks. "I feel like something is wrong with me."

Alexander immediately shook his head.

"Nothing is wrong with you."

"But...."

"Nothing is wrong with you, Iris." He held her face between his hands.

"You're waking up."

His voice softened.

"Your whole world is changing. You don't have to understand everything today."

Iris looked at him through wet lashes.

"And you?" She asked.

He smiled sadly.

"I'll survive."

She shook her head. "You shouldn't have to."

"I'll survive." He kissed her forehead. "But I need to take you home."

Her eyes widened.

"Already?"

"Yes." He looked toward the window. "Before I become too overwhelmed. Classes start too."

A tiny, broken laugh escaped her.

"You're scared of yourself?"

"Very." He smiled faintly. "Because I already want to keep you."

Iris's eyes filled again.

"And I don't want that feeling to become a cage."

She nodded slowly and whispered.

"Yes. I understand."

He studied her. "Do you? Really?"

She sniffled and giggled, caught red-handed.

"I'm trying."

Alexander smiled.

"That's enough."

He pulled her into one final embrace. And for a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Two people who loved each other desperately choosing not to turn that love into a prison.

When they finally separated, Iris wiped her face. Then Alexander gave her a tiny smile.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"Home."

She nodded. But as she took his hand, she looked at him one more time.

"I really do love you."

Alexander's eyes softened.

"I know." He squeezed her fingers. "And that's exactly why I have to let you choose. Keep that in mind."

Iris remained quiet for a while, her fingers still curled around Alexander's. Then she remembered something. Her eyes lifted.

"Uhm.... Alexander?"

"Hm?"

"There's something else."

He looked at her.

"That ancient woman..."

His expression changed slightly.

"The woman who looks exactly like me."

At that, Alexander went still and Iris noticed.

"You know who I'm talking about."

He slowly exhaled. "Where did you see her?"

"In Armari's library."

She swallowed.

"There was a drawing. Or maybe it's a painting. And a tagline." Her voice became quieter. "And she looked exactly like me."

Alexander stared at the floor for a long moment. Iris squeezed his hand.

"Who was she?"

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then he rubbed a hand over his face.

"I've heard stories about her and it links to you somehow."

"Stories?"

"Old ones." He looked back at her. "Stories that most werewolves don't even believe anymore."

Iris waited. Alexander shifted closer and gently pulled her against his side.

"There are ancient witches who have hated werewolves for generations."

Iris frowned.

"Why?"

"Nobody knows the whole truth." He paused. "But some say the hatred started with a war. A very old one. Between witches and werewolves."

Iris's brows furrowed.

"And they still hate wolves?"

"Some of them."

Alexander nodded.

"There is an ancient coven that has spent generations studying our kind."

"Studying?"

"Trying to understand us." His expression became more serious. "And trying to destroy us."

Iris's eyes widened.

"Destroy all werewolves?"

"That's what the old stories say."

He rubbed his thumb gently over her knuckles.

"They know things our packs don't. Things about the matebond."

Iris's stomach tightened.

"And the curse?"

Alexander nodded, grimly.

"They may know more about it than anyone."

"Then why don't they help?"

He gave a humorless little smile. "Because they don't support or trust us. Apparently, they believe the matebond and the curse could eventually create a war powerful enough to destroy entire packs. And that's exactly what they want."

Iris stared at him.

"So they know how to stop it?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"They've never given the werewolves the answer."

"Why?"

Alexander's gaze dropped. "They're strongly withholding it."

Iris's face fell.

"That's cruel."

"Probably." He said and sighed. "But there is one thing both sides seem to agree on."

Iris waited.

"You have to awaken."

She stiffened.

"Me?"

Alexander nodded.

"Whatever is happening inside you..." He gently touched her chest. "...it's already happening. Your senses. Your eyes. Your strength. Your emotions. Everything is changing."

Iris swallowed.

"And when I awaken?"

Alexander hesitated.

"We don't know."

She frowned.

"You don't know?"

"No one knows what you'll become and what else will happen."

The words sent a chill through her.

"But if I become dangerous..." She began to say and Alexander looked into her eyes.

"Then there are people who believe you would have to be stopped." He said.

"How do they stop me?"

He didn't answer immediately. Iris understood anyway.

Her voice became small.

"By killing me?"

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"That's what some of the oldest records suggest."

Iris looked away in sheer shock. For a moment, neither spoke. Then she whispered, "So everyone is waiting to see what I become."

"Not everyone." He said and gently turned her face toward him. "I won't."

Her eyes filled.

"You don't even know what I'll become."

"I don't care." He smiled softly. "You're still you."

Iris stared at him. Then her gaze dropped.

"But the woman...." She swallowed. "The woman in Armari's library."

Alexander's expression became thoughtful.

"There's something you should know." He said a few moments later.

"What?"

"Long before any of us were born..." He paused. "...there were Lunas who were different."

Iris waited.

"Some were said to have extraordinary powers. More than ordinary Lunas. More than some Alphas."

Her eyes widened.

"What were they called?"

Alexander looked at her.

"Quad-Lunas."

Iris's breath caught as she made a quick calculation.

"Quad.... Lunas?" She stammered.

He nodded.

"Yes. Because they could form bonds with four powerful Alphas."

Iris's fingers tightened around his.

"Four."

"Yes."

She stared ahead. "Like me?"

Alexander didn't answer. That silence told her enough. Her voice became barely audible.

"Tell me, Alexander. Please."

He took a slow breath.

"The old stories say they were incredibly powerful. Some were healers. Some could command other wolves. Some could manipulate supernatural energy. And some..." He paused. "...were feared."

Iris looked at him.

"Why?"

Alexander's expression softened. "Because they loved differently."

She frowned. "What does that mean?"

"They loved deeply." He smiled sadly. "Completely."

"They weren't good at loving halfway."

Iris looked down at their intertwined hands. Alexander continued quietly.

"Some records describe them as having fragile hearts."

"Fragile?"

"Not weak." He shook his head. "Never weak. Just...."

He searched for the right word.

"....sensitive. Their emotions were connected to their power. When they were happy, their power could become overwhelming. When they were hurt...." His voice lowered. "....entire packs could suffer."

Iris's eyes slowly widened.

"That's.... that's so terrifying."

"It is."

She looked at him.

"And the woman?"

Alexander glanced away.

"I don't know if she was a Quad-Luna. But she could have been."

Iris's heart pounded.

"Then why does she look exactly like me?"

Alexander was silent. She waited.

"Alexander."

He finally looked at her.

"I don't know."

The honesty in his voice made her chest ache.

"But I promise you something." He reached up and gently brushed her hair away from her face. "I won't let old stories decide who you are."

Iris's eyes filled again.

"And if I'm really one of them?"

"Then we'll find out together."

"What if I'm dangerous?"

"I'll tell you."

"What if I'm powerful?"

"I'll help you control it."

"What if I lose myself?"

Alexander's eyes softened.

"Then I'll remind you who you are."

A tear slipped down Iris's cheek again and Alexander wiped it away.

"But I need you to promise me something too." He said.

"What?"

"Don't be afraid of yourself. You're the heroine in your own story."

She stared at him. "I don't know if I can be brave after hearing all these."

"You don't have to be fearless." His thumb brushed beneath her eye. "Just don't run from yourself."

Iris leaned into his palm. For a moment, she closed her eyes. Then she whispered, "Okay."

Alexander smiled.

"Good."

But neither of them noticed the faint shimmer that passed through Iris's eyes again.

Red. Then gold. Then something neither of them had ever seen before. And somewhere far away in a coven.... an ancient spell stirred.





IRIS'S POV:

School seemed strangely normal when Alexander dropped me off around twelve. In fact, thinking of everything that had happened yesterday, it seemed too normal.

Except for the secret stares that came my way. Only God knew who was advising them to cut down on their stares

Students crowded the walkways, laughing and shouting as they hurried between buildings. Someone was already arguing loudly about the football scrimmage while music played from somewhere across the campus.

For a few minutes, I almost forgot everything. Then I spotted Roanna.

"Roanna!"

She turned. The moment her eyes met mine, her face lit up.

"Iris-baby!"

She hurried toward me and wrapped her arms around me. I laughed and hugged her tightly.

"I missed you!" She squealed.