Chapter Sixty Two

Chapter Sixty Two
My eyes flickered with a strange mix of excitement and dread, a tug-of-war I couldn’t hide no matter how hard I tried. He paused, watching me closely, and I knew I was giving too much away, though I couldn’t stop myself. 

He was actually considering my feelings, and somehow that only tightened the knot of sadness twisting in my chest. I wished I could smile, wished I could let him believe everything was fine. But how do I explain something I barely understand myself? How do I tell him that I’m the boy they… we are hunting?”

“Really?” I leaned closer, a soft, playful smile tugging at my lips, careful it didn’t show the tightness in my throat. “What’s the closest point?”

“Slow down, tiger,” he murmured, pulling me into a warm, close embrace as goosebumps prickled across my skin. His hands settled at my waist, firm but gentle, like he was afraid I’d slip away. “Let’s talk about us before any other thing,” he whispered, eyes searching mine. “I want us to understand each other the way you and Darius did.”

He leaned in, his lips hovering just an inch from mine, eyes soft with a jealousy he didn’t bother to hide. 

“It drives me crazy,” he breathed, minty warmth brushing against my nose, then he pulled me into a kiss, I couldn't hold it any longer as I swallowed his lips to mine. 

My wolf rumbled with joy, the sound echoing inside my head and it snapped me back to reality, I still hadn’t gotten what I truly came for, even though the truth had already broken me. But I couldn’t let my mother’s lies jeopardize the entire dark wolves. I jerked away from him, breath uneven, moved to the chair, he followed me behind like a hungry lion.

“Why the sudden change of heart?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “Are you doing this because you want to compete with Darius?” 

He stepped closer, his hand slowly caressing my shoulder.

“You’re also my mate, and I’m not competing with anyone. I just want to know you better,” he murmured, moving in front of me. He dragged the second seat closer, placing it directly opposite mine. His eyes burned into mine as he did, until our knees were only inches apart.

“Why are you always angry with me?” he asked softly. 

The question sent a wave of guilt crashing through me. 

“I’m trying,” he added. “I just want us to understand each other. Maybe then I’ll finally start getting things right.”

How do I tell him that I hated him?

That I planned his death, blind to the fact that I was the one being played all along?

How do you kidnap a child, kill his mother, leave the son barely alive… and expect the pack not to retaliate? How could anyone?

How do I explain to him that I finally understand?
That I see clearly now, why he carries so much hatred for my kind?

“I don’t hate you, Lucian. I…” My voice tripped over itself. I forced a defensive edge into my words. “You rejected me before. I don’t know what you expect me to do,” I lied, avoiding his gaze.

He moved his chair closer, the scrape of wood against the floor loud in the tense silence, our knees brushing against each other. His eyes softened, and he reached out, holding my hands gently. The heat of his touch seeped into my skin, grounding me in ways I didn’t want to admit.

“I’ve made so many mistakes,” he murmured, voice thick with regret. “Hurting you was the greatest of them. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving my love for you.”

The words caught in my throat, sharp and suffocating. If he truly knew what he was saying, I was certain he’d swallow those words whole.

“Don’t promise what you can’t fulfil,” I scoffed, forcing the edge into my voice.

“Then let me prove it,” he whispered. “But you have to give me access, Iris. If you don’t let me in… nothing I do will ever matter.”

His thumb brushed across my knuckles. His scent, his voice, his touch, everything about him, sent a shiver racing down my bloodstream, tightening every muscle in my body. 

Focus Iris.

I clenched my pussy, You are being distracted. I needed to get the information and leave.

“Why rush anything?” I snapped, pushing the anger forward, hoping it would shove my body out of his orbit and remind me why I was here.

He pulled back, leaning against his chair, emotions flickering raw in his eyes. A wave of guilt punched through me. My wolf surged, scratching and howling inside me for hurting our mate.

“Lucian… what I’m trying to say is that I need to heal first,” I breathed out, fingers curling on my lap. “I don’t know love. I don’t understand any of this. Being a wolf, having two mates…it’s all overwhelming.”

He exhaled slowly and leaned back, his fingers twitching like they wanted to reach for me but didn’t dare.

“Iris…” His voice was low, threaded with frustration and something softer beneath it. “I want you. And I’m sorry for being selfish, I can't control myself around you. But I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

I forced a smile down my cheeks holding back the tears that wished to fall,trying not to curse myself for being a dark wolf.

“Don’t make me tear up, Lucian… please.” I rose slowly, my voice trembling despite my best effort to stay composed, and walked toward the window.

“What’s the plan for the attack?” I asked, forcing my focus back to the task at hand.

He exhaled again, pushing off from the seat and moving toward the drawer in the corner, pulling out the map.

Fuck, I should have checked there first.

He stepped toward the table and spread the map across its surface, the edges sliding with a soft scrape. I leaned closer, eyes following the red circles as he began to explain.

“We head east and meet with the Bloodoak warriors. The spy said they’re near the Glamclaw pack, that’s the closest landmark. From there, we move here,” he explained.

I followed closely as his finger traced the red circles on the map.

“Is that a mountain?” I asked, looking at the mark his finger rested on.

“Yes. There’s a bamboo grove there,” he said, voice low and measured. “It rearranges itself whenever someone wanders too close… and they’re never seen again. That’s where he and his pack are and that’s where we’re heading.”

Mother. I knew she was the only one with power like that, but I shoved the realization down before it could show on my face.

“Who told the story, then?” I asked cautiously.

“Don’t rush, love,” he replied, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Our spy, he can control the wind, make the atmosphere go still. Some Alphas even tried to burn the place down, but it wouldn’t catch fire.”

He dropped onto the chair by the table and pulled me onto his lap,his arms settling around my back.

My chest tightened as a wave of fear washed over me.

“The spy… is a Dark Wolf? They’re the only ones with multiple powers,” I murmured,my voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” he corrected. “A witch.”

Some of the tightness in my chest eased. I couldn’t hide my emotions anymore; they spilled across my face.

“You good?” he asked, his fingers rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“Yeah… I didn’t pay much attention to the wolves around me at the orphanage, so I’m just… trying to understand,” I lied, clenching my fists on the table, nails digging into the wood, trying to steady my racing thoughts. 

Safe to change my name to Lier at this point… but what do I do?

“If it’s a witch, then we can track down every dark wolf location, right?” I asked, steadying my voice, refusing to let the fear leaking through my bones show.

“Sadly, he can only work in close proximity,” he muttered, his voice dropping. “But we’re still searching for a stronger one who can track them all at once.”

“What if these are good Dark Wolves? You…”

“There’s no good one,” he cut me off, hatred burning in his voice. “That thought is exactly what killed my mother, Iris.”

Before I could react, he flipped me over and lifted me onto the table, caging me in with his body.

“You have to listen to me, Iris. Please.” His hands trembled slightly on my waist. “I can’t afford to lose you. I almost lost everything once, and I can’t go through that again.” His eyes flickered against mine with desperation. “Promise me, baby.”

My stomach clenched. He’s right. Anyone in his place would drown in that kind of hatred.

“I promise,” I breathed… then forced myself to shift the topic. “What is it with Zareen’s son?”

His jaw tightened. 

“His pack killed my mother. And he’s on the Council’s most-wanted list.”

“You poor boy,” I whispered, brushing his cheeks, masking every bit of emotion with the tiny thread of control left in me. “I promise.”

I pressed my lips to his and smooched his upper lip for a few seconds before pulling away.

“I forgot I have something I need to handle with Suzy before evening,” I muttered lowly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

Mission successful for the very first time.