Chapter 84
Iris
I was also surprised by my outburst, after everything that they had done to me, they deserved to rot in jail but these people were motivated by what they thought I did.
They felt I was a murderer, but most of them didn't know me well enough to give me the benefit of the doubt.
"They were confused about everything and I availed myself to them the day I came to the market, ignorant of their plans. So, let them go, Gradel. You don't have to punish them for feeling the way they felt," I said in their defense.
He scoffed, staring at me as if I'd gone cray-cray. "Well, you have to understand that it isn't about you. It's about my will to protect you from anyone who thinks they can hurt you and go scot-free,"
Fury seared through me. "Then you'll lose me if you don't do what I asked," I screamed.
He tilted his head to the side, confused. "I'll lose you? What are you talking about?"
I inhaled deeply and let out an exhale, slowly counting to ten in my heart. It wouldn't be proper to yell at the future Alpha of this pack.
"If you don't release those women who did nothing but protest against the unscrupulous murder of your father who was their ruler and the innocent child, then I'll have no choice but to break this mating bond and be free from you." I spewed, my heart racing in a staccato rhythm.
It took a lot of courage to say that but that was the only way to get him to listen and I hope he'd do what I wanted as I didn't want to lose him.
"You can't do that," He chuckled bitterly.
My eyes widened and I shrugged nonchalantly. "Alright then. Watch me,"
I walked away from him and returned to the pack house, ready to pack my things. It was obvious the moon goddess had made a mistake by pairing me with such an obstinate man.
"Iris, don't do anything. You can't leave," He marched behind me while I quickened my pace.
I halted dead in my tracks when I got into the living room and met some of the sentinels guarding the house on the floor, their faces pale with their mouths covered with black clothes and their hands and limbs bound in chains.
Behind them were strange men dressed in ninja outfits. Their faces were covered but judging from their huge physique, I knew that they weren't from the pack.
My heart skipped two beats when a loud snicker resonated in the living room and I darted my gaze to the direction of the sound.
My lips parted widely when I saw a man, clad in the same Ninja outfit, his face masked, seated on Gradel's throne and I turned around to find the same gobsmacked expression on Gradel.
The issue with the women was forgotten, we had a bigger issue on our hands.
Before I could confront them, he asked. "Who are you and what are you doing in my pack?" He thundered.
The strange man barked out a peal of laughter-dark and chilly. He got up from the throne and strolled towards us, his gait regal but predatory. I almost forgot that I had a wolf, still, I hadn't harnessed the power I had.
True, I had some speed but was I strong enough to wage war against my enemies? I didn't think so.
Gradually his derisive laughter faded into a disparaging chuckle and then he tore off his mask. I gulped at the discovery and my legs began to move of their own accord toward him.
"Elda?" I called out, bewildered.
The distance between us had closed and I touched his face to be sure that the bodyguard that was with me at Illyra was the same man who had caused such chaos.
"Hi," He smirked cynically.
Cold chills ran down my spine as I stared at him. Little wonders I felt that way about him in the woods and now he had confirmed it, but it was hard to believe that my innocent looking bodyguard wasn't who I thought he was.
"Elda, what are you doing?" Gradel fumed.
He brushed past me and sank onto one of the sofas, crossing his leg over the other. "What I should have done a long time ago. Till now, I'm still wondering why I didn't just tell you people who I was,"
"Who you are? Aren't you Elda?" I cried.
He shook his head and laughed. "Yes, I am, My Lady. Elda is my name, I didn't fake that, but coming here and pretending to be hungry was fake. After watching you closely and learning of your past, I knew that you wouldn't ignore a hungry thief so I used it to my advantage to get to you,"
My knees buckled and suddenly I couldn't stand anymore. The room had become so quiet that even the drop of a pin onto the ground could be heard and so was everyone's breath.
I glanced to the side and I found Hazel, crouched on the floor as well with her eyes shut. She looked like she had been drugged-no, she had indeed been drugged.
"What have you done with my friend, you bastard," I yelled.
He placed his finger over his lips and winked at me. "I didn't do much, Iris, I only stopped her from screaming too much. It was annoying to my ears,"
"Now listen to me, Elda, for the sake of my people I won't begin a war here so I'm ordering you to leave this pack with your minions and don't ever return. You don't want to see the other side of me," Gradel threatened, his expression as cold as ice.
"On what ground are you going to throw me out? As an unlawful prince? You don't even know your place," He mocked, splaying his hands.
I was getting sick of the games so I cut in. "And who do you think you are to exchange words with him?"
His satirical demeanor changed and he got up and advanced towards Gradel who clenched his fists ready for a fight. The scary part was that if a fight broke out, it would transcend into a war that none of us were prepared for and lives would be lost.
And then he answered, "Well, I am the only surviving son of Damien Dai whom your father killed to take his place,"