Hades She ran.
After my words to her, she hurried out and I let her.
I remained in the corridor long after Iris disappeared, my body still, my mind anything but that.
The silence she left behind was louder than any battle I had faced.
.
My hand was still raised.
It was reminding me what I had almost done.
What I had wanted to do.
My jaw tightened.
You wanted to kiss her, my wolf teased.
The thought ran through my mind.
I had a little to drink and I wanted to get some air before she ran into me.
I wouldn’t have said much to her on a normal day but I was compelled to talk to her.
My whole body was lit with desire.
That unsettled me because I do not lose control.
I shouldn’t feel that way for a human.
Mate or not.
She was still a human and they were very dangerous creatures.
“You want her.
You just have to admit it to yourself”my wolf said.
“Shut up!” I muttered aloud.
But he was right.
There had been a moment.
A single, dangerous moment—where I had almost forgotten myself.
My gaze darkened and I felt a pulse low in my chest, restless, dissatisfied.
I felt frustrated and denied.
Mine.
The word echoed in my head continuously.
I cursed myself for taking a drink because now it had me hallucinating.
Later at night, I couldn’t sleep.
No matter how I tried to force myself to sleep, it didn’t come.
Instead, uninvited images disturbed my sleep and they were not thoughts about battle or the pack.
They were very bad thoughts.
Thoughts about her back against the wall.
Her breath uneven.
Her eyes—defiant, even when afraid.
The way her body reacted despite her resistance and her words.
Don’t think about that, I said to myself.
But my mind betrayed me.
The only thing I could think about was her back against the wall and her legs wrapped around my waist while I pounded into her.
I wondered what would have happened if I had closed the distance completely.
Would she have let me?
What if I had kissed her… My hand pressed into the mattress as my body tightened.
My breathing slowed and deepened.
My body responded in ways that irritated me more than anything else.
I couldn’t believe I thinking about this.
You want her, a voice in my head said.
I knew it was not my wolf.
I tried to think of myself in battle but none of that haunted me now I needed it the most.
I tried to force myself to sleep but her face never left my mind.
I tried to think of Elke on my bed, her hands tied but somehow her face changed to Iris.
“Damn it!” I muttered aloud to the night.
What was it about this human?
Why was she in my head?
This was the first time I was having difficulty sleeping because of a woman and it was frustrating.
I closed my eyes but the image didn’t fade.
If anything, it sharpened but I finally forced myself to sleep letting the images consume me.
A sound woke me up and I was immediately met by pain.
I had a splitting headache and a dull ache behind my eyes.
I sat up slowly, running a hand through my hair, my jaw tightening.
I suddenly became angry remembering the reason for my headache and what transpired last night.
A sharp knock broke through the quiet.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
Of course only one person dared entering without waiting.
Cassian stepped inside.
His steps were urgent.
“You’re needed” Cassian said immediately.
I didn’t look at him.
“That’s obvious with the way you barged into my room” I said in annoyed tone.
“There’s movement near the eastern border.” That got my attention and I lifted my gaze.
“How many?” “Enough to matter” “From where?” Cassian hesitated.
“We’re not sure.” That was worse.
Unknown threats were never random or accidental.
I swung my legs off the bed, already shifting into readiness despite the lingering ache in my head.
“Report.” “Scouts picked up tracks before dawn.
Not ours and not from our neighboring packs” Cassian continued.
My mind sharpened instantly.
“Then they’re not here by accident.” I reasoned.
“No” “They might be searching for something.” I didn’t need to ask what or who.
My gaze darkened.
“She’s been seen” Cassian didn’t deny it.
“They might have caught her scent when she was moved” I exhaled slowly in measured breaths.
Samael.
It didn’t take much to connect the pieces.
My uncle didn’t make empty threats and he never stopped at words.
“My uncle” I said through gritted teeth.
“Do you think your uncle would stoop so low?” “Prepare the warriors” I said ignoring his earlier question.
“They already are” “Good.
They should all be kept on guard” “You’re leaving.” It wasn’t a question.
I reached for my weapon.
“Yes.” “You’re going yourself.” “Yes.” Cassian crossed his arms.
“You can’t do anything rash, you know that right?” It sounded more like a warning than an advice.
“I’ll do what I feel is right but I’m not fighting anyone if that’s what you mean” “That’s not the only reason you’re going” I didn’t respond because he was right.
Although not entirely.
The threat was real.
But there was something else I would rather than to admit.
Distance.
I needed distance from her and the pull.
From whatever had happened last night because if I stayed…If I saw her again too soon, I might not stop next time.
And that was a problem.
“While I’m gone, she trains” I said, fastening his blade.
Cassian blinked.
“What?” “Iris” “I know who you mean” “Then keep up” Cassian frowned.
“You’re serious” “Yes” “She can’t fight” “Then she learns.” “She’s human.
You know how difficult it would be for her” my gaze snapped to him.
“Then make it easier” My tone ended the argument.
Cassian exhaled.
“You’re throwing her into the wolves” “She’s already in the wolves den” “Why?” Cassian asked.
I didn’t answer immediately.
I questioned myself too.
Why was I doing this?
The truth wasn’t simple.
But I knew I couldn’t let her get hurt.
Not under my watch.
I had removed her from the Royal pack so it was my duty to protect her.
She was now tied to something bigger than she could understand.
Weakness would kill her faster than the curse ever could.
“She won’t survive like this” I said finally.
Cassian’s gaze sharpened.
“You took time to answer that.
Do you think training will change that?” “I think doing nothing would kill her” “Who’s training her?” he asked.
I didn’t hesitate.
“Elke” Cassian let out a quiet breath.
“That’s not really a good choice.” “Elke is the strongest female warrior.
Who else can teach her better?” “She hates the girl” “I know” I knew Elke’s feelings about the girl but I didn’t care.
She would do whatever I tell her to.
“And you still want her responsible for Iris?” My expression didn’t change.
“Elke won’t go easy on her.
She’ll teach her everything she knows” “Exactly.
She’ll also use that as an avenue to break her.
What if that happens?” Cassian spoke confidently, like he was very sure about what he was saying.
“Then she wasn’t going to survive anyway” I said coldly but it was true.
“You’re testing her?” I looked at him and I could see the wheels spinning in his head.
“I’m preparing her” “For what?” “For what’s coming.” The fortress stirred as I stepped out into the corridor.
Warriors gathering and orders were being given.
As I moved through the halls my attention shifted.
I felt that pull again.
Iris.
Somewhere in the fortress.
‘Go and see her’ my wolf pressed and my jaw tightened.
I didn’t want to deal with him right now.
I knew she would also be feeling this pull but hers won’t be as strong as mine because she was not a wolf.
Good.
Let her resist and fight it if the pull was that strong on her end.
I didn’t even know anything about humans.
I sighed.
I had a lot to look into.
At the entrance of the pack, Cassian stopped beside him.
“I’ll handle things here” he said.
“I know.
Make sure everyone is safe until come back”Cassian nodded.
I looked at him and he looked like he had more to say.
“Spit it out” I commanded.
“I’ll keep an eye on her” he said in a low tone.
I didn’t give any reaction and only said in a cold voice.
“Do that.
And Cassian…” he turned around.
“If anything happens…” “It won’t” Cassian said firmly.
My gaze flicked toward him.
“Make sure of it” Cassian nodded once and I turned and stepped out of the house.
Even as I moved further from the fortress the pull didn’t fade.
I was still reminded that I had a mate to return to whether I liked it or not.