IRIS POV The sound of my stomach rumbling woke me up.
It hit me all at once.
I snapped my eyes open, my breath catching as I instinctively pressed a hand to my stomach.
It was an indication that I had stayed hubgry.
I had gotten used to staying hungry in the Royal Pack but ever since I got here I ate before bed time and now my body had gotten used to it.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to steady my breathing.
I had gone to bed unsettled, my thoughts tangled with everything that had happened in the corridor with Hades.
Sleep had come eventually, but it hadn’t been restful.
Now my body felt off.
I was too sensitive.
My stomach tightened again, demanding attention.
I pushed myself up slowly, wincing as a wave of dizziness followed.
“Okay.
I’m going to get something” I muttered under my breath.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, grounding myself before standing.
The room was quiet but it felt different.
I didn’t want to know what it was because the first thing I needed this morning was food and not to think.
As soon as I was prepared to leave, a soft knock sounded at the door.
I stiffened instantly.
“Come in” I said, my voice quieter than usual.
The door opened, and Carina stepped inside, carrying a tray.
The smell of warm bread hit me immediately.
My stomach reacted violently.
“Oh, you’re awake.
I thought you would still be asleep” Carina said, when she noticed me standing.
“I’m starving” I admitted, almost breathless.
Carina smiled faintly, setting the tray down.
“Then I came at the right time” I didn’t wait.
I moved toward the table quickly, almost desperately, grabbing a piece of bread and tearing into it before I even sat down.
I looked up and Carina was watching me with curiosity that made me pause.
“Are you that hungry?” she asked.
I nodded.
“More than you can ever imagine” “Why didn’t you send for me to bring up food for you?” “I-I was….” I paused.
If I told her I did but got stopped by the Alpha then she would want to know what happened.
“I slept off” I replied, already reaching for more food.
Carina didn’t respond immediately and when I looked at her, it didn’t look like she believed me.
My hand stilled halfway to the plate.
“What?” I asked slowly.
Carina shook her head.
“Nothing” “That wasn’t nothing.
You are staring at me” “I’m just pitying you, you’ve been through a lot” Carina said lightly.
I frowned.
“You should eat.
You’ll need your strength” I blinked.
The statement was too specific.
“For what?” Carina bit her lips lightly.
“Training starts today.”I froze.
The bread slipped slightly in my hand.
“What?
Training?” Carina looked at me.
“You’re starting your training.” I kept staring at her.
“I think you’re confusing me with someone else.” “I’m not.
You’re Iris.
Aren’t you?” “Training for what?” I asked, my voice rising.
Carina inhaled slowly.
“How to be a Luna.” Silence engulfed the room.
I was too stunned to speak and my breathing became rapid.
“No…no” I finally said but Carina’s expression didn’t change.
“Yes.” “No.
That’s not…I’m not…” I repeated, shaking my head now.
“You are.” “I’m not a Luna.” “You’re the Alpha’s mate.” My chest tightened instantly.
My mind flashed—to last night in the corridor, to the way he looked at me.
To how close he had been and my cheeks burned.
“I—” I looked away quickly, flustered.
“That doesn’t mean—” “It does” Carina said gently.
“No, it doesn’t.” I stood abruptly, pacing once before turning back to her.
“Who decided this?” I demanded.
“The Alpha.” She didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Alpha Hades?” I asked, even though she already knew the answer.
Carina nodded.
“He gave the order before he left.” Left.
I stilled.
My thoughts shifted instantly.
“What do you mean… left?” I frowned slightly.
“He traveled this morning” A strange feeling settled in my chest.
It was not relief.
It was something I couldn’t explain.
“Where?” I asked.
“I don’t know exactly” That didn’t help.
My stomach tightened again but this time, not from hunger.
“Is everything okay?” I asked quickly.
Carina didn’t say anything and I knew she had no idea.
“You don’t know” I said.
She sighed softly.
“No.
I don’t.” I wrapped my arms around myself.
Something was wrong and I could feel it.
The voice in my head agreed with me.
“Is it about… me?” the words left my mouth suddenly.
Carina looked at me.
“I don’t think so.” But she didn’t sound certain and I knew it.
“Eat and get dressed for training.
That was the instruction given to me” The room felt different after that.
Now, eating didn’t seem like an important thing to do.
I was confused.
Training?
Luna?
Alpha Hades was gone?
Why did he give such an instruction and then disappear?
I turned back toward the table, grabbing another piece of fruit just to have something to do.
Something to hold back.
“He can’t just decide that” I muttered.
Carina raised a brow.
“He’s the Alpha” “I don’t care.
I don’t want to train.
I don’t want to learn how to be violent” The words left my mouth quickly.
“I didn’t agree to this.” Carina tilted her head slightly.
“You didn’t agree to a lot of things that have already happened.” I opened my mouth then closed it because I couldn’t argue with that and I hated it.
“It won’t do you any good disobeying the Alpha.
You don’t want to see him angry” she warned “I don’t want this” I said finally.
“Training?” Carina asked.
I hesitated.
“All of it” My words were and Carina stepped closer.
“You don’t have to want it but you might need it” she said gently.
“For what?” I asked again, frustration slipping into my voice.
Carina didn’t answer immediately and I thought she wouldn’t.
“To survive” The word settled deep in my chest.
I looked away.
My gaze drifting toward the window.
Toward the distant training yard I had watched from so many times.
“They hate me” I said quietly.
“Not all of them” “Enough of them” Carina didn’t argue.
“Then give them a reason not to.
Show them you are not a weakling like they think you are” I laughed softly.
“That’s not how this works.
Proving to them won’t change a thing” “Maybe not but doing nothing won’t change their perspective about you” Carina said and my jaw tightened.
I hated that Carina made sense and hated that part of me, a small reluctant part agreed.
“I don’t even know what being a Luna means here.
I’m not even a wolf” I admitted helplessly.
“Then you’ll learn” “And if I don’t want to?” Carina met my gaze.
“Then you’ll have no one else to blame but yourself for missing such opportunity” I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
Everything felt rushed and it was happening at the same time.
It seemed like my life was no longer in my control.
When had it ever been in your control?, a small voice said in my head.
True.
I have always been at the mercy of others but now I’m being given a chance to be something.
Wouldn’t it be the right choice to take it?
It could turn in my favor.
Then I remembered the curse and I was discouraged once again.
You are hiding behind the curse like a coward.
Have you thought about positive possibilities?, the same voice from before spoke again.
I was convinced now that someone was speaking within me.
My mum had told me I was going to be great.
Was this what she meant?
I finally made up my mind.
“When does it start?” I asked finally.
Carina’s expression softened slightly and she smiled.
“Soon.” I nodded slowly.
“And what exactly does this training involve?” I asked.
“A lot.” That wasn’t reassuring but I sighed.
“Of course it does” Carina gave a small smile.
“You’ll be fine.
And I’ll be here to guide you on anything you don’t understand except fighting” she chuckled.
“I doubt I’ll be fine” “You’re stronger than you think.” I shook my head.
“No.
I’m just good at pretending I’m not falling apart” “Sometimes that’s the same thing.” I didn’t respond because I didn’t believe that but time will tell.
“Do you know who my instructor is?” Carina shook her head.
As she moved to gather the empty dishes, I drifted toward the window.
My gaze scanned the grounds below.
I imagined myself in those boots and vests fighting with a sword.
The image was so vivid in my head like it was already happening.
I had until four moons to prove myself.
Four moons.
My chest tightened and my hand lifted unconsciously, resting over my wrist.
Over my branded mark.
A mark given to me to remind me of my place.
My mum trained me to be a lot of things but a cowards was not one of them.
“Iris?” I turned.
I thought Carina had left already.
“Yes?” “You should get ready” “For training?” She nodded and I exhaled slowly.
“Right” Carina turned to leave.
“Carina?” “Yes?” I hesitated.
I knew she may not know the answer to my question but I still wanted to ask.
“Do you think he regrets it?” She frowned.
“Regrets what?” “Bringing me here.” The question hung in the air.
Carina didn’t say anything for a while and just stared at me.
“No” she finally said.
I blinked in surprise.
“Why?” “Because if he did…you wouldn’t still be here” I didn’t know what answer to give and so I remained silent.
As Carina left the room—I turned back to the window.
My reflection stared back at me faintly.
No longer the same fragile girl who had arrived here but now a woman who could make a change.