chapter 5
1585 Words
Chapter 5
Iris
I stood in the center of the room, surrounded by the remnants of the papers Finn had destroyed. I did not say a word. I simply stared at him, my eyes fixed on his with a cold, steady gaze.
I took a slow step forward, then another, until I was standing directly in front of him. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the same body I had once thought would be my safe place.
"You do not love me, Finn," I said, my voice quiet but firm. I looked him right in the eye, refusing to flinch. "You want Fiona. You have always wanted someone else. I am standing here telling you that I am ready to let you go. I am giving you the freedom you claim to want. Why are you holding back? Why keep me here if you hate me this much?"
Finn didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let out a short, dry chuckle that sounded more like a bark. He reached out and caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing my head up so I had to look at him.
"You might be the perfect, golden daughter in Grandpa’s eyes, Iris, but you should not forget your place," he said. His voice was low and dangerous. "When you first arrived here, you had nothing. You were just a starving kid on the street with no name and no family. If it were not for my grandpa’s pity, how would you have this life? You live in luxury because of us. You wear fine clothes because of us."
I felt a small, sad smile touch my lips.
So, after all these years of living under the same roof, this was what they truly thought of me. To them, I was still just a charity case, a stray dog they were forced to feed. They didn't see the work I did or the sacrifices I made. They only saw the "street girl."
"I know I am just a girl from the streets," I said, my voice rising slightly. "I know you think I do not deserve to be here. But what if I tell you that I have more right to be here than you do, Alpha? Do you really think you can still run this pack if the truth comes out?"
Finn’s grip on my chin tightened for a second. He looked at me with a flash of confusion, his brow furrowing as he tried to understand what I was implying.
But before he could speak, a sharp, mocking laugh echoed from the sofa.
Fiona was leaning back, her eyes full of spite. "Oh, stop it, Iris," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "You’re trying to give Finn the cold shoulder with that silly rejection file, but you need to stop making these grand claims. It is pathetic. It isn't like Grandpa left anything for you. He was a man of tradition. He would never leave power to a stray like you."
I looked at her, but I did not waste my breath responding. My silence was my only weapon against her. I turned my focus back to Finn. I saw the arrogance in his face, the way he thought he owned every inch of the world I stood on.
"You can try as much as you want to break me, Finn," I said. "But I am done. I do not want to be your slave. I do not want to be the woman who acts like a Luna in public while you love someone else in private. What more do you want from me? You have my blood. You have my kidney. What is left?"
I turned to walk away, my heart feeling like a heavy stone in my chest. I just wanted to get to my room and lock the door.
But before I could take a third step, he reached out and grabbed me. He pulled me back with a rough jerk, his hands locking around my waist. I was pressed against him, and I could feel his cold breath against my cheek as he spoke.
"No matter what everyone knows, you are my mate," he hissed.
The bond between us hummed, a cruel reminder of a fate I no longer wanted.
"Stop acting like a child, Iris. Stop all of this. You belong to this pack, and you belong to me."
I didn't melt into him. I didn't feel the spark that was supposed to make me submissive. I only felt a deep sense of exhaustion. I pulled away from his grip, my movements sharp and cold.
"There is no use in acting anymore, Finn," I told him. "You can pretend to care about the bond now, but we both know the truth. One day, the elders will know that this bond was not worth the pain it caused. They will see that a mate who hates his partner is no leader at all."
I walked out of the room without looking back. I made my way to the back of the house, to the small, dark room they had moved me into. It was a room for servants, but right now, it felt more like a sanctuary than the rest of the house. I sat down on the old, narrow bed and took a deep breath, trying to push the image of Finn’s angry face out of my mind.
I sat there in the quiet for a long time. I tried to forget the slap from Mrs. Walker and the way Fiona looked in my necklace.
But the silence was broken by the sharp ringing of my phone. I reached into my pocket and looked at the screen. I froze when I saw the name.
Ava.
We had not spoken for an entire month. She had been away, and I had been too caught up in the nightmare of Grandpa’s death to call her. I quickly pressed the answer button.
"Hey," I said, my voice sounding cracked and tired.
"Iris? Is that you?" Ava’s voice came through the phone, sounding frantic and full of worry. "Iris, are you okay? I just got back and heard the news about your Grandpa. I am so sorry I wasn't there. Are you alright? We need to talk. Are you free to meet me?"
I looked at the door. I could hear the faint sound of laughter coming from the living room—the sound of Finn and his family enjoying their evening as if I didn't exist. I couldn't stay in this house for another minute.
"Yeah," I said, standing up. "I am free. Send me the location."
I arrived at a fancy new restaurant that had just opened in the center of the pack’s territory. It was bright and modern, filled with the scent of expensive food and the sound of soft music. I walked in, feeling out of place in my simple clothes, but I kept my head high.
I saw Ava sitting at a table in the corner. When she saw me, her face lit up, and she stood up quickly to give me a tight hug.
"You grew so much," she whispered as she pulled away, her eyes scanning my face. "But Iris, you look so down. What happened to you? Are the walkers not treating you well? You look like you’ve been through a war."
I sat down and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Ava had left to study at the Falcon pack academy months ago. She had been so happy for me when the news first broke that I would be the Luna. She was the only person who had truly been on my side back then.
"I am okay, Ava. Really," I said. "But tell me about you. How is the academy going? You didn't have to come back just because of the news."
She shook her head and squeezed my hand.
"Why wouldn't I? You are my best friend. Looking at you right now, I can tell you are not feeling well. You’re pale, Iris. Now that Grandpa is no longer alive, why are you still staying there? Why are you letting them treat you this way?"
I looked down at the table, watching the light reflect off the silver forks.
"Why don't you come with me?" Ava continued, her voice full of excitement. "I have so many friends in the Falcon pack. They are kind people. I can introduce you to better men—real Alphas who will treat you with respect. Why don't you just let Finn go? We both know that he only loves Fiona. He doesn't love you, Iris. He never will."
I looked at her, and for a moment, I imagined it. I imagined leaving the Moon Claws, leaving the maid’s room, and leaving the man who blamed me for everything.
It sounded like a dream.
But then I remembered the documents in my bag and the secret growing inside me.
"I know he doesn't love me, Ava," I said softly. "And I know I should leave. But I can't leave yet."
Ava leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Why? What is stopping you from walking away right now?"
I looked around the room to make sure no one was close enough to hear. I looked back at my friend and decided it was time for someone to know the truth.
"Because I'm pregnant," I said, my voice steady.
"And also... I am the leader of the pack."
- Writer
