040
1180 Words
~iris
I sucked in a shaky breath as her words settled, heavy and poisonous. Anastasia straightened, pacing slowly in front of me like a lecturer savoring her point.
“A father,” she said calmly, almost thoughtfully. “And his daughter.”
She stopped and looked at me,her head titling.” Do you even hear how that sounds when said out loud, iris?”
“ I didn't plan it,” I whispered, “ it's just happened…”
She laughed softly. Not loud. Not dramatic. Worse. Amused.
“That’s always the excuse of people who refuse responsibility. Things don’t just happen. You chose. Again and again.”
“ They were several times you could have stopped this, but as I said, you were selfish.”
She stepped closer, crouching in front of me so we were eye level. I tried to pull back, but the chair held firm.
“Do you know what would happen if they found out?” she asked gently, as if she were genuinely curious. “If Alpha Duncan realized you were in his bed… and in his daughter’s arms?”
My stomach twisted violently.
“A scandal,” she continued. “A disgrace. You wouldn’t just be a mistake, you’d be a stain. On him. On her.” Her eyes flicked over my face, cataloguing every reaction. “Alice would be destroyed. Not angry, broken. Because how do you forgive something like that?”
“I never meant to hurt her,” I said, tears spilling again. “I love her.”
Anastasia’s smile sharpened. “Love?” She stood again, looking down at me. “You don’t love people, Iris. You consume them. You take what you need from whoever gives it to you and tell yourself it’s love so you can sleep at night.”
She circled behind me. I felt her presence like a blade at my spine.
“And Duncan,” she went on, voice almost conversational. “Strong. Powerful. Lonely. You slipped into his life when he was vulnerable. Omegas like you always do. You made him feel needed. Desired. Alive.” She leaned down, her lips near my ear. “And then you crawled into his daughter’s heart too. That takes talent.”
I shook my head frantically. “That’s not true. I never used him. He used me.”
“Oh, I believe you think that,” she said. “That’s what makes you dangerous.”
She moved back into my view, her expression suddenly cold. “Tell me, Iris, what happens if Alice finds out first? Not from him. Not from you. But from someone else.”
My breath hitched. “Please…”
“Please what?” she asked quietly. “Please don’t tell? Please don’t ruin everything.”
Her fingers brushed my chin, forcing my head up. not roughly, but deliberately.
“You’re standing on a very thin line,” Anastasia said. “One step to the wrong side, and everything you’re clinging to collapses. Your lover. Your girlfriend. Your safety.”
I sobbed openly now, humiliation and fear burning together.
“And the worst part?” she added softly. “You’ll deserve it. Because you knew. Somewhere inside, you always knew this was wrong.”
She straightened, smoothing her clothes, composure perfectly restored.
“So be careful, Iris,” she said. “Be quiet. Be grateful. And remember,every secret has an expiration date.”
She turned toward the door, then paused.
“Oh,” she added lightly, without looking back. “If they ever do find out… don’t worry.”
My heart pounded.
“I’ll make sure they know exactly how selfish you were.”
“ Wait!” I said.
She turned to me.
“ Let's make a deal.”
She smiled, “ that's what I want to hear..”
“ I leave Duncan for you, I block him, stay far way form him, even tho he comes back. And focus on Alice.”
She smirked.” Okay.” she said, heading back to the door.
But that okay didn't sound so sure.
I froze when Anastasia stepped back toward the door.
Her heels clicked once. Then she stopped.
“Oh,” she said lightly, as if remembering something trivial. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes empty now, all warmth stripped away. “I almost forgot.”
She lifted her hand.
“Take care of her.”
The words didn’t sound like a command to kill. They sounded worse.casual. Final.
My heart slammed so hard I thought I might pass out. “Wait, ” My voice broke. “we had a deal.”
Anastasia smiled without turning fully back. “Plans change.”
The door shut behind her.
Silence followed. Thick. Suffocating.
One of the men stepped forward. I couldn’t see his face clearly, only the shape of him, the way his shadow stretched across the floor toward my feet. My pulse roared in my ears. I pulled uselessly against the restraints, panic swallowing every thought.
So this was it.
Not exposure. Not scandal.
Erasure.
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears sliding down my temples, my mind screaming Alice’s name,Ky’s, anyone’s…
The door burst open.
Hard. Violent. Sudden.
“Step away from her.”
The voice cut through the room like a blade.
Thorne.
The men turned. Confusion flickered, just for a second. That second was enough.
I didn’t see everything clearly. I didn’t need to. There was shouting. Movement. A chair scraping. Someone swore. Another backed away.
“Untie her. Now,” Thorne said, calm but lethal.
Hands fumbled at the restraints. My wrists burned as the rope fell away. I gasped, collapsing forward just as Thorne caught me, steadying my shaking body against his chest.
“It’s okay,” he murmured urgently. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
The men didn’t argue. Whatever Thorne was,or whoever he represented to them,was enough to make them leave. The door slammed again, footsteps retreating fast.
My legs gave out completely.
Thorne lowered me to the floor, keeping one arm around my shoulders. I was sobbing now, uncontrollably, every breath jagged.
“She said..” I choked.
I wanted to tell him everything, what has been going on.
But I don't know if I could trust me.
“ How did you find me?”
“I came here to get something, then I saw Anastasia from afar, but she didn't see me. I knew she was here for you.”
“ How did you know she was here for me?”
“ She's Duncan ex. She must have found out about you and him “ he said.
I looked at him, Thorne had saved me again.
I stood up, as he assisted me.
“Thank you.” I said, and he nodded.
“ Should I drive you home?” He asked
“ No thank you, I'm with Alice and Ky.” I said, and headed for the door.
I stopped mid way, and turned slowly.
“ Can..can you take care of Anastasia?, so I won't have to worry about her.”
He smirked. “ Sure.”
- Writer
