Marked By My Best Friend's Dad

021

Iris' POV

The cell was cold.

Not just the metal bench or the concrete walls but the kind of cold that crept into my bones and stayed there. I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around myself like that could somehow keep everything from falling apart.

I couldn’t believe this was real.

One moment I was running, crying, barely breathing… the next, handcuffs. Sirens. People were staring at me like I was some kind of monster.

A murderer.

That word echoed in my head, over and over.

I didn't kill him. I was just defending myself.

I knew that. Deep in my soul, I knew it. I’d fought back. I’d escaped. That was all. But Eunice had twisted it, just like she twisted everything. She always found a way to make me the villain.

Just because I didn't allow her f**k me! All of these to f**k me.

I pressed my forehead against the cold bars and shut my eyes.

Alice’s face flashed in my mind.

The hurt in her eyes when they dragged me away hurt worse than the cuffs ever did. I wondered what she thought of me now. If she believed it. If she hated me.

Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them.

I’m so tired.

My neck throbbed suddenly, sharp and aching, right where Duncan had marked me before. The bond stirred again, restless, almost angry. It was like he could feel my fear from miles away.

A sob tore out of me.

Please, I prayed silently, not sure who I was praying to anymore. Please come for me.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I stiffened, my heart jumping into my throat. The sound stopped in front of my cell. Keys jingled.

I looked up, wiping my face quickly, bracing myself for Eunice’s smug smile.

But it wasn’t her.

A tall officer stood there, suddenly nervous. “You have a visitor,” he said.

My breath caught.

Before I could ask who, the air changed.

The pressure. The power.

Every wolf in the building felt it.

The officer swallowed hard and stepped aside.

And there he was.

Alpha Duncan.

His eyes locked onto mine instantly, burning, furious, and filled with something that made my chest ache. Rage. Fear. Possession.

Mate.

“Iris,” he said, my name low and dangerous.

My knees nearly gave out as I stood.

“I didn’t do it,” I whispered desperately. “I swear to you, I didn’t kill him. He's still alive, I'm sure of that.”

His jaw tightened. He stepped closer to the bars, hands gripping them hard enough to make the metal creak.

“I know,” he said without hesitation. “No one touches what’s mine and lives to frame her.”

The bond surged, warm and overwhelming, wrapping around my heart like a promise.

Minutes later, the cell door opened.

As we walked out of police custody, officers stared at me openly. Their eyes followed every step I took beside him. I wondered what was going through their minds.

What was so special about this omega?

I wondered the same thing.

Probably nothing.

Probably just s*x.

But when Duncan’s hand closed protectively around mine, firm and unyielding, I realized one thing with terrifying clarity, Eunice had made a huge mistake to mess with me.

A deadly one.

We got to his private mansion.

“Thorne!” he called the moment we stepped inside.

Thorne appeared immediately. “Make sure no one comes in or goes out,” Duncan ordered.

Thorne nodded and left without a word.

Duncan didn’t look at me again. He turned and went upstairs. I hesitated only a second before following him. Somehow, I knew that was what he expected.

When I entered the room, he was standing by the window, a glass of wine in his hand, his broad back tense. The city lights outside did nothing to soften the hard line of his shoulders.

So fast.. everything had happened so fast.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. My voice sounded small in the large room.

He turned to face me slowly.

“For what?” he asked.

“For coming."I said.

His eyes softened just a little, but the anger beneath them was still there, burning. He set the glass down and stepped closer, stopping just short of touching me.

“What exactly happened?” He asked

“uhm… he… he tried to r**e me,” I said, my head lowered.

I felt his body tense, and he lifted my chin gently. “Did he touch you?”

“I… I defended myself before he could remove my skirt,” I said. “But he’s not dead when I left him.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead softly.

“I know,” he murmured. “He’s at the hospital.”

He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me, steady and protective. “You’re safe now,” he said softly. “No one will touch you, not while I’m here.”

I looked up at him, overwhelmed. My emotions spilled over, and I kissed him, slow and full of everything I couldn’t say. He kissed me back, gentle but sure, holding me close.

After a few moments, he guided me to the bed, and I let myself sink into it, exhausted. He pulled the covers over me, brushing my hair back and whispering, “Sleep now. You’re safe, Iris. I’m right here.”

I let my eyes close, feeling the warmth of his presence, the strength of the bond between us, and for the first time in days, I slept peacefully.

~ Alpha Duncan

I watched her sleep.

The steady rise and fall of her chest was the only thing grounding me in that moment. I reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, careful not to wake her.

I had done it.

I had crossed lines I swore I never would, for her.

Part of it was for Alice. I knew that. But if I was being honest with myself, that wasn’t the whole truth. Not even close.

I wondered how Alice would react if she ever found out the truth, that her best friend, Iris, was my mate.

No.

I couldn’t tell her. Not now. Maybe not ever. Some truths were too dangerous to share.

I let my gaze drift back to Iris. She looked fragile in sleep, nothing like the girl who had fought so hard to survive earlier. The thin fabric of her nightgown clung to her softly, and the sight sent a low, unwanted growl through my chest.

I turned away immediately.

Control yourself.

This wasn’t about desire, not tonight. Tonight was about protection.

I stood up and slipped on my coat, the familiar weight of authority settling over my shoulders. My jaw tightened as anger rose again, sharp and unforgiving.

Someone had dared to touch what was mine.

Someone had dared to hurt my mate.

I glanced back at her one last time, my voice low, almost a vow. “Sleep, Iris. I’ll be back.”

Then I walked out of the room.

I was going to find the boy who thought he could get away with it.

And I was going to make sure he never forgot the lesson.