Iris:
The mont I decided that, Luca’s eyes narrowed, and it was clear he did not like my decision.
"No, it is true. I think that would be the right decision," I added, nodding and biting my bottom lip as I tried to hold back my cries.
"It is over, Luca. I do not want to stay here. I want to go back ho. I want to be the princess that I am," I continued.
I finally decided this as I watched Luca look disappointed.
Behind him, my mother was smiling proudly.
She did not know what I was going to do.
I was not only going back to take the crown.
I was going to challenge Kash for the Blue River water.
I was going to make sure he did not get to enjoy the wedding he had waited years for.
The sa wedding he threw my entire love and life away for.
My mother walked out of the room while I remained standing, staring at Luca.
"What have you done?" he asked quietly. "You do not have to surrender to her demands. Iris, this is not fair."
At that mont, he was the only one who knew I was suffering, and he stood right beside through it.
"Luca, so much has happened," I told him, eting his gaze. "I have been betrayed. I have been rejected. My mother took my pictures. My children suffered, all because I resisted her." I paused.
"She wanted to be a pretty little princess, to wait for my brother to wake up and stay in the Lycan community," I continued. "So that is what I will do. I will give her what she wants so I can take everything from her."
"Well, if you want, you can stay here," Luca replied. "Kash has promised you a pack."
I started to speak when Luca lifted his finger and gently pressed it against my lips.
"I rejected that pack," he said softly, making my eyebrows draw together.
"His royal beta offered a pack, and I rejected it," he added, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Why did you do that?" I asked in confusion. "I thought you wanted it."
"I realized you did not want to take a pack from Kash," he explained. "I did not want to do sothing that would make you see differently."
The way he said it made my heart beat harder in my chest. While others treated as if I were nothing, there was a man who had known only briefly and still understood how alone I felt.
"Anyway, if you want to go, I will go with you," he said. "I will stand beside you every day. I will be there for whatever decision you make."
His words made swallow before I nodded in thanks.
The rest of the day felt strange. There was too much silence.
I watched Kash leave for dinner with his family, Lara, and the others. They looked happy.
He was smiling openly. I did not even know when Lara and her father had arrived, but they seed close. Kash opened the door for her, and I watched every mont.
Night eventually ca. Everyone went to bed while Kash and his mate returned from dinner.
He walked with his hands in his pockets, wearing the sa black suit from earlier. Lara wore a long black dress. I stood by the window and kept watching, long after the others had fallen asleep.
Lara’s father joked, and Kash laughed, wrapping one arm around her waist. She leaned into his chest before they said goodbye, preparing to be married the next day.
I smiled at my own foolishness.
I could not believe I had expected Kash to be on my side, or even on his children’s side.
I finally sat on the bed. I did not sleep.
I promised myself I would not sleep here again.
The next ti I slept, it would be on my own land, in my mansion, in my bed.
I would be a princess with her eyes on the crown and power now.
The next day, when everyone woke up, my children began getting ready. Luca had already packed the bags. They would slip out the mont Kash stepped onto the stage, while I stayed until the vows and the marking were complete.
I wore a peach gown. My children wore matching peach dresses. My mother wore a black gown.
She was right. She had prepared for this day. It marked the end of my emotions, my dreams, and the old Iris.
"Hey, I ca to see my children," Kash announced as he entered the living room, cheerful in a gray suit.
I was already there, making sure the children were ready so everyone could see them before we slipped away. Thankfully, he arrived early, so it would not take long before we left.
"Daddy, you look so good!" Amy exclaid as she rushed to him.
He picked her up, then turned to Colin.
"How is my prince doing?" he asked, studying his face.
"Daddy, I feel completely fine!" Colin replied.
Kash nodded, then looked up casually before doing a double take when he saw .
The way his eyes moved over made fold my arms across my chest and shake my head in disbelief. He noticed and frowned.
"So, kids, are you coming to the wedding?" he asked them.
They nodded eagerly.
"It is right in the royal garden, so we will just walk there," he added. "I only ca to check if everything was fine."
He spoke generally, not directly to , since my mother and Luca were present. The irony was not lost on . After delivering a harsh reality, he had returned as if to soothe the pain he caused.
"Everything is fine. You did not need to co. We were heading there anyway," my mother replied with a smile.
I noticed Kash glance at her dress with a slight frown.
"I like black," my mother remarked.
She had been excited since morning.
"Alright, then I will see you all outside," Kash said. "By the way, your phones are working, right? In case you want pictures."
He sounded overly cheerful. I had never seen him talk this much. He was happy, even encouraging us to take pictures, as if he wanted to press it in.
"Do not worry. All the phones are working," I replied in a harsh tone.
He stared at briefly, then nodded before walking away.
I swallowed hard. I could not explain how angry that nod made . He was acting confident now.
"Alright, kids, let us go to the royal garden," my mother told them, motioning to Luca. "The wedding is starting. The bride will walk down the aisle by any minute now."
She stepped closer to and took my hand.
"Let’s watch him get married," she said, smiling widely.
"Yes, of course," I replied, matching her smile. "Let’s watch it, Mother."
Her smile vanished. In that mont, she realized I could be just as unhinged as she was.
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