Chapter twenty three: It not my pup.

"Be happy"

I could feel my body again as I slowly started to get aware of my surroundings. The last words of the Moon goddess ringing in my ear. I couldn't understand what just happened.

"Iris?" That voice. I relaxed immediately. My fingers moved and I felt sparks around my whole palm. His large hands covering mine. As if on instinct my body shivered in excitement. I let out a soft moan. "Iris? Can you hear me?" His voice sounded strained. My eyes fluttered open.

"You" I croaked softly. Breathing deep and slow. How much I take air for granted, never again. His palm was under my head, ever so gently helping me up. I pushed back myself until I was leaning against the platform of pillows he arranged at my back. From the way he looked it seemed he hadn't slept for days. And worry was etched all over his features.

"You're awake" his soft voice caressed my insides, but my sharp tongue was not as easy.

"You fool, you sick bastard, you son of a bitch. You marked me!" I yelled. He was taken aback no doubt, even slightly annoyed. His eyes narrowed and he stood up form that stool he sat on and leaned into the bed. Bending over so that I pushed myself farther into the pillows to keep some distance and my sanity.

"You have not changed a bit have you?" He growled.

"And why should I?" I sassed back.

"Why the hell do you always see it fit to drive me to the edge of madness." I shrugged. He stepped back and sat down. Combing his hair with his fingers, he sighed.

"I can't believe you marked me" I huffed.

"I can't believe you left me" I rolled my eyes, and his darkened. I wasn't still going to apologise for it.

"And do you know the thing that hurt the most" he said anyway "I know you're starting to care for me but you left anyway is that how much I repulse you?" His ocean blue eyes bore into mine, forcing me to obey, to answer. I looked away and his hand on my chin brought me back into his gaze.

My lips quivered and my vision is blurred by the tears that pooled my eyes. On the brink of spilling. I bit my lower lips and tried to blink the tears away... they fell. Ugh this did not go unnoticed. Before I could protest I was yanked away from the bed and into his arms. I fit perfectly in his hold. And it was all I needed at the moment. Gosh this felt so good. I wanted to stay here forever. But the image of the little pup kept pricking my memory. I pushed at his chest, and looked up at him. Trying to will the words to come out. I didn't try to stop the tears this time. My heart hurt.

"I know you didn't owe me anything. And I am just being selfish, but I just can't-" I sobbed into his shirt, clutching fist fills of it. He didn't say anything he just let me cry. "At first I resented the she-wolf. I hated the pup. But the moment I set my eyes on the little angel I-I couldn't hate the pup anymore. It made me angry, sad, jealous and most of all mad at myself for not being the mother. I hate that you have a pup that isn't also mine. Aren't I your mate? Aren't I supposed to be the mother of your children?"

What the hell has gotten into me? Oh goddess. Why am I saying all this things I don't want to say, no my tongue is working against me? What the hell comrade?

"Iris?" I looked up sniffling.

"I didn't mean that" I looked away, again he brought my eyes back to his. He smiled, "I know, it's the mark. You're being totally honest, I did that."

"What? Can you even do that"

"Yes, but that not important right now. You think that pup is mine?" I nodded. "That's why you were pushing away from me and always so angry?"

He sighed. "Can't you tell? It's not mine" my brows went up. What?

"Then whose is it? Why did you care so much for a pup that wasn't yours. Is it because you have feelings for the she-wolf" I was getting angry. Could this get any worse.

"I don't love Esme, she is just a warrior to me, the pup is my best friends'. Rex."

I don't believe a word, because I do... it makes me shudder at how embarrassing it would all be. Besides, this was a perfectly good excuse to refuse this... bond.

"Who is this Rex and where is he?" He chuckled.

"He is off on other packs, kinda like a spy? Gives us useful information and helps keep things in check."

"I have so many questions." I sat up in his lap.

"First of, how come he was able to leave his pregnant mate and run off. Secondly, why are you so power hungry, you practically have an assassin in world to kill any wolf that dares mention your name. Thirdly, how is it that your beta is the closest to you. I mean I hate the guy but it's unusual." I blurted out in one breath.

" Esme is not his mate. He is not an assassin, although he does kill, now that I think of it he kind of is. And beta Abel irritates me, but I can't deny his strength. He is next in power to me in the pack. The only person that stands the closest chance to beating me in a fight. If that could ever happen."

"Esme is not his mate?" He nodded.

"It was a mistake, but they are unmated wolves, they dated for a bit. It ended badly and with a child. Both of them where willing to keep the baby. When he was leaving he trusted me with the child, that's why I was so desperate."

Okay, that's a relief. It feels like I can finally truly breathe again. I hate it! "That doesn't change anything" I told myself.

"You know I can hear your thoughts right" he chuckled. Oh I love his laughter it's always so soothing.

"Thank you" he replied.

...

...

Huh?

"Stay out of my head!" I yelled and broke down into laughter.

"Alpha?" A small voice called out from the room. I recognized that small voice.

"Aria!" I yelled. She came running in. " Omg! Iris, you're awake" she paused and eyed us. "Am I interrupting something?" Shoot I totally forgot that I was still being cradled like a baby.

I tried to stand up but his arms were firm. I looked up at him my eyes begging. Aria also looked at him, "what?" He asked.

"You're needed outside, Alpha Eli has asked that you come and finalize living arrangements" he groaned. Standing up with me still in his arms. I looked like a baby, he walked to the door.

"Malik" I cried out.

"What?"

"Let me go!"

"Never again" he shook his head.

I groaned. "Please, I'll still be here when you come back"

"Of course, were you planning on running away again?" He squeezed me.

"No, Of course not" I squeaked and his expression lightened at my admission. I didn't allow his happiness to last long though. "I need air to survive."

"I'll just leave" Aria stated behind us making a move towards us, towards the door. I looked up at him and took his face in my palms. He stiffened at first until he relaxed a bit.

"Please?" He set me down and I smiled.

"Thirty minutes" he muttered and left.

I turned to Aria and grabbed her in a tight hug. I sniffed her hair, don't know why I never learn my lesson. She always smelled like her last meal. But this time I smelled shampoo.

"Aria? Is that mango I smell, with some perfume?" I raised my brows.

"What? I liked the shampoo" she shrugged. Okay where did they hide my best friend?

She led me back to the bed. "Don't want your mate to remove my head" I rolled my eyes.

"What the hell happened?" I asked Aria after I had settled back into the bed.

"Where do I even start, after I left you to go get help. I ran back to the pack. As soon as that brown haired really tall wolf, what was his name?" She tapped her chin.

"Leonard?"

"Yeah, the gamma. He knew immediately something was wrong. Next thing I knew Alpha Malik was also in front of me. He asked if you had already come back as if he was expecting you." She raised her brows, requiring an answer for that.

"I don't know, maybe it's because of the mark" I touched my neck.

"Does it work like that" she asked.

"Not normally, I don't know why I was unable to breathe Aria, but I'm sure that it was him. Otherwise he would never have let me go."

"Sick. Anyways when he saw only me, he panicked. We left immediately and when we saw you weren't were I left you, shit became real. I have never seen anything like it. He was feral and wild. He was more than a beast. It sacred everyone. We went back to the pack and immediately they were back out with trackers. That she wolf, Esme. She came along apparently she is the best tracker they've got. He wouldn't listen to her, or the fact that she just gave birth. He kept emphasising that the child was in an incubator anyway and you were the only reason that she or the baby where still alive."

Well that is true, no bragging but I did that.

"Iris I don't think that child is his, he couldn't be that cruel to his child. And seeing he is just next to passive that his baby mama is leaving the pack. It's not normal."

"Oh, the child is not his" I filled her in.

She nodded " but whose then "

"Some childhood friend of his"

"Ahh, okay then-"

"Wait what do you mean the she wolf is leaving the pack?"

Aria laughed "you would never imagine, Alpha Eli is her mate"

My jaw dropped, "no!"

"Yes"

"That poor wolf" I shook my head.

"Is that why Malik didn't kill him?" Aria nodded.

"Well that and the fact that Alpha Eli used you to negotiate truce for him and his pack."

"Me?"

"It was actually quite impressive how he made us feel like you where in danger, somewhere far away. I didn't buy it but he and Alpha Malik spoke of some prophecy and witches of the west. " my heart skipped a beat. I never told Aria the truth of myself. I couldn't bear tell her I was the very thing that destroyed her family. A witch.

"Honestly I zoned out there. But that and Esme. He agreed and swore an oath. Until he led us to a room with you as pale as death. Checkmate, I suppose."

"How long was I out?"

"About three days."

"Again?" what the does this mean. Before I could finish that thought Malik entered the room.

"We are leaving, can't stand this place"

"Couldn't agree more."