23 Let us suppress the memories

A carriage bearing the Kenworthy duchy's ensign entered through the humongous gate into the estate. Clifford got out of the wagon first and helped his sister to leave the carriage by holding her hand.

The duo entered the mansion together with Lucy following behind them.

Butler Peterson hurried out to greet them, "Welcome back Young master, Young miss"

They acknowledged him with a curt nod and started walking inside the mansion.

Peter glanced at Lucy with a frown on his face, "Why are you coming back with empty hands?"

Lucy bent her head in front of her superior, "Sir, My lady did not purchase any dresses"

"Did young miss not find anything to her liking in the capital?"

She shook her head, "Because of his Grace, Grand duke's sudden appearance in the boutique, my lady was not able to shop dress to wear for the princess' tea gathering"

The servants passing by halted in their place hearing these words. Engagement between the two duchies was widespread in the Findara empire. They also knew about the marriage getting delayed because of the lady's poor health, but now that she was healthy, isn't it good for them to get married soon? This is what all the maids and guards in the vicinity were thinking not knowing about the duke's plans of breaking the engagement.

Peterson gave them a stern look and that dispersed them from that place. Glancing back at Lucy, he frowned, "Watch what you speak. Being the young miss' close companion, you must think hundred times before opening your mouth in public. Your every word might turn itself into gossip that can harm the young miss' reputation"

Lucy widened her eyes and bowed, "I apologize for my poor conduct. This will not happen again, Sir"

"That better be the case" he stated and walked away. Peter decided to go to the duke's study to inform him about the Grand duke's meeting with Iris.

"Your Grace?" he knocked on the door and entered after receiving permission, "Come in"

Augustus lifted his head and stared at Peter, "What is the matter?"

Peter looked troubled but soon started explaining today's incident, "I heard that Grand Duke Wulfgur met my lady today in the boutique your grace" and as he anticipated, the duke's face turned grim, "My lady went out to purchase some dresses for the princess' tea party but encountered his Grace there. She returned with young master Clifford and I heard this from her personal maid"

Augustus crumpled the papers in his hand, "Ask Clifford to meet me right now"

"Yes, your grace" he replied and left to complete his task.

Clifford removed his uniform and changed into something casual and walked out of his room. He wanted to discuss the annulment issue as soon as possible with his father. After that, he also had to talk about Iris slowly recovering her memories.

Peter met Clifford on his way and wanted to relay the message from the duke but it was Clifford who questioned him first about his father's whereabouts and reached the study.

"Father it's me," he said entering and sighed seeing his father's fuming face.

"How did Grand duke even get to meet Iris?" he asked with a rigid voice, "Was it just a coincidence?"

"I don't think so father" Clifford answered directly as he took a seat opposite his father, "Meeting Iris inside a lady's boutique cannot be considered a coincidence for a man like Grand duke. Then luring her to have lunch with him by purposely mentioning their engagement is not something that is done by coincidence"

"That brat had lunch with my sweetie?" His father bellowed making him chuckle, "Calm down father...It's just having lunch together" and he received a glare for that.

"There is something more important that I want to discuss with you father" He started and Augustus looked at him with a questioning look, "Something more important?"

Clifford nodded with a grim face, "Iris is starting to recollect her memories. I think she had a family before her accident" his tone turned frantic as he continued, "Father what if she leaves us after fully regaining her memories? I don't want to lose my sister to some strangers"

Augustus fell into deep thought. He too felt nervous.....he didn't want to lose his only remaining daughter after finding her after so many years, "Iris should not regain her memories" he asserted, "I will talk to Dr.Stanley about this. He will find a way to keep her from regaining memories"

Clifford widened his eyes, "Fa-father, What....?"

"Don't you want your sister to stay with us forever?" his father asked and that made him swallow his remaining words, "Only erasing her past will make Iris stay with us until the end"

"Yes father," Clifford said and left the study and returned to his room.

He slumped on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His father's words rang in his ears and that made him guilty. Dr.Stanley whom his father mentioned is someone of great caliber. He was known for performing miracles in the medical field and suppressing someone's memory was simple for someone like him, but Clifford felt uncomfortable doing this to his sister. But he soon convinced himself to accept this because for him Iris staying with their family was more important than his guilty conscience.

Back inside her chamber, Iris just came out of the bathroom after freshening up but froze when she caught sight of a giant black wolf lying on her bed. His brilliant blue eyes stared at his mate's beautiful face without blinking.

Iris came out of her daze and hurried toward him, "Mr.Wolf.....How did you get inside?" she glanced at her open window and sighed. Then her lips tilted into a smile, she always waited for him after that night near the window.

Sitting on her bed, she hugged the wolf's head, "I missed you so much, Mr.Wolf"

Cassian was surprised by her sudden hug but soon rested his face on the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent which soothed him. After that incident with her brother, he was fuming when he returned to his estate. 'How dare they try to separate her from him?' He did not care about these human ways of engagement and marriage...she is his mate and nothing can change that truth.

Iris pulled away from him and scratched his neck making him whimper in delight. She chuckled and kissed his face, "You are so cute"

Cassian froze after that. Receiving a kiss from his mate was too much for him. Jolts of excitement ran through his body just by her mere touch but her kiss was even more incredible. He looked her in the eye making her confused, "What happend?"

Following that, he licked her face making her giggle, "Stop...it tickles"

Cassian grinned and continued licking her face and neck until someone knocked on the door.

"My lady the dinner is ready" Lucy informed while standing outside the door.

"I'm coming..." Iris answered and turned to Mr.Wolf, "Can you wait for me? I will return as soon as I finish my dinner and will also bring some meat for you to eat"

He shook his head and Iris pouted, "You are leaving?" she asked and he nodded, "But I thought about hugging you to sleep....." and his ears perked up at that. He laid on her bed and nudged her to have dinner and return fast. Cassian wanted to hug her to sleep as soon as possible.

Iris got up from his constant nudging, "Alright I'm leaving" she reached the door and turned to him, "You will wait right?"

He nodded his wolf head and only then did Iris leave her room.

After that, he slumped back on the bed and thought about resting for a while but his annoying Beta's voice stopped him, "Alpha...we need to leave" James said peeking inside the window. He was also in his wolf form, James accompanied his Alpha in this secret rendezvous between Alpha and his future luna, "It will be troublesome if the duchy's patrol locates us...Alpha are you listening?"

Cassian turned to him boredom-filled eyes, "I'm not leaving my mate's side today. You leave, I will return before the next dawn"

"I cannot leave you alone here Alpha, don't you remember the last time when you got attacked by wolfsbane?"

"They were just normal hunters," Cassian said in a dismissing tone.

James sighed, "See, even normal hunters are capable of getting hold of wolfsbane nowadays. what if our enemies ambush you using that?"

Cassian glared at him, "Get out of here before I lose my temper!"

James trembled hearing his Alpha's furious voice, "Ye-yes Alpha" saying that he turned around and left the manor.

Cassian drooped on the bed and closed his eyes.

After finishing her dinner, Iris bolted out of the dining room leaving her parents and brother perplexed.

"Why is she in such a hurry?" The duchess said looking at her daughter as she ran out of the dining room.

Duke Augustus chuckled and got up from his seat, "Maybe she wants to sleep early" then he looked at Peterson, "Bring the best seamster in the capital to the duchy tomorrow and let them make dresses for Iris"

"Yes your Grace" Peter replied as both Duke and Duchess exited the hall with Clifford.