Iris & Arthur


    Iris


    The shopping bags rustle as I shift them in my arms, stepping out of the taxl in front of my apartment building My head still feels foggy, like I''m walking through a dream or maybe a nightmare. I keep reying Caleb''s words in my mind: You''re my sister. You''re a werewolf.


    How am I supposed to process that? My entire identity, everything I thought I knew about myself, has suddenly been flipped upside down..


    I''m a Willford. A dormant werewolf. Selina''s biological recement.


    Caleb insisted on paying for everything despite my protests and I eventually gave in. I hate letting people pay for me, but I was in such a daze that I didn''t have it in me to argue too much.


    The total made me wince-it was way more than I''d typically spend in a year on clothing-but he waved it off like it was nothing. He even tried to give me a credit card "for emergencies," which I did find the strength to refuse.


    That felt like crossing a line, even if he is apparently my brother.


    Miles skips ahead of us toward the building, clutching the new airne toy Caleb bought him without even asking if it was okay. A tant attempt to win over my son, but Miles fell for it instantly. I can''t really me him; the animatronic Spitfire does make impressively realistic sounds.


    "Mommy, look!" Miles points excitedly, and I follow his gaze to see Arthur leaning against his expensive car outside our building.


    My heart lurches at the sight of him. He''s dressed casually in jeans and a dark blue sweater that makes his green eyes pop even from this distance. I should be excited to see him so soon after our magical night together, but it''s guilt that immediately washes over me.


    It''s only been a few hours, but I''ve been keeping secrets from my mate. It feels... wrong. I want to tell him.


    But I don''t. I promised Caleb I wouldn''t, and frankly, I need some time to process first. I tell myself it''ll just be a few days, and that Arthur will understand why I had to wait when I finally do tell him.


    At least, I hope he will.


    As Miles races toward Arthur, who scoops him up with a grin, I notice Emi subtly step away to give us privacy. But. the look she exchanges with Arthur doesn''t escape my notice. Has she already told him where I was? Who I was with?


    "Hello, stranger," Arthur says as I approach, setting Miles down. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I''d surprise you."


    "That''s a lie,” I say, managing a small smile. “You were waiting for me."


    Arthur''s smile falters slightly. "You caught me. Emi mentioned you were out- shopping with Caleb Willford."


    And there it is. My stomach drops. "I ran into him at the coffee shop," I exin carefully. “He spilled coffee all over my shirt, so he offered to rece it."


    Arthur''s eyes drift to the numerous shopping bags. "That''s a lot of recement shirts."


    "He felt really bad about it, especially after what Selina did to me," I say, shifting ufortably. “He kind of insisted. And... I have a migraine, so I kind of spaced out and didn''t stop him from picking out a few extra things."


    Liar. Dirty fucking liar.


    +25 BONS


    The migraine part is true, though. I''m seeing floaters in my vision just from the intensity of the day. Arthur takes a few bags from my hands, and we walk toward the building together. Miles runs ahead. "Well, that''s generous of him," Arthur says, his voice carefully neutral. "Just... be careful with him. Willfords are notoriously... Well, you know what Selina''s like."


    My stomach twists. "I don''t know. I don''t want to assume that everyone is out for their own gain."


    Arthur studies me for a moment as if trying to read me, and my heart skips a beat. Finally, he nods slowly." Alright." He nces at the bags again. “Well, I hope you at least got something nice."


    I nod, managing a smile. “I did,” I say, and I''m not talking about the clothes.


    I''m a werewolf.


    Arthur


    The door clicks shut behind me as I leave Iris''s apartment a few hourster. It was


    a nice night spent making dinner and watching a movie together, but something felt off-like Iris was keeping something from me.


    She kept saying she had a migraine, but I think there''s more to it than that.


    Caleb Willford. Taking my mate shopping. Buying her expensive dresses.


    No matter how much I try to push it down, there''s no stopping the way my wolf is pacing angrily, jealousy coursing through my veins. I know I shouldn''t feel this way but I can''t help it.


    I trust Irispletely-it''s Caleb I don''t trust. What game is he ying now? And why does it involve Iris?


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