Iris?


    The rm res at 5:30 AM, and 1 groan, pping at my phone to shut it off. Arthur stirs beside me, one arm still draped possessively across my waist.


    "Already?" he mumbles, burying his face in my hair.


    1 yawn as I gently try to pull myself from his grip. "Caleb will be here in an hour."


    Today is the day. My debut as a Willford. The thought makes my stomach clench with a headybination of excitement and terror.


    Once Arthur has finally decided to release me from his arms, I shuffle to the bathroom and ssh cold water on my face. In the mirror, my eyes look the same as always-no sign of the mysterious glow Arthur sawst night. I peer closer, half-expecting to see something, anything, different about myself. But I''m still just


    me.


    By the time I''ve showered and gotten dressed in afortable sweater and a pair of leggings, Caleb is already waiting for me outside. I tug on my jacket-it''s been getting chilliertely-and give Arthur a quick kiss. He''ll being separatelyter, with Miles, since there are still some final preparations at the estate that Caleb wants me involved in.


    But the moment I step outside the building, a sh goes off in my face, followed by another, and another. Suddenly I''m surrounded by people—at least a dozen photographers and reporters shoving microphones in my


    direction.


    "Iris! Over here!"


    "Is it true you''re secretly dating a Willford?"


    "Why have you been spending so much time with Caleb Willford?"


    I freeze, momentarily blinded by all the shes. Where the fuck did they alle from? How did they know-


    "Move!" Caleb''s voice cuts through the chaos as he pushes his way to my side, grabbing my arm. "Leave her alone!"


    This only makes the paparazzi more frenzied.


    "Caleb, what''s your rtionship with the Alpha President''s mate?"


    "How long have you two been seeing each other?"


    "Is it an affair, or is Arthur aware?"


    The usation makes my blood run cold. An affair? With my brother? The very thought is revolting, but these vultures don''t know that. All they see is a woman suddenly spending time with an attractive, wealthy bachelor.


    I open my mouth to respond, but Caleb is already trying to muscle me through the crowd toward his waiting car. Emi puts herself between me and the onught, and Arthur appears from the building behind me, his face thunderous as he takes in the scene.


    "Get away from her!" he snarls, and several of the photographers actually step back, responding instinctively to the Alpha''smand.


    But one persistent woman with a microphone steps closer. Iris, how do you respond to rumors of an affair with Caleb Willford?"


    Caleb tugs me forward, but I dig my heels in. I draw myself up to my full height, shoulders back, chin up, and re at the woman.


    "There is no affair," I say calmly. "Caleb is a friend, and that friendship has nothing to do with my rtionship with Arthur."


    The reporter doesn''t look convinced. "But you''ve been seen together multiple times over the past month. Private meetings, dinners—"


    "As friends do," I interrupt smoothly. "I would never cheat on my mate. Arthur is the love of my life and the father of my child. We''ve been through more together than you could possibly imagine." I look directly into her camera. "Love, trust, and family are the most important things in my world. Any suggestion otherwise is not only false but deeply hurtful."


    The crowd has gone quiet, caught off guard by myposure. Even Caleb and Arthur look surprised. "Furthermore," I continue, "I would appreciate some privacy. If you have questions, you''re wee to submit them through proper channels, and they''ll be addressed at the appropriate moment." I smile, the practiced, pleasant smile that Caleb taught me. "Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have a busy day ahead."


    And with that, I walk calmly to Caleb''s car, slide into the passenger seat, and wait for him to get in. The reporters are all staring at me.