Iris
I can''t sleep. It''s partly due to worry about Miles-his fever has gone down with the
medicine my mother had on hand, but he''s
still restless-and partly everything else that''s swirling around in my head.
Selina, the residency ending, Arthur, my wolf... it''s all too much to process while lying in an unfamiliar bed, staring up at an
ornate ceiling that I hardly recognize.
After tossing and turning for what feels like hours, I finally slip out of bed, careful not to wake Arthur. He''s sprawled on his side,
breathing deeply, one arm still extended toward where I was lying. Even in sleep, he reaches for me.
I pull on a robe that was hanging in the en-suite bathroom and slip into the hallway. The Willford estate is eerily quiet at night,
but the moonlight streaming through the enormous windows is also beautiful. I''ve never had a chance to really explore this
ce, especially not at night.
The corridors seem endless, each one lined with priceless artwork and antique furniture. I run my fingers along the smooth
wooden banister as I descend a grand staircase, trying to imagine growing up here.
Would I have slid down this banister as a child? Would I have hidden behind these heavy drapes during games of hide-and-seek
with Caleb?
Instead, I grew up in a cramped orphanage with peeling paint and too few nkets, sharing a room with several other girls. The
contrast is jarring. I had nothing, and now I have... all of this. ess to wealth, power, luxury beyond anything I could have
imagined.
A strange, ufortable feeling settles in my stomach. Not quite guilt, but something adjacent to it. What did I do to deserve
this life of privilege? Nothing except being born with the right blood.
I follow a dimly lit corridor that leads to what appears to be the east wing of the
house. Eventually, I find myself at a set of ss
doors that open onto a courtyard.
Stepping outside, I''m met with the soft sound of running water. The courtyard is a meticulously maintained garden with stone
pathways winding between flowerbeds, statues, and small trees. In the center stands arge fountain-a woman pouring water
from a jug, the marble gleaming white in the moonlight.
I approach the fountain, drawn to the peaceful sound of the trickling water.
Looking down, I see my reflection rippling in the pool
below. My face, distorted by the gentle movement of the water, looks back up at me.
Is this really me, I wonder? Iris Willford, daughter of one of the most powerful werewolf families in the country, and mate to the
Alpha President?
Sometimes it still feels like I''m dreaming. Like I''ll wake up at any moment.
But I know it''s not true. This is my life now, no matter how strange it feels.
+25 Bonus
My mind begins to wander. Once my residency is over, what then? Move in with my parents and live thevish life of a princess?
Focus on being Arthur''s mate and the Luna of Ordan? Give up artpletely?
The thought makes me sick. I can''t give up my art, but I also can''t leave behind this life that I''ve only just discovered. I never
thought I would say this, but this life... suits me. Maybe it''s all the training, or maybe it''s just knowing that I finally have a real
family, but still.
I feel like I''ve found my ce, even if it all feels surreal.
"Can''t sleep?" a soft voice asks from behind me.
I turn to find my mother standing a few feet away, wrapped in an elegant dressing gown. Her hair is loose around her shoulders,
and it''s a lot longer than I thought it was, cascading down all the way to the small of her back.
"No," I admit. "Too much on my mind."
She nods understandingly and moves to sit on the edge of the fountain. After a moment of hesitation, I join her.
"I like toe here at night too," she says, trailing her fingers through the water. "When I need to think, or when I''m just
feeling overwhelmed."
I study her face, struck by her words. She always seems soposed, so
perfectly suited to her role. It''s hard to imagine her
feeling overwhelmed or restless. She tilts her head as she looks up at me. "What''s
on your mind, sweetheart?"