Iris gulped, blinking up at the tall man standing on her porch. He was huge, broad-shouldered, dressed in black from head to toe, with a face carved in stone and eyes that didn't flinch.
Everything about him screamed danger, guard, warrior and enforcer.
Definitely not someone she wanted to annoy.
"I'll… just be a minute," she managed, her voice smaller than she liked.
The man gave a single, slow nod.
Iris shut the door carefully, definitely not slamming it and turned back inside. Her heart was thumping a little too fast.
"They're here," she said, stepping into the kitchen.
Her mother looked up from the counter where she'd been slicing the last of their bread, her hands still damp. "Who?"
"The people from Clawstone. Some guard…big guy, stiff."
Her mother's eyes widened. "Oh, already?"
She rinsed her hands quickly and dried them on the towel slung over her shoulder. "Alright, grab your things."
Their bags were already packed. One for each of them, essentials only. There hadn't been time for sentiment.
They stepped outside together.
The man was still in the same spot.
Exactly the same spot.
Not leaning, not shifting weight, not even checking a device. He was just… waiting.
Iris found that deeply unsettling and quite creepy.
"We're ready," she said, clutching the strap of her bag.
He nodded once again, then turned and began walking toward the black SUV parked in front of their house.
As they followed, Iris pulled out her phone and quickly called Lucille.
She answered on the second ring. "Hey. Did they come?" Lucille asked.
"They're here already," Iris said. "What about you?"
"Not yet."
"We're headed to the car now," Iris said. Then a thought struck her. "Wait. Why don't you just come here, and we'll all leave together?"
Lucille paused. "That's actually a great idea. I'm leaving now."
"Okay, hurry."
Iris hung up and slid the phone into her back pocket. Then she took a breath. She was going to have to speak to him again.
She turned slightly, clearing her throat. "Um… excuse me."
The man stopped beside the SUV and looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"My friend… she lives just down the road. She's part of our group too. I asked her to meet us here so we could all go together. It'll only take five minutes."
There was a pause. Long enough to make her nervous.
Then, finally, he said "ive minutes."
And without another word, he got into the driver's seat.
Iris exhaled and turned to her mom. "Well… that went better than I thought."
They stood there in silence for a moment, the morning chill brushing against their skin.
Behind them, the house they'd lived in for years stood quiet and empty.
After about a few minutes, Lucille finally arrived, panting slightly from the jog. "Iris!" she beamed, stretching her arms for a hug.
They embraced tightly, but as Lucille opened her mouth to gush…"Oh my gosh, Iris, you won't believe…"
"Shh," Iris cut in immediately, pressing a finger to her lips.
She subtly nodded toward the SUV, where the stone-faced driver was still seated, hands gripping the wheel like he was born to do it.
Lucille's eyes widened slightly, and Iris scrunched her face, making a playful yet grumpy expression to signal just how not fun the guy was.
She mouthed, We don't have time for chit-chat. Not with Mr. Silent But Deadly here.
Lucille chuckled under her breath and gave a small nod before slipping into the back seat beside Iris's mother.
The ride was long.
Long enough for sleep, but Iris couldn't close her eyes. Her mind wouldn't let her. Every bump in the road stirred another memory, her father's final roar before he fell, the fire licking their pack's walls, the screams, the blood.
Her chest tightened and she swallowed hard.
Her thoughts drifted to her mate, if only he were here with her, maybe he would have held her close, maybe she wouldn't feel so empty.
But if he died in the attack, then there was no need hoping, she would just get hurt.
The silence in the car was deafening, but her thoughts were anything nice.
Eventually, the landscape changed.
They pulled up to the borders of Clawstone pack, and Iris sat up straighter, her eyes catching sight of the high marble walls laced with glowing veins of silver.
Guards lined the edges, armed and alert. The sea breeze carried a soft, almost musical hum, like the land itself was alive and whispering its welcome to them.
"This is why they call them the best pack," her mother said under her breath, half to herself.
Iris could only nod, her eyes wide in awe.
"Yeah," Lucille added softly. "But the Alpha isn't exactly friendly…"
Iris raised an eyebrow, then slowly nodded toward the driver's seat. Her thumb traced a silent line across her neck with mock fear.
Lucille covered her mouth and made a zipping motion across her lips.
They all knew better than to say too much.
Soon, the car rolled to a stop in front of a grand building, something like an auditorium, all polished stone and sleek lines, glass reflecting the sun just right.
The driver finally spoke. "You can get down."
They stepped out, their legs stretching from the long ride, and followed him wordlessly into the building.
Inside was even grander. Marble floors, silver-inlaid walls, the scent of roses and jasmine in the air. Elevators lined one side like a luxury hotel.
The man pressed a code into a panel beside one of the elevators. The doors slid open smoothly.
They stepped in. The ride was silent and tense.
And then… as the elevator reached the top floor and the doors opened, Iris froze.
The scent hit her like a wave, it was rich, sweet, and unmistakable.
Her pulse stuttered.
That scent… the one only heard about in books and dreams. The one that called to her blood and inner wolf.
She stepped slowly, her eyes wide.
Someone… here… was her mate.