Gradel's visit

Chapter 7

Iris

My eyes flashed open with my breaths bursting in and out heavily. I shrank backward with fear pounding hard in my chest. My body felt clammy and then I noticed that I was drenched with a cold liquid—water.

How that happened I didn't know.

A scary-looking guard strolled in, his gait intimidating. "You're not going to sleep all day, lady."

"I'm sorry," I muttered, wondering why he came to visit then I heard light footsteps behind him.

That couldn't be a man's step, I thought.

May approached me, clutching onto the skirt of the dress she wore to the mating ceremony earlier. "Hi," She waved at me, keeping a long distance.

I wanted to ask her why she couldn't come closer, but I already knew the answer. I was filthy and probably stank worse than a crate of rotten eggs. "You're here," I acknowledged quietly.

I didn't want anyone around, not even my sister. Ever since the bracelet went missing, my ability to trust people wilted.

"I'm sorry that you're in this condition, Iris. The news has spread around the pack and people are saying bad things about you and even me. I can't even go to the market or meet up with my friends because of what you did. Why did you have to be so dumb?" She scolded me.

A scoff lurched out of my lips as my brows narrowed in surprise. "Is this all you have to say to me, May?"

She shrugged and then began to pace. "Look, Iris, I'm just looking out for you. Prince Gradel is more than livid and I'm not sure you will come out of this alive—"

"Hold it right there!" I raised my hand sharply to stop her from blabbing on. Her presence annoyed me, but her words and nonchalance infuriated me further. "Are you even my sister?"

Her face went blank and her lips parted widely at my outburst. I guess she wasn't expecting such a question.

"Of course I am,"

I shook my head with a sad chuckle. "I don't think you are. If mom was still alive, I'd have asked her if I was adopted so that I wouldn't have to deal with a heartless sister like you."

"Iris..."

"Not another word, May!" I shut her up, "You are the reason I'm locked up here. It's because I worked for Giga to be able to provide food for us, that was why he had the chance to frame me for stealing. I agree that I took Prince Gradel's bracelet, but why is it surprising that I brought it home and it suddenly went missing? Why did you convince me to attend the mating ceremony when you knew that I wasn't interested?"

She opened her mouth, but no word came out, instead, she kept holding onto her dress like her life depended on it.

Everything that happened was my fault. If I'd been outspoken and assertive from the beginning things wouldn't have gotten this bad.

But there was no need to regret anything, I only hoped that the prince found his bracelet before the seventh day.

"You are such a foolish girl, Iris. I came here to sympathize with you and the only thing you can do is to insult me? You deserve everything that comes your way," She spat.

My body was weak from the physical harassment meted out to me, coupled with the fact that I hadn't eaten all day, but I summoned the little energy I gained from sleeping and got to my feet.

"And you are the most selfish person I've ever seen. I can give my life for you, but you can't, and I don't even want you to. All I ask is that you leave and never set foot here again. You disgust me, May, you do."

"Alright, sis. Enjoy your stay here," She passed a cursory glance around the small cell that I was put in and snickered. "I'm sure it will be filled with so much fun." She replied sarcastically.

She snorted and stalked out and immediately the doors of the cell were shut. I leaned on the walls and slid down to the ground, my heart breaking into pieces.

Reality began to set in and the loneliness I'd been ignoring and fighting against since childhood reared its ugly head. I could see its scary face and imagine how happy it was, seeing me vulnerable.

I was weak, exhausted and ready to go off. Life had nothing to offer me apart from troubles and challenges. From my birth till now, I've recounted nothing but endless misery. Each time I thought that I'd made some progress, something bad happened, causing me to take a downward trajectory.

The iron door was pushed ajar for the second time. It was irritating that I couldn't have my privacy even though they had taken my freedom from me.

"What in the moon goddess's name do you want?" I fumed and immediately I regretted my actions as Prince Gradel appeared behind the guards.

My lips clamped shut as I bowed to him. "My apologies, Prince Gradel..." I snapped my lips shut immediately, recalling that he didn't want me to address him by his name. "I'm sorry for mentioning your name," I apologized. "I had no idea that you would come to visit." I churned out.

"Leave us," I heard.

My chest tightened as I heard those words. No doubt, he was still livid and he could shift and just tear me apart.

The claws I saw earlier at my apartment were capable of turning me into a delicious bloody meal. I wish the guards didn't have to leave. It wasn't like they could stop him from hurting me, but with them around he would be more couth.

"If you keep up with this attitude, you won't have any teeth left on my next visit," He crouched before me, my chin fixed painfully between his fingers, leaving no room for me to struggle. "Do you hear me?" He snarled.

"Yes... Sir," I managed to reply under his choke hold.

Our eyes met, terrified brown eyes to fierce blue orbs and strangely, I wasn't so scared of his presence. He stared at me intensely, his expression veiled with no emotions in sight.

He blinked once, then again, and then he released my chin.

"I came here for one reason," He peered down at me, his arms folded behind him. "I want to know why my body wants you."