《Mated to a Werecat》


 1 Iriss Point of View

    It was a snowy day. School was cancelled from all the snow we''ve gotten the night before. Me and all the other kids in my clan ran out to play in the snow. Our parents laughing at our silliness.


    By the end of the day, we all go home, covered in snow and red form the cold. Our parents would make us some hot cocoa before we head to bed. It was wonderful and so perfect until that night.


    I went to bed after having my hot cocoa. My parents came into my room to say good night after I was all settled in.


    "Night mama. Night papa," I said giving them both a hug and a kiss on their cheeks.


    "Night baby girl," says my father.


    "Night my love," says my mom.


    Then they walked out, turning off my bedroom light. Not even a few hours after I went to bed, I was woken up by my parents. I looked at them afraid and confused of what was going on.


    My mom picked me up and ran out the house and into the woods with my father following behind. Then they came. The wolves emerged from the bushes on all sides, surrounding me and my parents. My father and mother put me between them, protecting me. My father then said something to my mother that I didn''t catch. She nodded then shifted into her beautiful feline form. My dad set me onto my mom.


    "Now listen Iris, take care of your mother for me. I''ll try to catch up with you guys as soon as I can. I''ll always be with you guys in your hearts. I love you baby girl," my father said to me.


    "Okay papa. I love you too," I replied back.


    The wolves came closer to us. One came to attack my dad but missed as he jumped over it and shifted into a larger feline, larger than my mother''s. At that my mom took off running away, leaving my dad behind. Little did I know, that was the last time I was to see my father.


    She ran for a while before we heard a loud cat call from my father. My mom stopped and shifted back to her human form screaming in pain. Her mark glowed red than vanished. I also felt the pain, but ignored it. That''s when I knew my father died.


    "Come on mama. Lets go," I said trying to pull my mom.


    She wouldn''t come. She kept crying and screaming. It was a heart broken scene that no one should experience. It wasn''t until the sound of wolf howls made my mom come back to her senses.


    "Iris, baby, run. Run far away and never look back. I love you and always will be with you, along with your father," my mom said with tears streaming down her face.


    "But mama, papa said for me to take care of you," I said trying not to cry.


    "But I said to go. I know what your father said. Get out of here and save yourself," my mom said pushing me away from her.


    "But mama - ," I started but the wolf howls came closer.


    "GO NOW IRIS!" my mm said and shifted once again.


    I ran when she shifted. Ran far ans as fast as my legs could carry me. I ran until I heard the cries from my mother. The same pain I had ignored when my father had died came back but stronger. I fell and cried my life out, mourning for both my family and clan. I fell asleep crying in the cold snow underneath a tree, wishing for my parents. Wishing to know what wolf pack had taken my family and clan away from me. Wishing for death to take me so I wouldn''t have to live with this pain any longer.

 2 Iriss Point of View 10 years later

    I awake scared out of my mind from the nightmare. Once again, I had the nightmare of the memory from when my parents died.


    I stretched and shook off the leaves that was matted onto my feline self. Then I continued on my way through the woods like I''ve been doing for the past 10 years. My stomach growled, reminding me that I need to eat. So I listened out to see if I could find food.


    Once I heard what sounded like a wild buck not far away from where I was at, I quietly walked to where it was. Then there it was. A wild buck, fully grown, and weighing more than I. I got closer to the ground and crawled closer to the buck. Once I was barely 5 feet away, I lunged at it. The buck was quick and ran before I could dig my claws into it. The chase was on. Nothing was going to get between me and my prey.


    It didn''t take me long before I caught and killed the buck. I was currently eating my meal when I heard a stick snap. I perked my ears up and looked around frantically, looking to see whom or what made the sound and where it was coming from. Once I seen it was nothing, I went back to eating my wild buck. Well, that was until they came out and lunged at me.


    What was I doing? Running. That''s what I was doing. From what you ask me. From wolves. They''ve been chasing me for a while now.


    The sound of the wolves'' howls and the sight of two of them came into view. As one tried to jump onto me, I swerved and then climbed onto a tree. All the wolves surrounded the tree, growling and jumping up trying to get to me. One of the wolves jumped up high enough to the branch that I''m on. I hissed an clawed at him, hitting his snout. The wolf whimpered from the claw mark I left him and growled at me.


    Then they all went quiet and looked behind them. I followed their gaze. That''s when I seen him. The alpha of the pack in his intimidating wolf form. He growled at the other wolves, and they all left. The alpha shifted to his human form. and that''s when I heard the one word come from him.


    "MATE!"


    He stared at me for what felt like hours but was only really a few seconds.


    "Are you going to come down anytime soon?" he said in his alpha tone.


    I blinked. Then inched my way down till I sat only a few feet away from him. I sniffed the air and caught a whiff of his scent. He smelled good, like really good. Behind his body wash, he smelled like the woods in autumn. The crisp air of fall with winter coming right behind. I could get used to this scent.


    The alpha cleared his throat and smirked at me. He slowly walked up to me and squats down. I tried to ignore the fact that he was naked like the day he was born, and his junk was right where my eyes could see in every way. And let me tell you, he wasn''t small. I looked at him and scooted closer to the tree. He sighed and walked closer to me. When he reached out at me, I jumped and climbed the tree high as can be.


    I got to the highest branch that suited me and looked down. The alpha didn''t seem to happy that his mate, me, just climbed a tree to get away. He looked up and sighed.


    "You don''t have to be afraid. I won''t hurt you," he said.


    I crawled a little more before hearing a crack come from behind. The branch I was on started to break. From the looks of it, he heard as well.


    "Don''t move. I''m going to get you down from there," he said as he started to climb the tree.


    I did as I was told and stayed still as the branch slowly cracked more. Scared? Not really. Terrified? For sure. As the alpha got closer, the branch cracked more.


    "Come here little one. It''s okay. Everything will be okay as long as you listen carefully. Now, come to me and you will be safe," he told me as calmly as he could.


    I slowly crawled to him, but it was too late. The branch broke off the tree and down I went. I fell quickly and landed on my back with a hard snap. The alpha jumped off the tree and ran to me. Last thing I heard from him was, "Don''t go. Stay with me baby girl." Then it all went black.

 3 Luciuss Point of View

    I was laying in my bed trying to get some sleep when my beta, Maxwell, mind-linked me.


    M: ''Alpha.''


    L: ''What?''


    M: ''There''s been a sighting of a cat shifter crossing into our territory.''


    A cat shifter? What''s a cat shifter doing in my territory? I thought they were extinct. They better not be fooling around about this.


    L: ''I''ll be there. Give me a minute.''


    M: ''Alright alpha. We just chased her up a tree.''


    L: ''Okay. Make sure she doesn''t escape.''


    M: ''Will do.''


    With that I walked out my room and pack house with only a pair of basketball shorts on. I shifted once I got to the woods and ran to where they were.


    ***


    To the point where the last chapter left off at:


    I picked up the conscious feline and ran home fast.


    L: ''Doctor O''Reilly''


    Doctor: ''Yes alpha.''


    L: ''I need you. It''s my mate.''


    Doctor: ''On it alpha.''


    When I got in the pack house, the pack doctor, Dr. O''Reilly, took the feline to the infirmary. I followed behind until a nurse told me to wait and clean up while the doctor took care of her.


    I sighed and walked back to my room. Yes, I know I''m naked as the day I was born. But I don''t care. My mate just fell out of a tree in front of me. Holy fuck. I haven''t even met my mate and I''m going crazy.


    I took a quick shower and threw on a pair of joggers and socks. I grabbed my laptop and walked downstairs to wait patiently.


    After a few hours, Dr. O''Reilly tapped me on the shoulder, waking me up.


    "So, how is she?" I asked.


    The pack doctor chuckled.


    "You haven''t known your mate long and you care for her like you knew her your whole life," the doctor replied. "But since you asked, she''s going to be alright."


    I sighed out the breath I''ve been holding.


    "But," he started.


    "But what?" I asked with fear in my voice.


    "But she''s in a coma. I don''t know how long she''ll be out like that. As for injuries, she had a concussion. So she''ll wake up with a terrible headache. She also had broken a couple ribs and broke her leg. She''s also showing signs of being underweight. But I can''t check until she''s awake," the doctor told me.


    "Can I have her moved to my room?" I asked.


    "Sure, but you have to be gentle with her," he said sternly.


    "I will doc. Thanks," I said.


    Dr. O''Reilly took me to where they had my mate. She was in her human form sound asleep and naked. She looked like an angel even though she was still stained with dirt. I growled at the thought of another man looking at what''s mine. The pack doctor cleared his throat and smirked at me. I carefully picked her up and carried her to my room. I gently set her down in my bed, covering her with the blankets. I thanked the pack doctor once again before climbing into bed with my mate, hoping she''ll wake up soon.

 4 Iriss Point of View

    Everything was dark and quiet. You could hear a pin drop. I roamed in the darkness for what seem like forever until I heard something. What, no. Someone. It sounded like someone was calling my name.


    "Iris," the mysterious voice said.


    "Hello? Anyone out there?" I said back.


    I waited for a reply but never got one. I shrugged and walked some more. Then I felt someone touch me. It was cold too. I screamed in fear.


    "Hello? Someone there? There has to be. I heard and felt you. So whoever you are, show yourself," I said.


    That''s when I saw them. My parents.


    "Mama? Papa?" I asked in disbelief.


    "Iris, baby," my mother said.


    "Is that really you?" I asked.


    It can''t be them. Unless.... Unless I''m dead. Am I dead? I finally see my mate and then I die. Wow. That''s the end of my story.


    "Baby girl. You''ve grown up so much," my dad says.


    "Am I dead?" I asked.


    "No. You''re not dead honey," my mother says.


    "You''re in a coma. But Iris, you have to listen. You''re in grave danger. If you leave your mate, life won''t go so well as fate wants it to be," my father says sternly.


    A tear started to stream down my face. I couldn''t believe that my parents who''ve been dead for about 10 years were standing right in front of me. I walked closer to them. They haven''t changed much from when I seen them before they died. My mom opened her arms and I ran into them like I used to. My father wrapped his arms around both me and my mom. It felt like how it used to.


    "Baby. Iris. It''s time for you to go back to your mate. Wish we could meet him in person, but we''ll watch over you guys," my mom said.


    "No. I''m not ready to leave you guys." I said holding onto them tightly.


    "I''m sorry love, but we have to go. Always remember that we''re in your heart and always with you. I love you," my father said.


    "I love you too. I love you both," I said back still crying.


    Then they left me alone in the darkness. Alone once again. That was until I saw the light as it swallowed me.


    "NO! MAMA! PAPA! COME BACK!" I screamed out not opening my eyes.


    I felt someone touch me. Then there was a bright light in my dilating eyes. I felt something prick me and everything went calm.


    I couldn''t move but I sure could still hear, So I did what I could do best, I listened to the conversation.


    "Doc, what was the cause of this?" said the person that sounded like my mate, but I wasn''t sure.


    "She went into shock. Whatever went on that we don''t know caused her to go into it. But she''s not in a coma," said I''m guessing the doctor.


    "So what did you inject her with to calm her down?" my mate asked.


    "A home remedy that soothes stress. If she goes in shock again, tell me," the doctor said.


    "I will. Thank you for coming," my mate said.


    "Anything for you and the Luna, alpha," the doctor replied.


    I heard the door close and my mate sigh. I felt the bed dip as he sits on the opposite side of the bed. I tried opening my eyes. It took a few moments to adjust. I slowly tried to sit up and move a little. The few moments of being awake and moving, my head hurts a whole lot.


    I looked over to where my mate sat. He''s shirtless and is built. I fight the urge to run my finger down his back. I sighed not knowing what to say. Hell, I don''t even know if I can talk after screaming.


    "You must be confused on where you''re at," my mate said.


    I jumped at the sound of his voice. I looked up to see him standing next to me. How long has he been here? But I nodded on replying to what he said.


    "I''m Lucius Lyons, the alpha of the Filtrian Pack. And I''m your mate. And what''s your name mate?" Lucius, my mate, said.


    I stared at him getting a glimpse of him with out being scared.


    "Iris," I said very quietly like a whisper hard for anyone to hear.


    "Iris. That''s a beautiful name. Well, I''m going to go get the pack doctor so he can check up on you. I''ll be right back," Lucius said as he walked out.


    I sat in this room that I''m guessing is his, since his scent is everywhere. It was very spacious. A huge bed with navy blue bedding that I''m sitting in. A desk off to one side and a TV with a game set off on the other side. Two nightstands were next to the bed, one on each side of it. There was an attached bathroom and I''m guessing a closet where all his clothes are at.


    The sound of my mate''s and someone else''s voice came from the open doorway. They walked into the room and Lucius sat next to me.


    "Dr. O''Reilly, this is my mate, Iris," he says to Dr. O''Reilly.


    Then he looks back at me.


    "Iris, this is the pack doctor, Dr. O''Reilly. He''s going to do simple check-ups. Dr. O''Reilly, she''s all yours," he says as he moved out the way for the pack doctor.


    "Hello Iris. As the alpha has said, I''m Dr. O''Reilly, the pack doctor. I''ll take care of any of your wounds and illnesses like I do with the rest of the pack. Now stay calm and everything will go by quick," he told me.


    As Dr. O''Reilly did my little check-up, he made me laugh and smile while he did what he needed to do.


    "Alpha, do you have a weight scale and a yard stick?" Dr. O''Reilly asked.


    "Yes doctor. I''ll go get them," Lucius said and left to go fetch the doctor a weight scale and a yardstick.


    "So Iris, do you remember where you came from? And how you stumbled onto the pack grounds?" Dr. O''Reilly asked me.


    I told him everything that I remembered. He listened and took a few notes on what I said.


    "I''m sorry for your loss Iris. And you''re a werecat, is that correct?" Dr. O''Reilly said.


    "Yes," I replied.


    "And you said you were from where exactly?" he asked.


    "I''m from Sweden. Ritsem, Sweden to be exact," I said in return.


    The sound of a yardstick falling onto the floor startles me. I jumped and see Lucius at the door paler than deathly white. He put the weight scale down and ran out the pack house. I run to the window in time to see him shift and run into the woods.


    I look back at the pack doctor.


    "What''s wrong with him?" I asked worriedly.


    "Iris, I don''t have the place to say. Your mate does," Dr. O''Reilly said.


    "As your alpha''s mate, I demand to know. As you seen, your alpha ran into the woods because I said I''m from Ritsem. So if I were you, I would tell me why he ran off," I demanded.


    "Well, our pack is the pack that attacked a werecat clan in Ritsem 10 years ago," he said.


    "What was the clan''s name?" I asked.


    The pack doctor gulped and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.


    "Well?!" I demanded.


    "Mineneki," he said nervously.


    Everything went black again after he told me the werecat clan name was.

 5 Iriss Point of View

    I woke up on the bed, tucked into the blankets. The pack doctor was no where in sight. Nor was the alpha. Did he ever return home?


    I looked over to the window and seen that the sun had gone down. What time is it? I look over at the nightstand and seen a clock. 12:40 am. It''s late and he hasn''t returned?! He at least didn''t return to the room....I think. I sighed. Maybe I should go see if he''s somewhere in the house.


    I got up out of bed and walked down the long hallway that led to a flight of stares. Quietly, I walked down the stairs, not wanting to wake anyone up.


    Once I got to the bottom step, I sighed and continued my way around searching for my mate. While roaming around the dark house, I seen a light up ahead of the never heading hallway. When I got to the room where the light was coming from, I seen that it was the kitchen.


    Inside the kitchen, sat a person. He wasn''t Lucius but from what I''m guessing is that it''s his beta.


    "I know you''re there," he said.


    I looked up to see him staring at me over the book he was reading.


    "You can come in. I''m not going to bite," he said before sighing.


    I walked closer to him, but kept my distance.


    "I''m Iris," I said to him.


    "Maxwell," he said.


    "What are you reading?" I asked.


    "Huh? Oh. It''s something my grandmother gave me. It was her book of the ancient legends and myths of every creature that lived on earth. She used to read me them to bed every night since I was a baby before she passed," Maxwell said closing the book.


    I looked at him closely. There was a faint scar that went down his nose and lip.


    "Where did you get that scar?" I asked him out of curiosity.


    "What scar?" he asked me confused.


    "The one on your face," I said.


    "Oh, this one. About 2 weeks ago, the pack stumbled across a werecat. She clawed my snout while I was in wolf form. This is the result of it," Maxwell told me.


    Holy shit. I clawed the beta. I''m going to be in some deep sh*t.


    "I''m sorry," I mumbled.


    "Sorry for what? You didn''t do anything," he said.


    "Yes I did Maxwell. I''m the werecat that clawed you," I told him.


    "Oh.... Well, it''s okay. You were defending yourself," he said grinning.


    We talked to each other more. I soon had sat next to him. Apparently, him and Lucius were trouble makers when they were pups. I thought it was funny because from the little time I got to know Lucius, if you want to even count it as getting to know him, I didn''t see him as a trouble maker. Now Maxwell, I can see him like that. He has that childish personality that suits him.


    "So, have you found your mate?" I asked Maxwell.


    "No. Have you?" he replied.


    "Yeah. Lucius is my mate. But I don''t know where he disappeared to," I said laying my head against my hand.


    "Your Lucius''s mate?! I''m sorry Luna. I should have known. I''ll mind-link Lucius for you," he said getting all professional.


    "Thanks Maxwell. But please call me by my name. And you don''t have to be all professional around me either. Just be your natural self," I said to him.


    "Your welcome. And okay," he says before mind-linking Lucius.


    "Iris, he should be here soon," Maxwell told me after mind-linking the alpha.


    I nodded in response and looked through the book. I wasn''t searching for anything particular. Just a story that my mom used to tell me. After searching through half the book, I eventually found it and tapped a sleeping Maxwell on the shoulder.


    "What you got there?" he said half asleep.


    "Just a story my mom used to tell me," I said showing it to him.


    "Ahh. The story of how the first werecat clan was made. It was one of my favorites as a child.", Maxwell said.


    "Mine too. Do you mind reading it to me?" I said to him.


    "Sure," he said.


    Maxwell read the story to me. I sat there engrossed and memorized in it. It kind of felt like when I was younger. By the end of the story, I was in tears. It was a sad story, but a famous one as well.


    I thanked Maxwell for reading me the story. That''s when the alpha made his presence known.


    "Alpha," Maxwell said to him.


    "Maxwell," he said acknowledging him.


    "I''ll go make myself scarce. Iris, whenever you want to hear another story, you can find me in the library," Maxwell said.


    "Okay," I replied.


    Maxwell quickly left me with Lucius in the kitchen.


    "What time is it?" I asked Lucius, not seeing a clock anywhere in here.


    "3:30 am. Why?" Lucius said. I tried to calm myself before talking to him, but that didn''t work out as planned.


    "Where the hell were you?!? I looked for you before sitting here with your beta. I was worried. You weren''t here when I woke up," I exclaimed.


    Lucius sighed.


    "We need to talk, It''s about what happened a decade ago," he said dodging my question.


    "Then will you tell me where you went?" I asked.


    "Yes I will," he said tiredly.


    "You better," I said in a very pissed off tone.

 6 Iriss Point of View

    Excerpt from previous chapter:


    Lucius sighed.


    "We need to talk. It''s about what happened a decade ago," he said dodging my question.


    "Then will you tell me where you went?" I asked.


    "Yes I will," he said tiredly.


    "You better," I said in a very pissed off tone.


    End of excerpt:


    Lucius took me to his office so we could talk. Apparently, he was afraid someone would hear. Hear about what?? My past?? But I listened and followed him to his office.


    The office looked like a mini library. It had tons of books on the shelves that were against the wall. There was a window off to the side. It was a pretty big window. It looks like someone could fit in it. There was also a desk with a computer on it. The desk was by the window, which was on the right side of the room. Not going to lie, but it was cluttered with paperwork and books. On the left side, there was a fireplace. A huge black leather couch, with a soft white blanket on it, sat in front of the fireplace. Above the fireplace were pictures. I''m guessing they were from when he was younger.


    Lucius shut the door to the office and led me to the leather couch. I sat on it, feeling how comfortable it was underneath me. I watched Lucius put the fireplace on. He came over and sat next to me on the couch.


    "Are you cold?" he asked me.


    I didn''t realize that I was cold until he had asked. I nodded.


    He put the blanket over my shoulders like a gentleman does with his jacket. I wrapped the blanket around me trying to cover up a blush that was forming.


    "So... What is it that you want to know? I already know that it was this pack who attacked my clan," I said straight up.


    "You do? Who told you?" he asked.


    "I''m not saying until you tell me where you were," I told him stubbornly.


    Yes, I was going to be stubborn with him. It''s not the best idea to do, especially with an alpha. But I honestly don''t care.


    Lucius quickly pinned me to the couch and growled.


    "Tell me who told you now," he demanded me.


    Oh hell no. He didn''t just growl at me and demanded me to tell him. He''s funny thinking that''ll work on me.


    "No. I''m not going to tell you. And don''t growl at me or demand me to tell you things. It''s not going to work like every wolf in your pack," I said pushing him off. "Now tell me where you were at. And maybe, MAYBE, I''ll tell you who told me."


    I looked at him sternly. He did something I didn''t expect him to do.


    "I was screwing another girl," he said calmly.

 7 Luciuss Point of View:

    As much as I hate it, I told Iris the truth. I can feel the anger she holds within her for me in waves. Her eyes kept changing from the natural sterling gray color to a clear white color, telling me that her feline self was ready to take control. I crossed my arms and stared straight at her. She was pissed. I was as well. But who could''ve told her? I thought about it, until it dunged on me. The pack doctor told her after I ran off.


    I lost my train of thought when my cheek started to sting. I didn''t have time to prepare for the world to go black. Fuck. My mate just knocked me out cold. This is going to ruin my reputation if anyone finds out.


    ***


    Iris''s Point of View:


    I stared at my knocked out mate. I seriously just punched him straight in the face. Not only that, but I slapped him. When he wakes up, I''m going to be in real big trouble.


    I sighed, putting the blanket over his body. I slowly and quietly walked out of the office and to the kitchen. What? I get hungry when I''m pissed off.


    When I got back to the kitchen, the sun was starting to rise. This time, I was all alone in the kitchen. Going through the kitchen, I decided to make breakfast since everyone else will be up soon. And I was right. Not even 20 minutes goes by and people started coming into the kitchen for food.


    I served everyone their meal. Even Maxwell came to eat. Lucius didn''t, since he was most likely still knocked out. But it was his fault who got him in like that in the first place.


    Maxwell came over to me after finishing his meal.


    "Morning Iris," he said.


    "Morning to you too Max," I said back.


    "Where''s Lucius?" he asked me.


    "Most likely still knocked out on the floor in his office where I left him," I replied, trying to clean the dishes.


    "What do you mean? What happened after I left?" he asked in a scared but worried tone.


    I sighed, rinsing my hands and the dishes before putting them on the rack to dry. I turned and faced Max.


    "I slapped and punched him in the face," I told him.


    "And when did this happen?" he asked.


    "What time does the sun rise?" I asked him.


    "6:30," he said.


    "What time is it now?" I asked him.


    "8:45?" he told me in a confusing tone.


    "Then about 1 hour and 15 minutes ago. Care to join me outside?" I told him.


    "Sure," he replied.


    We walked through the backyard, talking to each other. I''m going to be honest, I would love to have Maxwell as my mate. He''s kinder than Lucius. But I don''t have control of that.


    "So... what made you punch and slap Lucius?" Maxwell asked me.


    "While he was gone, he screwed another girl," I told him with a hurt tone.


    Maxwell looked furious when I told him. I was kind of scared of what he could do if someone really pissed him off.


    "Maxwell? Don''t be mad. He got what he deserves," I told him trying to calm him down.


    "Iris, he shouldn''t have done that. That''s not right. I''m going to have a word with him. So excuse me for leaving you here. Come get me if you need me. I''ll be with Lucius," he said.


    Then he was off. He ran all the way back into the house and to Lucius''s office.

 8 Maxwells Point of View

    I ran to Lucius''s office. Was I pissed? Extremely. Does Iris deserved to be cheated on? NO. She just got here not that long ago. Someone needs to knock some sense into him. And that someone is me.


    When I got into the office, Lucius was sitting at his desk with his head down. I walked over to him.


    "Lucius," I said getting his attention.


    I didn''t give him a chance to comprehend what''s happening before punching him hard, just not hard enough like Iris had done.


    "Ow! What the f*ck Max!" Lucius yelled at me while holding his broken nose.


    "What do you mean?! I should be asking you that question!! How could you do that to Iris. She''s only been here for like 2 weeks. Most of it, she was in a coma. And you already cheat on her!!" I yelled at him.


    He looked at me with regret written all over his face. Then he looked down. That''s when he snapped.


    "You know what, why do you care for her well being? She''s my mate! Not yours! I can do whatever I can! Last time I was your alpha. Now respect what my actions!" he yelled throwing everything off the desk.


    "No, you can''t do whatever you like Lucius! You''re going to hurt Iris. She''s your mate and the packs soon-to-be Luna. So I have every right to care for her. But apparently you don''t care for her well being," I yelled back.


    We stared at each other before Lucius lunged at me. I quickly dodged his attack and a fight broke out in the office. Things got messy quick. Everything in there was broken into pieces. And I mean everything.


    I was currently under Lucius. He turned into his wolf form during our fight. But someone came in yelling at us. Lucius turned over and growled at the person. I looked over and seen Iris. Sh*t, she''s going to get herself killed.


    "Lucius! Stop! You''re hurting him!" Iris yelled, easing her way into the destroyed office.


    Lucius, not being himself anymore, stalked closer to Iris, growling.


    "IRIS! RUN!" I yelled as I jumped up.


    She ran and the chase was on. I shifted into my golden wolf form, still running after a rabid Lucius and a very frightened Iris. We ran to the backyard, where I commanded the strongest warriors to protect Iris while I fought Lucius. They quickly came and Iris was soon behind them, fear written all over her face.


    Once again, I was fighting Lucius, but in wolf form. I targeted for his neck, pinning him underneath me. He tried getting out my grasp, but I bit down hard tasting blood as it enters my mouth. I released him when he stopped fighting me and shifted back to my human form.


    "Shift Lucius!" I commanded him.


    He wouldn''t shift until I growled at him, commanding him to shift again. He then shifted into his human form, not looking at anyone but the ground.


    I looked over at him and shook my head in disbelief.


    "Take him to the dungeons. Put chains on him," I told the warriors.


    They nodded and did as they were told. I looked over at Iris.


    "I''m sorry it had to be like this," I said to her before shifting and running into the woods.

 10 Iriss Point of View

    I watched as the warriors took Lucius to the dungeons and Maxwell ran into the woods. I sighed not knowing where to go and walked back to the house, to Lucius''s room. I sat there in the bed thinking and trying to figure out why this happened. I mean, I did knock him out. But he had it coming. For god sake, he cheated on me.


    A knock on the door came a few hours later.


    "Come in," I said.


    A plump woman comes in.


    "Luna...," she started to say.


    "Please call me Iris," I told her.


    "Okay Iris. Beta Maxwell wanted me to take you to your bedroom since the alpha is in the dungeons. Follow me please," she told me.


    I got up and followed her to a different room. All kinds of clothes that looked like they would fit me were in there. I mean, there was clothes put on me when I first woke up. So someone must''ve found some that fitted me.


    "Well, here you go Iris. I''ll have dinner brought over to you. If you need anything, just ask," the woman told me, as she started to walk out.


    "Wait. I never gotten your name," I said to her.


    She stopped at the doorway and turned to face me.


    "Oh. Silly me. I''m Rosemary," she said and walked out my new room, closing the door behind her.


    I sighed and opened my window. The breeze hitting my face as I look out into the starry night. It felt cool and good, soothing my pounding head. I stuck my head back into the room, leaving my window open. I turned over and yelped in surprise, seeing Maxwell at the doorway with a tray of food in his hands.


    "Holy sh*t Maxwell. You scared me," I said feeling my heart pounding in my chest.


    "I''m sorry Iris. I didn''t mean to scare you. I brought dinner up for us... That''s if you''re okay with me joining you," Maxwell said to me.


    I nodded and plopped down onto the floor. Maxwell sat down, setting the tray of food in between us. We munched on the food and chatted after each bite.


    "So why was I moved here?" I asked him.


    "Well you see, Lucius is in no position to look after you. So I moved you here, where it''s easier," Maxwell told me, grinning like a child.


    I couldn''t help but giggle.


    "How is it easier?" I asked.


    "Well, my bedroom is next to yours. So if you need anything, just come over and tell me. And if I''m not there, then I''m in the library. Which is at the end of the hallway. You can go in there anytime that you like," Maxwell said.


    I smiled, blushing a little before yawning. I put my plate and cup back on the tray before standing up and stretching. Maxwell stood also, grabbing the tray. I walked over to my bed and slid into it.


    "Good night Iris," Maxwell said.


    "Night Max. Sleep well," I replied back with a yawn.


    "You too," he said turning the light off.


    I watched him walk out the room before drifting off to sleep.

 11 Maxwells Point of View

    After closing Iris''s door, I walked down to the kitchen. Rosemary was washing the dishes.


    "How is she?" she asked.


    "Iris is well. She''s asleep," I replied putting the dishes into the sink.


    "That''s good. Where you off to?" she said.


    "To the dungeons. I have unfinished business with Lucius," I said walking to where the tunnels are that lead to the dungeons.


    Going down to the dungeons, the smell of rotten flesh and dying rouges filled my nose. It was gross but you kind of get used to it after awhile. I go to the cell in the far back. Two guards are posted around it. I nod at them and they securely open the cell for me.


    Inside the cell sat a chained up Lucius. He was chained to the ground by his ankles and wrists. The chains were made of silver, of course, so he couldn''t break free. Not only was he chained, but I had the guards inject him with a very small amount of wolfs bane. I walked over to him and dumped ice water on him. He jumped up, just to be pulled down and burned.


    "Lucius," I said to him.


    "What do you want Maxwell," he asked cold heartedly.


    I grabbed a chair and sat in front of him.


    "Lucius, what got into you man?" I asked him.


    "What do u mean?" he hissed out at me.


    "You know exactly what I mean. You were all overly protective of Iris when she got here. Then you screw another girl that isn''t your mate and attack your mate?!? What the hell is wrong with you? Who did you screw?" I said running my fingers through my hair in frustration.


    I stared at Lucius waiting for a response. Each second that passed made me even more frustrated and impatient.


    "Well?!" I said impatiently.


    Lucius started laughing. Not your usual joking laugh. The mentally insane, sick in the mind type joke.


    "I never wanted her as a mate. She''s weak and is a feline shifter. She''s not the mate I wanted," Lucius said.


    I looked at him in utterly disbelief. I was both shocked, pissed, and hurt. Who doesn''t want their mate? I wished I had mine, but she passed away in a rogue attack 3 years ago. Yes I''m very aware that I lied to Iris, but I didn''t want her to feel bad.


    "Lucius, are you sure? Once you reject her, you won''t get her back," I told him hoping he''ll change his mind.


    "Yes I''m sure. She''s weak. Just like Lily when she was alive. I''m glad the b*tch died. she was annoying as fuck. But great in bed. I never once regretted f*cking her," Lucius said.


    By now, I was enraged. I was also very broken. I couldn''t take it anymore. I got up and punched Lucius with all my might, breaking his nose and jaw.

 12 Maxwells Point Of View

    I stormed out the dungeons and ran to my room. I know what you''re thinking. ''Maxwell, you''re the beta of the most intimidating and scariest pack in all of history. Grow a pair of balls and man up.'' But it''s not easy to man up. Especially when you had lost a mate. It''s painful losing a mate. It makes a wolf go mad.


    When I walk into my room, I shut my door and pull a box out from underneath my bed. Opening the box, I look into it seeing pictures and things that had belonged to my mate before she passed. That even means her wedding ring. Looking at the pictures of the happy times with my mate, tears started to stream down my face. Lucius words flooded through my head. That''s when I lost it.


    I knocked off everything that was neatly in placed. I pushed my huge bookshelves onto the ground, breaking them into pieces. I punched holes into my wall. Then my bedroom door opens. Once it was finally opened, I flung a chair out my room. A gasp pulls me out of my trance. There stood a wide eyed Iris. She looked up at me, then to the chair that was flung out the room, and back at me. I turned my back to her, not being able to look at her.


    I waited to see if she would leave. But her presence never left. In fact, Iris walked into my damaged room. She made her way to me.


    "Maxwell?" she said scared.


    She put her hand on my shoulder and I instantly flinched. I looked at her to see hurt and sympathy flood into her eyes.


    "G-go away," I said holding back more tears.


    "Maxwell, I''m not going to hurt you. It''s okay to cry. I just want to soothe you," Iris said walking cautiously closer to me.


    I stood there and watched as she hugged me.


    Slowly, I gave in and hugged her back, bawling my eyes out. We stayed like this until my crying stopped. Once I stopped crying fully, I felt extremely tired and started falling asleep on her.


    "Come on. Lets get you in bed," Iris said taking my hand and took me to her room.


    "You can sleep on the bed. I''ll sleep on the couch," she said as we entered her room.


    I watched her as she grabbed a pillow off the bed and a blanket off a chair. She made herself a bed on the couch. I walked over to her bed and got settled in as much as possible. Iris climbed into the little bed she made.


    "Goodnight Maxwell," she said with a yawn.


    "Goodnight Iris," I said letting sleep take over.

 14 Iriss Point of View

    When I woke up in the morning, Maxwell wasn''t in the bed or the room. Where he was sleeping at was a note. I opened it up and it said.


    Iris,


    Thanks for last night. Sorry if I caused you any trouble. I''ll make it up to you soon. Just don''t know when. If you need me, I''ll be in the dungeons. Send a guard to come get me.


    Also before I forget, tonight the Elders will be coming to the pack. A ceremony will be happening. There''s a dress made of the finest black lace. You''ll be wearing that tonight. My older sister, Viola, will be in charge of your appearance for the ceremony. I''ll be waiting to come get you when that time comes. Thanks again for helping me last night. I really appreciate it.


    Your caring friend,


    Maxwell


    A little smile crept onto my face. But what kind of ceremony is going to happen? I shrugged the worry of meeting people and got ready to venture downstairs to the kitchen.


    Walking into the kitchen, I seen Rosemary making breakfast. A few pack members were also in the kitchen eating and conversing with each other. They all stopped what they were doing when I walked in. I felt uncomfortable being in here with all their eyes glued on me.


    "It''s not polite to stare," someone said.


    I look over and see a lady taller than I. I looked away, remembering what she had said. The lady walked up to me.


    "Don''t be afraid of speaking up. You''re the soon-to-be Luna of this pack. My name is Viola. What''s yours sweetie?" she said.


    "Iris. I-I''m Iris. Are you Maxwell''s sister?" I replied to Viola.


    "Yes I am. And nice to meet you girly. I can see why my brother has a thing for you. Have you eaten yet?" Viola said.


    I shook my head no.


    "Well, lets get some food in your system. Then we can start getting ready for tonight," she said handing me a plate of food.


    ***


    After eating breakfast, Viola led me to her room.


    "You can use my shower. I''ll be here when you get out and dressed," Viola said.


    I nodded and headed into the bathroom connected to her room.


    ***


    Getting out the shower, I seen the dress hanging on the back of the door and a bag on the counter. I picked up the bag and read what it said. Victoria Secrets. Not knowing what was inside, I pulled out a white laced bra. That''s not so bad. Well it wasn''t until I pulled out the next piece of undergarment. When I pulled it out, my eyes popped out of my head. Please tell me the bottom half is a joke. I opened the door a little and peaked my head in.


    "Viola, can you come in here?" I asked.


    She nodded and came into the bathroom.


    "Please tell me this is a joke," I said showing her the bottom undergarment.


    She started laughing at my expression.


    "No, it''s not a joke. Just put it on. No one is going to see it...well except for your mate. But I believe you''re not ready for that," Viola said.


    I nodded in agreement while having a light blush form in my cheeks.


    Viola helped me get the dress on. It was very fitted and very beautiful. Ivory white with black lace, just how Maxwell had said. The dress has long sleeves and a v shaped neck lining. To go with it, Viola got me white heels and gold jewelry. my hair was curled and brought to one side. I had very light makeup on, and my nails were freshly done. I looked at myself in the mirror while Viola got herself ready. I look so different. It''s a good different, but I''m not used to being like that.


    "Girl, you''re smoking hot," Viola said coming out the bathroom.


    "Thanks. You do too," I said, complementing her.


    "You ready to get the show on the road?" Viola asked.


    "Yes," I sad and walked out the bedroom.

 15 Maxwells Point of View

    Iris is a wonderful girl. She helped me without wanting to know why I trashed my room, why I was crying, or anything. How could anyone hate her? She''s the mate and Luna anyone could ask for. Not going to lie, I do feel bad waking her up twice during the night. I''m going to make it up to her, just after the ceremony. Looking into the mirror at the bottom of the stairs, I fixed myself for the I don''t remember thousand time.


    "You look fine Max," Rosemary said.


    "Thanks," I replied.


    Viola mind linked me.


    V: "We''re heading down stairs now."


    M: "Alright. Thanks for telling me."


    V: "No problem. By they way, she''s jaw dropping hot. I am so tempted to take her back to the room."


    M: "V, she''s not lesbian, bi, or pan. She''s straight."


    V: "You never know that."


    M: "Whatever. Just bring her to me."


    V: "Alright. Alright. You''re no fun."


    I laughed at her childish reply. I totally understand her pain because we both lost our mates. Well...let me reword that. My mate died. Her mate rejected her because she wasn''t into guys. The guy was a douche anyways. Viola cleared her throat as she stood in front of me.


    "Ready to see my masterpiece?" she asked.


    I chuckled and nodded.


    "You can come down Iris," she yelled.


    At that given moment, Iris slowly came down to the stairs. Viola was right. She is jaw dropping hot in the dress. I held out my hand and she took it.


    "Hello there beautiful," I said to her.


    She blushed.


    "Hi Max," Iris replied.


    "You look stunning," I told her.


    "Thank you. You do as well," She said.


    "Thank you. Ready to enter the ceremony?" I asked.


    "Yep. Like Viola said, lets get this show on the road," she replied.


    I chuckled and led her to where the ceremony was being held.


    ***


    Iris''s Point of View:


    Max led me to the backyard where the ceremony was being held at. There was a lot of people. And I mean a lot.


    "Max, how many pack members are there?" I asked.


    "Roughly around 207,450 members," Maxwell said.


    207,450 members is a lot. How do they keep track of all of them? Getting lost in my train of thought, I ran into someone and whoever I ran into caught me.


    "Whoa there hot stuff, you okay?" the person said.


    I looked up to see a very tall guy with black layered hair with teal tips. He had piercings on his lips, tongue...I think, and ears.


    "Yeah. I am. Thanks for catching me, and sorry for running into you. I should''ve paid attention to where I was going," I said back to him.


    "No need to apologize. And you''re very welcome. I''m Leeland. But the pack calls me Lee for short. What''s your name?" he said.


    "Iris," I said.


    "Pretty name for a pretty lady," Lee said, smirking at me.


    "Iris there you are," Max said coming up to where me and Leeland are at.


    "Beta Maxwell. Pleasant to see you," Leeland said.


    "Leeland. I see you met Iris," Max said back.


    "Why yes. She''s a pretty lad. The dress looks stunning on her. Didn''t Lily wear this exact dress when she joined the pack as Beta female?" Leeland said getting under Max''s skin.


    Max growled and I stepped in the middle of them.


    "Boys, not here and not now. I would like to have fun. Not see another wolf fight," I said remembering Max''s and Lucius''s fight.


    Max nodded and Leeland just shrugged and gave me a wide smile.


    "Whatever you say pumpkin," he said and walked off into the crowd, leaving me with Maxwell.


    "So what do you want to do?" I asked.


    "Want to go meet the Elders?" Maxwell asked me answering my question.


    "Sure," I replied.


    Taking Maxwell''s hand in mine, Maxwell led me the way to where the Elders were at.

 16 Leelands Point of View

    Leaving Iris with Maxwell, I ponder on what I''m going to tell Master. The next full moon is in 3 weeks. That night would be the night she accepts the role as the alpha female of the pack. Only tonight is her joining the pack ceremony... or at least that''s what I''ve heard. But more could happen.


    I walked over to where the drinks were at. From here, I can get a good glimpse of Iris. Why is she hanging around Maxwell? Shouldn''t she be with the alpha? Oh wait, the alpha is in the dungeons. Are they going to bring him up? My train of thought was disturbed when Suzanne, the pack slut, came up to me.


    "Hey Lee. You look delicious as ever," she said trailing her fingers down my clothed chest.


    "Thank you. You''re looking hot as ever," I replied back playing along with her.


    I mean, I could really go for some fun. If you know what I mean.


    "Thanks Lee. So you wanna ditch this place and go to my place for some fun? We can come back when the ritual starts," she asked huskily and winked at me.


    "Sure. Lets go sexy," I said following her to her place.


    ***


    Iris''s Point of View:


    Finally getting out of the mob of the pack, Maxwell led me to a huge table where wise looking people were sitting at. Thy stood up as we made our way towards them.


    "Maxwell, what a pleasure to be here. Thanks for inviting us here. Who''s this pretty young lad here?" the guy in the center said.


    "Marcus, this is Iris. Iris, this is Elder Marcus Lyons, Lucius''s father and the previous alpha of the pack," Maxwell said introducing us to each other.


    "H-h-hi," I said nervously.


    This is Lucius''s father?!? My mates father?!? Oh boy....


    "Relax there kitten. We''re not going to hurt you," Marcus says to me with a comforting smile on his face.


    I smiled back and looked at everyone else. Who are these people? More elders? Maxwell and Marcus caught on with the confused look on my face and chuckled.


    "My bad Iris. Besides Marcus, the other people here are also Elders. The lovely lady on Marcus''s left is his mate, Sarah. The lovely couple next to her are Michelle and Ilene. And the couple on Marcus''s right are my parents, Josephine and Liam Collin," Maxwell said.


    I nodded and waved at them nervously.


    "Oh honey. Don''t be afraid. We won''t bite," Sarah says as she comes up and hugs me.


    I hugged her back. We chatted with the elders. The more we talked, the less nervous I was around them. Maxwell, Marcus, and Liam left to go talk about something that needed to be discussed for pack safety. So that left me with the women, which I didn''t mind at all.


    Once the men were out of sight, the women elders didn''t let any other second to be wasted. They instantly bombarded me with questions.


    "So what do you think of the pack?" Michelle asked.


    "The pack is huge. How do you guys keep up with so many pack members?" I said back.


    "Yeah I know. And I don''t know how to explain it. We just do. After being in the pack for so long, you''ll know everyone," Ilene said.


    "Ilene is right. I was from the pack closest to us, and after the first five years I knew everyone," Michelle said.


    "How long have you lived in the pack Michelle?" I asked.


    "About 10 years now," she replied.


    Ilene whispered something in Michelle''s ear and Michelle winked in response.


    "Sorry for leaving so soon. Ilene seen her parents from a distance. Please excuse us," Michelle said and walked away holding Ilene''s hand.


    They left and I sat quietly listening to the former alpha and beta female talking to each other.


    "So Iris, who''s your mate?" Sarah asked.


    "Lucius is. But he attacked me not that long ago," I said.


    Sarah and Josephine looked at me with wide eyes.


    "Oh darling child. Are you okay? He didn''t hurt you, did he?" Josephine asked.


    "No he didn''t hurt me physically. But I''m okay. Maxwell has been helping me a lot. He saved ,e when Lucius attacked," I said back.


    "What do you mean he didn''t hurt you physically? What did he do?" Sarah asked.


    "I''m sorry to say this, but Lucius cheated on me with some other chick," I said.


    Sarah was devastated. I don''t blame her. Hearing that your own son cheat on his mate and attack her is something you don''t expect. Especially when you''ve raised him to be loyal and loving to his mate.


    "I''m sorry. I have to go clear my head. Excuse me," Sarah said.


    Sarah got up and left me and Josephine. I looked over at Josephine.


    "Was it something I had said?" I asked.


    "No it wasn''t. She needed to know soon enough," Josephine said before leaving me all alone.

 17 Iriss Point of View

    Time flew by and I sat alone and kept quiet at the table. People that walked by would give me weird side glances and giggle to themselves. I wouldn''t be surprised if a rumor about me is going around. Maxwell and the two other males came back to the table. The former alpha and beta looked at me confusingly.


    "Have you seen our mates?" the former beta, Liam, asked.


    "Yeah. They were here a couple hours ago. I watched them disappear in the crowd where all the parents are," I said.


    Liam nodded and went to where I said, Maxwell and Marcus sat down at the table, Max sat next to me while Marcus sat across from me.


    "So...what did you girls talk about?" Maxwell asked.


    "Michelle and Ilene were curious of what I thought about the pack. The they left, so I sat with Sarah and Josephine. Sarah asked me who my mate was. So I told her about Lucius. Josephine felt bad about what happened and Sarah left. I hope I didn''t start anything," I said back.


    We sat in silence for a little bit. Max and Marcus talked to each other silently. And I mean silently. They stared at each other, not even blinking. Marcus nodded and they snapped out of whatever trance they were in.


    "What was that all about?" I asked curiously.


    "We were mind linking," Maxwell said.


    "Would I be able to do it?" I asked. Max shrugged and mumbled I don''t know.


    "It''s unheard of for a cat shifter to mind link with wolves. But I''m not saying it''s impossible. I''ll look into it and see what I can find," Marcus said.


    "Okay. So what were you mind linking about?" I asked.


    "What we''re going to do with Lucius," Maxwell said.


    "And that would be?" I asked.


    Maxwell sighed but didn''t say a word.


    "Well?!?" I asked again getting impatient.


    "We''re going to see if he accepts you as his mate," Maxwell said.


    "If he does?" I asked nervously.


    "Nothing. You''ll get the role of Luna," Marcus said.


    "And if he doesn''t?" I asked.


    "Then he''s stripped from his alpha title," Maxwell said.

 18 Iriss Point of View

    They''re planning on taking his Alpha title away?!? Does he really deserve it? I mean, he did try to attack me. But I knocked him out cold, so I kind of had it coming. I looked over at Maxwell and Marcus as they patiently wait for my response.


    "Who''s going to be Alpha if his title is stripped away from him?" I asked.


    "I''ll be taking over as Alpha," Maxwell said.


    "Will I still be Luna or no?" I asked.


    "That''s if you want to. Usually when the Alpha''s title is stripped, the Luna backs out of her place and the Beta male and female takes over. But I don''t have a mate. So if Lucius rejects you, do you wanna be my Luna?" Maxwell said.


    "Sure. I''ll be your Luna," I said with a blush forming.


    Marcus stood up and we looked up at him. Maxwell nodded.


    "Bring Lucius out. It''s time to start the ceremony," Marcus said and walked away.


    ***


    Lucius''s Point of View:


    Being in the cells does a lot to a person. Makes them more mentally insane than they were already....if that''s even possible. I heard the guards open my cell, and one walked in.


    "It''s time," the guard said.


    I nodded and let the guards do their thing with the chains and led me to where I clean up.


    After cleaning up, the guards put the chains back on. They led me upstairs where I met up with my mom. I slightly smiled at her and she gave me the ''you''re in trouble you man'' look. I sighed and the guards stopped in front of her.


    "May I speak with my son alone?" my mom asked.


    "Ma''am, under the orders of the former Alpha Marcus and current Beta Maxwell, that won''t be happening," the guard said to my mom.


    Oh boy, she''s going to make a scene.


    "I''m the former Luna of this very pack. I still have a higher rank than you do, pup. So I demand you to let me have a word with my son," my mom demanded.


    The guard looked back at me. I shrugged and told him that he can be at the doorway. He sighed and listened, well partially. He told Maxwell and my father what my mom is doing. So he stood close by the doorway to keep an eye on me and my mother. I walked over to my mom.


    "Hi mom," I said.


    "Hi Lucius. My baby boy was all locked up in a cell. How dare they do this to you," my mom said in a pampering tone.


    "Mom, I did this to myself," I said leaning away from her.


    "But you''re the Alpha. Anyways, I met your mate Iris. Really?! The moon goddess paired you with a werecat," my mom said disappointingly.


    I sighed.


    "She''s the last of her kin and clan," I told my mom.


    "Oh really?" she said.


    "Yep," I replied with a straight face.


    "Well she clings to dear ''ole Maxwell like he''s her mate. And the look she gives him, I would reject her. I bet she even slept with him. No wonder why they put you in a cell. So you won''t feel a thing about their naughty doings," my mom said.


    I was pissed. Extremely pissed off. My Beta/best friend was going behind my back. How dare he? But at the same time, I cheated on Iris. Iris...the one girl who is my arch enemy, yet my mate. The one I''m supposed to love and care for, but I don''t. Instead I feel disgust and hatred for her. I''ve felt this since I met her those weeks ago.


    "What are you going to do about that my son?" my mom asked.


    I looked down at her.


    "The only thing that''s left to do," I said.


    "And what would that be?" my mom asked.


    "Reject her," I said and walked to where my guard was with my mom tailing behind.

 19 Luciuss Point of View

    My guard brought both me and my mother to where my father had the stage placed at. My handcuffs were once again taken off and the pack all settled down in their seats. My father went up to the mic and got everyone to quiet down. Michelle and Ilene came up wearing their ceremonial robes. So did Josephine and Liam. They stood by the sides of the stage. My father soon started speaking once everyone was in their place.


    "Welcome my fellow pack mates. It''s glad to be here," my father said.


    The crowd cheered for him like they always did. Then went quiet once he cleared his throat.


    "Thank you very much for your appreciation. We gather here today for accepting a new pack mate," he said.


    Everyone murmured among themselves, all confused yet excited. My father chuckled.


    "You may be confused on who this new pack mate is. But you''ve probably seen her around these past few weeks. Let me introduce you to Iris Lace, our new pack mate. Maxwell, will you do the honors of bringing her up?" my father said.


    Maxwell walked up the aisle with Iris. She looked stunning in the dress but made me sick to my stomach. Everyone watched as they walked to the stage, and to where my father stood. Maxwell kissed the top of her hand, making me clench my jaw. Iris blushed and took my father''s hand. A table was brought up onto the stage. My father led Iris to the back of the table so they were facing the crowd. Michelle and Ilene brought up a bowl and a dagger to the table. Then stood on each of their side. Then my father began speaking again.


    "Do you Iris Lace accept the pack bond?" he asked.


    "I do," she replied.


    "Will you protect the pack with your life?" he asked.


    "I will. I''ll protect everyone here from our enemies that will come in the mere future," Iris said.


    "Then I proclaim you as the first werecat in recorded history. By cutting your palm and letting your blood drip into this bowl full of dirt of the pack grounds, the pack bond will be complete," my father said handing the dagger over to Iris.


    Iris took the dagger and slit her palm, then squeezed the blood into the bowl. I could feel Iris become part of the pack, so could everyone else. Iris held her hand from the impact of hearing everyone''s thoughts through the pack mind link. They were all curious to see her shift. It was their first werecat in 10 years. The last of the feline kind. My father put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and nodded. He must''ve tried to see if she could use her mind link and if she was alright. His smile told us that it went perfectly well.


    "Everything went well. That''s half of the ceremony complete," my father said.


    Half? What does he mean by that? Iris went to where Maxwell was at.


    "I would like my son to come up now," my father said wiping the blood off the dagger.


    I walked up to him.


    "Yes father?" I said.


    "Is it true that you cheated on Iris? That you ran because she''s the last of her kin?" my father questioned me.


    I swallowed down my anger.


    "Yes, I cheated on her. Yes, I ran away from her because she''s the last of her kin. But she''s also from the Minenki Clan that was in Ritsem, Sweden 10 years ago. She''s the one person I don''t want to be with. Why did the Moon Goddess pair us together? I don''t know why. But it was a mistake," I said slowly letting my anger show.


    Everyone looked from one to another. Michelle and Ilene looked at me with anger and disgust. My father was disappointed. Iris was hurt, and Maxwell, Liam, and Josephine were there helping her out. My mom had a smirk on her face, which made my dad even more frustrated and disappointed. I waited for my father to say something.


    "Lucius, what are you planning on doing?" Liam asked.


    "What I should''ve done those weeks ago. I, Lucius Lyons, reject you, Iris Lace, as my mate," I said staring straight at Iris.


    Liam and everyone else gasped in shock. My father was taken back but didn''t show it. My mother had a wicked grin on her face. Iris was in tears by now. She was so hurt from being rejected. Then my father spoke.


    "Iris, do you accept the rejection?" he asked smoothly.


    "W-would it get rid of the pain?" Iris asked.


    "It should numb the pain. But you would feel incomplete and depressed," Maxwell said.


    Seconds turned into minutes, which felt like hours. Iris was holding her chest while we patiently waited for her response.


    "I-I accept the rejection. I, I-Iris Lace, reject you, Lucius Lyons, as my mate," Iris said weakly.


    "Do you accept the rejection Lucius?" my father asked.


    "Yes, I accept the rejection," I said sternly.


    I felt the bond between Iris and I break. It was painful but not enough to have me screaming in agony. Iris, on the other hand, screamed bloody murder before slumping into Maxwell''s arms. He held her close to him, making me even more pissed off than I already was.


    "Now since that''s done, we can continue. As former Alpha of the pack and the head leader of the elders, I, Marcus Lyons, disown you as my son, strip your alpha title from you, and ban you from the pack making you rogue. You won''t be accepted by any other pack and will be lonely for the rest of your life," my used-to-be father said.


    That''s it. I growled, shifted, and took off running into the woods, not turning back to see my mother cry as she yelled my name and begged me to stay.

 21 Iriss Point of View

    When I opened my eyes, I was in a meadow. Wait...how did I get here? Last thing I remembered was fainting from the pain.... Am I dead?


    "Iris, calm down. We can think this through. Just relax and look at the scenery before us. Maybe we can find someone," my subconscious said.


    So I did. I took a deep breath and focused on where I was at. The meadow was beautiful. The grass was long that came up to my calves. There was trees surrounding the meadow. There was a huge tree, bigger than the rest, by a pond that glistened in the night sky. The sky was clear. I mean there wasn''t any clouds in it. Just a bunch of stars and bright full moon. The reflection of the moon on the pond made the scenery very beautiful. I walked over to the huge tree by the pond. It kind of reminded me of the Tree of Life from Lion King. I sat down on the roots and dipped my feet into the water. I expected it to be cold but it wasn''t. It was warm.


    Looking into the pond, I seen my reflection. I looked kind of different yet the same. My appearance was the same except that my feline ears and tail was out. And my eyes were like how they were when I shifted fully. But what confused me was the tribal marks on my face. They were red and covered around my eyes and mouth and down my neck. Actually they were on my whole body and weren''t coming off no matter how much I rubbed them. It was like they were tatted on me. Looking at my clothes, I realized it wasn''t the same dress I had wore to the ceremony. Instead it was like a native style dress. Something similar to what my ancestors would''ve wore.


    A giggle pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked behind me to see a young girl around the age of 12 to 13. She wore a similar dress to mine but didn''t have any of the markings like I did. In fact, she didn''t have any. Her hair was short and white. And I mean as white as snow. She was fairly tanned that contrasted well with her hair, and her eyes were as blue as mine with a little bit of green. I stood up and cautiously walked to her. She didn''t move at all. Instead, she stared straight at me.


    The closer I got, the more features I could see of the girl. Like that she had two blue feathers tucked behind her ear. And that she stood just below my breasts. I also realized that her eyes were glazed looking, like if she was talking to someone through mind-link or if she was blind. But I wasn''t too sure and felt uncomfortable to assume anything. I crouched down by her.


    "Umm...excuse me? But can you tell me where I am?" I asked her.


    She replied nothing back. It''s like she never heard me speak. I went to touch her when a wolf came out of the trees and growled. The girl turned and smiled at the wolf. She looked up to me with her greenish blue glazed eyes, then ran to the wolf. The wolf bent down so she could climb onto its back. Then she waved at me to follow them.


    I followed them to wherever they were leading me. It didn''t take long to reach what looked like their camp grounds. The girl slid off the wolf and took my hand in hers before dragging me to who knows where. But it was somewhere here because I don''t wanna die anytime soon.


    We arrived to a house that was bigger than all the others. At the doorway stood a woman with bright white hair and really green eyes. She wore a dress that was thin and all white. Something you wouldn''t find here. She smiled when she saw the girl. The girl ran up to hug her before running off with the wolf. Then the woman walked towards me.


    I stood there as the woman walked up to me.


    "Umm...where am I?" I asked.


    "You''re in a dream state of mind, my child. It was the only way I could get to you," the woman said.


    What does she mean by that? Who is she anyways?


    "Who are you?" I asked.


    "I''m Luna, the moon goddess. And you are Iris Lace, the last of her kin on earth," Luna said.


    Okay, that was creepy... I didn''t expect the moon goddess to know who I am. I didn''t even get a chance to explain myself.


    I stared at her in utter shock. Luna chuckled at my look. I mean, it''s not everyday that you meet the moon goddess. A giggle and wolf-like-bark snapped me out of my shocked state of mind. I looked over to the girl and wolf from earlier come running past us. Luna smiled and told me to follow her. So that''s what I did. We walked behind them to a clearing in the woods. The wolf and girl ran to the water that was there, while Luna and I sat on a log watching them play.


    I looked over at Luna as she continues watching them play.


    "So.... how did I get here?" I asked Luna.


    "I brought you here. I seen that you were rejected by Lucius and were in terrible pain. So when he accepted the rejection, I had you faint and brought you to a memory of mine," Luna said.


    A memory of hers? When did this take place?


    "A memory? When was this?" I asked in curiosity.


    "This specific memory was from when after I had became the moon goddess. This was before history was written. I was walking through these very woods. In a meadow, I had found a baby girl wrapped in native clothing that didn''t look like it came from any of the packs. But I wasn''t going to leave her alone in the wilderness, so I brought her with me to this pack and raised her as my own. Throughout the years, I soon realized that she was blind and mute, but that didn''t change anything. When she was 12, she found her mate without even realizing it. She wouldn''t have known until she first shifted," Luna said.


    "Is that her?" I asked referring to the girl playing with the wolf.


    "Yep. Her name is Iris. And the wolf is her mate, Michael. He''s the alpha''s son," Luna said.


    "Oh. How old is she? She looks really young," I said.


    "She''ll be turning 16 tomorrow. I''m excited yet afraid for her first shift. Before I didn''t know what she was going to shift into. I knew all the others in the pack were going to be wolves, but not her," Luna said.


    "Do you know what her species is now?" I asked.


    "She''s a werecat, like you," Luna said staring straight at me in the eye.

 22 Iriss Point of View

    I couldn''t believe what I was hearing. The young girl in front of us is the first feline shifter. And I was named after her. I then looked at Michael, her mate, and her as they interacted together. It made me depressed by watching them. Luna must''ve seen and automatically started soothing me.


    "What''s wrong Iris? Why are you so sad?" Luna asked.


    "I miss Maxwell. He''s been very sweet to me and helping me out a lot, and I just got rejected by my mate. It seems like Maxwell doesn''t have a mate, but I''m not going to pry and force myself in. I''ll wait until he''s ready to tell me," I said in between sniffles.


    "You care about this Maxwell guy, don''t you?" Luna said.


    "Yeah I do. He''s the Beta of the pack. But since Lucius was stripped from the Alpha title, he''s going to be alpha," I said.


    Luna hugged me close to her as I tried to stop sniffling. Iris and Michael were now laying together on the grass watching the sunset. We stayed like this for a little while longer until we heard a howl come from where the pack was. Michael responded and started to head back with Iris on his back. Luna helped me up and we walked behind them to the pack house. Once we got to the pack house, Luna pulled me to the side.


    "I know you care about Maxwell. And I know that you guys don''t have mates anymore. But I''m going to have to send you back. I have a surprise for you both when you wake up," Luna said.


    A surprise? What could it be? And what confuses me the most is that she said ''anymore''. What does she mean by that?


    "What do you mean by Maxwell not having a mate anymore?" I asked.


    "His mate died," Luna said.


    "Oh.... it was really nice to meet you Luna," I said.


    "You too Iris. And you''re welcome in advance for your surprise," Luna said before tapping between my eyes, sending me back.


    I slowly woke up to see that it was dark in the room that I was in. I looked over to see Maxwell sound asleep next to me in a chair. I grabbed his hands and felt sparks run through my body. A mate bond. Maxwell stirred in his sleep before seeing me awake.


    "Iris?" Maxwell asked.


    I smiled and rubbed my thumb across his knuckles, enjoying the feeling of the sparks.


    "Yes Max," I said raspy.


    That''s all it took before Maxwell attacked me in a tight hug and nuzzled into my neck. I giggled and he growled.


    "Max, what''s gotten into you?" I asked.


    "Mine," he said huskily.


    Thank you moon goddess.

 23 Maxwells Point of View Part 1

    I was sleeping when I felt sparks run up my arm and did things to me. Why am I feeling sparks? Lily is dead, unless.... I opened my eyes and see Iris staring back at me holding my hand.


    "Iris?" I asked.


    Is she really up? She smiled and rubbed her thumb across my knuckles.


    "Yes Max," she said.


    That''s all it took for me to attack Iris in a tight hug and nuzzled into her neck. She giggled and I growled.


    "Max, what''s gotten into you?" Iris asked.


    What has gotten into me? I didn''t have enough time to register and control myself before I responded.


    "Mine," I said huskily.


    Then it all clicked in, Iris is my second mate. Thank the Moon Goddess.


    "Max?" Iris said trying to push me off her.


    "Mine!" I growled and nuzzled myself into her neck more, inhaling her heavenly scent.


    She tried again and I growled again. She froze and whimpered. I heard sniffling and Iris started to cry.


    "Iris, what''s wrong?" I asked.


    "I-it''s nothing Max. I just wanted to go back to sleep. Come lay down with me," Iris said while sniffling away her tears.


    "Iris, I can feel your emotions. Its not really strong as being fully mated, but our bond is strong enough to where I know something is wrong. So, please tell me what''s bothering you," I said as I climbed into the bed next to Iris.


    "I spoke to the moon goddess, and she told me that you''re true mate died. I just don''t want to push myself into your life and be rejected again because you like someone else," she said.


    This broke my heart.


    "Iris, love, I''m not going to reject you. In fact, I was going to ask you out once we had everything situated. So the moon goddess did us a favor," I told her.


    "Really?" Iris said staring up at me with tears in her eyes.


    "Yes. Now lets go back to sleep. I''ll be here when you wake up," I said.


    "Okay," Iris said curling up into my arms.


    I held her close to me and let sleep consume us both.


    ***


    My phone started to ring, waking me up from my peaceful sleeping state. I reached over and grabbed it off the table. Who could be calling me? Looking at the phone, it read ''Viola''. Dear god, what does she want now?


    "Hello?" I said sleepily as I answered the phone.


    "Oh my god, Maxwell! Is she awake yet? Please tell me that my best friend is awake. And don''t lie to me, young man. I''ll neuter you so you can''t have kids," Viola said.


    "Well good morning to you too," I said.


    "Morning. But tell me!!!!" she yelled.


    God, I would like my ears to work. I was going to answer her when my phone gets taken out my hand. I looked down to see Iris responding to Viola. Of course, my sister squeals high pitched enough to make a wolf go deaf.


    "Viola, I''m saying this as nicely as possible. Good bye. I''ll talk to you later," she said and hanged up to not hear my sister''s protest.


    I chuckled and received death glare.


    "Aww. My poor baby girl. Don''t be grouchy," I said pulling her close to me.


    She scrunched her face up and growled, which sounded like a purr.


    "You''re cute when you''re mad," I said cooing at her.


    She growled again and pushed me off the bed.


    "I''m not much of a morning person," she grumbled.


    "I can see that. Want me to mind-link the doc?" I asked hoping to get her to brighten up.


    "Sure," she said dully.


    M: ''Doc. Iris is up.''


    Doc: ''Great. On my way now.''


    M: ''Okay. Just warning you now, she''s in a grouchy mood.''


    Doc: ''Warning taken.''


    I looked over at Iris.


    "Doc is on his way," I said.


    "Alright," she said.


    I sighed and sat on the chair that''s next to the bed, waiting for the pack doctor to come. It''s going to be a long day.

 24 Iriss Point of View Part 2

    Why am I so cranky? I can''t believe that I lied to Maxwell. I love the morning. But I don''t know what got into me. Doctor O''Reilly came into the room and checked my health. He seen that everything came out alright. Maxwell was called to the alpha''s office by Marcus while Doc did his thing.


    "Doc?" I said.


    "Yes Iris?" Doctor O''Reilly said as he filled in the paperwork.


    "I have something to tell you," I said.


    "What is it?" he asked giving me his undivided attention.


    So I told him everything. I even told him what happened this morning. He listened to every word I said.


    "I don''t know what to say, but may I have a blood sample? Maybe I can see if something is in your blood that''s affecting you," Dr. O''Reilly said.


    "Sure. Can you tell me when you find the results?" I asked.


    "Will do. You''re free to go and when you get a chance, speak with Elder Marcus about this. He could help you out while I get this done," Doc said after taking the blood sample.


    I nodded.


    "Doc? Where is Elder Marcus at?" I asked.


    "He''s either in his study or in the alpha''s office," Doc said then walked out the room with the sample.


    I got up and changed into some clothes I found that was there for me. Then I walked out in search for Elder Marcus.


    ***


    After wandering around looking for Elder Marcus''s studies, I went to the alpha''s office. Knocking on the door, I waited patiently until the door opened. Elder Marcus looked at me, making me feel smaller than I already was.


    "Iris, glad you''re awake. What could I do for you?" he asked.


    "I have something to tell you. I was hoping you could help me out," I said.


    He let me enter the office and shut the door before making his way to the other side of the desk. When we sat down, I didn''t waste any time and told him everything. He nodded but didn''t say a word. After telling him, he stood up and walked to the bookshelf. He mumbled something under his breath. Then he found what he was looking for and brought it over so I could see.


    "What is it?" I asked.


    "This is a book that contains the records of all the feline shifter chiefs that lived. Even your parents signed it," Elder Marcus said.


    "But wasn''t it this pack that killed my clan those years ago?" I asked.


    "Yes, but I wasn''t alpha at the time. My brother was. Lucius isn''t even my son, he''s my nephew. But I raised him as my own since I couldn''t bare kids, nor did I have a mate. My brother was an arrogant and ruthless man. He despises feline shifters all because he was broken hearted. You see, his true mate left him after he got another woman pregnant. She, herself, was also pregnant at the time. That night, she killed herself with a note of apology to her bestfriend/sister. My brother found her dead, in bed. He also found out that she was pregnant. From then on, he wanted to erase all of the feline shifters in Europe. You luckily survived," he said.


    "What happened to your brother? How did you become alpha?" I asked.


    "I was against the whole ideal of going against the feline shifters. Since my mate was one as well. We would meet up secretly so no wolf would tell the alpha. My parents knew, but that was it," Marcus told me.


    He paused, trying to keep himself from crying.


    "You don''t have to continue if you don''t want to," I told him.


    "No no. You should know this. It was 3 months after my brother''s mate''s death. I was coming home from a friend''s house when my brother ordered a mandatory meeting. So when I got there, I saw my mate being man handled by my brother. He was beating her in front of the whole pack. I couldn''t stand it and attacked my brother for harming my mate. But he despised me when he realized who she was to me. So with his sick mind, he had guards hold onto me while I was forced to watch him **** and kill her. When he did, I snapped and challenged for his title as alpha. We fought and I won. So as my first thing as alpha, I banished him from the pack. I never saw him again from that day on. I buried my mate in the center of the garden. I visit here whenever I come here," Elder Marcus said.


    It broke my heart to know this. He loved his mate dearly and couldn''t spend his spend his life with her all because of his brother.


    "Is Sarah your second mate?" I asked.


    "No, she''s not," he said.


    Sarah isn''t his second mate? Then what is she to him?


    "If she''s not your second mate, then what is she to you?" I asked.


    "She''s Lucius mother. The chick my brother knocked up."

 25 Iriss Point of View

    Lucius was Elder Marcus''s nephew all along? Did he know? Couldn''t have, he was calling him father before being banished. I sat there taking in everything. So much information and Marcus is the good guy of it all. Marcus sighed and sat down.


    "Does he know?" I asked.


    "No he doesn''t. He thinks I''m his father. He probably hates me now since I banished," Marcus said.


    "Everything will get better," I said in a reassuring tone.


    Marcus slightly smiled and I smiled back. We sat in comfortable silence in the office reading when a pack member came running in.


    "Elder Marcus, we''re under attack by rogues. They''re coming from the Southern Boarder," the pack member said.


    "What''s your name son?" Marcus said.


    "Leo, sir," he said.


    "Take me where this is at Leo," Marcus said.


    "Should I come with?" I asked.


    "No. Stay here and hide. There should be a safe room where all the children and women go. Find Josephine and she''ll take you there," Marcus said before running behind Leo to where the fight is.


    I watched Leo and Marcus shift into their wolves and run to the southern boarder. I walked out the room and hurriedly tried to find my way to the safe room. As I was wondering around the halls, I started to feel really hot. And this weird pain came, making it hard to breathe. I kept on trying to find my way and ignored the pain until I ran into something hard, making me land on the floor. I looked up to see two guys. They stared back at me. They looked at each other and nodded before coming towards me. I scooted myself as fast as I could. But they were a lot faster than I thought. One grabbed my legs and pulled me to them as the other went to grab me by my hands. I thrashed around and started screaming from both fear and pain.


    "Fuck. She''s in heat. Master won''t be happy about this," the guy holding my legs said.


    "Hurry. Lets get her to master before someone comes and fins us," the other guy said.


    I continued to thrash around trying to break free, but the pain kept getting worse. Through my screams of fear and pain, I heard a deadly growl. We all stopped and looked in the direction where the growl came from. The wolf shifted into Maxwell ,and he went after the guy who were trying to kidnap me. Max didn''t give them enough time to react because soon they were on the ground with broken necks. Then he stalked towards me and I whimpered.


    "M-max?" I said.


    "You''re in heat Iris. I can''t be near you," Maxwell said.


    "But you''re my mate," I said.


    "I know I am. But I don''t want to do something we''ll both regret," he said.


    "But I need you," I said and moaned in pain.


    That triggered him to lose control of his wolf, making his golden hazel eyes darken with lust. He picked me up off the floor, wrapping my legs around his waist and takes me to the closest room, which surprisingly was his. He shuts and locks the door and doesn''t waste a second and kisses me with my back pressed against the door. The kiss was filled with passion, love, and lust. The heat making my core throb as I feel an already formed bulge in his pants. I moaned as he pressed us together more and bites my lip. I wrap my arms around arms around his neck, pulling his hair as we make out. He growls from it and I could feel his pants tighten more around his mini him.


    From there he carries me to the bed and undresses me. Everything is off except the thin black thong that I''m wearing. His eyes darken more and he licks his lips, making me squirm under his gaze. He strips off all his clothes, leaving only his boxers on. He kissed me on my lips, then my jawline. He made his way trail of kisses down my body. My back arched as he made contact with my sensitive buds. Maxwell sucked, licked, and bit them. This made me moan loudly. As quickly he attacked them, he continued to leave love bites down the rest of my body. Once he got to my special area, I was a moaning mess. My hands clenched the bed sheets ass he continued to tease me with his mouth. My hips bucked as he sucked and teased me, making me whimper and moan in pleasure. Then he stopped. I didn''t even realize that he took off our remaining clothes until I could feel his mini him at my entrance. He came up to me and kissed my lips.


    "Are you sure you really want this?" he asked.


    "Yes," I said breathing heavily from the teasing.


    He was hesitant at first, and I was becoming impatient. So I bucked my hips against his and bit his lip. He growled and slammed his mini him into me. I closed my eyes from the sudden intrusion and nodded for him to continue once the pain started to go away. He started off slow, but sped up after each thrust. We went faster and harder as time passed by. I clawed down his back making him groan. Max kissed my neck and trailed down to where the shoulder and neck meet, making me whimper in pleasure. He smirked and kept nipping and sucking on that spot.


    "Just mark me already," I moaned.


    He didn''t waste another second and bit into my neck, marking me as his. I moaned and bit into him, marking him as mine. He thrusted a couple more times before releasing everything in me. I took my teeth off him and licked the bleeding mark. He did the same before kissing me.


    Out of breath, I looked into those bright golden eyes that Maxwell possessed. He was soon off me, gathering our clothes. Such a dick move, I know. But we are under attack and got carried away with our needs and wants that was filled with love and lust. After putting on our clothes and checking that the cost was clear, we started heading towards the safe room.


    "Maxwell, you better come back to me," I said.


    "I will. Also, your heat has calmed down...for now. You should be fine for another few hours," Maxwell said.


    "Alright," I said.


    We made it to the safe room where all the pups and women were at. Josephine took me and Maxwell explained to her that I''m in heat. Though, I believe everyone could tell anyways since I smell like heat and sex. Josephine nodded and Maxwell took off back into the fight. Goddess, I hope he comes back in one piece, alive and well.

 26 Maxwells point of view

    After taking cared of Iris and putting her in the safe room where the other women and children are at, my wolf and I couldn''t help but replay the sounds of her moaning underneath us.


    "If you don''t stop thinking about it, we''ll end up getting ourselves killed," my wolf said to me.


    "Yeah I know, but she felt so good. I just wanna go back around and continue to fuck the living shit out of her," I said.


    "Yeah I would like to as well, but the sooner we kill all these rouges, the sooner we can," he said.


    "I like the sound of that," I said.


    "So does that mean I can take over?" my wolf asked.


    "Sure," I said.


    third person point of view


    Maxwell let his wolf take full control and shifted as he ran back outside into the battle. Many wolves laid on the ground, either dead or severely injured from both the pack and rogues. From the looks of it, most of the rogues have retreated back into the woods and the pack continued to tear them into shreds.


    As they ran into the woods, Maxwell and wolf felt something off. A presence of a witch was near, and it wasn''t the good kind of witch either. She stood off to the side in a tree wearing all black, watching the battle from afar. She knew that Iris had contact with Luna, the moon goddess, and was deemed to kill her. Although, things happen and a quick change in plans is needed when the newly alpha can sense the presence of her.


    Swiftly, the witch jumped to the trees that lead to the pack house. She tried to be as quiet and sneaky as possible. That was until the tree she landed on fell, causing her legs to get trapped underneath it. Maxwell stalked towards her, growling as so. By now, most of the rouges were dead or captured for questioning. Soon the guardians came by with some tools and cuffs that cut off her powers and make her weaker than she already was. She wouldn''t have gone too far with two broken ankles and a fractured leg.


    The guardian''s handcuffed her, and dragged her to the dungeons where she shall remain until Maxwell was ready to question her. The rogues were sent off to a different part of the dungeons away from her, so that she wouldn''t have any contact with anyone at all. Everyone was notified once the battle was over and all the wounded pack wolves were sent to the infirmary to be healed immediately. Those who passed were sent to the morgue for identification o families can say their last good-byes before the ceremonial burial.


    "Shall we find our Luna?", Maxwell''s wolf voiced out.


    "We shall," Maxwell replied before walking back towards the pack house where Iris awaited for them.

 27 Iris s Point of View

    The battle has ended and most of our surviving warriors were in the infirmary. Max hasn''t walked in the pack house yet, but from what the other pack mates were murmuring about, there was a dark witch captured. All of the women and omegas tended to the wounds of the injured, while the teens watched over the pups. I was walking around to find something for myself to do while my heat wasn''t in too much of an affect when a pair of hands grabbed and pulled me into a room. I would''ve screamed if it wasn''t for the familiar scent of pines and chocolate filled the room.


    "If I didn''t recognized your scent, I would''ve screamed Max," I said.


    "Sorry," he responded as he locked the door and came over to me in the dark room.


    The room was dark except for the bit of sunlight that''s shinning through the window as it began to set. Max''s eyes shined a bright hazel golden color, letting me know that his wolf is near the surface. There was a bed off in the corner, unused and made. Across the room was a walk-in-closet that connects to the bathroom as well. There was also another door a little to the right. It was shut, so I couldn''t see where it lead to.


    The warm feeling of my head came back again, making me blush and whimper as it intensifies. Max growls lowly and wraps his arms around my waist as he attacks my neck with kisses and hickeys. I pressed my ass against his raging boner and grinded against it. His hands held my hips to stop the motion and growls lowly in my ear.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I was you, kitten," he said with his voice full of lust.


    I whimpered and softly moaned in response. Before I knew it, I was on the bed completely naked. I laid on my back as Max slowly crawls up and leaves a trail of love bites on the inner side of my thighs until he got to my womanhood. He blew softly against it, making me shiver in lust.


    "Already wet and needy for me, I see," he said as he licks in long strides before sticking his tongue inside.


    I moaned as he eats me out and pull his hair to make him come closer. All I could see were stars as pleasure consumed me. Soon he started to add fingers into me as he continues to pleasure me. With every flick of his tongue and fingers within me, I was brought closer to my climax. I clenched around him more to signal that I was close. He added another finger, bringing me closer. I moaned loudly as my climax hit hard. Max continued to eat me out, overstimulating my nerves.


    When he finished, he came up and kissed me, letting me taste myself, which turned me on more as we made out. Maxwell settled between my legs, his hard and leaking erection poking my still wet entrance through his shorts. I nudged his shorts down, hinting that I wanted them off. Getting the hint, he removed his basketball shorts, allowing his large manhood spring free. I flipped our position so that he''s his back and trailed kissed down his toned body to his throbbing cock that oozed pre-cum. Taking a hold of it, I kitten licked the pre-cum that leaked out, making him hiss and groan.


    "Don''t tease me, kitten. Or you might get spanked," he said.


    I looked up at him through my eyelashes innocently before taking in all 10 inches in my mouth, deep throating him. Max throws his head back in pleasure as I bobbed my head up and down, sucking him off. His hands tangled themselves in my hair and bucks his hips, making me gag. He continues to thrust, fucking my mouth as he chases his neared orgasm. When I know he was close, I popped off leaving him unfinished. His wolf broke through and pinned me to the bed with my hands behind my back and my ass in the air.


    "That wasn''t a smart thing to do kitten," his wolf said with a very raspy and dangerous toned voice. "prepare to not be able to walk for weeks."


    He slammed his large manhood in, not letting me adjust to his size. The pain mixed with the pleasure brought more stars to my vision as he fucked me roughly. Screams and moans were all that could come out since he made feel so full. I clenched around him tighter as I neared my second climax of the night, which was my third for the day. I could feel his rut coming as he neared his well needed orgasm. Pushing my ass more to him, I could feel him thrust deeper within me before coming hard and letting his knot hold him in. I panted as I came down my own high as my knees collapsed, having Max laying on top of me.


    "M''mark me," I said breathless.


    Max''s hazel golden eyes glowed as he went to my sweet spot on my neck and claimed me as his, causing him to fill me more with cum. When knot went away, I turned to face him and marked him back, claiming him as mine before falling into a deep slumber.

 28 Iriss Point of View: Two months later

    Two months have went by since the rogue attack, as well as my heat. My heat lasted a whole week and a half. No other rogue attacks have occurred, which is good. Maxwell was right when he said that I wouldn''t be able to walk afterwards. I still have a limp to my step after not being able to walk for a full month and a half. It was quite embarrassing.


    I was currently in the kitchen helping out with preparing lunch. All the cooks and I were making a platter of different assorted sandwiches for the pack when the smell of the food had became overwhelming, making me run to the nearest bathroom to puke up this morning''s breakfast.


    One of the omegas came and knocked on the door. I opened it, and he came in to help me out. I was pleased to know that I wasn''t alone.


    "Are you okay, Luna?" he asked.


    "I think so. Could you take me over to the pack doctor''s office?" I said.


    He nodded and guided me there. The omega, who''s name I found out is Mitch, is mates with the head warrior, Scott, and have three lovely pups; Maison, who''s 10, Bailey, who''s 4, and Harry, who''s 2. He told me how met Scott in high school. He has skipped a grade and ended up in all of Scott''s classes. What shocked me the most is that he''s 10 years older than I am, which I still couldn''t believe since he looks no over 18.


    I didn''t realize that we made it to the pack doctor''s office until I was handed a clipboard with papers that needed to be filled by the nurse at the front desk. Looking at it, I was embarrassed that I had forgotten how to write since I was a child when I had to write something last. Mitch must have noticed and took it so he could fill it out for me.


    "Sorry...," I said looking down at the floor.


    It''s okay hun. Must be hard since you''ve been alone for so long," he said as he filled out what he knew about me.


    "It was and still is," I said.


    Being called Luna instead of Iris is a big change for me. Something I was never referred to until after the ceremony. Mitch finished the paperwork and handed it back to the nurse at the front desk. I sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting room with Mitch next to me as I waited to be called to see the doctor, which wasn''t that long since there weren''t many people here today.


    When I was called to see the doctor, Mitch helped me walk to the room that I was assigned. After that, he left claiming that he was needed at home and if I needed him, I could use the pack link. The doctor came in a couple minutes after and introduced herself as Doctor Lee.


    "So I see that you haven''t been feeling well. When did this start? Doctor Lee said.


    "This afternoon. The smell of food became overwhelming," I said.


    "Okay. Have you had a change in your diet?" she asked.


    "No, not really. I''m still a vegan," I replied.


    She nodded and told me that I had to relax as she drew blood from me. Apparently it was a must since we didn''t know what was wrong, well more like I didn''t but she had an idea and wanted to make sure. I sat patiently on the bed as she did her thing and soon she was off to the lab to get the results of everything. Although, she was able to give me the results of my iron count and sugar levels, which were perfectly normal. So that was a good thing to know.


    After 20 minutes or so, Doctor Lee returned with all my results.


    "So everything came off good. You''re gaining more weight, which is good. Although you have one thing that showed in most omegas and women," she said.


    "And that would be?" I asked.


    "You''re pregnant," she said.


    I looked at her in utter shock. I''m pregnant. A mother to be. And this kid belong to the only cuddly yet possessive man I''ve ever met in the 2 months that I''ve been here and that''s Max. She understood that I was processing everything in my head and decided to break the silence.


    "Would you like to have a look to see how far along you are?" she asked.


    I nodded, still not being able to form words, and laid down. Lifting up my shirt, the doctor put this very cold, and I mean ice cold, gel on my stomach and smeared it with a wand that allowed us to see what''s inside of me on the small screen. She moved the wand around a bit until she found what she was looking for. To me it looked like a white little blob that stood out in the black and white screen. It was no bigger than a peanut.


    "There''s the little peanut," she said.


    "That white blob is the baby?" I asked.


    "Yup. And from the looks of it, you''re about 8 weeks along. I''m going to go print it out a picture and you''ll be sent on your way," she said as she snaps a picture of it before leaving the room.


    I wiped off the excess gel before pulling my shirt down and waited for her to return. When she did, I was given a copy of the picture and made another appointment to come back and see how things are progressing in 2 weeks. Since the office was close by the office, I decided to walk back instead of contacting Mitch to come get me. I needed a way to tell Max as it is.


    I walked out the office and headed towards the woods. The doctor did say that I could shift until I became further along into the pregnancy. Being in my feline form also calmed me the most since I''ve been in this form since I was able to turn. The woods were also the safest route.


    After walking through the woods for like 20 minutes, a branch snapped somewhere nearby making me freeze in place. A rogue stepped out of the bushes and growled at me, making me hiss yet scared for my life. So I did what any other animal that felt threatened to do, run. I just ran to wherever I could since I wasn''t trying to bring the rogue near the pack house. But at the same time, I didn''t know the pack lands too much and ended running to what seemed like a tree trunk, when it really wasn''t. I didn''t get much time to see who or what it was when everything around me went black.

 29 Maxwells Point of View

    It was a typical Saturday morning. Waking up with Iris next to me, cuddling her until she wakes and tells me to get up so I could tend to my alpha duties. My mother and the previous Luna, Sarah, are supposed to start helping her with the role of being Luna now that she can walk a bit better.


    I was currently doing paperwork, mainly signing treaties and planning the next alpha meeting. The alpha meeting brings all the alphas around the world together to discuss main issues; like rogue attacks, newly guardians being born within packs, and treaties with other supernatural clans.


    A knock on the door brought me out of my busy thoughts.


    "Come in," I said.


    My mother walks into the office. I put the letter that was in my hand down and greeted her like any son should greet their mother.


    "It''s a pleasure to see you, mom," I said hugging her.


    "It better be. I''m your mother. Any-who, how have you and Iris been?" she said.


    "We''re good. I''m glad that the Moon Goddess allowed me to have her as a mate. She''s my world," I told my mother with a smile on my face.


    My mother smiled and stayed for a bit longer before going to find Iris and Sarah since it was time to start the lessons. I got back to my mountain of my paperwork, which were mainly bills and I mean tons of bills.


    My wolf kept pacing around in my head along with whimpering. Something about how he''s acting made me feel anxious.


    M- ''What''s wrong?"


    W- ''I don''t know. Something isn''t right.''


    Soon my mother and an omega came storming into the office. By the look of their faces, my heart had stopped with fear.


    "Alpha Maxwell, Iris has gone missing," the omega said with fear laced in his voice.


    I snatched the paper that was in his hand and read it.


    If you want what was once yours, come find her. For she is dead.


    - L


    I growled loudly, having the omega bare his neck to me in submission and whimpered. Rage filled my heart as my once so-called best friend has taken my mate...once again. It''s like a repeat of my first mate, Lily.


    Flashback:


    "Max, it''s Lily. She has gone missing," Leeland had said.


    Leeland was Lily''s twin brother. They were close until we found out that we were mates. She seemed to always go missing. It wasn''t until I found out the reason that day.


    I walked to the waterfall that was on pack lands that she would sometimes run to when she wanted to be away from everyone. I knew where it was at since I would go there as well to think about life. What also made it special was that it was where Lily and I found out that we were mates the year before.


    Getting closer to the waterfall, I could smell Lily''s scent....and someone else. At first, I thought it was someone guarding her but it smelt oddly too familiar. Like I''ve smelled this scent on her multiple times in the past. As I got closer, I could hear faint moaning sounds and my heart dropped down to the pit of my gut.


    I looked over the bushes that were in front of me. I regretted with every bit of my soul. Lily was fucking my best friend and soon-to-be alpha, Lucius.


    "M-mark me Lucius," she moaned out.


    Being the lustful teenager he is, he didn''t stop and marked her like she asked. I felt searing pain run through my body and soul due to Lily being marked by another man. I couldn''t stay any longer and left as fast and quietly as possible. But what I didn''t know at the time was that they knew I was there the whole time.


    Present Day


    My mother came by me to make sure I wouldn''t break down like I had did then. The omega, whom I realized was my cousin, Scott,''s mate, Mitch. He stayed a bit away from me just in case he had to make a run for it.


    "Who seen her last?" I asked as I tried to remain calm as I spoke.


    "I-I did alpha. She had thrown up and I took her to the pack doctor to get checked out. I had left her once she was in the room and told her that if she needed anything =, she could mind-link me," Mitch said as he slowly inched closer to the door.


    My wolf howled in my head. He wasn''t pleased to know that she was left alone. But why was she throwing up. Did she get sick?


    "Where''s the pack doctor?" I asked.


    "She''s not in her office. I went to check up on her and that''s when I found the note," my mother said.


    I growled loudly once again and slumped into my chair. I took a deep breath and looked Mitch and my mother before speaking.


    "Get every warrior and pack member that can fight. I''ll call the council and neighboring packs. We have a Luna to find and a rogue to kill."

 30 Iriss Point of View

    I groaned as I started to wake up. My head throbbed, making my stomach queasy. It was dark and cold, and had an old, stale, mildew smell to it. Where am I?


    It was too dark for me to see anything, and I don''t know how long I''ve been out. There wasn''t even a window in sight.


    "You''re up," said a familiar voice from the car left of this dark place.


    "W-who''s there?" I asked.


    "Don''t worry. You won''t need to know anything else but who you''re master is," he said before unlocking the cage that I was in and dragged me out by my hair.


    "Let me g-go," I said wincing.


    "Oh kitten. You''ll enjoy this," he said as he blindfolds me. "Let the fun begin."


    ***


    Maxwell''s Point of View


    I had every warrior, pack member, councilmen, and neighboring pack alphas with their betas and warriors in my training grounds for this meeting. Everyone was murmuring among each other as I came up in front of them on the stone.


    "Thank you everyone on such a short notice. Our Luna, my mate Iris, has been kidnapped. She was last seen in the pack doctor''s office, whom has disappeared shortly after she did. I need everyone''s help on searching for her," I said loudly.


    One of the alphas that came raised their hand.


    "Yes, Alpha Bane," I said.


    "Do you know who would take her?" he asked.


    "I do. Our supposed-to-be alpha, someone I once considered as a best friend and brother, Lucius Lyons has taken her. Alphas and councilmen, if you know or have anyone who has a unique talent and power for tracking and are willing to help, please let me know as soon as possible. For now, my Beta, Asher, and the other Betas will split everyone in groups for training. Lucius won''t go down without a fight. I''m for sure of this."


    Everyone bowed before splitting up into the training groups they were assigned to. All the alphas and councilmen stepped towards me so we could have a discussion about our plan to attack. I led them a bit away from the training grounds, but not too far so we can monitor everything that''s going on.


    In the middle of our discussion, I started to feel fear and confusion flood through me. It was so strong that I was trembling a bit in my place. I tried to ignore it as if it was nothing until the burning sensation exploded through my veins and along my body causing me to gasp in pain and groan as I fall onto the ground.


    Everyone surrounded me trying to figure out what was going on. My body felt cold as it broke out into a sweat and my eyes grew heavy. I wanted to fight the pain and heaviness, but I lost the battle as darkness consumed me whole.

 31 Third Persons Point of View

    A year has gone by. Maxwell was at the brink of insanity. Everyday was torturous for the man, feeling Iris''s pain but not being able to help or find her. Not even the notorious trackers in all of history could find her. For a whole year, he never he was to a father to the most gorgeous baby boy. A fighter much like himself.


    Flying over to Iris''s prisoner life. Lucius was beyond pissed when he found out that Iris was expecting a child from Maxwell. At first, he tried to forcefully give her a miscarriage. From raping her multiple times himself, which he did throughout the whole pregnancy and even now, to physically abusing her.


    After a month of being abused and raped, Iris figured out that Lucius was all behind this. Knowing that his cover was blown, he removed the blindfold, but only because he decided to make her of some usage. She had became his personal slave. Occasionally, which soon became more frequently, she would be sold for a day or so to other rogues to gang-bang her whenever and how long they wanted for money. Poor Iris never got proper sleep or nutritious value in her "meals", which consisted of stale bread and mucky watered down soup.


    At nights when she was to be sold off, one particular rogue would take care of her. Aiden was his name, and he was Lucius right-hand man....or so Lucius thought. Aiden would secretly take food to Iris whenever he could, and had helped her deliver the baby. Even after the baby was born, he took time to help her with caring for it as if the baby was his own.


    Iris wanted to leave the prison-like-place. She knew that something was up when Lucius gave her permission to keep and raise the child, even after it was born. And boy was she right. Aiden told her of Lucius''s secret plan to train it to kill Maxwell and make it his own personal weapon, if it proved to be strong enough surviving with her. That same night, Iris and Aiden escaped with the baby. Lucius was beyond enraged by morning since they all left without a trace. Not even a scent to track. Absolutely nothing.


    A few weeks go by before Aiden, Iris, and the baby arrive to their destination. During their trip, everything had made complete sense to her on why Aiden was so friendly. He had heard if her search, but being half caster and half vampire made it highly difficult for anyone to contact him. He was hardly ever in Earth''s realm unless absolutely needed to, much like this situation, but another caster was able to reach him in time.


    Now to the present setting of the story. A year and a half has came and went. Iris has fully healed, with some remaining nightmares, and resides with Aiden in his house that''s well hidden in the trees of the no-mans land that''s sacred to all supernatural creatures. It was surprisingly close by the Filtiran Pack territory, just roughly 2 hours, by foot, north of the territory lines. The baby was named after her father, Zephyr which meant west winds in Greek, can now walk and talk a bit and is looking much like his father.


    It was late spring, almost summer, when she went to Aiden. The warm air wasn''t suffocating in the early morning as she sat next to him.


    "Do you think it''s safe for Zephyr and I to go to the Filtiran Pack?" she asked looking at the rising sun.


    "I''m not sure yet. Lucius is still on the hunt for you, and so is everyone else," he responded.


    Iris sighed.


    "I just want Max to meet his son. He''d not doing so well. I can feel it. All because of my pain and trauma. I...I miss him" she said with tears running down her face.


    Aiden mentally decided on whether or not he should let her go. He never has company over and didn''t mind them being with him. He enjoyed the little family that he became apart of, even it wasn''t really his to begin with. Iris got up at the sound of Zephyr''s whimpers, letting them know that he''s awoken. Aiden knows how important it is for Iris to let her mate know that she''s well and alive. To let him know that they have a family.


    Aiden didn''t let her know of his final decision until after she laid Zephyr down at the end of the night. He pulled her aside when she exited the little nursery.


    "You can go, but I''m coming with. There''s a councilman who''s a friend of mine that''s there. It would only make sense to let you come along instead of leaving you both here alone. Plus I can easily protect you guys when you''re with me, rather than me being away," he said.


    Iris smiled and thanked him before heading off to sleep for the long day ahead of them. He felt happy of his decision, but couldn''t get rid of the gut feeling gnawing at him within. He felt as if something was going to happen, and it wasn''t going to be good. Not wanting to stress out more, he shrugged off the feeling and went to bed himself. Not realizing that the real trouble is just about to begin.

 33 Iriss Point of View

    We soon arrived to the pack house. Everyone waited by the back door as we came through the clearing from the woods. Maxwell sat in front of everyone in his large wolf form, ears twitching as everyone murmured among themselves about my arrival. Liam went ahead of me to speak.


    "Everyone, our Luna has returned. She has escaped the enemy''s grasp with help with a dear caster. Please Maxwell, shift back. Your mate is alive and well," he said.


    Max huffed, and Liam moves out of he way so he could come close to me. He started sniffing me and growls from Aiden''s scent being all over me. Zephyr wailed out from Max growling, making everyone gasp. No one realized that I was holding a child until now. Max growls more and tried to take Zephyr away, which I wouldn''t allow to happen.


    "No Max. He''s yours, not Lucius'' or Aiden''s," I said.


    Max grunts and tries to take him away again. I stepped away and told him no once more. Zephyr whimpered and cried more, scared of the giant wolf whom is his father. Liam and Aiden stood in front of me, pissing off Max more than I already was.


    "Maxwell, chill out. The child is really yours. He looks exactly like you. Trust me," Liam said.


    Aiden said nothing but stood ready to attack at any given moment. Max growled at Liam once more before walking away from everyone. Liam looked back at me with an apologetic look. Everyone continued to murmur among themselves, criticizing how I left for a year or so and then return with a child that''s supposedly the alpha''s, when Zephyr really is his son. Aiden didn''t like how everyone was judging us and spoke up.


    "Knock it off!" he yells out, silencing everyone. "How dare you criticize your Luna and Alpha!?"


    He took a deep breath before continuing.


    "You all criticize them when your Luna returns with a child. His child to be exact!" he says.


    "How should we believe you? You could be working for Lucius," a pack member yells out from somewhere in the crowd.


    "I''m a caster. Eons older than you, pup. I sensed the child in her when she was brought to the prison like place she was at. I personally helped her raised the child for a year. I don''t care if you don''t believe me. But if you want, we can do a DNA test on him since obviously you''re all too blind to see how he mimics Maxwell," he blurts out in his fit of rage.


    Max wasn''t as far as we thought he was and growls at Aiden. Aiden glares at Max in his wolf form before pointing a finger at him.


    "And you," he says pointing at him. "You try to take away that child, I won''t hesitate and strike your ass with a lightning bolt. I would be pleased to know that I''m a father after not knowing that my mate was alive. I honestly envy you. So do me a favor, and DON''T FUCK UP!"


    With that, Aiden storms away and two lightning bolts stuck the ground where he once stood as he heads to the woods where we had came from, and disappeared in a blink of an eye. Everyone sttod frozen in fear, not knowing what to do now that there was an angered caster in the woods. Liam exhaled and told everyone to carry on with their day before walking towards Zephyr and I.


    "Do you know how long Aiden will be?" he asked.


    "Not really. Why?" I responded.


    "I wanted to talk to him about strategic ways to finally ending Lucius'' gang of rogues." Liam said looking at the woods, then to Max''s wold, whom was laying in the grass resting. "Do you think he''ll ever shift back to human form? I would like to have my geeky son back."


    "He''ll shift back, I promise," I said looking down at Zephyr resting in my arms.


    Zephyr reminded me of Max in so many ways. If on;y he''ll see that he''s actually his child. I have to get them to bond, even if it''s the last thing I do. Liam got up and dismissed himself before going back into the pack house. Max didn''t stir, nor did Zephyr, as they slept. Aiden soon walked back, fully calm and collected.


    "Liam wants to talk to you," I told him.


    He nodded and walked passed me before stopping.


    "Want me to take Zephyr in for you?" he asked.


    "No, he''s good," I said.


    Aiden signed before speaking up again.


    "Talk to him, or at least try to. Maybe that''ll help," he said before walking into the pack house, leaving me alone with Max.


    I signed before getting up and adjusting the sleeping child that was in my arms. Walking up to Max, his ears twitched as he woke up from my presence being so close.


    "Come, lets talk," I said, walking away with Max following close behind.

 34 Iris Point of View

    I walked to the waterfall that Max had once told me about in the past. It was a peaceful place, secluded from the pack yet in our lands. Zephyr had woken up during the walk. He didn''t fuss or make any sound, but he did stare at his father from over the shoulder. Max just looked back at the baby with curiosity even though his primal instincts was telling him to remove the child from my arms.


    I sat down on the edge of the bank with Zephyr in my lap. Max laid nearby but still a far distance. I sighed and looked down at my silent child staring at his father. I wonder whether he will have a wolf or a feline. He could have both but we won''t know until he''s a bit older.


    "His name is Zephyr, named after my father," I said breaking the silence. "He''s a lot like you and is your child."


    Max grunted at that, not really believing me.


    "I found out the day I was kidnapped. I was going to tell you, but didn''t get the chance," I said reaching into my pocket and pulled out the ultrasound picture from when I found out.


    Max came closer to look at it, and Zephyr took the chance to grab his fur. Max jumped away which made Zephyr pout and whine. I rubbed his back to calm him down when he wanted to fight against it. Max laid on his stomach and crawled closer, unsure about his own actions. He nudged Zephyr''s foot with his snout, making Zephyr giggle and lean forward to touch him once again, which he allowed. I set Zephyr down next to him, so they could bond. Zephyr grabbed his fur as he tried to climb up onto him. Max moved his head, having Zephyr fall onto his bum and making him squeal. Max sniffed Zephyr''s scent, which smelled like freshly baked cookies and autumn leaves.


    It was cute to watch them bond. A couple times I had to catch Zephyr from falling into the water. I''m glad that Max is taking it a lot better now that we''re alone. Soon it was nightfall, and we headed back to the pack-house. Aiden and Liam were waiting on the back porch with a bottle and a cup of hot tea with honey. Max was still not used to Aiden, given the fact that he never really gave him a chance. Aiden came down and kneeled in front of Max.


    "Forgive me alpha for my actions and words from earlier," he said.


    Max grunted in response before rubbing himself against me, making sure I smelt like him. I petted him, knowing he didn''t like it.


    "Relax Max. Aiden knows that you''re my mate. Plus you should be greatful that he''s the reason I''m alive with Zephyr," I said.


    Max just gave me a look and rolled his eyes as his way of blowing me off. Such a sassy wolf he is. Aiden stood up and looked over at me.


    "Liam said that it''ll be better if you stayed in Max''s room," he said.


    I nodded and walked to the backdoor of the pack-house to feed Zephyr. Max had followed me in, still in wolf form, as I wondered my way to his room. When I got to his door, I opened it to see that it''s still the same as it was when I left minus the complete mess. I sat onto the unmade bed and started to feed Zephyr while Max thought he wad being slick and tried to join us in bed.


    "Uh-uh. You''re not getting on the bed with all that filth," I said.


    Max looked at me and whimpered in a begging matter. He tried it again to be rejected.


    "No Max. You''re lucky I even allowed you in the house like this," I said with a more stern tone of voice.


    He growled at my tone of voice and sat there glaring. Becoming a mother just changes a person. Maybe I could seduce him still...or at least compromise.


    "How about a compromise?" I suggested as I burped Zephyr.


    Max tilted his head to the side. In all honestly, he looked like a cute overly sized puppy like this.


    "You take a shower and thoroughly scrub yourself clean, and I''ll let you sleep here in bed with Zephyr and I," I said.


    Max though about it before disappearing into the bathroom. It wasn''t long till I heard a loud thud and a groan from inside the bathroom. I set Zephyr down in the bed and surrounded him with pillows so he wouldn''t roll off the bed and get hurt before making sure everything was alright in the bathroom. Walking in, I came face to face with a well naked Max on the floor.


    "Need a little help?" I asked, holding back a laugh.


    "T-that''ll b-b-be n-nice," he said blushing as he tried to get up on his own.

 35 Third Person Point of View

    Days gone by. Iris and Max have been re-bonding. Little Zephyr continued to be the cutest baby with the unique steel blue eyes and sandy blonde hair that anyone has ever seen. Max and his wolf have accepted Zephyr more as time went by. There was even a DNA test ran, proving Iris'' claim that Zephyr is 100% Max''s pup.


    Lucius and his pack of rogues haven''t shown any signs of attacking...or so they want people to think. Aiden has been doing a sweep every other day or so to see if he can sense anything. Most of the time, it''s been dormant but he did notice that they''re slowly creeping in closer by the day. Therefore, everyone who are enabled to fight in the battle have been training everyday, preparing for the destruction that''s upon them.


    It was morning, early morning to be exact. The sun was barely showing over the horizon as the sky presented various shades of red, orange, and yellow, much like the colors of flames. Not a sound was to be heard for miles on end. Not even a morning bird chirping or an ant crawling. Nothing, just complete silence.


    Aiden stood facing the woods. He felt the pit in his stomach grow uncomfortably large. Something was bound to happen today, and it wasn''t going to be small nor good. It felt like another world war was about to break out. Blood shed and lost lived will littler the ground, staining the fresh green grass an ugly crimson bloody red.


    Then a sound broke the eerie silence. The sound of an alarm much resembling a war cry broke out, signaling the battle has begun. What seemed to be a perfect day, ruined with death and bloodshed.


    All small kids, pregnant women and men, and elders were put in the various safe rooms the pack-house had, even Iris wasn''t exempt from being in there. Iris fought and argued with Max, but he wasn''t hearing it.


    "Please Max. Let me fight. I''ve been training," Iris begged once more as Max dragged her to a safe room with Zephyr in his hands.


    "No and that''s final. You''re to stay here with Zephyr and everyone else. I don''t wanna lose you," he said reaching the safe room.


    "You''re not going to lose me," she said.


    Max handed Zephyr to one of the elders who was making sure everyone was going in before turning to Iris.


    "You don''t know that, Iris! Lucius is after you. He could just kill you or take you away and I''m not risking it," he said with his voice full of worry, anger, and anxiety.


    Max was terrified in all honesty. He just got his mate back, and he wasn''t even about to let her leave his side again. He knew that she''s been training but it was simple self-defense moves that was to help her defend herself when he wasn''t around. But for a battle much like this? He wasn''t risking anything. He grabbed Iris and carried her inside the safe room.


    "Make sure she remains here," Max said giving her a final kiss before running out to join the battle, not knowing that it''ll be their final kiss.


    ***


    Hours go by and nothing seem to progress. Iris paced around the safe room. Many of the kids were asleep, including Zephyr. Some of the pack mates were huddled together murmuring among themselves or running their fingers through the sleeping kids'' hair as they slept in their lap.


    "Luna Iris, you should rest," one of the women said.


    "I can''t. I have to be out there. How can I protect a pack that''s welcomed me with open arms and be stuck in a safe room?" she said.


    Everyone looked at each other before an elder wolf set her hand on Iris'' shoulder.


    "My dear child. I know how you must be feeling. But our mates and everyone else on that battlefield are protecting and fighting for our lives as well. So please, relax and rest," the elder wolf said.


    The elder wolf was wise, since he was well older than Iris and has been in pack much longer. Plus he has outlived his mate, and a couple of his children. But Iris was determined to go out there, no matter what it cost.


    "I have to be out there. It''s me they''re fighting over," Iris said.


    "And what about the child?" the elder asked referring to Zephyr.


    "He''ll be fine raised here with everyone. His father will need him to get through this," she said.


    "Then you must know what going out there will cost," he said.


    "Yes. If it costs me my life, then so be it," she said with more confidence in her voice.


    "Then go my child. End this battle once and for all," the elder said before going back to the spot he was once sitting at.


    Iris nodded and went over to the young teenager who was holding him.


    "What''s you''re name?" she asked.


    "Derek," he said.


    Derek looked no over 12 and was an omega in the pack. He had pale skin with light brown wide eyes and black short hair. Iris placed a gentle kiss on Zephyr''s head as he slept.


    "Please take care of him. Guide him to be a gentle soul and to know to give everyone a chance in life," she said before going out of the secret passage way and into the battlefield.

 37 Third Person Point of View

    Iris ran through the woods, jumping over fallen trees and roots with ease. Although, this wasn''t stopping Lucius from gaining momentum as he was hot on her tail. They ran into a clearing, the waterfall to be exact. Lucius jumped onto Iris, knocking her into the water, and they started clawing and biting at one another. The once clear blue water was a murky red from the dirt and blood on their fur as they fought. Iris was having the upper hand in the fight, using her smaller form against his larger one. With one lean swipe, Iris clawed down his stomach and side, critically injuring Lucius. Lucius growled but fell into the water since he was becoming weak from the rapid blood loss.


    "You w-will never be happy," Lucius said weakly.


    "That''s where you''re wrong. I am happy with my mate and son," Iris said. "Any last words?"


    Lucius growled and started laughing like a madman before Iris broke his neck and skull when she slammed him into the boulder. Lucius laid in the water, now completely lifeless. Iris panted as she was trying to catch her breath before being swallowed by complete darkness.


    ***


    Back at the battlefield, all the rogues were either dead or injured to they could only submit in defeat to remain alive longer. Max was helping all the remainder wolves with their injuries and getting himself fixed as well. He had sent a search party to find Iris and Lucius, only for them to come back with Lucius'' dead body and no Iris.


    "What do you mean her body wasn''t there? Did you check downstream?" Max exclaimed.


    "Alpha, we checked everywhere. She''s gone," one of the wolves said.


    Max growled loudly, not liking that his mate has gone missing once again.


    "Well go check again!" he demanded.


    The wolves bowed and quickly left the room, only for him to burst into tears on the floor of his bedroom.


    If Iris had only listened to him, she would''ve still been here, he thought.


    A knock on the door was heard as Aiden walked in with the elder wolf that was in the safe room with Iris, as well as Derek whom was carrying Zephyr. Derek brought Zephyr over to max before sitting down next to him on the floor. Zephyr cooed at his father, making Max feel less stressed out. What confused Max the most was the small omega boy sitting next to him.


    "Not trying to sound rude, but what''s with the kid?" Max asked.


    "He is who your mate has blessed your son with. To guide him with through the darkness of this world and be with him through his reign as alpha," the elder wolf said.


    Max nodded and handed Zephyr back to Derek so Aiden could clean his wounds.


    "And who are you?" Max asked the elder wolf.


    "I am the one who brings wisdom to the world. I am everything yet nothing at the same time," he said.


    "Do you have a name?" Max asked.


    "I go by many names. But you may call me Brother Zachariah," the elder, Zachariah, said.


    "Do you think.... do you think Iris will come back?" Max asked Zachariah with hope in his heart.


    "I can''t tell you that because I don''t have an answer to give. But only time will tell. For now my child, be the alpha your pack needs. Raise your boy with lots of love so when it''s his turn, he may take lead with a proud father. The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways, but she''s always watching her children. Iris would be happy to see you alive," Brother Zachariah said before leaving the room.

 38 Epilogue Third Person Point of View & Mysteriouss Point of View

    Days go by and now everyone, whom have died during the battle, will be laid to their final and eternal rest. The rogues that had survived are now in prison, sentenced for life until further notice. Those that died have also been buried but they don''t get a ceremony that packs do for their pack-mates.


    Max had said his speech when the moon was at its peak and fullest. Now everyone was drinking, eating, and partying from dusk till dawn, celebrating those who have been sent back to the moon goddess in honor of their bravery and strength in protecting them. Max walks away from the party and looks out at the waterfall where Iris and Lucius had fought. His dear mate''s body had magically vanished in thin air, somewhere far from here, and he didn''t know exactly where.


    A hand landed on Max''s shoulder, snapping out of the trance he was in. He turned to see Aiden giving him a small smile.


    "Where could she have gone?" Max asked.


    "I don''t know. It is strange, but I do know something," Aiden said.


    "And what''s that?" Max said now turning to face the waterfall once again.


    "Iris wouldn''t want you mourning for her this way. She wants you to be strong. If not for her, then do it for Zephyr," Aiden said.


    Silence fell between them as they listened to the party in the distance and nature that surrounded them. Max sighed and turned to head back to the party.


    "You''re right," Max said.


    Aiden smiled once again and cocked his head in the direction of the party.


    "Come, lets return before everyone starts believing that their alpha had went missing as well," Aiden said walking towards the party.


    Max nodded and followed Aiden back to the party, where everyone kept celebrating the night away as the sun rose in the horizon between the tree line of the forest, ending a chapter in everyone''s life as well as starting a new one.


    ***


    Sitting on my throne, a body of an unconscious female was dragged in. She was injured, but nothing too severe from what I can see physically.


    "Sir we have found her in the river," my guard said. "What should we do with her?"


    "Take her to the healers to get her wounds treated," I said.


    They bowed and took her to the healers. My current mistress, whom was a guy, seductively sat on my lap, his plump ass on my already hard boner.


    "That dear is Iris Lace, Luna of the Filtrian Pack," my little minx said.


    "Is that so?" I said holding him by the waist. "Tell me hat you know of her."


    "Well, she''s a werecat, the last of her kind to be exact. She''s mates with the current alpha, Maxwell Collins, since Lucius Lyons rejected her. When Lucius rejected her, he was stripped of his alpha title and banished from the pack. Also she has a son, but he''s an infant. He''s very cute and cheerful too," he said grinding on me in a desperate manner.


    Giving what the whore wanted, I ripped off our clothes and slammed my large cock into him raw without any prepping. I thrusted into his tight channel fast and hard, not allowing him to adjust to my abnormal size. He bleed from being overly stretched out in such a manner and killed him in the process as I came hard into him.


    Damn that sucks. He was a good lay. If I remember his name correctly, it was Leeland. But I do have Iris. Maybe I''ll get what I want, I though as I dispose the body that once was my little whore.