CHAPTER 34: TO HELL WITH YOU BOTH!

Iris’s POV

Dramatically, she gestured as she spoke.

"Guess what!" Liora’s voice rang out. "I’m going to make a beautiful bride." Her lips never cease to curve into a smug smile as she tucked some strands of hair away from her face to the corner of her ear.

She took a step closer and leaned against a table, careful not to let her dress touch the wet piles of laundry as she looked at us. "You wouldn’t believe how wonderful the triplets have been to me," she said. "Cade, Zane, and Zael. Oh, they’re just so attentive. They’ve showered me with gifts, you know. Cade got me this diamond necklace and he said it looked good on me." She fluttered the necklace on her neck dramatically, as if to emphasize the point. "And Zane? He had the seamstress make me a gown so fine it puts every other dress in Black Bane to shame. And Zael is just so perfect and clingy with me. Can you imagine? Getting treated like royalty by the three most powerful wolves in the pack, the future alphas."

Her words were a performance, each one delivered with a mocking lilt, as if daring me to react. I kept my eyes focused on my work as I was scrubbing the clothes. Amelia, beside me, stayed silent too. Liora’s gaze flicked between us, her smile widening.

"Oh, come now, Iris, don’t look so glum," she said. "I don’t want you to see me as an enemy. Truly, I don’t." Her eyes softened for a moment, but the sincerity didn’t reach them, it was like watching a snake try to smile. "That’s why I’m giving you this honor." She paused. "To be my personal maid at the mating ceremony as I mate with the men of my dream."

My hands froze in the soapy water. Then I looked up, meeting her gaze. She wasn’t done. "I know you don’t have anything decent to wear," she continued. "I mean, look at you, those rags you call clothes." She gestured vaguely at my worn dress, patched at the hem and faded from countless washes. "But don’t worry, Iris. I’m generous. I’ll give you one of my old dresses, something I don’t want anymore, of course, but it’ll still be better than anything you’ve ever owned. At least you’ll have a chance to look somewhat presentable for once. It’s been a long while, hasn’t it?"

Her words stung but I bit my tongue, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction as I returned my focus to my work.

"You should leave here, Liora." Amelia replied.

"Don’t be harsh girl. I only came here to share some goodnews with you." Liora replied. "Be nice and be grateful I am giving you such opportunity." She added.

Before she could say another word, Amelia stood angrily on her feet as she approached Liora aggressively.

"That’s enough, Liora," Amelia snapped, her voice cutting through, her hands planting firmly on her hips she stepped forward, putting herself slightly between me and Liora. "Iris will never be your personal maid. If you want someone to wait on you hand and foot, go find another girl in the pack. There are plenty who’d jump at the chance to submit to you."

Liora’s smile vanished immediately, twisting into a scowl frown. Her hands, which had been resting lightly on the table, clenched into fists at her sides. "How dare you speak to me like that," she hissed. Her eyes narrowed, flicking from Amelia to me, as if deciding which of us to tear into first. "You’re just a pair of lowly maids, and you think you can..."

"Iris will do as instructed," a deep, cold masculine voice interrupted. My head snapped toward the sound of the voice as my gaze landed on Cade where he stood. His hands were buried in the pockets of his dark trousers. His hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his icy cold and emotionless eyes locked onto me. Then Amelia, meeting his gaze bowed her head in respect, her shoulders stiffening.

Liora’s expression shifted in an instant. Her scowl melted into a cry, her eyes pouring out tears in a sudden dramatic way. She turned to Cade, clutching his arm as she spoke. "I was only trying to be nice," she whimpered, tears streaming down her eyes. "I only came here to offer Iris a chance to be part of something special, to be my friend, but she’s been so rude to me." Tears rolled down her cheek. "I don’t understand why she hates me so much."

I watched, stunned, as Cade, without a word, gently wiped Liora’s tears. His gaze, now returned to Amelia and me, remained unreadable.

"Iris," Cade called. "You will apologize to Liora and then proceed with your duties as instructed by the head maid."

My jaw tightened. Apologize? For what? The injustice of it all burned within me, but I knew, looking into Cade’s stare, that defiance would only worsen my situation. He wouldn’t hesitate to make an example out of me. Liora, seeing her advantage, offered a simpering smile only I could see but I did not care. If anyone should apologise, then it’s Liora not me.

Cade’s gaze didn’t leave me, his expression still unreadable and cold. He took a step forward and then he finally spoke. "She’s the future Luna of this pack and you need to apologize to her," he said.

Immediately, something inside me snapped. I dropped the cloth forcefully into the water with a splash, stepping out from behind the table to face him. "Apologise? Huh? Why should I apologize?" I demanded, my voice filled with anger as I closed the distance between us even more. I stopped just a foot away. "She came in here, mocking me, throwing her gifts and her ceremony in my face, and I’m the one who’s rude? To hell with her, and to hell with you! I will not apologize. Damn you both."

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and left as Amelia followed.