CHAPTER 52: THE CEREMONY IS SUSPENDED. DO NOT QUESTION ME, BOY!

Iris’s POV

My vision was clouded with red, a haze of rage and pain pulsing through me as I sprinted through the forest. Thorns and brambles snagged at my skin, tearing it as it gushed out a little drop of blood, but I felt no pain, absolutely nothing. Behind me, I could smell some wolves chasing after me. Their scent growing stronger within every inch. I didn’t know where I was running to, only that I needed to move, as I followed my instinct, running to no direction to avoid the suffocating truth of who I’d become.

I was no longer just Iris, the outcast, the girl who stayed on the lowest of the pack. I was something more, something I could not even understand, something that terrifies me. The Mother of Wolves, the elder, had called me. The words echoed in my mind relentlessly.

Suddenly, I skidded to a halt, my claws sliding into the ground, kicking up clumps of dirt and leaves as I sensed them before I saw them now, a little inches away from me, closing in. I turned, my massive head bending low, my golden eyes glowing. They finally got closer, a half-dozen werewolves and I could tell they were the pack warriors from Black Bane, their fur rippling as they slowed and formed a loose circle around me. Even in their wolf forms, I towered over them, with my height and for some strange reasons, I could recognize them all. I could as well control my senses.

One by one, they shifted, their bodies contorting and snapping until they transformed back and stood as humans, clad in tattered shorts. I recognized each of them instantly. I could see the hesitation and fear in their eyes as they stood a bit far from me and not taking a step closer as they spoke to themselves.

"We can’t just let her run," Rylan, one of them said as he held a rope in his hands. "Alpha’s orders she’s to be brought back."

Another, Torin shook his head, his eyes fixed on me. "Look at her, Ry. You really think we can take her down?"

"She’s still Iris," another warrior, Jorin, snapped. "We have to try."

I stood, my gaze sweeping over them as I bent my head, letting out a rumbling howl that vibrated through as the air from my breath sent dust flying around as they staggered, trying to stand strong. They looked so small from my view, their human body like ants beneath my towering body. Rylan took a tentative step forward, the rope dangling from his hand as he tried to swing it over me.

I lowered my head, my eyes locking onto his as they fearfully took a few steps backward, their eyes locking on mine as I could hear their heart, beating so fast in fear. My head shifted back and a loud snarl rolled from my throat. The sound alone sent another ripple of fear through them. Rylan stumbled back, his rope slipping from his fingers, and Jorin’s hand froze on the rope too. Torin cursed under his breath. "We need more men."

Before I could react, a new scent hit me as I sensed and saw four more wolves burst through. My heart stuttered as they shifted to humans, revealing Alpha Darius and his sons, Cade, Zane, and Kael. Darius’s cold eyes locked onto me, showing no hint of fear. The triplets stood behind him, not taking their eyes off me.

"Iris," Darius called, his voice deep and commanding. "Stand down. You’re coming back with us."

I didn’t move, my tail flicking slowly, my eyes narrowing. The memory of their rejection still burned. They’d torn something from me, and now they dared to chase me, to take me back to that pack?

I took a step back, lifting my head up to the sky as I let out a loud Howl, echoing so loudly and within seconds, I could hear the howling sounds of other wolves, in respect to my howl. Sneering, I took another step back, my gaze focused back on them.

Darius’s expression hardened. "Rylan, Torin, Jorin, bind her legs. Now."

The warriors hesitated, their eyes darting between me and their Alpha. Rylan swallowed hard, picking up the rope again, but his hands shook in uncertainty. "Alpha, she’s...," he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if we can’t..."

"Do it!" Darius snapped.

Immediately, they moved then, spurred by fear of their Alpha more than confidence in capturing me. Rylan and Jorin flanked me, ropes in hand, while Torin circled to my left, alongside the others. I tensed, my muscles coiling, ready to fight back. They were fast, but I was faster. As Rylan lunged, swinging the rope toward my front leg, I swung my head low, letting out a forceful gust that knocked him off his feet. He hit the ground with a grunt, the rope flying from his hands. Jorin froze, his eyes terrified and just then, Darius snapped in anger.

"Enough!" Darius roared, stepping forward but I held my ground.

Before I could make another move, more warriors arrived. Six more. Each carrying ropes and chains.

The warriors moved as one, coordinated now, their ropes whistling through the air. I dodged the first, but there were too many. A rope snagged my hind leg. I snarled, twisting to snap at it, but another looped around my front leg, then another. They pulled, their combined strength finally dragging me down. My claws tearing gashes on the ground as the ropes tightened and my legs buckled, causing me to crash to the ground as I transformed back into my human body, lying weakly on the floor.

"Hold her!" Darius commanded. The warriors swarmed, securing the ropes. I whimpered, struggling to be free but the ropes held me tight and my strength began to wane down.

Darius approached as he knelt beside me, his face close enough that I could feel his breath, the intensity in his cold eyes too. And after studying me for seconds without a word, he turned to his sons as he spoke.

"She’s the mother of wolves. The future Luna." He stepped away, smirking coldly at his words as he approached his sons.

His statement was followed by the facial shocked expression of the boys. Obviously they weren’t having it as Cade snapped.

"Future Luna? What about Liora?" he demanded.

"Do not question me, the ceremony is suspended. It is for the good of this pack, boy. You will understand when the time is right.