Chapter 20

Chiara's POV

My legs start to give out from underneath me as I realize what this means. I think about the picture Felix sent me and how I thought it was weird his sleeve matched Vedant’s that day. I think of the birthday message and their similar voices.

Felix and Vedant are the same person.

I look at the sky, trying not to curse the goddess as I realize the cosmic joke that has been played on me. Not only had Vedant the boy I used to pray would be my mate turned out to be him after becoming cruel and hateful, but he also was Felix, the only person who had been there for me despite all of the pain and bullying I had faced.

I feel my panic build as I watch as Vedant’s eyes search the crowd, looking for Iris, for me. He can never know that I am Iris.

If Vedant finds out it’s me, he will surely claim that I’ve tricked me in some way and only torture me worse. I think about Everything he’s shared with me in our online chats and about how angry he will be when he realize that it’s me he shared those things with.

He can’t find out. Not now after I’ve been expelled from the training class with no way to escape him. If he is going to torment be until my death it will be as Chiara, not as Iris.

As his eyes continue to search, I do my best to slow my breath. If I move too suddenly or look too stressed I might draw his eye and then he will spot my purple hat and know it’s me. I hold my breath willing him to overlook me.

Just when I think I’m in the clear he walks toward me, his eyes fixated toward the top of my head. I feel the breath leave my lungs as he continues to approach. I turn ready to bolt when I hear his voice.

Vedant's POV

I’ve done everything I can to make this night special for Iris. I worked hard to make sure that I would win first place even against the other Alphas from nearby packs so that I could call her up on stage and make her my mate once and for all.

So far everything has gone according to plan. I won first place in all my matches. The only thing left to do is find Iris. I look up at the crowd, stepping around Alice.

“Her name is Iris.”

A murmur of confusion goes through the New Moon section of the crowd. No one from my pack even knows that Iris exists, but that doesn’t matter. She is the only one who matters.

I wait for a moment, but no one approaches the stage. For a minute, I’m embarrassed, but I think of Iris and her character and realize that this kind of public display would make her shy. I pull out my phone.

Felix: This is my surprise for you. Do you like it?

Felix: I know this is a lot, but this is our chance. Come down and I will claim you as my mate. You can join my pack, and you’ll never have to worry about your bullies again.

I give Iris a few minutes to respond, but her reply never comes. I look back at the crowd, searching. Where is she?

A low murmur spreads throughout the crowd as they question where Iris could be and I feel my face heat with embarrassment. I quickly bark out an order to find the woman in the purple hat.

As I wait for Iris to be brought forward, Alice approaches from her side of the stage. “Who the hell is Iris?

I know Alice has a crush on me, but knowing Iris is here somewhere I can’t bring myself to stop and explain to her. I shake my head, unable to answer her questions right now. “I’m sorry.”

I start to walk off stage, but Alice grabs me by the arm, dragging me back with all her might. “No. You don’t get to walk away from me. Who is this bitch, Iris? I’m supposed to be your Luna.”

Anger surges through my veins at Alice’s words. She called Iris a bitch. I turn around yanking my arm from Alice’s grip as I do. “You don’t get to call her a bitch.”

“Why not? You’re going to choose someone no one even knows over me? I am the top girl from the training class, I am the one who has known you my whole life, and I am the only one good enough to be your Luna!”

I start to speak but she continues. “So yes, I am going to call her a bitch. Who is the bitch who is trying to take you from me?”

I feel Nelson closer to the surface as my anger threatens to overwhelm me. I resist using my alpha power, but just barely. A low growl escapes my throat.

“I don’t care if you’re my best friend’s little sister. If you ever speak about Iris that way again, you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

Alice stumbles back, hurt, but I can’t focus on that.

I turn back around. Iris is here. I need to find her.

I race through the crowd, searching for the woman I love. I may never have another chance to find her. I spot a woman a few rows away with a purple hat and quickly rush to meet her.

“Iris?”

The woman looks around before taking a few steps back like she’s trying to escape. If Iris really is as shy as it seems this could be her. I take another step forward, refusing to let her out of my sight.

Finally, the woman stops moving, unable to move any further in the crowd. I carefully move the woman’s hat out of the way. My face falls when I realize that this woman is too old to possibly be Iris.

She must just be an onlooker, here to support her relatives as they compete in the competition. I swear under my breath. Iris where are you?

Iris has to be here, she said she’d be. I have waited so long to meet her, the only one who really understands me. I refuse to wait any longer.

As I release the woman from my grasp, my phone chimes. I check the notification and see that another woman in a purple hat has been spotted in the crowd.

I shoot off a message asking for the exact location of the woman, and within a minute I am rushing in that direction. I fly through the crowd, slowing when I pass a familiar face. I am about to turn back when my phone chimes again.

Iris’s name lights up my screen and I click the message excitedly hoping she will tell me where to meet her. This is it.

She is going to tell me where to find her, and then I will ask her to be my mate and claim her in front of all of the packs in the area. My Luna.

I look down at the message and my heart stutters in my chest when I see what she actually has to say.

Iris: We shouldn’t try to see each other in the future.