Chapter 109

Iris

The flowers in Arthur’s hands seem to wilt in his tight grip as he stands frozen in the doorway, his eyes darting between Caleb and me. My stomach twists at the sight of his jaw clenching. He’s jealous.

“What the hell are you doing with my mate, Caleb?” Arthur’s voice is hardly more than a growl.

“Arthur—” I start, but Caleb cuts me off.

“Sit down, Arthur,” Caleb says calmly, gesturing to the empty chair beside us. “And get over yourself. I was just giving Iris an etiquette lesson so she stops humiliating herself in public.”

My mouth drops open. I’ve never heard anyone speak to Arthur like that—not even his parents. Arthur’s eyes flash red again, and for a moment I’m afraid he might shift right here in my apartment.

“Why?” Arthur asks, his voice low and dangerous. “Why are you going out on a limb to help her?”

My throat bobs as I watch Caleb set down his teacup in the exact way he just taught me—pinky down so the cup doesn’t rattle against the saucer. He folds his hands in his lap and meets Arthur’s gaze.

“I took pity on her. She keeps embarrassing herself in a world she’s not prepared for.” He gestures to the teacups and napkins spread across my dining table. “And after what Selina did to her, I felt compelled to help.”

Arthur’s grip on the flowers tightens, crushing several stems. “That’s it?”

“Not entirely.” Caleb leans back in his chair. “Selina was raised as my sister for twenty-six years, regardless of biology. And now Iris is the public mate of the man who put her in a coma.” He pauses, letting that sink in. “I feel compelled to keep an eye on Iris. For her safety.”

The logic is flawless, delivered with just the right mix of brotherly concern and subtle accusation. I watch Arthur process this, his expression shifting from suspicion to something closer to guilt. My stomach twists.

“You think she’s in danger?” Arthur asks. He looks at me. “Iris, do you feel unsafe around me?”

I quickly shake my head. “Of course not.”

Caleb clears his throat. “Not you, necessarily, Arthur. Selina had many friends, as you well know. Some of them might seek revenge. I’d rather prevent another incident than clean up after one.”

I bite my lip, watching the exchange. Arthur’s shoulders relax slightly, but I can tell he’s still wary. He looks at me, really looks at me, and I force myself to meet his gaze. The lie burns in my throat, but I swallow it down.

“I see,” Arthur finally says. He turns to me, his expression softening. “Are you alright with this… arrangement?”

I nod, managing what I hope looks like a grateful smile. “Caleb’s been really helpful. I need all the guidance I can get.”

Arthur studies my face for a long moment, and I hold my breath. Can he tell I’m hiding something? Does he sense the massive secret sitting between us like an elephant in the room?

But then he nods, seemingly accepting my answer. The tension in the room eases ever so slightly.

“Well,” Arthur says, straightening his shoulders. “I appreciate you looking out for her.” The words seem to cost him something, but he says them anyway. Always the diplomat, even when his wolf is clearly still agitated.

Caleb inclines his head graciously. “Of course. We wouldn’t want any more public disasters, would we?”

There’s a slight edge to his words that makes me wince, but Arthur either doesn’t notice—or perhaps he just chooses to ignore it.

Caleb rises smoothly from his chair and smooths down his shirt. “Well, I think that concludes our first lesson. I’ll leave you two to your evening,” he says, nodding curtly to me, then to Arthur. “Iris, we’ll continue our lessons tomorrow. Same time?”

I nod, torn between relief at his departure and anxiety about being alone with Arthur. Will he press me for more answers once Caleb is gone? I want to tell him, but after what Caleb told me, I feel uncertain.

“Thank you for today,” I tell Caleb.

Caleb gives me a small smile, then extends his hand to Arthur. “Alpha President.”

Arthur stares at Caleb’s hand for a moment, but then shakes it. “Good seeing you, Caleb.”

“Likewise.”

I walk Caleb to the door, aware of Arthur’s eyes on my back the entire time. At the threshold, Caleb leans in close and whispers, “Remember what we discussed. A few more days.”

I nod imperceptibly, then close the door behind him. When I turn back to Arthur, he’s standing in the middle of my living room, looking slightly lost among the scattered remnants of my etiquette lesson. He’s still holding the flowers, although they’re basically dangling at his side now.

“So,” he says, clearing his throat. “Etiquette lessons?”

I nod. “After the interview debacle, I figured I could use some help. Caleb offered, and I accepted. We’re… friends now.”

Liar, a tiny voice in the back of my mind hissed. The guilt tasted like ash on my tongue.

“You could have asked me to help you,” Arthur says, and there’s hurt in his voice now.

My chest tightens. “You’re busy enough as it is. And honestly…” I trail off, searching for the right words. “It’s embarrassing, having to learn all this stuff at my age. Things everyone else in your world already knows.”

Arthur crosses the room in three strides, gently turning me to face him. “Iris, you don’t have to be embarrassed with me. Ever.”

I look up into his green eyes, so full of concern and love, and the guilt threatens to choke me. How can I keep lying to this man? My mate?

But I remember Caleb’s warning, his insistence that we need more time to figure things out. I’m not entirely sure why Caleb is so adamant about not telling Arthur, but I want to respect his wishes. It’s a tough spot to be in, though. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place—betray my family when I’ve only just found them or betray Arthur, the man I care deeply for.

“I know,” I finally whisper, leaning into Arthur’s touch. “I just want to make you proud.”

“You already do,” he says fiercely, pulling me into his arms. The flowers smell sweet. “Every single day. And if you want to seek Caleb’s help, regardless of the way I feel about him, that’s your decision. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“Thank you, Arthur. I appreciate your trust.”

I breathe in his familiar scent, mixed with the scent of the flowers, and let it calm my racing heart. His wolf responds to my distress; I can feel it in the way his body tenses protectively around me.

For a moment, I wonder what it would be like if my own wolf was awake, if we could communicate on that deeper level.

Soon, I tell myself. Soon, I’ll tell him everything. Just a couple more days. Arthur will understand.

Arthur finally pulls back and gently presses the flowers into my hands. “These are for you.”

Smiling, I inhale the smell of the flowers, the tension slipping from my shoulders as the sweet scent envelops me. Arthur follows me to the kitchen and watches, leaning against the doorframe, as I find a vase under the sink. I add water, then carefully cut the stems to fit and arrange the flowers in the vase.

“So,” he says, his eyes softer now, “how about that second date?”