Chapter 154

Iris

I’ve never been to the Ordan Botanical Gardens, but it’s just as beautiful as all the brochures claim. Particularly stunning is the butterfly conservatory; late afternoon sunlight filters through the glass ceiling, casting dappled shadows across the winding stone paths. Tropical plants crowd the edges of the walkway—enormous elephant ear leaves, colorful orchids, and climbing vines.

And despite the time of year, there are butterflies everywhere, thriving in the humid air of the conservatory. They flutter between blossoms, rest on broad leaves, and occasionally land on visitors who stand still enough.

Arthur and I stroll hand in hand, pausing every few feet to admire a particularly striking species. One with brilliant blue wings perches on a nearby flower, slowly opening and closing its wings.

We continue down the path, entering a section devoted to night-blooming flowers. According to the brochure, the gardens have adjusted the lighting in this area to trick the plants into thinking it’s evening, allowing visitors to see the blossoms that normally open only after dark.

The effect is magical—moon flowers, evening primrose, night-blooming jasmine. Each species is equally stunning, and tantalizingly fragrant.

Arthur stops beneath a flowering tree to pull me close. “Thanks for suggesting this,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my forehead as he speaks. “It’s been too long since we had time just for us.”

I lean into him. “I know. Between Miles starting school and all the charity planning and—”

“Excuse me? Aren’t you Iris Willford?”

I turn to find a couple standing a few feet away. The woman who spoke is frowning slightly, while her companion crosses his arms over his chest. If their posture is any indication, they’re not fans.

“Yes, I am,” I reply with a polite smile. Arthur tenses slightly beside me, keeping a firm smile on his own face while he protectively places one foot in front of me, as if to protect me.

The woman’s frown deepens. “I thought so. I just can’t believe you’re out enjoying yourself at the botanical gardens in the midst of all this drama about your son’s school. Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, addressing public concerns?”

Her companion nods vigorously. “Seems like you don’t really care how the public perceives you. Just want to live that cushy lifestyle on the Alpha’s dime while pretending to care about public education.”

Arthur opens his mouth, but before he can respond, I say warmly, “I understand your concern. You’re absolutely right that I should be thinking about these things more carefully.”

This clearly isn’t the reaction they were expecting. The woman blinks in surprise. Even Arthur briefly shifts his gaze to me, brows lifted.

“But I’m also trying to enjoy a date with my mate,” I continue, gesturing to Arthur. “He’s the love of my life, and we don’t get many opportunities like this with our schedules. Actually, if I weren’t here today, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet you both and hear your perspective, which I truly value.”

The man’s crossed arms loosen a bit. “Well, I guess everyone deserves some time off…”

“Absolutely,” I agree. “And isn’t it wonderful that the Ordan Botanical Garden has a sliding scale for ticket prices? It allows everyone to visit, regardless of background. Hopefully, with enough effort, the same can be said for Ordan schools. Which is precisely why I’m working with the Ordan Public School Fund for another charity event.”

The woman’s expression shifts somewhat, and she and the man exchange glances. Before I know it, they’re moving forward, asking questions about the upcoming event and my plans for the future of Ordan.

We end up chatting for nearly fifteen minutes. They introduce themselves, and as it turns out, they’re both public school teachers who are understandably frustrated by the lack of resources in their classrooms. By the time our conversation winds down, the woman is showing me photos of her students’ art projects on her phone.

“Would you mind if we took a picture with you?” the man asks, looking a little sheepish. “The kids would get a kick out of knowing their teacher met the future Luna.”

“I’d be honored,” I say with a smile.

Arthur takes the photo for us, and we exchange contact information. I promise to send them details about the gala and to look into whether their school might benefit from some of the funds we raise.

As they walk away, waving cheerfully, Arthur turns to me. “That was impressive,” he says quietly. “A month ago, you would have frozen up at a confrontation like that.”

I shrug, but can’t help feeling a little proud of myself. “I guess I’m learning.”

Arthur pauses, watching as a newly emerged butterfly clings to the remains of its chrysalis, slowly spreading its damp wings to dry. “You sort of remind me of these butterflies, you know.” He smiles faintly. “Coming into your own, becoming what you were always meant to be. I always loved you, Iris. Always. But the woman you’ve become… I’m so proud to be by your side.”

I want to roll my eyes at his mushy words, but I can’t. “Flatterer,” I mutter, looking away as my cheeks redden.

“Perhaps,” he says with a laugh. “But I do mean it.”

Before I can answer, he steps forward and places his index and middle fingers under my chin. He tilts my head so I’m looking up at him, and the shimmer in those dark green eyes nearly makes my breath catch.

Right now, with that dastardly curl across his forehead, the slight stubble lining his jaw, and the tender smile touching his lips, I think he looks more handsome than perhaps I’ve ever seen him.

And then he dips his head, brushing the barest kiss across my lips, and that’s when I feel it.

Something comes over me—something I’ve never felt before. Something powerful and strange and familiar and comforting all at once, like leaping into a frigid pool on the hottest summer day or that stomach-dropping feeling when you crest a hill to find a steep drop below, but a beautiful view stretched out before you.

Or perhaps the feeling of looking across a ridge to see a she-wolf locking eyes with you.

Recognition.

It’s gone as quickly as it came, and by the time Arthur pulls back to look at me, the feeling has completely passed. But he must notice the strange look on my face, because he furrows his brow. “You okay? You look a little pale?”

I nod quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly. “Yes, just…” I’m not sure how to put the feeling into words. Was it my wolf’s presence flaring up, finally, after all these years? Or something else?

Finally, I manage to say, “It’s nothing.”

Arthur stares at me for a moment, as if he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t push the matter.

We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring every corner of the gardens. The desert section with its hardy cacti and succulents. The water garden with floating lilies and koi fish. The tropical rainforest room with its palm trees and colorful bromeliads and interesting frogs.

It’s a wonderful day, one that’s filled with warmth and love and laughter. And all the while, I keep thinking back to my mother’s words—my castle.

Maybe, even if I didn’t have Arthur by my side, I’d be okay. But I can’t help but feel ten times stronger with him and Miles and everyone else who I care about in my life.

By the time we’re ready to head home, the sun is beginning to set. Arthur and I leave the gardens hand in hand, cheeks flushed from the humid gardens, and smiles stretched across our faces.

But as we climb back into the car and begin the journey back to my parents’ house, I keep thinking about that strange sensation I felt in the butterfly conservatory.

Was that my wolf that I felt?

Or am I simply imagining things?