Chapter 71

Iris

Seeing them together breaks my heart all over again.

Arthur stands tall next to Selina, his hand resting on the small of her back as they chat with a small crowd of admirers. His Alpha President smile is perfectly in place, the one that graces magazine covers and campaign posters.

Selina laughs at something someone says, tossing her perfect hair over one shoulder, her red dress catching the light in a way that makes her look like she’s glowing. She leans into Arthur, whispering something in his ear, and he smiles down at her.

No. No, no, no.

Before the tears that are pricking at the backs of my eyes begin to spill, I duck behind a large sculpture, trying to steady my breathing. Just then, Hunter shows up with two champagne flutes, handing one to me.

“Are you alright?” he asks, furrowing his brow when he sees the horrified look on my face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I take a large sip of champagne, welcoming the burn down my throat. “I’m fine,” I lie. I can’t tell him. Of course I can’t tell him.

Hunter follows my gaze across the room, his eyes narrowing slightly when he spots Arthur and Selina standing there. “Ah, I didn’t know the Alpha President and his fiancee were attending. That’s a huge deal.”

“I didn’t know either,” I say quickly. Too quickly.

I turn away, leading Hunter toward another section of the gallery, as far from Arthur and Selina as possible. But it seems the universe isn’t done torturing me yet.

“Oh, and of course when the time comes, we’ll want to ensure our child inherits the strongest Alpha traits,” Selina’s voice carries across the room as we pass by a small group of people. “Arthur’s lineage is exceptional. Our future child will make a powerful Alpha President someday.”

My steps falter. Child? They’re planning a child together?

Hunter steadies me with a hand on my elbow. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nod automatically, moving away from the voice that’s slicing through me like a knife. I focus instead on my breathing, on putting one foot in front of the other. Somehow, I make it through the next hour, accepting compliments on my work, discussing technique and inspiration. But inside, I’m crumbling.

I’m examining the refreshment table, looking for something stronger than champagne, when a familiar scent hits me. Flowery, expensive perfume. The same perfume I smelled five years ago when that witch entered my home and took my life from me.

I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Selina. I can feel her presence like a cold shadow at my back.

“Selina,” I say stiffly, turning to face her.

She’s even more beautiful than usual today, her skin flawless, her eyes gleaming with something predatory. “I didn’t know you were going to be showing here,” she says, tilting her head to the side.

I purse my lips. We both know fully well that she knew I made it to this round of the residency selection process. I wonder if Arthur knows; he had to have, right? Did he come here with her, knowing that I’d be here, that I expected him to end the contract, just to… what? Humiliate me? Put me in my place?

When I don’t respond, Selina’s eyes drift to my art piece nearby—“Red Thread”—and her lips curl into a feline smile. “It’s rather… human, isn’t it? All that emotion on display. So messy.”

I still say nothing, not trusting myself to speak. I don’t even trust myself to move, for fear I might slap her.

She sighs, studying her perfectly manicured nails. That’s when I see it—the ring on her finger. Not just any ring. The engagement ring. The one Arthur gave her. The one he was supposed to have taken back when their contract ended.

My heart plummets to my stomach. The room starts to spin slightly.

“Does it bother you?” Selina asks. She holds up her hand, letting the massive diamond catch the light. “Most women are intimidated by it. It’s been specially designed, you know. Arthur had it custom made.”

“I didn’t know you were still engaged,” I manage to say, my voice sounding distant and hollow to my own ears.

Selina laughs airily. She’s doing it again, ensuring that, to anyone else who might be watching, she’s just smiling and laughing at something I said. That she’s not cutting me up with her words.

“Oh, we never stopped being engaged. In fact, we’ve intensified our contract.” She leans in slightly, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’ve added a pregnancy clause.”

My blood turns to ice in my veins.

“Arthur will impregnate me, and I’ll have his true heir,” she continues, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Nothing at all like… well, let’s just say a true Alpha heir, not some half-breed abomination.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I bite out.

She cocks her head like a bird studying its prey. “Oh, but I do. I know that Arthur isn’t going to give up everything for you. His presidency, his reputation, his future. You’re just an unfortunate human mate to fulfill his bodily needs. But I’m his equal. I’m the one who will bear his legitimate heir. I’m the one who will hold his heart.”

Each word is a knife in my chest. I want to scream, to cry, to tell her she’s wrong. But the ring on her finger tells a different story, and I’m too frozen to say a word.

“Excuse me,” I finally manage to choke out, pushing past her. She doesn’t follow me.

I stumble through the crowd, desperately searching for somewhere quiet, somewhere I can breathe. I find a small alcove near the emergency exit and press my back against the wall, gasping for air.

Hunter finds me a few minutes later.

“What happened? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I shake my head, unable to speak. If I do, I might break down.

“Hey, hey,” he says softly, stepping closer. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.”

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t understand. How could he? How could anyone understand what it feels like to have your heart ripped out and stomped on in public, while being unable to even react because no one knows who you really are?

Suddenly, Hunter’s hand comes up to cup my cheek. “You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong. Just know that I’m here for you.”

I flinch slightly at the unexpected touch and look up at him through tear-filled eyes. His face is kind, caring. He’s been nothing but supportive from the moment we met. He has no idea that I belong to another man—a man who apparently never really belonged to me at all.

Hunter misreads my gaze. He leans in slowly, giving me time to pull away. But I’m frozen, paralyzed by my own pain and confusion. His lips brush against mine—the softest, most tentative of kisses.

For a split second, I don’t react. Then reality crashes back in, and I jerk away.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp. “I can’t. I just… I can’t.”

Hunter steps back immediately, his face flushing with embarrassment. “I’m the one who should apologize. I misread the situation.”

“It’s not your fault,” I say, wiping away a stray tear. “I just need to leave. I need to get out of here.”

I move past him, heading back to the main gallery. My mind is racing. I need to collect my purse, make my excuses, and get home to Miles. Miles, who Arthur has apparently written off as a “half-breed abomination” that doesn’t compare to the “true heir” he’s planning with Selina.

I grab my purse from the coat check and pull out my phone, ready to call a cab. That’s when a hand grips my arm, spinning me around.

Arthur stands before me, his eyes dark with anger.

“What the hell was that?” he growls, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

“What was what?” I pull my arm free from his grasp.

“You and Hunter.” His jaw clenches. “I saw you in the alcove.”

A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat. “Are you serious right now? You’re jealous? You?”

“I don’t want him touching you,” Arthur says, his eyes flashing with that dangerous Alpha light.

My anger rises to match his. “What right do you have to tell me who can touch me? You’re engaged, Arthur. You never ended things with Selina. You’re planning a child with her!”

His eyebrows pull together in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. Selina just told me everything. She showed me the ring—the one she’s still wearing because you’re still engaged. She told me about the pregnancy clause.” My voice breaks on the last words. “She told me how you’re going to impregnate her so she can bear your true Alpha heir, not some ‘half-breed abomination’ like Miles.”

Arthur’s face pales. “Iris, I would never—”

“Save it,” I cut him off, my heart shattering into a million pieces. “I saw you two tonight, playing the perfect couple. Discussing your future child. Did you lie to me? Were you ever going to end things with her, or were you just trying to placate me? To keep me as your human on the side while you build your perfect Alpha family with Selina?”

Arthur reaches for me again. “Iris, please, let me explain—”

I step back, out of his reach. “There’s nothing to explain. I saw you. I heard you. And Selina made everything perfectly clear.”

Before he can answer, I turn on my heel and burst out of the gallery.