[Iris POV]
Caius was my fated mate. My half-brother was my fated mate. Those two thoughts rattled in my brain like a couple of jumping beans, making it impossible for me to think. I could only stare agog at him with my mouth open, as though I was a concussed animal just discovering how light worked.
"I know I'm handsome, but you don't have to stare like this," Caius said, shooting me a smug smile. Of course he would believe it's due to his looks and status that I'm staring at him dumbstruck. After all, every girl in this pack has their eye out for him, hoping that he would be their fated mate.
But then he got saddled with me. I couldn't tell who the Moon Goddess hated more. Him or me?
As I continued to stare at him blankly, Caius grew more uncomfortable. "What? Is it because I'm the alpha's son and you were hoping for someone normal?"
I was not hoping for him at all. "It's fine," I croaked out, when actually I wished for nothing more than the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
"Things will work out," Caius promised. He seemed to sense my sudden hesitance and reached out for my hand, which had turned cold and clammy in mere seconds. He held it so gently, but all I felt was nausea. Whatever desire I had felt earlier with his fervent touches had evaporated in a flash, transforming into deep disgust.
"I know it's a bit hard to accept, but rest assured, I will treat you well. I'm sure you'll be an amazing Luna."
"You don't even know who I am," I said, laughing ironically to myself. Either that, or I'd start crying.
If Caius knew who was truly behind the mask, he would not have said those words. I was his most hated existence, and he spent the past eight years of my life hoping I would vanish from his sight.
If his mouth wasn't spewing insults and profanities in my direction, his fists were doing the talking, littering me with bruises and aches. I learnt to stay out of his way, but he never stopped making my life hell― whether it was on the training grounds, or in school.
Since he was the Alpha's son, everyone my age took their cues from him.
"Can we continue from where we left off?" Caius asked, his arm going to my waist. "I promise I'll give you an unforgettable experience."
Oh, it was certainly unforgettable, alright. But I could only nod dumbly as he dragged me into the room, my mind working frantically to find an escape route.
If I simply ran from him now, he would catch up easily, and then I would have to explain why I fled, when every other girl in Ashbourne would have jumped at the opportunity to be his mate.
And once he found out who I was, I would be fertilizer for our pack's flower beds.
I entered his room, a place I had been expressly forbidden to even look at. It was three times bigger than the tiny room I had been given years ago, in another wing of the mansion. I saw the bathroom, and I had a sudden idea.
"Can I take a shower first?" I asked sweetly, pretending to be embarrassed. "I'm sweaty, and it feels gross."
"You can, but what's the point?" Caius asked, bemused, "We're going to be sweating after." He leaned down and took a large whiff of my hair, as though he was more dog than wolf. "Your scent is enchanting. Speaking of which, you do smell awfully familiar―"
"Well, I want to wash up," I said firmly, crossing my arms as I cut him off. "Or are you not willing to listen to me already?"
Please change the topic. Please change the topic. Please change the topic―
Caius smiled indulgently. "Fine… If you put it like that, how could I refuse, my lady? Feel free to use the bathroom. There are clean towels and an extra bathrobe inside."
"Thank you," I said. I entered the bathroom, making sure to lock it, before exhaling a sigh of relief once I was out of view.
I swiftly turned on the shower and slathered some shower gel over the tiles so that he wouldn't grow suspicious. Then, I pried open the window.
It was small, but enough for me to squeeze through. Caius's bedroom was only on the second floor. If Caius unmasked me and found out I had lied to him, he would fling me down a skyscraper.
I took off my shoes and held them in my hand before leaping out in one quick motion. I landed on a tree branch before falling into a bush. The brambles dug into my skin, leaving small scratch marks. I winced, but at least I didn't break any bones.
However, I had barely even let out a breath of relief when I stiffened. I felt the tender blossoms of my heat beginning to sprout. My face grew flushed, and my body grew incredibly sensitive. The cold night air blew, further igniting my desire to join a warm body in bed.
Crap. This shouldn't be happening. I specifically took the herbal concoction Healer Felix prescribed in advance so that I wouldn't ruin the masquerade ball with my heat.
I glanced up at Caius's bathroom window and cursed him. This must have been because I met my fated mate. My body didn't care who he was. It only wanted to mate with my destined half.
My pheromones were starting to go wild, and if I continued to linger, my scent would overpower everyone else's in the pack, leading Caius straight back to me.
I picked up the pace, taking a long detour back to my room, uncaring of the blisters forming on my feet.
In my haste, I completely forgot about my shoes, lying in the bushes from my fall.