Vincent's POV
"Your Majesty… The Duchess, your fiancée, is here to see you," Richard whispered, leaning close as he approached the throne during our war council.
I felt my stomach twist, irritation flaring at the mention of her name. Iris. My jaw clenched as I forced a neutral expression, holding steady under the watchful eyes of my soldiers and advisors.
She had been quiet for weeks. I'd hoped she might finally tire of trying to worm her way back into my attention. No such luck, it seemed.
"Tell her to leave," I ordered. Richard's face faltered, but he didn't move.
"Your Majesty… she insists on seeing you," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't have the patience to deal with that meddling brat. Tell her to leave, or she'll be dealing with my temper next," I snapped.
Richard swallowed, lips parting as if to protest, but nothing came out.
Typical, I thought, sighing in frustration. "Fine. Leave her. She'll get bored and leave on her own. Where is she now?"
"The lounge, Your Majesty."
"Good." I waved him off, dismissing any further talk of Iris. "Now, as you were saying…" I turned back to the gathering.
Simon, my army commander and Gamma, stood near, ready to continue the report on the kingdom's war with Silver Rose.
"My King," Simon began, a spark of pride in his gaze, "the latest reports from the front lines show their defenses collapsing. Our scouts say their soldiers are worn down, and their supplies are nearly drained. Their Alpha has begun reaching out for alliances, but it appears no one wants to risk siding with a kingdom that's already at its knees."
A slow smile tugged at my lips as I leaned back on the throne, my fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "And what of Atlas? He's managed to break through their final strongholds, I presume?"
Simon nodded, a satisfied gleam in his eye. "Yes, Your Majesty. The General is nearly finished with them. His attacks have been relentless. He's struck a particular fear into Damian's army; they're barely holding it together."
I exhaled, a quiet chuckle slipping through. "That mad beast," I muttered. Atlas, my Beta and cousin, was as vicious on the battlefield as he was off it. He wielded brutality like a sword, sharp and indiscriminate. Despite our differences, I could count on him for war.
"He deserves credit. He's carried out every command with precision and fire." I paused, a flash of bitterness creeping in. "But make no mistake, this victory is ours, not his. It's the kingdom's power, my power, that brought Silver Rose to its knees."
Simon gave a knowing grin, sensing the fine line I walked with Atlas. "Of course, my King. Atlas may have led the charge, but it's your vision, your leadership, that paved the way. Our soldiers know it's you they're fighting for, not him."
I smirked, satisfied. "Exactly. Our soldiers fought for me, for this kingdom. Atlas was simply the sword I wielded." My gaze hardened as I turned back to Simon. "He'll return soon. I expect a full report but no grand parades. I won't have him parading through this kingdom as if he were the hero of this victory."
"As you command," Simon replied, inclining his head. "We'll arrange a small welcome upon his arrival. And… Your Majesty, I thought you should know. There have been whispers… suggestions that Atlas may be up to something... Like a rebel... tis only a speculation and no solid evidence has been found my king."
I narrowed my eyes. "So he thinks to test his boundaries."
"Perhaps," Simon agreed. "Or perhaps it's simply the ambitions of one who thinks his wings are growing too large."
"Well, we'll remind him of his place," I said, voice cold. "My cousin's loyalty has always been tainted by ambition. But he is my Beta—not my rival. I'll make that clear if he needs reminding."
Simon smiled, a glint of loyalty in his eye. "And the kingdom will see where true power lies, my King. Always."
An hour passed as we discussed other matters in the kingdom and the meeting came to an end.
I nodded, satisfied. "Good. This war may be nearly won, but our strength will hold this kingdom together now and always. My cousin may have fought for us, but he will never forget who commands him."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Simon and the others stood, bowing as the council adjourned. They left me with a rare sense of accomplishment, underscored by the caution Atlas's looming return required.
As the last of the captains filed out, Richard reappeared, lingering by the door. His expression wavered, a hint of nerves crossing his face.
"What is it, Richard?" I asked, unable to mask my irritation.
"It's been over an hour, Your Majesty… and she's still waiting to see you."
A groan escaped me as I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "Find an excuse. I'm in no mood for her antics."
"But Your Majesty, she…"
"She will leave when she tires," I interrupted, rising with finality. "I'm finished here. If she hasn't left yet, she'll have to find her own way out."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Richard murmured, bowing quickly.
With a sharp sigh, I turned and strode toward my quarters, irritation flickering through my mind like a shadow, a reminder that even within my own walls, a different kind of war awaited.
Another two hours passed in my office when a knock broke the silence. I shot my gaze up, startled to see Iris walk in—her presence striking, yet I had almost forgotten her.
Her strong scent enveloped me, making my wolf stir with an intense hunger that I struggled to suppress.
I despised being bound to such primal feelings because of a flimsy bond tying our souls together. And of all people, it had to be her, known for her heinous deeds and terrible reputation.
As Iris entered, she seemed dazed, lost in my gaze as if searching for an escape. Her green eyes, those familiar, piercing eyes we shared stared deeply into mine, and I noticed her clutching her chest, almost looking faint.
This was out of character; she usually threw herself at me almost immediately, begging for my attention or a kiss. Instead, she stood there, silent, as if it were our first meeting.
Her burning gaze etched itself into my mind, stirring my wolf once again, but I wasn't ready to yield to his desires. I broke the awkward silence, my voice steady but tinged with confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Her voice sounded the same, yet something about her tone seemed different. The voice I hated danced in my ears, softer now, with a calmness I wasn't used to. No matter how I provoked her, she didn't react like usual.
It was confusing. This was Iris standing in front of me, but it felt like I was talking to someone entirely different. And then she said something that stopped me cold.
"I want you to call off the engagement and reject me as your mate." Her annoyingly pleasant voice delivered the words, each one ringing in my ears.
"What? Had she finally lost her mind?
Iris was serious—deadly serious, by the look in her eyes. This was the last thing I'd ever expected to hear from her. I half-wondered if she was so furious about my lack of concern when she'd collapsed.
When Richard told me she'd fallen unconscious, I assumed it was one of her usual stunts and felt no need to check on her. She'd woken up, hadn't she? That was enough for me.
"You should be jumping at the opportunity, Vincent." Her soft voice crawled through my ears again, and I clenched my fists. She was right. I hated her, and if I could choose anyone else, I would. But hearing her say those words made my blood boil.
I dug my fingers into my palms, watching her closely. If she was trying to get under my skin, it was working. Her expression, however, suggested she was genuinely serious. She actually wanted to end the engagement and be rejected as my mate.
I could have accepted her request then and there. But for some reason, the thought of leaving her to someone else twisted my stomach.
This was new. I'd never felt anything like this for Iris before. I knew I didn't love her… couldn't stand her, actually. And yet, this person standing before me, looking different somehow, was someone I didn't want to let go of.
I'd never looked at her twice, but now, something about her was… beautiful. Infuriatingly beautiful. Her full, soft lips formed words that only fueled my anger, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away. It must be the heat, I told myself, trying to ignore my wolf stirring within me.
But this time, I didn't push him down. The more I looked at her, the more I found myself fighting not to pull her close and taste her. Her scent grew even more intoxicating with every word, and for the first time, I didn't hate the feeling of the mate bond—I wanted to surrender to it. I haven't even marked her, and the pull is this strong, I thought, my gaze drifting to the pale skin of her neck, far too inviting for my sanity.
I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to mark her, to let the bond take over completely. "I would be almost at her mercy" I scoffed inwardly, shoving the thought away. There was no way I'd let myself be swayed by someone like her. And yet, here I was, barely holding on to my sanity.
"Look, Vincent, I'll give you a few days to think about this," Iris said, her voice softer than usual, almost tired. She sounded like she'd given up trying to convince me this wasn't some kind of game.
"Maybe if I kiss her, she'll snap out of it. Or maybe I will" I muttered under my breath trying to convince myself that it was all a game.
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, my wolf growled urging me forward, and before I knew it, I'd cornered her.
My heart pounded, blood rushing to my lower body as I felt the magnetic pull between us intensify.
She looked back at me, her gaze widening, and the moment our eyes met, my control shattered.
Before I knew it, my lips found hers, drawn in by a force I no longer had the will—or the desire—to resist.