Wolf under an oak tree.

“Right, so if the reunion is over, I think we should go and meet alpha McCain, he has been waiting to meet you for a long time, and I just got a message saying that he is getting impatient,” Mike said, and Jace nodded his head, but his hand still stayed right on my waist.

“Um, I think you should get going,” I suggested, and Jace looked at me and reluctantly removed his hand from my waist.

“I will see you later,” he said, and I nodded my head, when I was about to step away from him, he abruptly pulled me towards him and planted a chaste kiss on my forehead, and for the first time in my life, I didn't feel scared or revoked due to the kiss like how I felt with all my past boyfriends.

But at the same time, I felt angry with myself for falling to his charms so easily. I mean, how can I like a guy, from whom I had kept my distance from the very beginning. But, no matter how much I try to hate him, my heart just would not allow it.

Once all the guys left the room, it was only Jace’s mother and me. “So, would you like to join me for a cup of tea, darling?” She asked me, and I nodded my head. We left Jace’s room, which was on the first floor, and made our way downstairs towards an open-planned kitchen that was facing the backyard.

“Why don't you take a seat while I brew some tea.” Jace’s mother said, and I simply nodded my head before taking a seat on a chair. The past few hours are still like a dream to me, but I know that whatever I saw is true. And, the only thing that I can't decipher right now, are the strong emotions that I am feeling right towards Jace. I know I had these earlier, but now that I know I am his soulmate, I feel like I have a stronger connection with him, and for some odd reason, my heart keeps telling me to trust him completely, and just give myself away to the feelings instead of resisting it.

I know that he already likes me a lot because I can see that in his eyes, but my past is holding me back from reciprocating his feelings. Those past few years that I spent with Alan have forever broken my trust towards men, and even after a year, I still can't get over that.

“Darling, are you alright?” Jace’mother broke the trance that I was in, and I gave her a forced smile before excepting the lukewarm tea from her hand.

“I am alright, Mrs.Emerson, I was just thinking about what all happened,” I replied, and from the suspicious look on her face, I can tell that she didn't believe me, but she didn't push for answers either.

“I know it's a lot to take in dear, but I know you are special, you will get through this,” she reassured me and tried to take my hand, which I quickly pulled away from the table.

“I am sorry, Mrs.Emerson, but I think it's better if we don't touch hands,” I said, and she looked at me as if I grew two heads.

I know she must be thinking that I am some sort of a hygienic freak.

Great start, Iris.

“I am sorry if I offended you, dearly.” she apologized, and for some odd reason, I felt the need to tell her about my vision, and before I could even think about my decision, I started blurting out.

“I can see visions and show you your future too, Mrs.Emerson, and I was afraid that you might get offended if I showed you something that you don't like. It's just that, I can't control this.” I rumbled looking at the table, and when I looked up, she gave me a warm smile before shaking her head.

“First of all, please call me Laura since you will soon become my daughter-in-law. And, I already figured out that you can see visions, dear.” this made my eyes wide, and I can feel the panic rising within me.

“Back in the room, the reason I asked you to find your mate was that, I felt an aura around you that was all too familiar to me, but to prove my point, I wanted to see it for myself.” there was a pregnant pause before she continued. “You have the same aura that was surrounding my mother-in-law, she too was able to see visions of the future, and she also could control a person’s mind,” Laura explained.

“Oh, so what you are trying to say is that I have the same powers as your mother-in-law?” I asked her, and she nodded her head while taking a sip from her tea.

“But...but I am not a werewolf. So how can I have this power?” my head was hurting with all the thinking that I am doing, but I know that I am not leaving this place without any answers.

“It's not necessary that you should be a werewolf.”

Oh, so I am not a freak after all.

After Laura explained everything to me, we indulged ourselves in comfortable silence while sipping our now cold tea. The backyard was truly a sight to hold forever, rose bushes and lavender were neatly arranged in a semi-circle, and there was also a small path that led towards the forest, and that is where I saw him.

At first, all I could see was an outline of the man, and I thought maybe it is someone from the pack, but when he moved forward that is when his face was clear. Those dead steel grey eyes were piercing a hole through my heart, and dread filled my entire body. Alan didn't look much different from the last time I saw him.

He was giving me a knowing smirk, and there was a hidden promise within it that conveyed the promise that he made right before I escaped from him.

“Iris” ‘cough’ “I will find you, and when I do, I will make sure that you will be mine forever.” his face was covered in blood, and I can see that blood was continuously flowing from the huge gush on his stomach that I gave him using the knife.

“I...I hate you.” tears were continuously flowing from my face, and my hands were trembling terribly, but I still firmly held the lamp that was in my hand. And, with my last ounce of strength, I banged his head with the lamp and ran out of the apartment that was my prison.

My hands started to tremble again, and my lips quivered, trying to form words but all I could do was let out deep breaths.

How did he find me? And how is he even alive? I thought I killed him?