Wolf under an oak tree.

“I love you too, Jace.” there, I said it. I know, I was not sure about my feeling when he first said that, but now that I realize that and I know that Jace would never taunt me, hurt me or leave me for someone else. He has accepted all my imperfections, wholeheartedly and made me feel whole again, beautiful, and thought me how to fall in love again.

“Jace?” he didn't say a word, and the monster of insecurities started to creep into me again. Did I say it at the wrong time?

“I have been dying to hear that from you, Iris. You have no idea how happy I am right now.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Once all this is over, I will give you the gift that I am longing to give you for a very long time.”

“Hmm, what is that gift?” I asked him in curiosity.

“Well, it is a surprise, and trust me, you will love it,” he said. And I know that he is not going to tell me even if I ask, so I let it go. But there was this one question that was nagging me for a very long time.

“Jace, can I ask you something?” I asked him.

“Sure, go ahead,” he said, and I cleared my throat a few times before speaking again.

“I think Mike must have shown you the pictures that I received, so I would like to know what happened that night?” the line was silent again, and I thought maybe he disconnected the call.

Jace Emerson.

I know that Iris was going to ask this sooner, and whenever I think back to that night, I feel ashamed about myself and angry at the same time since I was so careless, and to top it off, I am a fucking alpha.

“I was working in my office that day, and Jennifer came into my house wanting to meet me, and I know that it was a stupid idea to let her in.” I sighed, knowing that it must be painful for Iris to relive that moment again.

“She claimed that she has already found her mate, and she showed me the mate mark, and I believed it. She also said that she was sorry for throwing herself at me in the past, and now she realizes what a mate truly is.”

“Wait, so have you met her mate?” Iris asked me.

“Unfortunately, not. I shouldn't have believed that bitch, but on that day, I was beyond relieved that she found her mate, so now she wouldn't come between my life, and she said that she brought a bottle of white wine as an apology gift. And I accepted that since werewolves have a high tolerance level for alcohol.”

“But you didn't look like you were drunk that night, Jace. What did she give you?” Iris asked, and my wolf and I felt proud that our mate is so clever. She will be the perfect luna.

“You are right. It wasn't any ordinary wine. It was a witch portion, that forced me into a spell of lust, and everywhere I turned, I saw your face, Iris. And I only had one bloody glass of that thing. And I didn't know what happened after that, everything was a blur till I got up in the morning, and I was completely fine.”

“How did you realize that it was a witch portion?”

“I still had the bottle of wine in my office, and Walter took it to our research lab in the morning to test it,” I said, and she hmmed, and the line was silent after that.

“Did you catch Jennifer?” she asked me.

“No, by the time we realized that she was behind all this. She had already escaped the pack, it was too late.” I said, and she hmmed.

“Alright, Jace, I have to go. I am tired, and I want to sleep right now,” she said, but her voice sounded stressed.

“You know you can tell me anything, Iris. This is not your battle alone.” I encouraged and I heard her sigh.

“Alan threatened to kill my family if I don't come to him willingly, and I think maybe, I should go with him and kill him once and for all,” she suggested, and Sean and I were beyond furious to let Iris go with that bastard, I know exactly what he wants, and I don't want to lose Iris forever. Even though she thinks she can kill him on her own, I know that a furious man with a clever mind will not let the same mistakes happen twice. And even though I want Iris to fight her own battles, I know that she would not be able to do that alone.

“Iris, I know you want to finish him, and you have the right to do that for what he has made you go through, but I don't think he will be alone this time.” I tried to explain it to her, and she didn't speak for a whole minute.

“Fine, but do you have a plan?” she finally agreed, and a grin spread on my face. While I continued walking on the busy sidewalk.

“You can go to meet Alan alone tomorrow, and I will send two of my best trackers to follow you once he takes you to a secluded place. We will attack, and I will let you kill him once and for all.” I said.

“That sounds like a great plan. Okay, I will text you the time tomorrow,” she said, and I nodded my head, but then I realized that she couldn't see me.

“Sure, good night, Iris. Sleep tight. And I love you.”

“Bye, and I love you too,” she said before the line went dead, and I put my phone in my pocket and walked towards the bakery where Iris will be meeting Alan tomorrow, and greeted the old woman behind the cashier, who was also a werewolf.

“Hello alpha, what can I help you with today,” she asked me while slightly bowing her head.

“I need a favor from you, Samantha.”

“What can I do for you, alpha?” she asked me, and I took out my phone and showed her a picture of Iris, and then I showed her the picture of Ala, which Iris send me a long time back.

“This woman will be coming to meet this guy tomorrow at your bakery, and I want you to discreetly slip this chip inside his pocket,” I said and handed her the tracking device. Because in case we lose them, this will help us.

“I will do that, Alpha,” she said and took the chip from me, and I nodded my head and bought a few cookies before I left the bakery and made my way back to the pack. Once this Alan is out of the picture, I want to finish this Midnight, who is becoming a nuisance to me.