[IRIS POV]
After a few hours, Healer Felix had deemed me healthy enough to leave the infirmary. But just as I walked out of the building, I found myself surrounded by a group of women. For anyone else, it would be a heartwarming show of care and concern. Who wouldn't want to be escorted back safely by their friends?
But in my case, I had no friends. I raised my hackles as my eyes flickered to observe them: Lucy, Linda, and Lacey.
All of them were Yvette's cronies. They were she-wolves, but when it came to listening to Yvette, they behaved more like the sheep the pack ate for dinner. It was surprising that Yvette herself wasn't here in person, but I guessed she had more important things to worry about now that she's officially Caius's fated mate.
And by that definition, the future Luna of Ashbourne.
I tried to squeeze my way through, but of course it didn't work. All of them were more well-built than I was, with access to their wolves that granted them extra bulk and strength. It was like pushing a wall.
"Excuse me, can you let me pass?" I asked. Maybe they would have a sudden change of heart.
"I don't know, girls. Should we?" Lucy asked, and the other girls shook their heads, wicked smiles on their faces.
My heart sank as they took a step closer, shrinking the circle I was in the center of.
"Come on, don't you guys have better things to do?" I asked plaintively with a sigh. At least the infirmary was only a stone's throw away― I could easily get more medical attention after they beat the shit out of me.
"Funnily enough, no," Lacey was the one who spoke this time, and she sneered at me. "There's nothing more important than teaching an attention-seeking slut a lesson."
I blinked. I've been called a lot of names, but this was a new one. I hated attention, and my body count remained at a blessed zero, so I pointed at Lucy. "Are you going to let her talk about you like that? Lacey, it's not nice to call your friend names."
"You mouthy bitch, you're going to be sorry―" Lucy spat out, and I stepped back, narrowly avoiding the spittle coming out from her mouth.
I wasn't quick enough to avoid the fist that landed on my stomach. I bowled over and wheezed in pain, but that wasn't the end of it. Lacey kicked me right in the shins, causing me to fall. A rain of blows followed after, along with their curses. They tore at my clothes, and I struggled, trying to stop them with limited success.
"Just die, you slut!"
"How dare you ruin Yvette's big moment!"
"Stubborn bitch!"
I could only spit out a mouthful of blood and laugh incredulously through the pain. Of course Yvette had something to do with this mess. I wouldn't put it past her to play the victim and spread more lies about me. She had never liked me attracting Caius's attention, nevermind that said attention was negative and I was often whacked like a birthday piñata.
Speak of the devil. As if I summoned her with my thoughts, I smelled my own scent wafting towards me.
"Oh my god, what happened here? Iris, you poor thing! Your clothes are tearing apart!" Yvette exclaimed loudly, her voice the very epitome of shock, yet I could detect the undercurrent of glee she felt when she saw my sorry state.
My clothes had effectively been reduced to rags, revealing my undergarments― and Yvette purposely drew attention to them, grabbing the torn fabric with a look of abject disappointment on her face.
Pack members turned to look, curious at the ruckus. Humiliated, I wrapped my arms around myself to shield my bra from their leering eyes, but Yvette wouldn't let me hide myself. She pulled my arm away, her sharp nails breaking into my skin.
"Iris, why do you insist on shaming Alpha Rufus?" Yvette lamented, her voice carrying through the grounds. "You're always dressed in rags, hell-bent on showing everyone that they're ill-treating you."
"She's just trying to garner sympathy," Lucy spat out. "She should be on her knees, grateful that the Alpha even lets her stay!"
"Stop pretending you care, you two-faced bitch," I croaked out, glaring at her through a swollen eye. "I know you sent them to do your dirty work."
Yvette smirked briefly, but that was an expression meant for me alone. In front of her cronies, she looked heartbroken, her eyes filling with tears of hurt as she held my face in her hands. I struggled to get free, but her fingernails came dangerously close to my eyes. I paused, suddenly afraid.
Sensing my fear, Yvette leaned closer, so close that I could smell Caius's breath from her lips. My stomach churned with nausea, and I wanted to puke.
"How can you think such things of me? I would never plot against you, especially now that you're my new sister-in-law," Yvette said, sincerity dripping off every syllable. "I know you've never liked me, but I hope that we can move past it for Caius's sake. I'm willing to accept you as my sister, despite your colorful background as the Alpha's illegitimate daughter."
"Piss off," I spat out. The nerve of this woman to lecture me after breaking and entering my room to steal my meager belongings. "You'll never be my family. You're just a liar and a thief."
Yvette's eyes darkened, and she whispered, "Caius was mine to begin with. You stole him from me."
Then she leaned back and gave a theatrical sigh. "Please be more mature, Iris. You're going to be married soon, after Caius and I hold our wedding."
I choked.
"I'm about to be what?" Yvette had to be pulling my leg. But she merely smiled sweetly at me and patted my cheek, her fingernails scraping against my skin.
"Ah, Alpha Rufus announced it earlier, but you were… indisposed… in the infirmary, spending quality time with Healer Felix," Yvette said with pursed lips. "You're going to have to stop meeting with other men. Alpha Gareth isn't going to accept infidelity."
"Alpha Gareth? From Stonebreak?" I paled, not even bothering to pay attention to her earlier words. Healer Felix could defend his own honor, but my life was hanging by a thread.
Yvette beamed at me and clasped my trembling hand.
"Of course! Who else would be good enough for an illegitimate daughter like you?"