Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Iris’s POV

The main hall was massive. It was the largest building I had ever seen.

I gaped. “That’s… the main hall?”

Shane grinned at my expression. “Yeah. Impressive, huh?”

“It’s bigger than any building I have ever seen,” I said, still staring.

“It’s built for the whole pack,” Jasmine explained. “Ceremonies, festivals, trials, everything.”

“And compulsory meetings,” Asher added dryly.

Pack members filed inside, murmuring in anticipation. Warriors in uniform stood at the doorway.

Shane touched my elbow lightly. “Come on. If we wait too long, we won’t find a good place to stay.”

I followed them quickly.

Inside, the hall was even more magnificent. There were several rows of long wooden benches. The hall was so large that it easily contained several hundreds of pack members.

Then there was a raised platform at the far end with four chairs.

From the placement it was easy to guess that the largest one belonged to the Alpha, the next was for the Luna, then the Beta and the Gamma.

There were several hundreds of people, but they were orderly. Everyone found seats quickly, murmuring quietly.

“Try not to miss me too much,” Asher said with a crooked grin, then he made his way to the raised platform to sit on the chair meant for the Beta.

I sat between Shane and Jasmine, glancing around at the pack members. There were some familiar and unfamiliar faces. Some even waved at me.

I turned to Jasmine. “You’re the Alpha’s sister. You come from an alpha bloodline. Why aren’t you up there?”

Jasmine leaned closer. “Because I don’t care for titles,” she whispered with a quick shrug. “Besides, sitting up there means I would have to sit like a statue and smile

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Chapter 137

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politely,”

She rolled her eyes. “Down here I can whisper insults, make faces at Rowan and Asher, and have way more fun here.

I bit back a smile, but before I could respond a sudden quietness swept through the hall. All discussions cut off as if someone had flipped a switch.

My head snapped toward the platform.

Rowan had entered.

He moved to the center of the stage, all eyes were on his imposing figure.

The warriors in the hall straightened up instantly.

He scanned the hall with his sharp brown eyes, sweeping over the crowd, then for a brief moment, it locked on me.

My chest tightened.

Rowan’s expression was unreadable.

The tension in the room increased as he cleared his throat deliberately.

“Thank you for gathering so quickly,” his deep voice carried across the silent hall. “I have two announcements—and they both concern every member of this pack.”

The quiet was so complete you could hear a pin drop.

Rowan’s eyes flicked to me again, this time, it was filled with something that looked almost like reproach before he turned back to the crowd.

“Chloe Ashford, step forward.” His voice rang out.

Low whispers rippled through the crowd as Chloe rose from the first row. She walked with grace, her chin slightly lifted, and her long blond hair shining. The pale blue dress she wore was too formal for a pack meeting, like she’d been expecting to be called out. It was the kind of outfit someone chose when they were certain they would be called to the stage for something important.

My stomach tightened at that thought.

Rowan waited until Chloe reached the platform. He offered his hand and she placed hers in his. He turned back to the crowd.

“For many years,” he began, “our families have discussed the future of this pack. Today, I am making it official. Chloe and I will be joined in a formal mating

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ceremony in three weeks’ time.”

Murmurs rose up in the crowd instantly. A few people clapped, but their claps were drowned out by low complaints.

“I really thought the Alpha would end it,” someone whispered behind me.

“Chloe? Seriously?” another voice hissed. “Everyone knows how she treats the omegas.”

Shane shifted beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the way his head turned slightly toward me. Jasmine did the same.

I forced my face into a blank mask and kept my eyes on the platform.

Rowan was letting me know that he had made his choice.

My throat felt dry as sand. I folded my hands together in my lap, squeezing tightly, until my knuckles turned white.

Which meant he must have already arranged for me to leave safely. He was simply showing me, in front of everyone, where his loyalty stood.

I blinked hard, refusing to let the tears rise.

I refused to think of that night, of the way he had begged me to stay. The way he had asked me to ask for anything.

When Chloe turned slightly and gave the crowd a smug smile, most of the pack members grudgingly clapped and cheered.

Rowan held Chloe’s hand for a few seconds with a blank expression on his face, then he released her hand and faced the pack again.

His expression shifted to look more serious.

“The second announcement concerns the safety of this pack,” he announced.

The air became tense with anticipation as the pack members braced themselves for another news.

I barely listened. My mind was still replaying his words. Formal mating ceremony in three weeks.

My vision blurred for a moment.

Why was I feeling this way? I knew he was engaged to Chloe, and nothing would change it, so why did I feel so much pain suddenly?

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Chapter 137

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