Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Eric’s POV

The drive back was torture.

I had my hands on the steering wheel, my eyes were on the road, but my mind wasn’t here.

All I could see was the wide pool of dark dried blood. The rogues, mangled and torn. Her scent.

It played over and over again like a cursed video that I couldn’t shut off.

I gripped the wheel tighter until my knuckles went white.

Iris.

Had she crawled away to safety? Or was she truly gone?

The thought made my throat close up.

I tried to shove it away, but Evie’s face flashed through my mind next.

Her small, cold body lying in that casket.

I blinked rapidly, clenching my jaw so hard it hurt.

I had failed her, and now…

I had failed Iris too.

Another image flashed through my mind.

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It was the last time I saw both of them. That night as Iris screamed after me as I drove away. She had begged me to stop, and help our dying daughter. I hadn’t even glanced back.

A growl escaped my throat, and I slammed the brake.

The tires screeched as the car came to a stop in the middle of the road. My head dropped to the steering wheel. My shoulders trembled as I released a scream.

It wasn’t a roar of anger, or frustration. It was pain.

“Iris…” I whispered, chest heaving. “Iris, I’m sorry.”

I sat there for several minutes before I finally lifted my head and wiped my face with the back of my hand.

I couldn’t go back to Zara and Tiffany. I didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with either of them.

My hands moved on their own as I shifted gears and took a different turn

As I parked outside the house, I released a deep sigh of frustration.

It felt so empty now.

Evie used to run down that porch barefoot, laughing and chasing fireflies.

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Chapter 34

+25 Bonus

I had watched her once. I remember smiling, my heart melting, until Iris walked out, and I turned cold again.

I stepped out of the car.

I walked toward the door, and picked the key. My fingers hesitated on the door handle. For a moment, I considered turning back.

I didn’t deserve to walk into this place, but I opened the door anyway.

The air was dusty and stale, and cobwebs hung around.

My eyes scanned the living room. The couch where Evie used to nap. I took a shaky step inside.

I walked further in, barely breathing.

I swallowed hard and moved toward the hallway.

My steps slowed in front of what used to be Evie’s room.

I reached for the door, but my hand shook too much to open it.

I turned instead and headed toward the room they used to share. Iris’s room.

The bed was neatly made. I could still perceive a faint trace of her perfume in the air. I sat down slowly at the edge of the mattress.

Another memory hit me again.

“Daddy, Daddy! Look! I drew this for you!” Evie’s voice, filled with so much excitement as she held up a scribbled sketch of a wolf.

I had taken it from her, barely looked at it, then handed it back with an uninterested grunt.

She had tried not to look hurt. Iris had said nothing as she watched but her eyes were filled with disappointment

and heartbreak.

Another memory came. The Full Moon Celebration.

I remembered how Evie had jumped with joy when I had told her that she could come. Iris had smiled that rare, breathtaking smile that I hadn’t seen in years. I had turned away before it could affect me.

I buried my face in my hands with a groan as the grief hit me, and before I knew it, I was on my knees beside the

bed.