Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“tris…” My voice cracked. “Iris, I’m sorry.”

Back then, Iris was the only one I believed in. There was a time she had been the only light I had.

Back when Zara first left me, my world had crumbled and I was nothing but a walking shell. Iris was the one who showed up every day.

I could barely get out of bed then. I didn’t want to eat, talk, or even breathe. And yet she came anyway.

I remembered one afternoon in particular.

I had locked myself in my office, lights off, completely in darkness. I wanted to be alone. I had snapped at everyone. Even my Beta had given up on me.

But not Iris.

She barged in like she owned the place. She held a paper bag in one hand.

“What the hell are you doing?” I had growled from behind my desk.

She hadn’t flinched. “I’m here to feed your depressed ass,” she had said, lifting the paper bag.

I had glared at her venomously. If it were anyone else, they would have cowered and ran.

But she didn’t flinch. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. “What is that look supposed to do? You are almost as thin as a skeleton, Eric. That glare makes you look like a constipated skeleton. Sit your bony ass up and eat.”

I didn’t know what possessed me, but I began laughing.

For the first time in weeks, I had actually laughed.

She smiled triumphantly at me, looking very happy with herself for making me laugh.

Another memory surfaced.

She had dragged me out for a walk one night when insomnia wouldn’t allow me to sleep.

We didn’t talk much. We just walked in silence through the pack. The moon was out and very bright. I remembered that I kept waiting for her to say something stupid or force me into a heart-to-heart.

She didn’t.

She just walked beside me quietly.

At one point, I had stopped and muttered, “I don’t think I’ll ever get over her.”

Iris had looked at me, thoughtful, then shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. But I’m here for you no matter what.”

She had always known when to give me space, and when I needed someone to be there for me.

Why did I forget all that?

1/2

Tears welled up in my eyes and before I knew it, I was crying.

1 hadn’t cried like this since Evie. But I cried now.

1 had hated her. I had resented her, but her death was like a devastating blow to me.

I didn’t even know if there would be a body to bury this time.

Just as I wiped the last of the tears from my face, my phone buzzed.

It was Zara.

I stared at her name on the screen, feeling a slow burn in my chest.

I used to drop everything for her. But right now? Seeing her call irritated the hell out of me.

Why was she calling? To ask where I was? To remind me that Tiffany was still crying for me?

I clenched my jaw and let the phone ring.

I loved her. Didn’t I?

But if I loved her, why did I feel like throwing the phone across the room?

I just didn’t want to hear her voice tonight.

The phone buzzed again, and this time I tapped the red icon without hesitation, ending the call.

I turned slowly and looked around Iris’s room.

I stood up, dusted the bed, and sat down.

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