Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Iris’s POV

I stared at the bruised girl in the mirror a moment longer before turning away. I might lose my mind if I stared too long.

I rinsed my face with cold water, Ignoring the pain shooting down my ribs, and made my way back to the bed. My knees wobbled, but I kept moving, I sat down slowly, breathing hard. The pain was still there, sharp and deep, but my body was getting used to it now.

1 picked up the bag 1 had dragged from the dresser last night.

1 opened it carefully, I rummaged through it and found the item I had been searching for.

A small, folded map. It was the map I had swiped from Eric’s office. I didn’t know how accurate it was, but it was all 1 had to get me out of here.

1 couldn’t stay here. I didn’t belong here.

Besides, I had already made the mistake of trusting someone before. I had told myself that with time, Eric would change, and things would be different.

But he didn’t change, and he let our daughter die.

1 wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Not with Rowan or anyone,

I tucked the map into the back pocket of my trousers,

1 would leave now. No matter how much my body was hurting.

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I pulled on a hoodie from my bag. It would help cover me a little. I pulled the hood up over my head, took one last look around the room, and then walked to the door.

I paused for a second, listening, for footsteps or voices. When I heard nothing, I cracked the door open slowly and peeked outside. The hallway was empty,

Perfect.

I stepped out slowly, closing the door behind me with a soft click. I kept my head low as I began to walk.

My limp slowed me a lot, but I pushed through the pain, walking steadily,

I paused as I stared at the staircase before me. My heart sank.

I was on the top floor. I had forgotten that,

The stairs looked so steep, endless and cruel.

My ribs and legs were already throbbing from just walking. What would limping down these stales do?

I swallowed tightly and leaned against the railing.

“One step at a time,” I whispered shakily to myself.

1/3

1 gripped the rail and took the first step down.

Pain shot up my side, sharp and hot, and I hissed through my teeth.

The second step was worse. The third nearly made my knees give out. But I kept going,

By the fifth stair, I had to stop and press my hand against the wall, breathing hard.

You have to keep going, Iris. You don’t belong here.”

I took the sixth step, then the seventh. Then I paused at the small landing halfway down.

I had only made it through the first flight, and already, I was drenched in sweat I was panting heavily and my rision was getting blurry. I gripped the railing tighter, willing myself not to pass out

There was still more.

Another staircase stretched down before me. Just looking at it made my knees weak

I couldn’t stop. If I sat now, I might not get up again.

I lifted my foot and began the second flight. Pain pulsed through me with each shaky movement. The bag felt heavier than a brick My hoodie felt like it was suffocating me.

The sound of footsteps behind me caused me to freeze.

My blood ran cold. I tumed slowly.

Rowan stood behind me with an unreadable expression on his face.

I straightened immediately, trying to look steady, even though my knees were seconds away from giving ouL

“LP’m sorry,” I whispered, breathing heavily.

He looked at me for a moment without saying anything Then…

“I’m not mad,” he said calmly.

That caught me off guard.

“I’m not trying to trap you,” he added. “You’re free to leave whenever you want.”

I didn’t respond.

He stepped closer, slowly, carefully, like he was approaching a cornered animal. And maybe that’s what I was.

“But you’re not healed yet,” he continued. “You can barely walk, Iris.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. My voice cracked.

“You’re not.”

His eyes dropped to my shaking hand on the railing “Please don’t do this to yourself.”

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