Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Iris’s POV

I didn’t answer Rowan.

I looked away from him and took another step down.

Pain shot through my entire side, almost causing me to freeze up, but I clenched my jaw and forced my leg to move, moving step after step, ignoring the way my hands trembled and my vision began foggy.

“Iris,” he said again, his voice was firmer now. “You’re going to collapse.”

I didn’t stop.

The next step was shaky, my grip on the railing slipping a little. My knees buckled, but I didn’t let them give out.

“I know you don’t trust me yet,” Rowan continued. He didn’t move. He was just standing there, to allow me to make my choice. “But this is not strength. This is punishment. You’re just punishing yourself.”

His words stung. I would have turned to glare at him if I had the strength to.

I took another step, grunting in pain.

And that’s when it happened.

My foot slipped.

Pain shot through my chest as I lost balance. I tried to grab the rail, but my fingers were too weak and they slipped. Everything spun.

I was falling. I gasped in horror.

And then just like that, I wasn’t falling anymore.

Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.

My heart pounded in my chest as I found myself pressed against Rowan’s chest. I inhaled sharply, and the familiar scent of pine and fresh rain filled my nose. He held me like I weighed nothing, his jaw was clenched tight.

“I told you,” he said quietly. “You’re not healed.”

I swallowed hard, embarrassed and out of breath. “Let me go.”

“You’re not healed,” he repeated.

“I don’t care.”

“You should.”

I looked away, clenching my jaw.

“I have to leave,” I whispered. “I need to.”

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Chapter 31

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“I’m not stopping you,” Rowan said. “But you can’t even walk. You were about to crack your head open on the stairs.”

“I’ve survived worse,” I mumbled.

He released a sigh of frustration. “That’s not the point.”

“I don’t need your help.”.

He clenched his jaw, looking even more frustrated. “I know you don’t. But maybe… maybe just allow me to help you.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to yell at him to let me go. But I was trembling, because the tears I thought I had buried were back again.

He didn’t say anything else. He just shifted me gently in his arms and turned around.

“I can walk,” I said weakly.

“You can’t,” he replied calmly but firmly. “And I’m not going to argue with you while you’re in this state.”

He carried me back up the stairs easily.

I hated how warm and comfortable it felt. It scared me.

He walked silently, carrying me gently.

Rowan pushed open the door with his foot and stepped inside. He walked straight to the bed and lowered me gently to the bed. I exhaled slowly, completely exhausted.

He watched me for a moment, then he reached down and gently pulled the blanket over me. But his hand didn’t pull away.

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