Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Iris’s POV

Jasmine’s head snapped toward me, her face full of confusion and a little hurt. “What?” she asked, her voice was softer than Rowan’s. “You’re leaving?”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer. My eyes dropped instantly to my fidgeting fingers as I began wishing I could disappear.

Rowan glanced around the room with a clenched jaw. “Everyone out.”

“But-” Jasmine began.

“Out.” His voice left no room for argument. It wasn’t a request. It was an Alpha’s command.

Even though she clearly wanted to, Jasmine didn’t argue. She scowled as she got up from the bed. She gave me a questioning look, then she walked out, brushing past her brother, grumbling.

Lucas moved next, his cold eyes glanced at me for a second. Then, without saying a word, he followed Jasmine out and shut the door behind him.

A suffocating, tense silence fell on the room.

I kept my eyes fixed on my fingers, refusing to look at Rowan, even though I could feel Rowan staring at me.

Finally, his footsteps moved closer until he was just a few feet away. “Why?” His voice was quieter now. There was no hint of authority and command from before. “Why do you want to leave?”

My throat tightened. I tried to swallow, but it was almost impossible, “You said… you said I was free to go once I was better.” My voice sounded small and very defensive. “I’m better now.”

He sighed. “That’s not what I asked.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You know why, Rowan,” I whispered. “Someone tried to kill me here, in your pack. You can’t tell me I’m safe when someone already proved I’m not.”

His silence was concerning, so I slowly lifted my head slightly, to find his eyes staring at me. His brown eyes were dark, and unreadable, and it made my stomach turn.

“You think leaving will make you safer?” he asked calmly, and for a moment, I wished he would shout at me instead. “You think wandering around alone with rogues out there, with no pack, no protection is safer than staying here?”

“It’s not about it being safer,” I snapped, his calm voice irritated me. “It’s about not waiting around for someone to poison me again. It’s about not making this anyone else’s problem. I can’t stay here, Rowan, because I’m the reason someone is targeting people under your roof. What if someone else had joined me to eat? Maybe like Jasmine?”

Rowan’s jaw tightened, and he stepped closer, leaning towards me. The closeness made my heart pound as the sweet smell of pine and fresh rain flooded my nose, but I didn’t move

“You think this is just about you?” His voice dropped low, and became more dangerous. “Someone came after

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Chapter 57

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you, in my territory. That’s not just your problem, Iris. That’s mine. That’s an insult to me, and to my pack. Whoever did this isn’t walking away free. I will make sure justice is served.” His hand curled into a fist on his

knee.

I shook my head, forcing myself to meet his piercing gaze. “It’s not your fight. I’m a stranger here, and I don’t belong here.”

His eyes flared gold, indicating that his wolf was on the surface, and for a second, I thought he would lose his temper. But instead, he straightened up, taking a step back. “Everything in this pack is my fight. And you are not a stranger.”

My chest ached at his words. “I’m not your responsibility. You don’t owe me anything, you’ve done more than enough for me.”

Rowan gave me a bitter smile, but he said nothing. The way he was looking at me felt like walking away would be the same as betraying him.

“You said I was free,” I said softly, my voice breaking even though I tried my best to steady it. “Don’t take that away from me now.”

Something like hurt flickered in his eyes, then he looked away, staring at the floor.

“I meant it,” he said finally, his voice was hoarse. “You are free. If you walk out of that door, no one will stop you. Not even me.”

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