Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Iris’s POV

Something inside me snapped.

Before my brain had time to stop me, I lunged forward and swung my fist at Lucas’s face.

It was sloppy. It was reckless. And it was probably one of the dumbest things I had ever done.

The moment my knuckles slammed against the solid wall of his jaw, it felt like I had just punched a block of

stone or worse.

“OWWWW!” I yelped, stumbling back and clutching my hand like my fingers had just exploded. Pain shot up my arm mercilessly. My knees nearly buckled as I held my throbbing fist against my chest. “Oh fu-ow, ow, ow, Ow!”

I hopped in place like an idiot, cradling my hand and cursing under my breath. It honestly felt like my knuckles had shattered. My face burned from the sheer humiliation that I had just punched Lucas and hurt myself more

than him.

‘Oh my goodness, I just signed my death warrant, he’s going to kill me.’ I thought to myself.

Lucas didn’t even flinch. He didn’t stumble. He didn’t move. He just stood there like a statue, staring at me with a hint of surprise flickering in his grey eyes.

Then, slowly, he lifted an eyebrow.

That was it.

There was no anger, no insult. Just one eyebrow.

“You punch like an amateur,” he said flatly.

I froze in mid-complaint, blinking at him in disbelief. “Excuse me?! I literally just broke my hand punching you, and that’s all you have to say?!”

His cold gaze dropped to my fist, which was pulsing with pain, and he stepped closer. I instinctively tried to back away, but he caught my wrist quickly, but gently.

“You curled your thumb inside your fingers,” he said matter-of-factly, adjusting my hand so I could see. “Never do that. You’ll break it every single time. Keep it outside, here, like this.” He positioned my fingers properly.” And don’t punch with your knuckles bent. You need to align them properly. Otherwise…” He gestured at my hand. “…this happens.”

I stared at him, still biting back tears from the pain, and for the first time since this whole nightmare started, I noticed something strange. He wasn’t mocking me. He wasn’t cold. He was just… ex, ‘aining and teaching.

I swallowed hard, my voice coming out smaller than I was proud of. “So… basically I broke my hand because I’m an idiot.”

“Yes, because you didn’t listen,” he said, nodding. “But at least you made an attempt. Yes, it was a pathetic attempt, but you tried.”

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Chapter 63

+25 Bonus

I blinked. My brain froze at that last part. Did Lucas, Mr. Cold Statue, just admit that I tried?

Before I could figure out how to respond, he released my hand and walked to a bench nearby. He picked up a bottle of water and tossed it at me. I fumbled, barely catching it with my good hand.

“Drink.” His tone was sharp and firm.

I eyed the bottle suspiciously, my chest tightening as my mind flashed back-burning throat, the world spinning, and the feeling of helplessness.

Lucas’s gaze darted to me. When he noticed my hesitation, his jaw tightened, and for a moment I thought he might bark at me again. Instead, he strode back with his hand out. “Give me that.”

I blinked at him. “What-“}

“Give it to me.” He demanded firmly.

I was so thirsty, but I reluctantly handed it over to him. Without saying another word, he opened the water, raised the bottle, and tipped some water into his mouth. He swallowed, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then shoved the bottle back into my hands.

“Now drink,” he said coldly, as if he hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary.

I stared at him, stunned, then I looked down at the bottle in my hand. My throat tightened. He didn’t need to say it, but I knew what that was. It was a silent assurance that it wasn’t poisoned.

My lips parted, but no words came out. So I just nodded, lifted the bottle, and drank without hesitation.

I released a sigh of relief as the cool liquid relieved my burning throat. My heart was still pounding, and it was not just because of the training, but it was from the fact that I had actually punched Lucas, and survived. At least, for now.

When I finally lowered the bottle, Lucas was already gathering his things. He hung a towel over his shoulder and walked away without saying anything. After walking for a while, he stopped.

He didn’t turn fully. He just glanced over his shoulder. His expression was blank.

“Good work today. See you tomorrow. By six. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you what that means.” He drawled, then he walked off, leaving me frozen in place.

Good work today. Those words echoed in my head over and over.

Lucas actually said good work to me.

I sat down on the bench, staring at my swollen hand in disbelief. Maybe he wasn’t entirely a monster after all. He was brutal, yes. And maybe he was a sadist. But maybe under all that coldness, there was something else.

I sighed, leaning back against the bench with a pained groan. Of course, that didn’t er se the fact that my body felt like it had been trampled on by elephants. Or the fact that I still had to climb all the way back up to the room on the top floor.

I groaned aloud, dragging myself to my feet. My legs wobbled like my bones were rubber, and every step felt like torture. The staircase stood before me, and for a moment, I considered just collapsing right there and waiting

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