Too Late Alpha The Mate He Never Wanted (Iris and Eric) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Iris’s POV

The healer’s soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Sit down, please. Let me take a look at that hand.”

My legs shook slightly as I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed. She reached for my injured hand carefully and gently. The moment she touched it, I flinched.

“You’ve done some damage here,” she murmured, examining the swollen skin. “It’s not broken all the way, but very close. You’ll need it wrapped and kept still for a while.”

I nodded, but her words barely registered. My mind wasn’t on my hand. It wasn’t even in this room. It was back at that moment. My mind kept replaying it: Rowan’s mouth crashing against mine, his grip on my waist, my body flush against his, the way he had kissed me like he wanted to devour me.

I pressed my lips together, trying to erase the memory, but it only made me more aware of how tender they felt.

God. What was wrong with me?

I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve screamed at him. I should’ve done anything, but instead, I pulled him closer like I wanted more.

And the worst part? I had wanted more.

Heat crept up my neck, and my cheeks flushed. I shifted uncomfortably under the healer’s touch. She didn’t notice, she was too focused on wrapping a soft cloth around my hand, frowning in concentration.

I stared at the floor, clenching my jaw. I had buried that part of myself so deep that I thought it was gone.

But Rowan’s kiss had dug them all out. Now everything I had worked so hard to bury after several years was clawing its way to the surface.

And it was scary.

The healer rubbed something against my skin. I hissed at the sting, but even that wasn’t enough to pull me out of my thoughts. I was still too far gone, replaying what had happened.

I clenched my good hand in my lap. How could I have let it happen? He had a fiancée. He had Chloe. Just like Eric had Zara. Why was I trying to repeat my past?

Yet, my chest betrayed me. Every time I thought about the way he had looked at me, my heart sped up, my stomach twisted, and my skin burned.

When the healer was finally done, she stepped back. “There. Keep it dry, and don’t use it unless you want to make it worse. I’ll leave some pintment with you.”

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Chapter 86

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“Thank you,” I croaked out, my voice rough.

She gave me a small smile, clearly sensing that I was distracted, but she said nothing. She packed up her supplies quietly.

The door opened as she was gathering her things Jasmine’s voice rang out as she stepped inside.

“Oh, thank the Goddess you’re still alive.”

She rushed over to me with wide eyes as she looked me up and down. “I swear, Iris, I thought he was going to eat you alive after the way you spoke to him. What were you thinking?”

Mu

I blinked at her, still trying to shove down the mess that was going on in my head.

Jasmine didn’t give me a chance to answer. She plopped herself onto the chair by the bed, throwing her hands up. “Seriously, Iris. Even I, his sister, know when to keep my mouth shut. You don’t just go poking Rowan like that. Do you have a death wish? Because from what I saw, it really looks like you do.”

I opened my mouth, but she continued.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? The whole room was tense, and you just stood there, arguing with him, like you were daring him to snap. I’ve never seen anyone do that. Not even Asher or Lucas, his Beta and Gamma. Not even me, his sister!” She shook her head. “What is wrong with you?”

My lips parted, but nothing came out. Because what could I say?

Jasmine leaned forward, lowering her voice. “No matter how cool it was that you stood up for Shane, you cannot try that again, unless you are ready to face the consequences. Alright?”

I looked away, pretending to focus on the bandage around my hand. “Alright,” I said quietly.

Jasmine sighed, crossing her arms. “You can’t fight every battle, Iris. You have to pick your moments. Sometimes, you’ve just got to keep your head down and survive.”

Her words should have hit me, but all I could think about was the way Rowan’s hand had held the side of my neck, the way his lips had felt against mine.

I swallowed hard, forcing the thought away.

Jasmine, thankfully, didn’t notice my flushed face.

If she knew what had really just happened between Rowan and me, she would probably never shut up.

She leaned back in her chair, muttering about how reckless I was.

“You’re right,” I murmured, nodding absently. Because I had been reckless just minutes ago.

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