Four
I pushed him back into the room. “I would never put you in a position that would hurt you, Iris. I’m aware of your families complicated history. Desmond is a dear friend. He is your Alpha. He wouldn’t either. But he needs your help to find who betrayed him so he can make his pack safe. The pack that protects your family in Moon City.”
It all sounded so easy when he explained it. But I wasn’t some human that had gotten caught up in the world of immortals by accident. I had grown up with these descendants of gods and humans my whole life. I knew nothing was ever easy with them. Finding out who tried to kill Desmond would most certainly not be, no matter what provisions Calix was trying to tell me he had. “If you care for me, why are you bartering me off to a werewolf?”
It was Eric, Desmond’s beta and second-in-command, who stepped forward to answer this question. “Because, the werewolves are the ones that control Moon City. If they say that you and your family are banished, I’ll never be able to see you again. They’ll take your memories. You wouldn’t want your sister to not be with Damien, would you?”
I turned my attention to Desmond. Banished, and my memories taken? That was almost worse than death. “Banished! I would never be able to see Moon City again?”
Desmond shook his head. “You and your family, you were allowed to live here because your grandmother was the mate of a werewolf from the DuPont pack. But we all know you have a complicated history due to your father—”
I glared at him. “You know us well enough to know not to bring him up.”
My father. The traitor of the secret cities. The man who had betrayed us all, putting us in the position where my sister had to try to be a luna in the first place to regain our trust in the community.
“I do, but I’m making a point. Your grandmother died. So did your grandfather. They swore fealty to us; your family did not swear fealty again once they died which they should have especially given—”
I pointed at him. “Don’t bring up my father. Youmight have been back from the dead, but if you keep bringing up my family history, I’ll kill you myself.”
He smirked. The fucking asshole smirked, like my rage entertained him. “Fine, but that is the situation, you don’t have any allegiance to a pack anymore, technically speaking. Especially not with my title as Alpha hanging in the balance so precariously. If my sister and your brother get what they want…. they could make life difficult for all humans under the DuPont name. Including you.”
I clenched my fists together. “This is totally unfair! We’ve always been loyal to the DuPont pack. We live in your pack building, Desmond! The pack is like family to us.”
Desmond ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t think I know that? As Alpha though, I have to do what I need to so I can keep my pack protected. That includes getting rid of those who would endanger them, which could be your family. But by doing this, you will save your family from being banished. Once I get the proof I need, you can break it off. You…you can go get your happily ever after with Calix. He’s already told me that’s something he wants. But I can’t have just anyone pretend to be my mate. I don’t want someone getting the wrong idea, and you know me, which is why you’re perfect for this. It also helps to clear your sister of suspicion a little.”
His words made me pause. I met Calix’s gaze. “You…you would want to be with me?”
Calix locked eyes with me. It made my heart pound against my chest. “Yes, I want you. But you know that vampires can’t cross into the human world. That’s why secret cities like Moon City were invented. To keep humans safe from immortals. If you are banished, that won’t happen. That was why I suggested it to Desmond when he returned. You can help clear your sisters name of any wrong doing, then we can be together.”
I tugged at a strand of my brown hair. “This is going to be complicated. What if Desmond decides that he does want me to be his mate?”
Calix shook his head. “I’ve already explained the situation to him. He won’t. He already has someone in mind for his mate. Except, it has to be safe for them to be together. He won’t do anything until he knows who tried to kill him.”
“Why…. why wasn’t he with her in the first place?”
“Because, the family frowned upon the match. You actually know her. She’s that friend of you and your sister.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Julia?”
He nodded.
Julia had been friends with Nina since they were in high school. She was an orphan who had gotten lost in Moon City. She’d been adopted by one of the DuPont families. In fact, I was friends with her brother, Ephram. We’d been in the same class at school. He had always protected me from the immortals that had used humans as their personal punching bag. Not all immortals liked having humans in their world. Also, some were truly just assholes.
That’s what happened when you were ancient beings with a lot of power descended from gods and humans.
My face fell. “My sister is going to hate me…. that’s…. that’s complicated…. but I…if it’s the only way that my family can stay here, I’ll do it.” None of this was going to be pleasant. I’d be surprised if my sister didn’t want to kill me for doing this, even if it did mean saving our family. Damn it.
Who knew what people would call my family if word got around, I’d refused an alpha. They’d probably say I was exactly like my father, who’d been declared a traitor and everything else for years for things he done even I didn’t understand. If people thought I was like him, I definitely wouldn’t be able to be a Peace Broker.
Of course, there was always the chance that Desmond might not hold onto his claim. The Trial of the Gods was coming, after all…. saying no to an Alpha was not an easy thing once his mind was set on something. Like who his mate was.
“Good. The Choosing Ceremony ball is the first of ten events, the last of them being the official binding ceremony. As long as Desmond finds out who tried to kill him before then, he’ll let you go.”
I frowned. “If he doesn’t find the person that tried to kill him?”
Calix reached out to lightly brush my cheek again. I shivered. I liked him touching me, but I wasn’t used to his cold skin against mine. It was wonderfully strange. “We’ll figure that out when the time comes, kitten. But I don’t expect it will be that long. For now, though, I need you to pretend to be madly in love with him, alright?”
I sighed. “But I—”
He lightly kissed my cheek, surprising me. “I know. We’ll have our time. I promise. But go in there. Be a good girl. Tell him that you’ll help with his little scheme.”
Reluctantly, I knocked three times on the wall, which opened again, revealing the secret room. Desmond and Eric straightened when they saw me.
“So, what’s the verdict?” he asked.
“I’ll do it,” I told him, “But if my sister does prove to be guilty, I want leniency shown to her.”
Desmond growled. “You’re making demands of your Alpha?”
I laughed. “You’re calling into question my family loyalty, and my sisters’ innocence. I already saw my father banished from the secret cities as a child for something I don’t even know the full details of. I think I have a right to question it. Besides, you’ve been gone for six years. The swearing in ceremony for the new Alpha takes place at the end of the month. I could always choose someone different to swear my fealty to.”
His eyes flashed yellow. “You wouldn’t.”
I smirked. “I would. I also want a promise that you won’t make me go through the binding ceremony if you don’t find the killer.”
He frowned. “I have to keep up appearances.”
“As you said before, I have a life already. I had plans. You are interrupting those plans.”
“You’ll still get to be a Peace Broker. I wouldn’t keep you from your dreams. I’m an immortal, not a monster.”
I glanced at Calix, who had had a very different idea of himself. He looked away. I turned my gaze back to Desmond. “I understand, but I’m talking about romantically. I know this is all a farce. I deserve my chance to find real love, Alpha Desmond. I’m not simply a bartering chip.”
Desmond growled, clenched his jaw, and looked away. “Fine. I won’t make you complete the binding ceremony. Unless—”
I raised an eyebrow. “There’s an unless?”
“Unless we develop feelings for each other, or sleep together. I won’t have any child of mine being raised as a bastard.”
I laughed. “What makes you so certain you’d get me pregnant from one night together?”
He walked over to where I stood, and towered over me. He was about six foot seven, a height that had I not lived amongst immortals, would have seemed fake. “Are you questioning my worth, Little Flower?”
I peered up at him. Where had this nickname come from? He had never called me that before. “No. It’s almost impossible for a human to get pregnant on the first try. Why would it be different for you?”
“Because, I’m not human. I’m an Alpha, Iris. Immortals are descendants of gods. You know the lore. When I want something, it happens. If I wanted you filled with my seed, I could make it happen.”
Calix coughed, stepping beside me. “You won’t though. Because you remember your promise to me, don’t you? If you want the help of the vampires in reclaiming your role, you need my support. As I am the immortal guardian of Iris, her well-being is very, very, dear to me. Should anything happen to her that she did not wish…”
Desmond growled again. “She’s also protected by my pack, Calix.”
Calix smiled slowly. “For now, werewolf. Remember, here in Moon City, we do believe in ones right to choose. Isn’t that right, Desmond?”
The werewolf glared at the vampire. Eric, Desmond’s beta, stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Easy now, gentleman. We’ve more important things to uncover. Like a murder plot. You should also remember, none of this works unless Iris agrees to become your fake mate. She’s the one that will help lure the truth out of your brother. Nothing works without her.”
My eyes widened. “I’m sorry, what am I being dragged into?”
Desmond turned his attention to me. “We have to make everyone believe that you are madly in love with me. Are you ready for that?”
I glanced at Calix. Calix was glaring at Desmond too. I stepped between the vampire and werewolf who were supposed to be friends but were weirdly tense for some reason. “Look, I don’t understand what’s going on but if it means saving my family, I’ll do whatever I have to.”
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