My Salvation | ✔️

CHAPTER ONE

Five years later ~

"You donkey ass! How could you spoil your mate's birthday surprise for you?!" I scowled, pulling along my best friend's ear.

"Ow! OW! OWWW! For Christ's sake, woman, I get it! Let go!" he whined.

I scoff, reluctantly releasing him. He rubbed his slightly puffed ear, pouting in the corner.

"Serves you right. Mela is giving you the silent treatment for ruining it. Suck that you won't be able to have your birthday sex, dickwad," I spat at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

Kace frowns, his head tilting in a sad but playful angle.

"Which means... she and I can have angry makeup sex! It's not my fault I saw her sexy underwear earl-"

I smack him on the back of the head, ready to scowl him once more, when my father's beta, Krill, popped his head in the room, voicing out loud, "Iris, your father wishes to see you."

I'm out the door instantly, sending a fleeing glance to my stunned friend. I look at him, telling him, later... I would say to him how the meeting went.

He nods, wishing me silently a bit of good luck.

Krill is pacing behind me, not making any conversation start.

I'm relieved for that. It's been three months since I last spoke to my father.

His health hasn't been improved since my mother's mysterious death. It's been reduced to nothingness.

The palms of my hands were shaking once they landed on the doorknob.

Inhaling a deep breath, I wrench the door open to his bedroom. My anxious self took in the state of the room.

It was dark, the wood rotten with mold. Air seeped from the wall cracks, dust covering the ground.

Finally, my eyes landed on my father; Murphy Reed.

A choked sob slipped past my lips, and my legs gave out as I rushed over to his side.

Krill closed the door as I entered, leaving us to our privacy. I was thankful for it because I would never cry in front of anyone other than my father and the closest people to me.

Examining his features only made me want to cry harder. He was so pale and thin. Too thin. His hazel eyes used to sparkle, but they vanished into thin air once he lost Juliana, my mother.

I clenched his hand tightly, hoping he wouldn't let go.

He was the only one I had left.

Father parted his eyelids, an exhausted but forced smile gracing his lips.

"... Iris, how are you, dear?" He asked, inhaling as much air as he could to speak.

I force a smile, tears rolling down my cheeks. "I'm doing great, daddy. How are you feeling?"

"Like shit..." he responded, trying to lighten up the mood.

I giggle sadly, wiping away some stray tears.

"So, why did you need to call me up for here? Is something the matter?" I asked.

Father took in a puff of air, coughing heavily as blood splattered onto the blankets. I shot up, patting his chest softly. His coughing ceases, thanking me in the process.

Eventually, he whispers, "Please do not be angry with me. I had no choice, Iris."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What did you do, Father?"

He inhaled another choked breath, "The Alpha of the North has taken you under his wing. You now belong to him."

"Father! You cannot be serious! I-I have a mate out there. There is no way I'm going to belong to someone like him. Haven't you heard of what he has done to many packs?" I chastised, jumping back onto my feet.

He smiles weakly, tugging on my arm to calm me down. It works because I have always been a daddy's girl. It settles me down, automatically making me sit beside him again.

"Yes, who hasn't? I know this has been hard on you. This isn't fair to you. But life will never be fair. We don't always get what we want. It is very selfish of me to do this to you."

I shook my head, "No, not selfish at all. I'm an alpha's only offspring. You had to think for the good of the pack—a future where all the pups would grow happily in. I have a duty. My job before love," I replied, my words clear.

He blinks at my words, relief showing on his features.

Father then coughs out more blood, rasping out, "Our pack is dying. It has been dying since your mother's death. Just look at our pack house. It's tearing apart. Others see us as weaklings. We are often attacked by rogues who wish to rule this land."

He suddenly stopped and had a coughing fit. More blood splattered everywhere. I grew anxious, my heart racing.

Grabbing a napkin, I offered to wipe the blood away from his mouth, but he shook his head weakly. "We were lucky enough that he offered assistance to us. One of the strongest packs in the land wants you for him to have an alliance. He will come for you tomorrow," Father finished, eyes seeming more droopy.

Tears gathered in my eyes, "But... dad. What if I meet my mate one day? I'll be full of this man's pups," I gritted out, bitterness resenting over every fiber of my being.

Father was right because the pack house was falling apart. We no longer made any money, and the pack members were starving daily. We could barely afford any meals, but we were holding on.

Many tried to get jobs but never succeeded.

We have already gained the reputation of a weak pack, and no one wants to help weaklings.

"You'll have to reject him."

I gasped, sputtering out, "T-That's unheard of! I'll practically kill my mate! He'll go insane!"

Father tightens his grip on my hand, his breathing growing shallow.

"Not if you mark another. The bond will vanish between you two. Just do it before you meet him," he responds.

I nodded, more tears spilling down my pale cheeks.

"Dad... please don't go..."

His eyes widen a bit more, staring at me lovingly, "I'm sorry ... for not being there for the many years of your life. For not being a proper alpha to this pack. But this is my last wish, Iris. Make me proud."

My lips tremble, and my heart monitor is gradually weakening.

"I promise, I'll fulfill your wish," I said.

Father smiles gently, "I love you, my dear daughter. I am so proud of you. How beautiful you've become. Your mother would be so proud of how you've turned out."

My words died on my tongue. His praise meant the world to me; it meant everything to me.

I choked on my tears, my wails sounding throughout the empty room.

"I love you too, Dad."

And then the heart monitor went flat.