Chapter 1

• Iris O’Brian was packing her belongings while her father and Alpha O’Connor finalized the details of her and Jayden's upcoming trip. As she zipped up her suitcase, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. “One year!” she whispered to the quietness of the bedroom. “A lot has happened in the last 365 days.” She tapped the top of her suitcase and glanced around her room.
• She double checked to ensure that everything was unplugged, the bed was made, and her belongings were neatly organized. A smile spread across her face. Grabbing her purse and slipping it over her shoulder, she positioned her suitcase, lifted the handle, and rolled it across the wooden floor. After stepping out of her bedroom, she closed the door behind her and headed toward the front entrance.
• The packhouse was bustling with activity. As Iris navigated through the busy packhouse, she made her way down the long corridor to reach the third floor.
• “Hey, Amelia, I’ve already cleaned my room!” Iris said, stopping in front of the middle aged woman. “All that needs to be done is collecting the garbage, if you don’t mind!” She smiled warmly.
• Amelia placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. "Now, what will I have my girls do?" she asked, trying to maintain a serious expression.
• “I know!” Iris repeated several times, her tone laced with sincerity. “I can’t help it. I’m just not used to others taking care of my business.” She smiled sweetly.
• Amelia tapped her toes on the floor as she thought. “Did you do the dusting and sweeping ... how about the mopping of the floors?”
• Iris wrinkled her nose. “I would, but you’ve started locking the closet door!” She pouted playfully.
• Amelia laughed. “It looks like the girls have work to do after all.” She hugged Iris. “Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t let that nasty defendant push you around!”
• As Amelia continued on her way to finish her tasks, Iris called out, “When have you ever known someone to push me around? I am Iris Lean O’Brian!”
• Iris heard Amelia laughing as she made her way down the hall. When she reached the top of the stairs, she pushed down on the handle of her suitcase and carefully descended the steps.
• The section of the packhouse where she stood was old. Built in the early 1500s, it still bore the marks of the stories of the past. The wooden beams, sourced from the first Alpha who constructed the building, were adorned with intricate carvings that reflected the artist's love for their craft. From the window ledges to the banisters, elaborate designs had been etched into the wood.
• As Iris walked down the wooden steps, they creaked with each footfall, creating a melody that spoke of the many who had travelled this path before her and the hope for similar journeys in the future. The descent seemed long, but it was the fastest way to reach the main floor. She knew the car would soon be filled with her belongings, along with Jayden’s items that would be needed for this trip.
• The trip to the airport itself wouldn't be a problem; the real issue was the eight hour flight. Iris had always believed that if humans were meant to fly, they would have wings.
• Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. She recalled how she tried to persuade them to drive instead. However, her request was denied. Alpha O’Conner explained that the costs would be significantly higher. They would need several drivers to rotate during the continuous 73 hour drive, not to mention the expenses for gas, food, and lodging. He was not willing to cover those costs for the trip. Nor did she have the funding to cover the expenses herself.
• At the bottom of the stairs, Iris pressed a button to raise the handle of her suitcase. She rolled her belongings into the middle of the foyer. Making plans to wait here for Jayden. As she looked around, she noticed a few warriors staring at her, including one of the ten she had gone to school with. Though his name alluded her. She offered a slight nod and forced a smile, but two of the group curled their lips in a sneer, baring their teeth. The group leader quickly backhanded the two of them to silence their disrespect. Pointing out that Iris was their future Luna regardless of how they felt. Disrespect would not be accepted.
• Shrugging her shoulders, she refused to let it bother her. Their opinions of her didn't matter. With a sweet smile, she pulled out her phone and typed, "Ready and waiting at the front door," then Iris had pressed send.
• Pretending to focus on her phone, she listened to the quiet conversation among the ten warriors. Up till twelve months ago, no one had an issue with her being part of the pack. Many had shown her favour, but that changed when Jayden asked her to marry him.
• If she had been a shifter, the pack would have embraced the union. However, classified as a human, she was not considered one of them. Several whispered while others shouted at her, demanding she know her place.
• Iris smiled to herself, recalling how many times she had heard that.
• It didn’t bother her! She wanted to be an example of how interracial marriages could work. After all, she was the product of a shifter and a human coming together.
• Many times, when a pack member thought themselves brave enough to confront her, they would say she had no business marrying the future Alpha. Each time, she would snort and reply, “Do keep in mind that my father is a descendant of the Dirus Canis.” She took pride in her bloodline.
• Iris sighed! Thinking back on her past. In the last 365 days, the true nature of the pack has come to the surface. She was proud of her lineage. Regardless of her 'disavantages!' She took after her mother's side of the family. It was true, with her father coming from a much stronger bloodline, the Dirus Canis gene, it had elevated his status ... a bit!
• But now the pack was talking. Behind Iris's father's back, many frowned, muttering, 'At least Marko has two other children. There is still hope.'
• Iris grinned as she thought of her siblings.
• Too young to shift, yet her twin siblings Lara and Blake still had the opportunity to do so. No one would truly know until they reached maturity. When their wolf would start to speak with them. Then, when their wolf wants to be seen, they will shift for the first time.
• Iris pushed the air out of her lungs as she continued to think.
• When Iris and Jayden told the family the news of their engagement. Lara and Blake jumped up and down. Her mom cried with joy. Her father ... Well, he sat in the corner. Scowling at Jayden! His reasons were different from everyone else. Her father had suspected that due to his heritage, Alpha O’Connor was looking at strengthening his legacy. Her father had suspected that the Alpha was probably hoping that the Dirus Canis gene would mingle with his bloodline through Iris. With her providing the pack with a strong heir, who would lead the next generation. '
• And what leader would not want this? Do they not look out for the members who are and those who will be.' Iris recalled telling her father when he brought this up in conversation.
• Iris smiled to herself, knowing the secondary reason for his pouting. He did not want to lose his only daughter, who was linked to his first love. Her dead mother, Lilly- Anne. Many times, she wondered if they had been fated mates. It would have made sense due to her father's behaviour. He never truly recovered from the loss.
• There was also another reason. One that was a cruel reality. A warning he had spoken to her about.
• In the backward community of Blind River, 40 percent of the population did not share the same views as their Alpha. They did not see this as an opportunity to strengthen the bloodline; instead, they feared it might weaken and become tainted with human blood. They would be called 'Blue Blood' thinkers.
• She glanced over at the warriors, unable to entirely blame them for their outdated beliefs. In the past century, one in every fifty births resulted in infants lacking the shifter gene. Many traditional thinkers among the 'blue bloods' attributed this issue to the interbreeding between humans and shifters. As they call it, 'weakening of the bloodline!' However, this argument needed to be more credible. Families that come from 'Blue Blood' thinkers were having issues as well. They would study their genealogy. Only to find out there was no human blood added to the bloodline. Many concerned referred to this as an epidemic, while humans labelled it as karma.
• Huffing, Iris thought about the continuous issue that plagued humans. For generations, crimes against humans have been regarded as less significant than those committed against shifters. Investigations were carried out, but not to the extent warranted by the severity of a crime against a shifter.
• Iris's grandmother, along with many others, created a committee that dedicated their lives to bridging this divide and dispelling the myths that influenced the mindsets of many people. Things were changing ... slowly! For the fringe minority, they accepted the new thoughts and changes. However, if there was one thing that shifters hated more than humans, it was practitioners, also known as witches or sorcerers. Always distinguish the two from being the same. For they are vastly different.
• A sorcerer or sorcerer can be a witch. However, a witch could never be a sorcerer or sorceress. A witch practises using items given by the land. Meanwhile, a sorceress sees, hears, and smells things that others do not. Rare but still documented. A few could move objects with their mind. Because of this, practitioners were judged harshly. Considered an abomination of beings.
• This was also the battle that Iris’s grandmother was facing. However, with her grandmother collaborating with Alpha O’Connor, things began to change slowly. Relationships between shifters and humans were improving. And practitioners were slowly gaining a better reputation.
• 'If only they knew the truth!' Iris thought as she shoved her phone into her back pocket after reading Jayden's last message, which informed her that they were wrapping up the meeting.