THE SUBSTITUTE LUNA (IRIS and DRACO) novel Chapter 4

DRACO.

My chest still heaved as I sat inside Constantine’s office. I couldn’t shake off what I witnessed in the basement.

I was not a righteous man. I never claimed to be. I couldn’t count the number of people I ordered to kill once I deemed they were no longer needed in this world, or the number of my own people who died while doing the task I assigned to them. They knew what they were getting into when they crossed me or when they decided to work for me.

I usually never interfere with anyone’s private matter, but something within me snapped when I saw him about to strike her.

And no matter how much I controlled myself, I was not able to stop myself from hitting him when I saw the marks on her back. Even after Iris left the corridor, I still demanded an explanation for his act. But he didn’t give any until my Beta came, and together with two of his security, they broke us apart.

I could have walked away, but for some reason, I asked him to proceed to his office to discuss the renewal of his contract on my land.

The moment we stepped in, he began discussing the terms of the contract and the new ideas he had come up with as if nothing had happened. He didn’t even introduce the woman already waiting at his office when we arrived. But I assumed it was his wife.

He continued to yap, but like our meeting yesterday, anything he offered would gain me nothing. I was better off taking the land back and profiting from it in another way. I was no longer interested in letting him use my land for his business.

I just wanted more information on the woman he was hitting in the basement.

I waited for him to stop talking so I could tell him none of his offers were acceptable, when the sound of the door opening caught our attention.

My forehead creased before my gaze turned to look at the intruder, who didn’t know how to knock. One thing I hated the most was being disturbed while in a meeting.

The scowl on my face warped into curiosity as Iris stepped in, carrying a tray of hot drinks. She looked more presentable, and she was standing tall as if her body weren’t shaking from all the beating she got earlier. Her face was bare of makeup, and she wore a white shirt that she had tucked into her faded jeans.

“How many times do I have to tell you to knock first?” Constantin snapped at her.

Her hands trembled as color faded in her face, but she tilted her head to look him in the eye. I could tell she was putting on a brave front. “I asked… I asked Raul… to knock, but… but… but he opened it instead.” She stuttered as she explained.

Who is she to him? Is she his slave? I asked myself as I stared at her, but she didn’t even glance at me.

I was sure she was Felicity’s sister. It had been too long since I last saw her, but I knew those hazel eyes that matched the color of her hair. The combination suited her well. But she looked too different from the innocent girl I met years ago.

I had no idea what happened to her and why she ended up as a slave in this mansion while her sister was living a royal princess’ life. And I wondered if she knew who I was.

“I want her added to the contract.” I found myself saying this, as if I had thought about it.

“I’m sorry, Alpha Draco, I don’t understand.”

“I’ll take her home with me,” I said as I stood up and began buttoning my coat.

A soft gasp reached my ears before the things in her hands dropped, and the sound of expensive wares breaking and the metal tray clanking against the concrete floor resonated around us.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She kept mumbling as she knelt to pick up the shattered pieces while her body continued to tremble.

“Imbecile…” I heard Constantine’s wife muttering under his breath. “Clean them up!”

“I apologize, Alpha Draco. But can I make it clear?” Constantine spoke, but I kept my attention on the woman, who had her head hanging low as she knelt and began cleaning the shattered pieces. “You want to take her as part of the contract? You want my wife in exchange for this deal?”

“Your wife?” I scoffed as my eyes dilated. “I want Iris, not your wife!”

“Yes, Iris is my wife.”

“She’s your wife?” I repeated before turning my body to face him. “And why the fuck did you send her to my room last night?” I couldn’t help growling at him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him with another question. “And who is she?” I pointed and diverted my attention to the woman sitting next to him, who was eyeing Iris with an evil glare.

“She’s Marion. I took a second wife because Iris could not bear me a child.”

“Refurbish the contract and add her name. Serve her with the divorce papers if you haven’t already. I will come back for her tonight.”

“In exchange for the land, Alpha Draco. I want to own it, not just rent it.” He stood up and extended his hand to me.

I looked at his hand before glancing at Iris. I had no idea if she was worth a whole land, but I found myself taking Constantine’s hand and shaking it. “I’ll draft the contract, but make sure the divorce papers and Iris are ready tonight.”

“Yes, Alpha Draco!” Constantine said excitedly.

“I’ll see you tonight, then,” I said as I walked toward the door.

I was still inside when I heard the hushed tone of his second wife speaking with her. “Do you know how expensive these china wares are? I bought them for Constantine as a gift, and you destroyed them! You are really useless! You deserve to be a slave all your life! I’m glad you’ll be out of here soon!”

I abruptly turned around and caught her with her hand on Iris’ hair, pulling it, while the latter suppressed any sound from coming out, despite the pain in her expression.

A growl rumbled in my chest before I roared at her. “Remove your hands from her!”

Everyone jolted in fear, including Iris.

Marion tilted her head and looked at me, but her hand remained stuck in her hair.

My eyes narrowed at her. “I said, remove your fucking hands off her.” I wasn’t shouting, but my voice was cold and deadly.

She immediately withdrew and stepped back, cowering and hiding behind Constantine.

My eyes followed her movement before sending out a warning to all of them. “Touch her again and I will cancel the contract and kick you out of my land!”

—-------------

I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have assumed that warning them not to touch her was enough.

Constantine called me earlier and said he had the divorce papers in his hands and was just waiting for Iris to sign them. He told me to come at dinnertime so we could all have dinner before we left.

But I didn’t want to wait anymore. I wanted to fuck off from here.

And I was glad I came earlier.

I entered the house with the contract for the land that I would give him in exchange for Iris. The receiving area was empty, but since the front door was open, I walked in without being invited.

I was about to head to his office when I heard a loud sound of a door banging against the wall, followed by the small footsteps of someone running while breathing hard.

I stopped in my tracks with Roman, my Beta, behind me. It didn’t take long for a small figure to turn from the corner where the hallway to Constantine’s office was.

A growl erupted from my throat when I saw Iris running. Her face was wet with tears as she clutched her ripped shirt, almost exposing her chest.

In a few strides, she was already in front of me. Instead of getting out of her way, my arm circled her waist, and I ended up clutching her off the floor, carrying her with one arm on my side.

She dangled from my hold, kicking her feet. “Let me go!” She cried.

“Ssssh…” I murmured calmly as I adjusted her position and ended up carrying her in bridal style, pushing her head onto my chest. It was only then that she raised her gaze, and our eyes locked.

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