THE SUBSTITUTE LUNA (IRIS and DRACO) novel Chapter 5

IRIS.

I wasn’t done putting my clothes into my bag when Constantine called me to his office and asked me to sign the divorce papers.

I didn’t have time to read the whole document, but I read the part where our separation would take effect today. So I signed it.

“Do you know why he wants to buy me?” I asked Constantine as I placed the pen on top of the papers.

I told myself that as long as I could break away from my husband, the reason didn’t matter. But I still couldn’t fight the curiosity of wanting to know more.

“Alpha Draco has a brothel. My only guess is that he will throw you there.”

“A brothel?” My eyes widened.

“Yes,” Constantine chuckled wickedly before he cupped my chin and tilted my head to meet his gaze. “What were you expecting? That he’ll make you his Luna? You will end up as a broken woman passed around. I doubt if you can even walk after the first night. I heard his brothel is a big hit, and women hop from one customer to another in one night.”

I stared at him in disbelief, but I did my best not to show that the thought alone terrified me.

“But I can save you.” He added.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Run away from him at the first chance that you get. I’m sure you remember how to reach the warehouse, right? Go there, and I will hide you from him. He doesn’t need to know you came back to me. I can hide you.”

“Why would I come back to you?” I asked him. I wanted to say all the reasons why I shouldn’t, but I was also sure he knew them.

“Why? Because I’m the better option between the two of us. When you run away from him, he will find you, unless I hide you. He would never think you would return to me.” He smiled at me warmly. That same smile that he gave me three years ago. The smile made me trust him.

But I knew better now that behind that smile was evil waiting to strike.

“If you think life with me is hard, imagine having to be passed around with different men every night.” He was speaking like he cared about me.

“You began to pass me around too…” I told him.

“I learned my lesson, love. I promise I won’t do that again. Just make sure to come back to me.” He said softly as he leaned his head closer, and I knew he would kiss me.

I tilted my head to the side, and his lips ended on my cheek. Instead of pulling away or forcing me to face him, he gently brushed his lips against my skin. “Won’t you miss this, my love?”

“No…” I had no idea where I got the courage to say those words. Maybe because I knew I was no longer bound to him.

He let go of my chin harshly before a wicked laugh ripped past his throat. “You think you can act tough. Who do you think you are, Iris?”

“I will take my leave now,” I said, and I swiftly turned around, but before I could make the first step, a hand snaked around my wrist and pulled me back roughly.

Everything happened so fast, and the next thing I knew, I was pinned against the wall as his mouth crushed against mine. A whimper of defiance escaped my throat as I struggled to break free from his hold.

I had been in this position too many times, and I already knew what was coming next if I struggled, but I still never learned.

I kept kicking and ramming my hands onto his chest and face, hitting and clawing him wherever I could. And just as I expected, he punched my stomach. A loud cry came out of me as tears poured down my cheeks before my body slid down against the wall. I became immobilized. I cried as he slowly ripped my shirt and pulled down my bra.

Then I heard an engine being turned off. Someone arrived, but it seemed he didn’t notice.

As if by magic, an invisible energy surged within me, and I found the strength to push him away just as he was about to capture my breast with his mouth.

He wasn’t expecting it, so he stumbled backward. I got up and kicked his face with all my might before I rushed toward the door.

I heard him cursing me, but I continued to run despite the pain in my stomach. I landed in the arms of the Alpha Draco.

I had no idea if what Constantine said about him was true, but it no longer mattered. All I knew was I needed to get away from this place, so I clung to him.

But then, seeing Alpha Draco and his temper terrified me, and it made me doubt my decision. What if Constantine was right? Life here was hell, but what if it would be so much worse with him?

Flashes of my life came running into my head.

Every new chapter kept getting worse. I was born in poverty, and I thought it was already bad, but when I moved to my father’s home, I realized my old life was better. Then I tried to get away and ended up with Constantine. And he was way worse than my father’s family.

What if moving to Alpha Draco would be the same thing? If what Constantine was telling me about the brothel was right, then I just plunged myself deeper into hell. I didn’t want that.

So, while everyone was busy—while Alpha Draco was pummeling Constantine’s face and his Beta was nowhere to be found—I slowly stepped back and turned around.

I walked out of the house as quietly as possible until I reached the grounds. I saw men looking at me, but it looked like they had no idea who I was, so I just kept walking.

The moment I was near the forest, I ran.

I had no idea where I would go. All I knew was that I didn’t want to be in hell anymore. I just wanted to be free from all these miseries.

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