88: LUNA'S BEDROOM

LUNA'S BEDROOM

True to his words, the pack house was an hour away from the main gates of this pace.

By this time, Iris was wide awake, as she observed her surroundings and committed everything to her brain. What Redmond said was right. This pack was… deserted.

This pack was almost like a forsaken place. It must have something to do with the one who led this pack as an acting alpha during Cane's slavery. It was not exaggerated when Redmond said that this pack relied heavily on Blue Moon pack for it to be able to return to normal.

How long would it take? It would probably take three to five years for this pack to be independent again. This was also the reason why Cane risked everything and was adamant to hold onto the Blue Moon pack, because without its resources, the Howling Wolf pack would be doomed.

Father, what have you done to these people?

Seeing all of this, Iris felt something tugging at her heart and her conscience. She wanted to apologize profusely for something that she didn't do and was not even aware of. She lowered her head in shame to see this godforsaken land.

During that time, Cane said nothing, he rode the horse a little bit faster after he took note of everything. He knew this place would be horrendous, but it was much worse than he had expected it to be. The sight of his own pack made him feel down. A lot of things should be done and with that thought alone, he knew he would dedicate his whole life to rebuilding this pack.

But at the end of the day, he wouldn't have his flesh and blood to inherit it.

Gritting his teeth, he rode faster to the pack house, which could be seen from afar. The building was magnificent with a huge garden that stretched from the entrance to the main building.

Behind them, Will and Jace followed closely on their own horses, while Ethan was at the back of the entourage to make sure there was no mishap.

Once they arrived at the front doors of the pack house, which looked almost like a castle, Cane immediately dismounted his horse and helped Iris to get down as well. He lifted her body with ease and settled her down before he entered the building, leaving her alone behind.

Confused, Iris immediately followed Cane, because she didn't know where else she should go if it was not following him.

"Alpha!"

A voice rang inside this main hall, which was so huge and vacant. It seemed every piece of furniture had been thrown away. One thing that Iris heard about this pack house was; the previous acting alpha had turned this place into a pleasure house. It made sense that Cane didn't want anything to do with the old furniture at all.

"Alpha! I am sorry I didn't come out to see you, I just checked your bedroom and made sure everything is according to your liking."

A man in his early sixties came rushing to greet Cane, his eyes shining brightly, almost to the point of admiration. He sighed in relief when he saw the alpha was well.

"I am so worried, there was a storm last night and you didn't return yesterday." He looked so concerned and almost on the verge of crying, if Iris could say.

Somehow, seeing how the people in this pack respected Cane warmed her heart. It truly showed what kind of alpha he was to make his people love him so much.

"You don't need to worry about such trivial details, Kaz," Cane replied, while the old man kept his head lowered. "I will go to my room, can you look over the carriages that I brought with me and bring my things to my room."

The man named Kaz bowed his head respectfully and immediately did what he was told, but then his eyes fell on Iris, who looked so messy and dirty, standing in this main hall alone looking like a lost child.

"This is…" his words hang in the air because he was not sure how to address Iris. He heard the rumor how the alpha had chosen his luna, who was none other than alpha Gerald's only daughter. That piece of news was so distasteful for all of them in this pack.

However, if she was the Luna, then Kaz had to give the same amount of respect to her because she was the alpha's mate, though he expected someone with an imposing aura who looked so arrogant, after all she was alpha Gerald's daughter.

Yet, seeing her small figure and how her expression was at loss, as she plastered herself to the wall, as though she didn't want to bother anyone, left Kaz a little bit confused.

"I heard you are our new luna," Kaz said as politely as he could, which was harder than he thought. With the knowledge that she was the daughter of the alpha, who had tortured their people into slaves, made it harder to not resent her.

"Oh, yes," Iris said with a timid smile, but then she didn't know what else she had to say. Should she ask where her room was? She felt so exhausted and wanted to take a bath and lay down.

Thankfully, the old man seemed to know what she was thinking and immediately took the initiative. "Come, I will escort you to your bedroom."

Iris nodded, only to realize that Kaz started walking in a different direction from Cane's bedroom. She wanted to ask about this, but she didn't know whether it was appropriate for her to say it or not.

This was the first time for Iris to interact with other people aside from those who she had known for years and lived around with. This was also the first time for her to visit another pack house, norms of which she didn't know in the slightest.

"Where are you going?" Cane asked when Kaz started leading Iris away.

The pack house was a single floor building, but it was a huge place with many rooms and sleeping quarters.

"I will take her to her bedroom, Alpha," Kaz replied, as he turned around to face the alpha, who was about to leave the main hall. He halted when he realized Iris wasn't following him.2

"And where will you bring her?"

"I will bring her to the second building…" Kaz sounded hesitant.

"Why do you want to put her in the second building?"

Kaz looked confused by the question.

Second building was where the omegas lived. Their rank was no higher than a servant and that building was at the back of this pack house, which meant it was far away from the main building, where the alpha's bedroom was.

Kaz thought the alpha wouldn't want to see Iris, thus if she lived at the second building, their chances to meet with each other would reduce significantly.

"I thought you would want her to stay there…" Kaz replied in a small voice, unsure whether he would like this answer or not.

On the other hand, Cane felt his head almost explode, he wanted to rest, but there were a lot of things that he had to take care of. He was so tired, mentally exhausted and he didn't have time for this.

"She is the luna, put her in the room next to mine," Cane said and after that, he left. He had made it clear that Iris would stay in the luna's bedroom, which was right beside his with a connecting door between the two rooms.

However, Kaz, who heard that, was so stunned. He wanted to ask whether the alpha was serious about that, but Cane had already strode into his bedroom. He felt his head almost explode.

Kaz then stared back and forth between Iris and the alpha's retreating back, unsure whether this was the actual order that he received.

That room was his late mate's bedroom…

"What happened?" Iris asked because she felt uncomfortable under Kaz's scrutinizing gaze.

The old man frowned so hard and then sighed deeply, as he shook his head. "This way," he said darkly.

========================= 

"Are you sure about letting Iris stay in the luna's bedroom?" Jace asked him this the first thing once he closed the alpha's bedroom. He heard about this from Kaz and was stunned.

"Yes," Cane replied curtly. He massaged his temple, his head was throbbing painfully.

"But, that room…" Jace couldn't finish his sentence, yet Cane knew what he wanted to say. It was easy to predict their reactions upon his decision.

"This pack house had been turned into a brothel. Countless people had sex in that room, her being there can't sully the room any further."

Jace grimaced at the blatant words that Cane used. He seemed to be in a terrible mood.

Right now, the pack members were celebrating their return to their homeland and were full of hope. Though they found this run down pack ghastly, they were overjoyed at the fact they could finally return to their place.

However, the alpha didn't seem to share the same sentiment at all.

"Leave," Cane said coarsely. He walked toward the bed and slumped his body there.

Seeing this, Jace became worried. "Do you want me to call Aria?" He thought he wanted someone to accompany him and his bad mood was due to his discord with her.

"No. Call for Iris."

Jace knitted his brows, but he left him alone and did what he was told to do

It didn't take long for someone to knock on his door and her soft voice traveled into the room. "Alpha? Did you call me?"

Cane opened his eyes and got up to give his permission for her to enter.

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