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Instead, they screamed, the tormented souls screaming so loud it was all I could hear. I realized why as my visions began. Blood. So much blood and horror filled my mind. Every fear, every nightmare, played out in my head, so real I smelled it, felt it, breathed it.

I was going to die.

Draven

Why did I even try to sleep? It was a waste of time.

I paced the great room for the hundredth time, trying to stop myself from leaving, from going in search of Iris. I had to conquer this because the pull to her had me balancing on the very edge of sanity, and being close to her and not being able to have her made it so much worse.

Who the fuck was I kidding?

Being apart from her made it ten times worse. My wolf constantly howled for her, clawing and fighting to be free. I couldn’t take much more.

“You can’t fight this, you know that, right?” Asher said behind me.

I’d told her repeatedly to go to her quarters and get some rest. She refused.

“She’s your mate. You’ll lose your mind if you keep this bullshit up.”

I shook my head and gritted my teeth as my wolf shoved harder against my subconscious. “I won’t let that happen.”

“You’re so damn lucky to have found her, Drave. You have no idea, how lucky. Claim her already. Your only other option is severing the tie between you. You’re seriously willing to do that?”

My gaze shot to her.

“Those are your choices. The pack needs you.” She straightened her spine. “Maybe if you can’t bring yourself to do what needs to be done, then I will.”

I didn’t want to hear this. I knew Ash was just trying to force my hand, to get me to claim Iris with her threat, but her words struck their mark. “You were the one who stopped me from killing her in the first place.”

Asher scowled. “Don’t get me wrong, I like her. I’d rather we not unlive her, honestly. But what you’re doing to yourself…instead of just claiming her?” She shook her head. “You’re making a mistake, a huge one. But, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you and the pack if I’m forced to.”

I snarled and got in her face. “You will not touch her.”

Asher didn’t back down, she never did, which was why she was one of my fiercest warriors. Her lips curled up, triumph in her eyes before they filled with regret. “You want her, Drave. Fucking claim her. Because if it’s between you and her, I choose you. We all choose you. We need our alpha, whole and sane. You’ve been through enough. We all have.”

“No,” I growled.

“I tried to fight it when I first realized Boone was mine and all I did was waste precious time with him that I’ll never get back.” Her voice grew hard. “But if your mind is made up about this, if you won’t claim her, taking her out is our only option.”

“No,” I roared, louder this time. “You will not touch her.”

I paced away, nausea gripping my stomach and not only from the thought of killing Iris. It wasn’t just my mind that was in distress, so was my body. I craved her above anything else, above food and sleep, nothing else mattered.

I strode to the window and looked out. Below was the field where our young played during the day, running and hiding among the long grass. They trusted me to keep them safe.

“Your pack loves you, they only want what’s best for you. Don’t deny yourself because you think it’s what’s best for them…or do you think they won’t accept her?”

“You think they would? A witch who looks just like the one who hurt us?”

“If you want her, you have to talk to them. I don’t know, hell, bring it to a vote. You might be surprised,” Asher said. “But you have to end this, one way or the other. I know this fucking sucks, but you have to put your people first.”

I didn’t answer, because she was right. This did fucking suck.

And If I didn’t do something about Iris, and soon, I would be hurting my pack. I’d be letting them down all over again.

CHAPTER 16

Iris