Chapter 31

Iris

Over the following few days, I launch myself into my preparations to leave Ordan.

Miles doesn’t speak during those days. Not a single word. It breaks my heart over and over again every time I have to look at his sad little face, and I feel like a horrible mother.

But I know, someday, he’ll understand why I had to do this. I have to protect him from the onslaught of public attention he’ll get if his identity is discovered, most of which will be negative. I can’t bear to see him being followed and harassed in public, just as I have been, simply for being the product of a human and a wolf.

And so I get to work preparing to leave.

The landlady in Ordan is understanding, but puts her foot down when it comes to our lease-breaking fees and security deposit. I have to pay a few hundred Ordan dollars in fees, and my security deposit will never be seen again.

Not that I can blame her, of course. I did sign a year lease, and I’m backing out of it less than a month in. So I don’t argue when she regretfully tells me that she won’t be giving the deposit back.

Unfortunately, however, that—in conjunction with having to send a first month’s rent and a new security deposit to my old landlord in Ordan—puts me in more than a bit of a financial bind.

Brian offers to buy our plane tickets back to Bo’Arrocan, but I refuse, feeling that it’s necessary to face the consequences of this decision myself. He isn’t pleased with that, but doesn’t stop me from purchasing the tickets once he realizes I’m not going to back down.

I do manage to sell our new furniture, though, which is a bit of a relief. But I don’t get back everything I initially paid for it, and even when Brian and Liam stoutly refuse to take the money back on the furniture they purchased for me, it doesn’t feel like nearly enough to make ends meet.

In a way, it feels like I’m starting all over again. But I keep telling myself that I’m making the right decision, that Miles’ future will be better for this.

After settling the apartment matter, I contact Arthur’s lawyer and set up a meeting to cancel the contract. I’ll have to fly back to Ordan in a couple of months for the meeting, but I don’t think much of it. There isn’t anything stated in the contract that I’m not allowed to leave the country.

The curator, Alice, however, doesn’t take it well at all.

“You’re leaving?” she asks, her brown eyes widening. “But you just got here! And the patronage—”

“I’m pulling out of the patronage,” I explain. “I’m sorry, Alice, but I can’t put my son at risk. I hope you understand.”

Her face falls, but she nods. “I understand. But… Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to make you stay?”

My throat tightens. I have to hold my ground, no matter what. “I’m sorry, but I’ve made my decision already. I can’t stay here.”

Alice stares at the floor for a moment, looking crestfallen, but finally agrees to let me go. We exchange hugs and goodbyes, and I blink back tears as I leave the gallery for the last time.

With that finished, I finally purchase my tickets back to Bo’Arrocan, pack Miles’ and my things, and bide my time until the day of the flight comes.

The day comes sooner than I anticipated. The following Tuesday, bright and early, I head to the airport with Brian, Liam, the twins, and the still-silent Miles in tow. He’s dragging his feet behind me, refusing to speak or hold anyone’s hand, his miniature dinosaur suitcase bumping across the airport tiles.

Brian, Liam and I exchange sad glances as we make our way to the security line.

“He’ll be okay,” Liam whispers, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Once you’re back in Bo’Arrocan, he’ll see all his old friends and forget all about this.”

I frown up at Liam, and there’s a moment in which we both realize how unlikely that is. Miles isn’t like most kids. He never forgets, and he rarely forgives. And this… Going nonverbal for a whole week straight is concerning.

“Hey.” Brian touches my arm. “I know you’re going to say it, but don’t you dare. You’re not a bad mother.”

Still, as I look over at my heartbroken son, twiddling his feet and staring at the floor, I certainly feel like one.

After that, Briam and Liam go through security with the twins, taking off their shoes and walking through the scanners without a hitch. This is it.

“Next!” the security officer calls out.

“Miles, buddy, it’s our turn,” I say gently, holding out my hand. “Come on, let’s take our shoes off. Remember how much fun you had last time we did this? Getting to walk through the big scanner?”

Miles suddenly stops, his big eyes turning as wide as saucers as he looks up at the stern security officer. He looks around at the line of people, the buckets of shoes and bags going through the scanners, the woman on the other end checking people with a handheld wand.

And then, out of nowhere, he just… snaps.

One moment Miles is standing upright, holding his little dinosaur carry-on, and the next he’s on the floor, kicking and screaming and pounding his fists.

Everyone turns to look at us. Brian and Liam try to make their way over, but are stopped by security since they already went through the checkpoint.

“Ma’am, please control your child,” the security officer huffs, folding his arms across his chest.

Sighing, I crouch down to Miles’ level and try to scoop him up. “I know it’s tough, buddy, but we have to—”

He doesn’t hear me. He just screams even louder and kicks me firmly in the chest, making me lose my breath and drawing the attention of half the airport at this point.

I curse softly, scratching my head. Miles hasn’t thrown a tantrum like this in years, but when they used to be more common when he was a toddler, the best thing to do was to allow him to let it out and then take him somewhere safe to calm down.

But here, obviously, we don’t have the luxury of doing that. People are staring, security is getting frustrated, and every time I try to touch Miles, his screaming just ramps up until it feels like my ears are going to start bleeding.

“Miles,” I say, my voice trembling, “please, let’s just go—”

More screams. More kicking. More frustration.

“Lady, get out of the way!”

“Control your kid!”

“Humans and their unruly spawn…”

My heart begins to pound. I whirl around, searching for Liam and Brian, who are currently arguing with security. The twins are crying, confused. And Miles is still screaming and ignoring me entirely.

But then, all of a sudden, a familiar presence swoops in. The smell of Arthur’s cologne hits me before I can comprehend what’s happening, and a moment later, he materializes and scoops Miles into his arms, bouncing him gently.

“Shh,” Arthur says gently, his eyes shielded by those sunglasses of his and his dark hair hidden by a hat. “I’m here, buddy. You’re not going anywhere.”

My eyes widen, lips parting to tell him to put Miles down. But then Miles’ screaming promptly stops, and with a sniffle, he looks up at Arthur and says, “Daddy?”

Shit. The first word Miles has said in a week, and it’s… Daddy.

Something about it makes my heart break even more. The way Arthur handles Miles as if he’s known him his whole life, the way Miles latches onto him… The way Miles is smiling now, clutching Arthur’s neck.

Arthur suddenly turns to me. “You’re leaving?” he hisses, pulling me aside. “Why?”

I narrow my eyes, the magical moment suddenly having passed. “It’s for the best,” I say firmly, just as I’ve said a thousand times now in the past week. “I’m doing it for his safety.”

“His safety?” Arthur echoes, incredulous. “Iris—”

“We have to go,” I cut him off, reaching for Miles. Brian and Liam are staring, checking their watches on the other side of security. “The plane is going to board soon and now I have to get back at the end of the line.”

But when I reach for Miles, he clutches Arthur tighter, shaking his head. “No! I don’t want to go!”

I hate to say this, but frustration lances through me. Here’s Arthur, swooping in after not being a part of our lives for five years, and suddenly he’s the superhero. Meanwhile, I’ve been toiling all this time, just trying my hardest to make sure Miles was cared for.

But I control myself, not wanting to take it out on Miles. It’s not his fault.

“You’re not leaving, Iris,” Arthur says calmly, and it’s only now that I notice his Beta pushing his way toward us with an official-looking document in his hands. “I won’t let you.”

My lips part, but it’s too late. Ezra holds up the paper, and it’s a fucking warrant for my arrest.

“Iris,” Ezra says, handing me the warrant, “you are under arrest by order of the Alpha President of Ordan. Please come with us.”