Chapter 4: Not Fair on Him

Iris' POV

I looked around, and wondered, how long it has been since the events that changed my life for ever? One year? Two years?

'My Princess, you have a guest waiting for you', my personal maid, Bridget announced.

'Who might that be?' I wondered aloud, annoyed that I have been disturbed from her reflection.

'It is the young Alpha Andrew Blake of the Moonlight pack' she replied.

I sighed. I don't know why Andrew keeps haggling me about becoming his Luna. He didn't seem to want to take no for an answer. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against him and would definitely not judge him based on the attitude and dins of his brother. In fact, he is the one who had made living in that hell hole bearable to some extent. He is really a friend in deed and he would have been the best candidate to give my heart and body to, but I don't love him. Not like I had loved... I shake my head to shake out the cobwebs causing me not to think right. But the fact was that I didn't love him, not the way that he deserved to be loved. I only see him as a brother, not a lover.

I got up to go welcome him, praying that he would not feel hurt by my rejection. Because I am going to have to reject him one more time and the last time hadn't really been funny, because I saw the hurt in his eyes.

'I am not giving up!' he had vowed. I am a very patient man and shall wait till you are ready to accept me.

'But Andrew...' I had started, not wanting to give him false hopes but he had interrupted.

'Let's drop the subject for now, okay?' he said, smiling sadly but with determination. 'It was my mistake to come to you now

I should give you time to recover from your heartbreak and my brother's betrayal', he said, then swallowing, explained, 'I just thought I could help you heal faster. But be that as it may, I shall give you more time and space but I shall return', he concluded and before I could say another word, be squeezed my hand and standing very briskly, he left without a backward glance.

I had thought that he had just said that and that he had actually got the message that I wasn't interested in him in the way he wanted but I must have misconstrued his reaction, if he was here again today, barely six months later.

Andrew stood as soon as I entered the reception. 'Iris!' he said, a smile on his face and something akin to hope in his eyes. I felt my heart sink. No! Not again. I can't keep doing this to him but I have no choice if he keeps being stubborn and coming back.

'Hope you are doing well?' he asked.

I smiled. It was good seeing Andrew. I cannot recount the number of times he had saved me from Adrian, providing evidence of Roxy's affair and other supportive things he did for me. He had also kept telling me how he was the first to love me. But obviously we were not meant to be.

'I am', I said and I was happy to hear the enthusiasm in my voice.He smiled, happy too to see that I was no longer do moody and vengeful. Time heals all wounds but I doubt the wound Adrian inflicted in my heart would ever heal.

'Andrew, what are you doing here?' I asked, still smiling. 'One would think your duty as an Alpha was a walk over!'

'It is a walk over but if you care so much about how I am carrying on, why don't you come help me with it?' he asked, still smiling but his words had an underlining seriousness. I decided to break it to him gently.

'You need a wholesome Luna, not one that is as broken I am', I told him gently.

'What good is a wholesome Luna if my heart remains elsewhere?' he asked, his heart in his eyes. 'You are the one I want and though you feel heartbroken, you are wholesome to me!' he declared, and came to sit beside me, holding my hands. 'And if you are really broken, I shall piece you together and mend you with my love!'

I felt so touched. Tears stung my eyes and I looked up, at the sky, not wanting them to spill down my face. Andrew was so sweet. It would be so easy to love him but my heart had grown so hardened, I didn't think I could love any other man. Why did he have to pay for the sins his elder brother committed? He was suffering like I was when I was married to Adrian. I know what it was like to be in a one sided relationship. A relationship where the love is unrequited. It was painful and as much as I didn't like to see Andrew suffering, I couldn't do that to him - take advantage of him, that is. We might just end up being resentful towards each other, but most importantly, he would be even worse off. It was better for him to feel pain now but later, get a woman who would love him for him. Someone who would love him more than I could ever do.

'I have told you before and will say it again that I loved you before even my brother met you!' he reiterated. 'Will you keep denying me your love?'

He was always saying that but the first time I saw them, he and his brother were together. They had come together to my eighteenth birthday party where Adrian and I had imprinted.

'Andrew...' I started, choosing my words carefully. I hated doing this but it had to be done. But before I could say anything, he continued.

'I had hoped you would remember but you seem to have forgotten how we met', he said. 'I didn't think there was any use reminding you when you were married to my brother, I felt there was no use, you loved him so much and would not look my way. I decided it was better to have you as a friend, rather than an enemy', he said swallowing. 'But now, since you cannot remember still, maybe I should reveal to you how we met'!'

I stared at him with my mouth wide open, wondering what he was going to sprout. I couldn't recall meeting him before my birthday. I also knew what he would say if I told him I didn't love him irrespective of when we met. I didn't believe that I could develop such love for him after marriage, like he had once suggested. If my marriage that started with the kind of love and passion that mine started with failed, how much more faster would one based on one sided love fail! But this thing about meeting me before that fateful day, was it really true? I wanted to hear how it happened, so I prepared myself to be surprised...