Chapter 3 - Iris

I climbed up the mountain, trying to get to my favorite hideaway, an overlook surrounded by woods. It was easy to feel like I could hide away in a place like this. It let me forget all my problems for a little while. Granted, it usually meant I had to sneak out of the house because Dad and Jason rarely let me go anywhere without one of them tailing me, and trying to sneak back in was always risky, but it was worth it.

I lay down on the rock, taking deep gulps of air and savoring the scents and sounds of the world. Up here, it was tranquil. It was easy to forget how bad things were at home, how badly I missed Mom and wished for things to change. I could just let the wind carry away all my problems for a while, leaving me at least a little bit of solace.

"Iris."

I nearly screamed as I spun around, fumbling for something to protect myself with. My head was filled with dangerous men with fangs and claws who could tear me to shreds in seconds.

But then I saw who had said my name, and my eyes widened as my mouth dropped open. A handsome man with a mop of red hair stepped out from behind the trees.

"Alek?" I asked in disbelief.

He cracked a smile that made his entire face light up, his brown eyes dancing. "You remembered me," he said.

It was impossible to forget him. Though, I'd started wondering if I'd only imagined just how muscular he was or the way his grin lit up his whole face. It turned out my memory had done him a disservice. Those high cheekbones looked as though they could have been chiseled from stone. The intense way his eyes looked at me even while he smiled was enough to make my heart race…and make me think about all the things that mouth of his could do.

"Yeah," I said. "Um…" What on earth was I supposed to say to him? I hadn't seen him in years, and I'd effectively disappeared on him last time. "You're not an easy one to forget," I finished a little awkwardly.

It was true. Even now, after all these years, there was an almost magnetic draw to him. Part of me wanted to pull him toward me and kiss him. I'd never met another person who'd been able to have that effect on me. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Alek's smile vanished as he took another step closer. "Are you all right?"

"What do you mean?" Color rose to my cheeks. Did I really look that miserable?

"I saw you in the woods yesterday with your brother and dad. I heard what he was saying to you," he said, his face darkening. "You deserve better than that."

I stiffened. "We haven't seen each other in years," I said. "You don't know what's going on."

I didn't know why I was defending Dad. It was an automatic reaction, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything bad about him, despite everything.

Alek raised an eyebrow, and he took yet another step toward me. It was suddenly getting hard to breathe.

"I know that no one deserves what I saw happen yesterday," he said.

I didn't answer, unsure what to say. It wasn't that he was wrong. It was more the fact that he had seen it. Seen me taking their insults in stride and not standing up for myself.

"Why don't you come with me?"

My stomach lurched, even as I was certain I misheard. "What?" I stammered.

"I've got a nice house," he said. "Come stay with me. You shouldn't be staying with people like that."

I held up my hands, waving them frantically. "No, no, really," I said. "I'm fine. "That's not necessary. I'm fi—"

I didn't get to finish. Alek's hand reached out and grabbed my fingers. My breath caught as electricity raced through me. He was staring at my wrists, his expression darker than I'd ever seen it before. My eyes widened as I realized what he was looking at.

"Your dad do this to you?" he asked, looking at the finger-shaped bruises encircling my wrist.

It had been Jason, actually, but the words stuck in my throat. "I…"

He gently twisted my arm, looking at another bruise on my bicep. "And that one?"

That one had been Dad. I didn't say anything, but I could tell by the look in Alek's eyes that I didn't need to.

"It's fine." I pulled my wrist away from him. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." He gently took both arms and crouched so I was looking right at his face, his dark eyes trapping me. "Come with me, Iris. Please."

My throat went dry. "I can't, Alek," I croaked. "We haven't seen each other in years. It's absurd."

"Your family abusing you is absurd," he snarled. "You can't expect me to stand by and let this happen. Let me help. Please."

"There's nothing for you to help with," I said, knowing full well I was lying. "I appreciate the offer, but I can't just run off with you."

"Why not?"

I didn't respond, even as my mind flooded with various answers. The main answer was that my brother and father would find out and come after me. And I barely knew Alek anymore. I didn't know what I would be getting into.

Part of me wanted to say yes. Not because it was a good idea, but because I desperately wanted to be with him again, to feel his body against mine. But there were too many uncertainties. Too much danger if Jason or Dad found out what happened.

"I just can't," I finally said.

Alek sighed, then ran his fingers through his hair. "In that case, I'm sorry."

I blinked, frowning. "What are you talking about? I should be the one apologizing."

He shook his head. "No. I mean, I'm sorry for this."

Before I even knew what was happening, strong hands wrapped around me, yanking me off the ground and over Alek's shoulder.

"What the hell?" I demanded. I tried to struggle out of his grip, but the arm gripping me held me firmly in place. I kicked and screamed, pounding my fists into his back, but nothing I did yielded any type of response. "Put me down," I ordered.

"I can't," he said. "I'm not letting you go back there."

"Alek, you're being stupid, just—"

"Sorry, can't hear you," he interrupted. "We should get going."

"Alek!"

And he carried me deep into the woods, away from everything I knew.