Beauty in the beast world
Chapter 123: Am I changing?

Chapter 123: Am I changing?

Garrison rested his head on her dainty shoulders feeling relieved. Seeing her alive and well made him glad, "I lost myself on that night" she hugged him tighter understanding his words, "That night of blood eclipse was a nightmare for me...I really thought that you were gone forever"

"I know..." she said in a soothing voice, "I’m sorry that you had to go through that...I really am"

"I’m fine now," he said not wanting to make her guilty. She was the one who lost her life that day but here she was apologizing for leaving him. Then he pulled away from her and smiled, "What happend that night?"

Iria’s eyes became desolate when she remembered the night of blood eclipse, "After Henrick died in his father’s hands, I was chased by the fox tribe and others who wanted to get the gem. Theodore tried to take me out of there but had to stop because I fell and was forced into early labor. As I was in great pain, he handed over the gem to reduce my discomfort. An hour later I finally gave birth but my baby was stillborn" tears pooled in her eyes as she continued, "Desperate, I made a wish and brought her back to life, Then I sent away my daughter to my world to keep her safe. I was waiting for my death but nothing happened to me even after making a wish, but....."

"What is it?" he asked

She clenched her fists, "The fox king somehow found my location and tried to kill me...but the gem which I put on my daughter before sending her to another world appeared in front of him and transferred my soul inside it, which fooled the fox king about my death"

Garrison caressed her face, "You have gone through so much"

She smiled faintly, "Everything was worth I guess, because of gem both me and my daughter survived. She has grown up into a beautiful woman and has already started her very own family"

"I saw her," he said surprising her, "You did?"

He nodded his head, "The current fox king showed me her image and said that you died because of her. He wanted to use me to avenge your death by harming your daughter"

Her face went pale and he chuckled, "Don’t worry, I will never believe others without investigating something myself. The fox tribe is our enemies, do you think I would join hands with those people?"

Iria pursed her lips, "What would you do if I really died by asking the wish to bring back my daughter alive?"

He raised his brows, "Then I would respect your decision and protect your daughter"

Hearing that, she was not able to stop herself from kissing his lips. This was the man she loved, he went through torment because of her demise but never took it out on innocents. Even in the past, he always respected her boundaries and waited until she reciprocated his feelings. Theo was Lyra’s father and him protecting her was natural, but this man...her man knew about the love she had for her daughter and regarded it, unlike Gregory who was trying to hurt Lyra not caring about the hurt she would get because of that.

Garrison smiled against her lips and kissed her back. After hearing the fox king’s words, he was angry but not stupid enough to believe everything without knowing the proper truth. He purposefully acted like he wanted to kill Lyra in front of the fox king to distract him for the time being.

He came out of his thoughts and decided to concentrate on the lovely female in his hands. Lowering his head, he started to pepper kisses on her neck and collarbone.

"Gary..." she moaned when he bit her neck. Both looked at each other and had only one thing in their minds. To become one for the entire life.

In no time, they were naked and lying on the grass nest inside the empty castle. Garrison entered her in a swift movement and Iria clasped her hand on his back. Two bodies moved at the perfect pace and they made love for the entire night.

The next dawn, Iria opened her eyes and caught sight of Garrison watching her with a smile on his lips. He kissed her forehead and beamed, "Good morning"

"Good morning" she replied in a hoarse voice and got up from his embrace. Iria started to scan her body looking for his mating mark and found it on the side of her navel. It was a tiger tattoo that was a little bigger than a coin.

"This is the happiest day of my life" his voice rang beside her making her turn to him. She smiled, "It is?"

He nodded and pecked her lips. Both got dressed and decided to leave the castle. Iria was a little hesitant about going back to the rose castle because she didn’t want to put Lyra in danger, but she couldn’t leave without Theodore so she made her way towards the rose castle with Garrison by her side.

Lyra was watering the roses when she saw her mother at the fence surrounding the castle. She put away the water pot and stepped towards her, "Mother?"

Iria smiled at her daughter, "How are you?"

"I’m fine" she answered taking a glance at the stranger beside her mother, "Who..?"

"My mate" answered her mother making Lyra surprised.

"Mate?" she asked still in doubt taking a second glance at the man, but Garrison just smiled at her warmly.

Then something flashed in Lyra’s mind, "Why is father not with you?"

"Theo is not inside the castle?," asked Iria for which her daughter just shook her head, "Lucas said that you and father went out together"

Iria furrowed her brows and fidgeted in her place. She had to find him, thinking that she was going to turn around but Lyra’s voice stopped her, "I don’t know what is happening, but I think you should wait for father inside the castle. It is not safe outside"

Garrison turned towards Iria and nodded, "You get inside Iria, I will look for Theodore and bring him back"

She glanced at her mate with hesitancy because it was also not safe for him to be outside, "What if..." she didn’t want to continue her words but Garrison understood her worry.

He smiled, "I’ll be alright"

She reluctantly nodded and got inside the castle with Lyra while Garrison left to search for Theodore.

Lyra wanted to ask so many things to her mother but held back. She realized that her mother was lost in deep thoughts and wanted to be left alone. After her mother entered her room, Lyra turned around and walked towards Lucas’s room.

She wanted to ask about her father but found Lucas’ room empty. Then she went to Victor who was still lying in her room after their night together.

Victor was staring outside the balcony lost in his thoughts when he smelled the addictive fragrance of his mate behind him. He smiled as she hugged his back, "Where is my father?"

He squinted his eyes, not at all liking her talking about others when they are together, "I don’t know" came his indifferent answer which made her frown.

She turned him around to face him, "You really don’t know?"

Victor’s eyes mellowed as soon as met her eyes, "I don’t know sweet girl"

Lyra frowned, "Lucas said that mother and father left together, but just now mother returned with someone else..."

"Your mother returned?" he asked in surprise. Victor knew about Iria leaving with Gregory in exchange for the antidote.

She nodded, "She just returned with a stranger and said that he was her mate"

Victor raised his brows, "Mate?"

Lyra sighed, "I’m confused but I don’t want to force her to explain. I will wait until she is ready to talk"

Victor rubbed her head softly, she was always worrying about others, thinking hundred times before saying something, her words were always rational, sweet, and comforting and he liked that about her. He too was similar to her but now everything felt different, he felt like he was changing in ways that would make him regret it later. But it was damn hard for him to stop thinking about bad things, it felt like someone was manipulating his thoughts. He shook his head trying to remove that absurd thought, controlling him? That was ridiculous.