She shakes her head. “No,” she disagrees. “It was not your fault.”
He nods but she can tell he doesn’t believe her.
“Where are you taking me?” she asks weakly.
“My room,” he answers firmly. “You need somewhere safe to rest.”
She nods weakly and then closes her eyes, letting him take care of her.
Tristan watches his friend’s son walk into the room, carrying the slave girl. He sees how angry Dawson is and feels a little bad for him.
He knows that Dawson’s mother is not his father’s true mate and that Dawson needs to get away from her. But he also knows that it will be very hard.
She will not let go of her claim easily.
Dawson stops in front of him. “Take care of her,” he growls angrily.
“Of course,” Tristan assures. “Go, I have got this.”
Dawson nods and then sets Iris down on the couch. He leans over and kisses her forehead before he turns and leaves the room.
Tristan looks down at the girl worriedly. He can smell the blood on her and knows that she is hurt very badly. He lifts her up and walks into the kitchen.
He sets her down on the table and then looks around the kitchen for some gauze and peroxide. He finds them in a cupboard and then walks back to the table.
He picks up her hand and begins cleaning her wounds. She winces but doesn’t pull away.
“Do you live here?” she asks quietly.
He looks down at her in surprise. He didn’t realize she was awake. “Yes,” he admits.
She smiles weakly up at him. “Thank you,” she says gratefully.
“Do not thank me yet,” he advises gently. “I haven’t finished.”
She nods weakly but then winces as he hits another cut. “I’m so sorry,” he apologizes regretfully.
“It’s okay,” she assures weakly. “I know you are doing your best.”
He smiles sadly down at her. He feels bad for her. She is too nice of a person to be stuck in this house.
He is glad he is here to help Dawson, so she can get out of here too.
He finishes cleaning her cuts and then stands up. He looks around the kitchen again, this time for some bandages. He finds them on a shelf and walks back over to the table.
He picks up her hand again and begins wrapping it in bandages. She watches him silently.
When he finishes, he looks down at her again. “How do you feel?” he asks worriedly.
“Better,” she assures. She smiles weakly up at him.
He smiles back at her and then helps her off the table. “Dawson’s room is upstairs, right?” he asks.
She nods. “Yes,” she answers.
He nods back at her and then lifts her into his arms. “Do not worry, I have got you,” he assures gently.
She smiles at him again and then closes her eyes. He walks over to the staircase and begins walking up it.
“Thank you,” she says weakly.
He smiles down at her again. He is glad she is okay. He hates seeing nice people hurt and he is glad Dawson brought her here so he can take care of her.
He reaches Dawson’s room and opens the door. He walks inside and lays Iris down on the bed.
Then he covers her with a blanket and tucks it around her. “Do not leave until I come back for you,” he orders firmly. “Dawson will be worried about you.”
She nods weakly. “Okay,” she promises softly.
He smiles down at her sadly. He knows she is hurting and wishes he could help her more. But at least Dawson is safe now.
“Do not worry, I will bring him to you as soon as he is calm,” he assures gently. He turns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
* * *
Dawson runs through the forest, his wolf still angry at his mother for attacking Iris. He wants to hurt her very badly for what she did to him.
But he knows that he can’t. She is his mother, no matter how cruel she is to him. He stops and changes back into a man.
He falls to the ground and begins to sob. He loves his father and wishes he were still alive. Then he wouldn’t be stuck with his mother.
But he knows he will have to face her eventually. He wipes his eyes dry and gets back to his feet. He knows he has to face his mother eventually.
But for now, he is going to go back to the house and check on Iris. She needs to be protected from his mother.
He turns and heads back towards the house. He runs as fast as he can, needing to get back to Iris and make sure she is okay.
He stops in front of the house and takes a deep breath before he pushes open the door and walks inside. He hears Tristan calling from upstairs.
He takes the stairs two at a time and reaches the top before Tristan calls again.
“Tristan,” he gasps, out of breath from running. “Is she okay?”
“Of course,” Tristan answers. He smiles weakly at his friend. “Come on.”
Dawson follows his friend to his room and looks in. He sees Iris asleep on the bed, a look of peace on her face. He frowns, worried she might have died.
“She is just sleeping,” Tristan assures.
Dawson nods weakly. He is too tired to do anything else. He sits down on the bed next to Iris and then lays down beside her.
He pulls the blanket over them and then closes his eyes. He knows that tomorrow will be a big day. He will finally be able to leave this house and his mother behind.