I Married The Villain Alpha

Vincent's POV

A sharp, concentrated pain shot through me as her knee collided with my crotch. My body folded on instinct, the agony radiating outward, growing worse with every breath. Even as my legs buckled, a primal urge coursed through me—to go after her. To make her pay.

Iris. That maddening, infuriating woman. Lately, she'd been under my skin in ways I couldn't ignore, and for the first time, I feared she might truly be the death of me.

The sound of her heels echoed sharply through the hallway as I staggered forward, my body still bent, half-paralyzed by the pain. "That little…" My voice was a low growl, anger simmering beneath my skin. "She's gone too far this time."

Sluggishly, I dragged myself into the hallway, fighting against my traitorous body, which screamed for stillness. My vision blurred with fury as I shouted after her retreating figure. The sound bounced uselessly off the walls. She was gone. The urge to chase her was strong, but my legs refused to obey. For now.

I stopped, letting the pain settle as my body struggled to heal. My chest heaved, my jaw clenched tight enough to ache. Anger bubbled just below the surface, hot and relentless. I swiped at my damp forehead, cursing silently.

By the time I returned to my office, humiliation was sinking in. At least most of the guards were stationed outdoors. One less indignity to endure.

Moments later, Richard stepped inside, looking slightly disheveled. "I heard your voice, sir," he said cautiously. "What happened?"

"Iris." My voice was sharp, cutting. "Did you see her on your way here?"

"N-no, sir. But her carriage is still parked."

My head shot up. "What?"

Richard flinched. "She may still be inside the grounds."

"Round up some guards," I snapped, irritation brimming over. "Find her. She's hiding somewhere."

He nodded and turned to leave, but hesitated. "Your Majesty…"

"What now?"

"Atlas. I saw him earlier. I wondered if he met with you."

My brow furrowed, disgust flashing across my face. "Atlas?"

Richard nodded. "Yes, sir. He seemed… preoccupied. I thought he might have been heading here."

My jaw tightened. "No, he didn't."

Richard remained in place, shifting uneasily.

"Are you sure he was headed here?" I asked sharply.

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Alright, I'll deal with him. Go ahead and do what I asked." I dismissed him with a wave, my tone curt.

Richard bowed and left, leaving me alone with thoughts that now raced through my mind like wildfire.

Atlas… The name tasted bitter on my tongue. That insolent fool had been growing too bold, as though he'd forgotten his place beneath me.

"Perhaps it's time I remind him what he truly is—a mindless beast, nothing more than a tool for my glorification," I muttered, venom dripping from each word. My fingers moved to the ring on my left index finger, toying with the cold metal.

It wasn't just any ring—it was enchanted, a leash passed down by my father. A leash for a rabid dog like Atlas.

My thumb brushed the gemstone, a gesture that had long become second nature. The familiar pulse of power coursed through me, steadying my growing irritation.

Minutes turned to thirty, then more, as I waited impatiently for news of Iris. But nothing came. Each guard I questioned returned with the same maddening response: she was nowhere to be found. Her ladies-in-waiting were clueless, their fear evident in their trembling voices.

"How could she have vanished so suddenly?" I wondered, the knot in my stomach tightening with each report.

My patience wore thin, fraying like a thread ready to snap. "I see how it is, Iris," I mumbled bitterly to myself. "You think this is a game, don't you?"

I leaned back in my chair, memories of Everett flickering in my mind. I'd thought marking her and taking her then and there was enough to tame her. But I'd been wrong—terribly wrong. A one time lesson wasn't enough.

"Since you like these silly games of catch," I muttered darkly, a cruel smile tugging at my lips, "I'll show you what it feels like to be caught. To be utterly helpless as you're devoured."

The frustration burning in my chest eased slightly as I envisioned her submitting, broken beneath me. The thought sparked something primal, the heat rising low in my body. I felt my wolf rousing in pleasure. What had been excruciating pain just moments ago now twisted into something far more dangerous.

"I will break you Iris." I vowed under my breath, the promise hanging heavy in the air.

Soon, sharp, calculated footsteps echoed in the corridor, pulling me from my simmering thoughts. The door creaked open, revealing Atlas striding in with that damnable smug look plastered across his face. My jaw tightened as irritation prickled under my skin.

"And where have you been?" I asked sharply, my voice slicing through the tension thickening in the air.

"Richard told me you were on your way here half an hour ago," I continued, my eyes narrowing as I scrutinized his every move.

Atlas bowed, a gesture that reeked of mockery. "Forgive me, Your Majesty," he drawled, his tone laced with insolence. "I was… distracted by a rather fair painting."

The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk, one that stoked the embers of my growing anger.

"What a pathetic excuse," I sneered. "I do not care what you do with your time, Atlas, but you will not waste mine."

For a fleeting moment, his expression flickered with anger, but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by that infuriating smirk. His eyes narrowed, amusement dancing in them, though there was something more beneath it—a hint of defiance.

"Step forward and give your account of our battle against Silver Rose Kingdom," I ordered, my tone cold and commanding. "Spare no detail—what transpired on the battlefield, the decisions you made, the losses we suffered, and the victories earned. Begin at the moment you departed and end with your return."

Atlas inclined his head, his smirk finally fading as he stepped closer, the distance between us shrinking.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied smoothly.

As he parted his lips to speak, a scent teased the edge of my senses—a delicate, familiar fragrance that made my stomach coil. Her scent.

I inhaled subtly, and there it was again, faint yet unmistakable, wrapping itself around me like a taunt. My eyes flickered toward the door, expecting guards to burst in at any moment, dragging Iris in tow. But no one came.

Confusion rippled through me, and my gaze returned to Atlas. He continued his report, his voice calm and composed, but the scent lingered, clinging to the air between us. My brow furrowed as realization dawned: it was coming from him.

No… The thought was absurd, and yet… could they have crossed paths?

My mind churned with possibilities, each more troubling than the last. They barely knew each other. Perhaps it was a fleeting encounter, one of no consequence. And yet, the way her scent lingered… it gnawed at my composure.

I clenched my fists, forcing my focus back to Atlas's words, though my mind continued to spiral. If she had met him, what had she said? What had he done?

"No, no," I muttered under my breath, forcing the absurd thought away. It wasn't possible. Iris had eyes only for me—her Alpha. She never so much as glanced at Atlas, her disdain for him palpable.

And yet… recently, something in her had shifted.

I felt my composure falter, the curiosity clawing at me too insistent to ignore. "Did you meet Iris on your way here?" I asked, my voice carefully measured, though the tension beneath it was impossible to miss.

Atlas paused mid-report, his sharp eyes meeting mine, and for a fleeting moment, his smirk widened. He tilted his head slightly, as though savoring the weight of my question.

"Iris?" he repeated, his tone laced with feigned confusion. "No, Your Majesty. I've not had the pleasure of crossing paths with her today."

His answer was swift, yet something about the way he said it made my teeth grind. Too casual. Too rehearsed.

I studied him, searching for any sign of deception, but his face was a mask of cool indifference. Still, the scent lingered—faint but undeniable.

"Strange," I murmured, my gaze narrowing. "Her scent clings to you like a second skin."

Atlas blinked, his brows lifting in mock surprise. "Does it now?" he mused, glancing down at himself as though inspecting his attire. "Perhaps the lady passed by before I entered, leaving her trail behind. Or… perhaps it is simply your imagination, Your Majesty."

The corner of his mouth curled into that damnable smirk again, and I felt my blood heat with a volatile mix of suspicion and rage.

"Watch yourself, Atlas," I warned, my voice low and dangerous. "I do not take kindly to lies—or games."

"Of course not, Your Majesty," he replied smoothly, bowing his head. "I would never dare."

Yet, the glint in his eyes told a different story.