#Chapter 90: It’s really you

“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it’s really you.” Iris looked me up and down, wide-eyed, as Kayden and I approached the cabin. Terry had finally lowered her shotgun, stood aside and gave us reluctant permission to enter her home. We met Iris at the base of the deck stairs. “Hello, Iris. It’s been a long time.” I maintained a cool demeanor despite the flood of relief and excitement washing over me. Finally, I had found the one person in the world who could tell me exactly what happened to my mother. “A very long time,” she said, studying my face and shaking her head in disbelief. “What in the world are you doing here, Alexander?” She was standing on the bottom step and clutching the guardrail as if she needed the support to keep herself upright. “I’ve come to ask for your help with something, actually. Can we talk?” “Of course,” she breathed. She glanced briefly at Kayden, then back at me. “This is Kayden,” I offered in introduction. “My Beta and most trusted friend.”