IVY"No. No, it can't be him. How's this even possible? No! I must be dreaming!”Those were the only words running through my mind as Lauren and Lucia pushed open the doors that led to the room.I dragged my feet on the floor as so many thoughts went on in my head.This was not true. I don't think I can believe what I was seeing.“No way!” I muttered to myself again as I was still half in my head.My eyes went low and my stomach tightened with nerves.I was supposed to meet my betrothed. Have just a brief conversation to fulfill formalities and run back to my room.But the moment I stepped inside and saw the back of the man sitting at the long table, I froze.This had to be the biggest joke of the century!He turned to look at me and my breath stopped.“What the h-” I almost blurted out but I stopped myself immediately. I was trying to be cautious of my words so that it won't come out as offensive to him.But, holy hell! This was the same man from last night.The one who saw me naked
IVY"Get your sulking butt off that bed, Ivy!" Lucia yelled, throwing open the curtains and flooding my dark room with sunlight.I groaned and pulled the pillow over my face. The last thing I wanted were my sister's in front of me.They never understood what it meant by leaving someone to her space. They loved intruding and this was not the perfect time for it. It was indeed the worst"Can't you two just leave me alone for once? What are you both doing here? I can't remember calling for your presence!” I blurted out. I didn't even try to hide my anger or my disgust but they all took it as a joke.That was a problem. They don't know when to stop and they also don't know when someone wa serious.In a snap, Lauren snatched the pillow away from me and she snarled."No. Not today. You're going to meet your betrothed. Get up, sis!” Lauren said and I blinked at her like she had grown two heads.What made me more crazy was the mention of my betrothed. I had not yet gotten a solution to my nu
Irene"She still hasn't come out of her room?" I asked, standing outside Ivy's door with a tray of her favorite food.I was tired.Not physically. I mean, if I was only tired physically, I could always push through that.But, no. My tiredness had pushed beyond the physical. I was now mentally, emotionally, and in ways I couldn’t name, I was drained.Motherhood was beautiful, but it was also brutal.No one prepared me for this part. This part where your child shuts you out and nothing you say or do seems enough.I stood there for a while, hoping she would open the door. Maybe she was standing on the other side too but there was nothing from her.No shuffling, no sniffles and no light creek of movement.I knocked again, softly.“Ivy, it's me. Please, just eat something.""I’m not hungry," her voice finally came and it was rather quiet and muffled.That should have made me feel better but It didn’t.Her voice sounded hollow and lifeless. I didn’t need to ask how she was feeling. I coul
IVYWhat the hell was his problem?One minute I was drowning in sadness because of how the ceremony turned out.The other minute, a random dude popped out of nowhere and tried to convince me into thinking that I'm his mate.“I don't want you around. Why is it so difficult for you to leave me alone?” I thundered. I turned around immediately and saw him trailing me at the back.I needed a good explanation as to why this was happening."I wish I could do what you ask of me but you are my mate. The goddess forbid that I leave you out here in the cold,” he answered and I laughed.I didn't know how best I could answer that.Those words of his sliced through the night like a sharp knife, finding themselves in my chest and freezing my breath.I blinked, then blinked again. Maybe I was imagining it. Was it really possible? He sounded so serious, like he knew what he was saying.And my wolf …she was not making things easy for me.I really couldn't tell. Maybe the rejection, the gossip and ever
Ivy"Get up. Everyone's watching. Don't just stand there and do nothing," the words hit my ears and I stood erect and opened my eyes on the sacred stone.This was harder than it was. I didn't know how to react to everything happening around me. The ceremony was progressing as it should but the way the spectators looked was scary.“Oh my God. What have I done this time?” I asked no one in particular as my eyes moved around.As if that was not all, I began to pray for the ground to open up and swallow me. I wanted this to pass me by because I was becoming so uncomfortable.My heart raced and sweat trickled down my back despite the cold breeze that swept across the area.My throat burned, and I could still feel the sting of every eye locked on me.The entire crowd circled around me, standing in perfect silence but it wasn't a respectful one.No. This silence was heavy, biting and filled with expectation. They wanted to know, they wanted to see.Was I going to disappoint them? I had no id
IvyAfter my conversation with my parents about what truly happened to me, I felt a little calm.But there was a problem…I knew quite well that I had been fighting with my parents all these while concerning finding me a mate.Their words kept echoing in my head and I knew their hands were tied because the pack traditionally requested that I had to find my betrothed to keep her father's position.It was another level of disturbance but I was able to come to terms with my parents and they promised me that I was not going to be forced to marry whoever her betrothed was.What I had to do was to keep him by my side until I found my mate.There was nothing as frustrating as this but it had to be done regardless.I couldn't afford to make myself a laughing stock. My parents might unlive themselves if that happened because they don't want anything to hurt their ego."I refuse to let fear win tonight. I have to do this. I guess after this, I would be free from whatever tradition they talk abo