I promised myself I wouldn’t think of Ivy anymore. I swore it, a silent oath made in the frantic haze of Farah’s pain, the night I thought i might lose my pup.
But as the days bled into weeks, the ache intensified. It wasn’t the searing agony of a fresh wound, but a dull, persistent throb, a constant reminder of something missing. Every comer of the pack house, every decision made, every quiet moment, seemed to twist back to her Her scent, a mere ghost of its former self, still haunted my senses, a cruel reminder of her absence. My wolf paced incessantly within me, a low, frustrated growl rumbling in his chest, agitated by a vold I couldn’t articulate, even to myself
yen
The boxes. They were still there, tucked away in a comer of my office, out of sight but never out of mind. Gifts I’d given her over the discarded by her, yet unable to be discarded by me. And the wedding picture–the one with the cracked glass, the one Farah hat supposedly “accidentally” shattered–it remained on the side table, its frame still holding the image of Ivy, looking radiant, looking my didn’t understand why I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away, I didn’t love her, did I? It was Farah I loved Farah, who was carrying child, who needed me, who was here.
Yet, the details, every single, infuriating detail about Ivy, kept surfacing. The way her eyes crinkled when she truly laughed. The scent lavender and something wild–pine needles and damp earth–that clung to her after a run. The firm, no–nonsense tone she adopted wh I was being an idiot. The way she’d tuck her hair behind her car when she was deep in thought. These memories were like thorns, prickla at the edges of my forced contentment
I was slowly, agonizingly, realizing the gaping chasm she had left behind. In the years we had been together, Ivy had quietly, steadily woven herself into the very fabric of my life, into the rhythm of the pack, into the core of who I was as Alpha
Her presence had been so constant, so unassuming, that I hadn’t truly measured its weight until it was gone. And now that she had vanished without a trace, with legal proof of our ending that I couldn’t even remember signing, I felt like shit. Pure, unadulterated shit
A sharp rap on my office door jolted me from my turbulent thoughts. Before I could grunt an acknowledgment, Beta Gray entered, his usual composed demeanor slightly ruffled. His wolf’s scent, a faint tang of anticipation, reuched me.ll
“Alpha,” Gray began, his voice even, “a message just arrived from the Alpha King’s courier.
1 grunted, waving a hand. “Spit it out, Gray.”
“The Alpha King is hosting a Grand Ball,” he stated, his gaze direct. “All Alphas are invited, along with their Luna or chosen mate. It’s to commemorate a decade of peace treaties.”
My jaw tightened. A decade of peace. A decade that felt like an eternity since Ivy had been beside me. “Understood,” I said, my voice clipped “We’ll attend.”
Gray nodded, then hesitated, his gaze flickering to the framed wedding picture on my table. I felt a surge of irritation. Damn it, why did everyone always look there?
“Anything else, Beta?” i pressed, my voice holding a dangerous edge.B
He looked back at me, his expression unreadable. “Regarding Luna Ivy, Alpha… my scouts have found no further traces. No reliable sightings beyond the border of your claim.”
My frustration, simmering just beneath the surface, boiled over. “Nothing? After all this time, nothing?! My voice rose, betraying the control I prided myself on “How can a Luna, a pack wolf, simply vanish without a trace? Are your scouts incompetent, Gy?
Gray remained impassive, a testament to his long years of service under my volatile moods. They are doing their best, Alpha. It is highly unusual it is as if she was… spirited away.“}
“Spirited away,” I scoffed, pushing myself out of my chair. The energy of my suppressed anger vibrated through my limbs. “Don’t give me fairy tales, Gray. Just find her.”
He merely bowed, a silent acknowledgment of my unreasonable demand, and exited the office.!!
The anger needed an outlet. My wolf was roaring
move. I needed to burn off this gnawing disquiet.
*w, a frustrated, wounded sound that reverberated through my bones. I needed to
I headed straight for the training grounds. The scent of sweat, raw earth, and the clanging of steel filled the air as warriors practiced. I stripped off my tunic, exposing my muscled torso, and grabbed a practice sword, the familiar weight a comfort in my hand.!!
I swung, a furious, uncontrolled are that would have left a lesser wolf vulnerable. My first opponent, a burly wolf, stumbled back, surprised by my sudden ferocity. I didn’t care. I moved, a blur of motion, each strike fueled by a desperate need to physically exhaust the thoughts of Ivy from my mind. Sweat streamed down my face, stinging my eyes, mingling with the dust. I drove myself harder, faster, pushing my body to its limits until my muscles screamed in protest. Each grunt, each swing, each parry was an attempt to silence the echo of her name, the image of her leaving, the constant, gnawing question of where she was and why
ts of sweat flying
My breath hitched, and my sword clanged against my opponent’s shield with a jarring thud. I paused, panting, droplets of from my brow I closed my eyes, trying to clear the haze of physical exertion and mental turmoil.
A soft, sweet scent, cloyingly familiar, wafted towards me. It was Farah’s perfume, mingled with something else something baked.
I opened my eyes. Farah stood at the edge of the training ground, her hands cradling a plate covered with a cloth. She looked delicate, almost fragile, her pregnant belly a prominent curve beneath her flowing dress.
“Alpha,” she said, her voice a soft, almost innocent call. I know you’re working hard. I baked you something. To help you regain your strength”
She held out the plate. My gaze flickered to the offering. The scent of carrot cake hit my nostrils, sweet and unmistakable.
My eyebrows furrowed, a frown deepening on my face. My wolf, who had been panting from the exertion of the training, let out a low,
Rousted nonwl
She held out the plate. My gaze flickered to the offering. The scent of carrot cake hit my nostrils, sweet and unmistakable.
My eyebrows furrowed, a frown deepening on my face. My wolf, who had been panting from the exertion of the training, let out a lo
disgusted growl
Carrot cake.
A sharp memory, vivid and precise, cut through the exhaustion. Ivy. She would never have made such a mistake. Not in a million She knew.
Because I was allergic to carrots.
An allergy. My throat would swell. My skin would itch. lvy, despite my blatant neglect, despite my casual dismissal, had alway remembered. She remembered my preferences, my dislikes, my hidden weaknesses. She remembered the small, insignificant deta that truly mattered.
I stared at the carrot cake, then at Farah’s eager, slightly worried face. Her eyes were wide, waiting for my praise, oblivious to the sila S fury building within me.
“I can’t eat this, Farah,” I said, my voice flat, colder than I intended. The words felt like sandpaper in my throat.
Her eyes widened further, glistening with unshed tears. Her lower lip began to tremble. “Why not, Alpha? I made it for you… You look su cold.
My wolf snarled, impatient. I was too tired for this. Too drained,
“You eat it,” I commanded, my voice devoid of warmth. “You’re carrying the pup. You need the sustenance.”
turned on my heel, not waiting for her response, not caring if her tears finally fell. The scent of carrot cake, cloying and sickening followed me.E
