Chapter 4
Ivy held the crystal trophy in her hands, her gaze flickering with a hesitant, almost. pleading expression. But the innocence on her face didn’t match the cunning gleam in her eyes as she addressed Marissa.
“Marissa,” she began, her voice low and soft, almost pitiful. “General Nathan asked me to bring you this reward since I’m about to go back here in our shared residence. It’s incredibly precious… you‘ ve earned something so special. You‘ re… amazing.”
Marissa met her words with a raised eyebrow, sensing that Ivy was only just warming up to her real request. The air between them grew tense, electric, as Ivy bit her lip and took a shaky breath.
“I know this award isn’t mine,” she continued, glancing up through her lashes. “But could I… well, borrow it? Just for a few days?”
80% 14:49
1/9
Chapter 4
“Why are you being so mean?” she
whispered, her voice laced with false hurt. “I’m not trying to take it from you. I just… I just wanted to keep it with me for encouragement. To remind myself of what‘ s possible.”
But Marissa’s patience had worn thin. She extended her hand, her fingers curling as she demanded, “Hand it over, Ivy. Now.”
But Ivy’s grip only tightened, her arms wrapping around the box as if her very life depended on it. Marissa felt her temper rise, the anger rolling through her like an incoming storm. Just then, as they struggled, the box slipped from Ivy‘ s hands, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The delicate crystal trophy shattered, its pieces scattering across the floor like shards of ice. A chill silence fell between them, the soft glow of the crystal now gone, replaced by fractured bits.
In the midst of the stunned silence, a shadow stirred at the door. Marissa looked
80% 14.49
3/9
Chapter 4
up, only to see Alpha Caleb entering, his expression morphing from confusion to horror as he took in the scene. Ivy, ever the master of theatrics, let out a small gasp of pain, clutching her leg where a thin line of blood trickled down, courtesy of a jagged crystal shard.
Caleb’s eyes darkened, his gaze shifting from Ivy’s wound to Marissa, accusation heavy in his eyes. Without a second’s hesitation, he knelt by Ivy’s side, lifting her skirt just slightly to inspect the cut on her calf. The sight of blood made his eyes. narrow with worry, and he shot Marissa a look of reproach as he stood.
“Are you hurt?” Caleb murmured to Ivy, barely sparing Marissa a glance. They leaned closer to Ivy, their focus solely on her and her slight wound.
Caleb, not waiting for Ivy’s response, scooped her into his arms, his protective instinct overshadowing all else. “I‘ ll have someone escort you to the healer,” he said
80% 14:49
4/9
Chapter 4
gently.
Ivy nodded and left with a pack warrior.
Then, the Alpha turned to Marissa, his face clouded with disappointment and anger. “Marissa, how could you?” he said, his
voice low but sharp. “You know that Ivy is pregnant! What if something happened to my child?”
Marissa clenched her jaw, staring at him with a coldness in her eyes. She wasn’t surprised, not at all. Of course, he would jump into conclusion and blame it all to her.
“I know, Alpha,” she replied, her voice tight with restrained emotion. “But that doesn’t mean she gets to waltz in here and take what‘ s mine.”
His expression shifted, fury flashing in his eyes. “Ivy is carrying my heir, Marissa. You knew that! You should have been more careful.” His words were sharp, accusing, the disappointment thick in his voice.
80% 14-49
5/9
Chapter 4
Without another word, the Alpha turned on his heel and stormed out, leaving Marissa standing alone, her wolf’s outrage resonating deep within her. Her pulse thundered in her ears, and she stared down at the ruined crystal trophy, the last
remnants of her reward scattered in pieces on the floor.
Caleb expected her to apologize? To the one who’d taken what was rightfully hers and destroyed it?
Marissa clenched her fists, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her chest ached, and she only then noticed the sharp, searing pain in her own leg. She looked down to find that her own calf was bleeding, far more than Ivy’s shallow cut. The shattered crystal plaque’s shards had pierced her leg deeply, cutting through muscle and leaving the skin raw and bleeding.
Her lycan blood, although strong, was very unstable, and it wasn‘ t enough to seal
80% 14:49
6/9
Chapter 4
wounds. Unlike Ivy‘ s cut, which would heal in a few minutes, her wound would fester. Gritting her teeth, Marissa bent. down, carefully picking up the fragments, each shard sharper and colder than the last. She’d take care of the mess herself- she didn’t need anyone‘ s pity or misguided protection.
As dusk settled into night, Marissa cleaned the wound as best she could and bandaged it with steady hands, refusing to let herself wince from the pain. Just as she finished, her phone buzzed, and her mother‘ s name flashed on the screen.
She answered, her voice softening as she greeted her mother. “Hi, Mom.”
Her mother’s warm tone washed over her like a balm. “Marissa, I’ve sent over some Mateship Ceremony dress options. Tell me which ones you like, darling. We don’t want anything less than perfect for you.”
Marissa’s heart ached at her mother’s
- 80% 14:40
7/9
Chapter 4
excitement, at the love so evident in her voice. She scrolled through the photos, each dress more beautiful than the last, her mother’s enthusiasm bringing a lump to
her throat.
“Mom…” she started, her voice barely a whisper, betraying her fatigue.
Her mother picked up on it instantly.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” she asked gently. “Are you alright?”
Marissa swallowed hard, biting back the bitterness and the resentment that
simmered within her. Instead of
answering, she redirected the
conversation. “I’ll be ready soon, Mom. Just another week, and then it’ll all be settled. How are the preparations on your end?”
Her mother’s voice grew lighter, her excitement palpable. “Everything is coming along wonderfully. Soon enough, you’ll have a new life waiting for you.”
80% 14:49
8/9
Chapter 4
“About the Mateship Ceremony-”
Just then, Marissa heard the familiar sound of Caleb entering the house. His footsteps echoed down the hallway, and she felt her wolf stir uneasily within her, the instinct to protect herself flaring up as they neared.
The Alpha paused as he caught the last word of her conversation.
“Mateship Ceremony?” He asked, his voice laced with shock.
