The Messenge (Iva and Nick) novel Chapter 445

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Happy

The first light of dawn crept through the curtains, soft and golden, painting the room in warm hues

of amber and rose.

Caleb lay on his back, his arm wrapped around Iva, her head resting on his chest, her breath warm against his skin. Their legs were tangled together, their bodies still intertwined from the nigh before, and her hand lay splayed over his heart as if she had fallen asleep trying to hold onto

He had not slept.

He couldn’t.

Every time he closed his eyes, he was afraid that she would disappear-that he would wake up and find himself alone again, the bed cold and empty beside him.

So he had stayed awake, watching her sleep, memorizing the curve of her lips, the flutter of her lashes, the gentle rise and fall of her chest. He had counted her breaths, traced the lines of her face with his gaze, and thanked every god he could name that she was here, in his arms, where she

belonged.

She was here.

She was real.

She was his.

The joy that filled him was almost unbearable-a wild, desperate happiness that made his chest ache and his eyes sting with unshed tears. He had spent months searching for her, months of agony and fear and desperate hope. He had torn the kingdom apart, had hunted his enemies to the ends of the earth, had nearly lost himself to the beast within.

And now, finally, she was back in his arms.

He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. His fingers traced the curve of her jaw, the softness of her cheek, before moving lower-to the mark on

her neck.

The mark he had given her.

The mark she had returned.

A shiver of possessiveness and love engulfed him as he looked at it-the evidence of their bond,

their connection, their love. It was fresh and red, still healing, but it was there. A permanent

reminder that she was his.

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He had not intended for this to happen.

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When he had entered her room last night, he had only wanted to check on her, to see if she settled

and if she needed anything.

He had wanted to alter the past as little as possible-to change only the big threats, the dangers that had torn them apart. He had promised himself that he would be patient, that he would give

her time, that he would not rush her.

But the loneliness and torment of the past timeline had made him crazy with need. Iva’s loss had nearly destroyed him, and the moment he had seen her-alive, whole, his-something inside him had snapped.

He and Chaos had needed their mate.

And now, lying here with her in his arms, he didn’t regret it.

Not for a single moment.

He thought about the past-about the beginning of their relationship, when he had been too afraid to tell her the truth about what was happening. He had kept secrets, had pushed her away, had made her feel insecure and unwanted. And she had run from him, had fled into the night, had nearly been lost to him forever.

He would never let that happen again.

This time, he would do better. He would be better. He would give her everything she deserved- love, honesty, protection, devotion. He would never let her suffer any grievances because of him.

He knew that he could not tell her about their shared past timeline. He knew that it was a burden he would have to carry alone. But for her-for her, he would carry it gladly.

Iva stirred beside him, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep,

and then she blinked, her gaze focusing on him.

She froze.

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as the memories of the night before came rushing back-his

touch, his kiss, his body moving inside hers. She tried to pull away, to cover herself, but his arms

tightened around her, holding her in place.

“Don’t,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep. “Don’t hide from me.”

She blushed even harder.

“I-I should get dressed,” she stammered. “I’m going to be late for work.”

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She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and let out a small gasp.

“Damn it!” She jumped up, grabbing for her clothes. “I’m late! Sergio is going to kill me!”

Caleb caught her with one arm, pulling her back onto the bed.

“I’m saddened to tell you,” he said, his voice laced with amusement, “that your career in the hospitality industry has reached its end.”

Iva stared at him, her brow furrowing.

“What do you mean?”

“I already notified Sergio to find someone else.”

Her eyes widened.

“You-what? You had no right-”

“I know.” His voice was gentle. “And I apologize for not consulting you.”

She gaped at him.

“Why would you do that? Are you ashamed of me? Do you think I’m not good enough to work

there?”

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She braced herself for his temper, for the explosion she was certain would come. He was a Lycan

-proud, powerful, quick to anger.

But Caleb didn’t explode.

He laughed.

It was a warm, genuine sound that made her heart flutter.

الله

“Never,” he said, his voice soft. “I would never be ashamed of you. I did it because my mate

deserves much better than that place. You deserve the world, Iva. And I intend to give it to you.”

She stared at him, baffled.

Then her hand drifted to her neck.

She felt the mark-the fresh, raised bite mark that hadn’t been there yesterday. Her eyes widened.

“You marked me,” she whispered.

She looked at his neck.

“And I marked you back,” she breathed.

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