The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 11

Under the Old Tree–3

She paused, eyes widening suddenly. “Wait. They didn’t even let you bond with the pack?!”

Iva shook her head slowly.

Lori stared at her in disbelief. “That’s insane. That’s why I couldn’t reach you today. I tried to

mind–link you, and it was like you didn’t exist.”

Her hands clenched into fists. “The Alpha didn’t initiate or accept you? This is kind of against the

rules of any pack! Are they mad? You are part of this pack by birth. Like it or not, you carry Gamma

blood.”

Iva exhaled slowly, Lori’s words sinking deep, burning places she had kept numb for years.

She was right.

They hadn’t just mocked her.

They had erased her.

She laughed bitterly. “It wouldn’t have made sense to initiate me anyway,” she said quietly.

Lori frowned. “What do you mean? Why not?”

Iva’s hands began to tremble. “Because in two weeks… I’ll be gone,

Lori’s head snapped up. “What do you mean, gone?”

The dam broke.

Iva’s breath hitched violently as tears spilled over, her shoulders shaking as she tried–and failed-

to hold herself together. Between sobs, she told Lori everything. About the conversation she hadn’t

meant to overhear. About the Alpha’s decision. About the North.

About the wild packs.

Lori went pale.

Then her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, Moon Goddess…” she whispered, pulling Iva into a fierce hug. “No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.”

Her voice cracked. “That’s a death sentence for any she–wolf. Being mated into the wild packs… I’ve heard stories. Horrible ones.”

She pulled back just enough to look at Iva, tears streaming freely now. “Some tribes even share

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< Under the Old Tree–3

+25 Point

Lori wiped her face roughly. “The Lycan King,” she said suddenly. “He oversees everyone. Every Alpha and Alpha King. He’s above them all.”

“But Iva-”

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