The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 12

Red Thread–1

The bell rang, sharp and merciless, slicing through the fragile moment between them.

Lori flinched, then cursed softly under her breath. “Damn it.”

Iva wiped her cheeks quickly, forcing herself to inhale, to straighten her spine. “We’ll talk later,” she said quietly. “I promise.”

Lori searched her face, reluctant to let it go, but nodded. “Later,” she agreed. “Don’t disappear on

me.”

“I won’t,” Iva replied, though she wasn’t entirely sure that was true.

They walked back toward the school together, shoulders brushing, silent but united. Still, the second half of the day passed no better than the first. If anything, it felt worse. Every class dragged on endlessly, every whispered laugh felt louder, every glance heavier.

By the final bell, Iva felt hollowed out.

Mentally exhausted.

Physically drained.

Emotionally scraped raw.

When school ended, she didn’t even consider taking the shuttle bus. The thought of being trapped

in that metal box with mocking eyes and cruel whispers made her stomach churn.

Instead, she turned away from the parking area and headed toward the forest.

The shortcut.

It was longer, but quieter. And right now, she needed quiet more than speed.

The forest welcomed her with familiar shadows and the scent of damp earth. Leaves crunched softly beneath her feet as she walked, her thoughts tangled and heavy. Fifteen minutes passed in

silence, broken only by the sound of her own breathing.

Then she heard it.

A low sound.

A moan.

Iva slowed.

Another sound followed–breathless, strained, unmistakably intimate.

18

3

4

|||

O

Г

1/4

< Red Thread–1

Her stomach dropped.

+25 Point

Her newly awakened wolf senses flared instinctively, sharpening her hearing, amplifying every

detail. The sounds grew clearer with each step she took, and dread curled tightly in her chest as

realization dawned.

She knew what she was about to see.

“Great… just great! This is the last thing I need to witness today.” she moaned under her lips slowly

Still, nothing prepared her for it.

Ella was on her knees beneath one of the thick oak trees, her hands gripping Nick’s thighs, her

mouth pleasuring him.

Iva stopped short.

The world seemed to tilt violently.

A sharp, stabbing pain tore through her chest, stealing the air from her lungs. Her vision blurred, not from surprise, but from the sudden resurgence of feelings she had buried and trampled and

sworn she would never acknowledge again.

She had loved him.

No matter how cruel he had been.

No matter how badly he had humiliated her.

Seeing him like this felt like reopening a wound that had never truly healed.

She took a step back.

A twig snapped beneath her foot.

Nick stiffened.

His head turned sharply, eyes locking onto hers instantly.

00

3

18

25 Point

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify