The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 16

Lies-3

Her voice cracked, raw with grief and anger.

“Why would you pair me with someone like him?”

Nick had nothing to gain from lying.

Nothing-except her pain.

Except watching her fall.

The thought burned, sinking deep into her chest like poison.

She barely noticed when a soft warmth spread through her, a gentle presence wrapping around

her broken heart.

“I’m here,” Avalon whispered.

Her voice was quiet, trembling, filled with a sadness that mirrored Iva’s own.

“You are not alone.”

Iva’s sobs slowed, turning into shaky breaths as she pressed her face into the pillow, letting Avalon’s presence settle around her like a fragile shield.

“I don’t understand,” Iva whispered hoarsely. “I did everything right. I tried so hard. But my parents

didn’t even tried to listen to me.”

“I know,” Avalon replied softly. “And none of this is your fault.”

For a long time, they stayed like that-girl and wolf-sharing the grief, the shame, the aching sense

of rejection that came not from strangers, but from the ones who were supposed to protect her.

Eventually, the storm inside her began to ease.

The tears dried, leaving her eyes swollen and aching. Her breathing steadied, though her chest still felt tight, like it was wrapped in invisible chains.

Slowly, Iva pushed herself up, sitting on the edge of the bed. She wiped her face with the back of

her hand, staring at nothing as her thoughts began to sharpen.

Crying wouldn’t save her.

She had already learned that.

“If I tell them now how we planned,” she said quietly, “they won’t believe me.”

Avalon didn’t answer immediately.

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Iva continued, her voice hollow. “If I tell my parents that I’m the Messenger, that I can see fated,

bonds… they’ll think I’m lying. Or worse, that I’m desperate. After everything that happened today…

they won’t hear me.”

“You’re right,” Avalon said gently.

The truth settled heavily between them.

“Then how?” Iva asked. “How do I make them believe me?”

There was a pause.

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