The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 21

<Tightening Chains–1

Tightening Chains–1

25 Point

The silence of the library wrapped around Iva like a thin blanket, but it did nothing to calm the

storm inside her.

She leaned back in the chair, eyes unfocused, fingers laced tightly together as Avalon’s presence

stirred beneath her skin, more alert now, more focused than before.

“We cannot wait until the last moment,” Avalon said, her voice low and serious. “The closer we get to

the mating date, the tighter the scrutiny will become.”

Iva swallowed.

“Your father is already watching you and you are grounded thanks to Nick’s lies,” Avalon continued. The Alpha is watching you as he wants the deals done with the North. Every move you make will be questioned. Every step counted. If we hesitate too long, we may not get another chance.”

“I know,” Iva whispered, her throat dry. “I was thinking the same.”

She rubbed her temples slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. “They already grounded me. Limited my movements. If I wait until the last days… I might not even be

allowed to leave the house for any reason.”

“Exactly,” Avalon replied. “We need a moment when attention is elsewhere. When eyes are distracted. When the pack is busy celebrating, drinking, watching something else instead of watching you.”

Iva straightened slightly.

“Are there any events coming up in the next seven days?” Avalon asked. “Anything that gathers

everyone together?”

Iva’s heart skipped.

She closed her eyes and searched her memory desperately.

“Festivals?” she murmured. “Pack celebrations? Moon rituals? No… nothing like that.”

Her pulse quickened as the seconds passed.

“Wait,” she said suddenly, her breath hitching. “There is… one thing.”

Avalon waited.

“The high school graduation,” Iva said slowly. “The ceremony is in four days. And the party afterward. Most of the pack will be there–families, elders, Alpha’s circle, everyone.”

She opened her eyes wide as the realization hit her fully.

#00

18

1/3

4

|||

O

く

Tightening Chains–1

+25 Point

“The guards will be relaxed,” she whispered. “My father will be distracted. The Alpha too. Everyone will be celebrating.”

Avalon’s presence sharpened instantly.

“Then that is our window,” she said firmly. “That night.”

Iva’s heart began to pound harder, faster, echoing in her ears until she could barely hear her own thoughts. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the desk.

“That’s… that’s so soon,” she breathed.

“It has to be,” Avalon replied gently but without hesitation. “Any later, and we risk being trapped.”

Fear coiled tightly around her ribs, cold and sharp.

A fierce, quiet fire.

“There’s no other way,” Iva whispered, more to herself than to Avalon. “If I stay… they’ll send me

“You are stronger than they believe,” Avalon said softly. “And stronger than you believe.”

00

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify