The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 235

Decision 11-2

She looked at him-at the hope barely hidden behind his careful composure, at the vulnerability he was trying so hard to mask.

“I believe,” he said quietly, “that for both our sakes, it would be best to keep this between us. Before sharing it with anyone else. After spending more time together… we can revisit this conversation. And deci de.”

Lori felt two things at once.

Disappointment-sharp and sudden, because a part of her had wanted him to sweep her into his arms and declare that nothing else mattered, that they would figure it out together, that the bond was enough.

And hope-warm and steady, because he wasn’t rejecting her. He was asking for time. He was giving them both a chance to make an informed decision, rather than rushing into something that might collapse under its own weight.

She nodded slowly.

“Okay,” she said.

Attia’s shoulders relaxed. Just slightly.

“Okay?” he repeated.

“Deal.” The word came out stronger than she felt. “We’ll do this your way. Discovery. Proximity. And then we’ll decide.”

Attia stepped toward her.

He didn’t touch her this timr-didn’t reach for her hand or her face-but he stood close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, could smell the clean, masculine scent of him, could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes.

“Deal,” he said.

His voice was low. Rough. Almost reverent.

لو

They stood like that for a moment-just breathing, just existing, just letting the weight of their agreement settle between them.

Then Attia stepped back.

“I will make the arrangements to post the add tomorrow,” he said, his voice returning to something closer to his usual measured tone. “You can apply and after, you should receive a formal offer by the end of the week.”

Lori nodded, not trusting her voice.

He walked to the door.

His hand was on the handle when she spoke.

12

A

Decision IL-

“Thank you…” she whispered.

He turned.

She was still standing in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around her middle, her red hair catching the lamplight.

“Thank you,” she said. “For not rejecting me.”

Attia’s expression flickered-something painful and tender and raw.

“Thank you,” he replied, “for not running away.”

He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Lori stood alone in her small room, her heart pounding, her mind spinning, her wolf howling with joy.

“He didn’t reject us,” Layla said, her voice thick with emotion.

“No,” Lori thought. “He didn’t. But for a moment I thought that he wanted to reject us, especially when he started his speech on how we deserve something better…”

“But he changed his mind. Now he wants to know us.”

“Yes.”

“He is giving us a chance.”

Lori pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the wild beat of her heart beneath her palm.

A chance.

That was all they had asked for. All they had hoped for.

And now, somehow, impossibly, they had it.

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