The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 240

Jealousy 1

Jealousy-1

Attia had been pacing his office for the better part of an hour.

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His desk was buried in paperwork-reports he had signed, forms he had approved, letters he had answered. He had thrown himself into tasks all afternoon, hoping that work would quiet the storm inside him. Then he had gone to the training grounds and run drills until his muscles burned and his cursed knee screamed in protest.

Nothing helped.

He was still on edge. Still restless. Still furious.

And in a foul mood that made Brentley and those around him avoid eye contact and speak in whispers.

Since this morning-since he had walked into that classroom and seen that flea of a student circling Lori like she was prey-he had barely contained himself. The memory made his hands clench into fists even now, pacing alone in his office.

He had wanted to snap the boy’s neck.

Had wanted to grab Lori, mark her, claim her, hide her inside his chambers where no one else could look at her, speak to her, breathe in her direction.

The possessiveness that raged inside him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Athos was inconsolable-pacing the edges of his consciousness, snarling at every shadow, out for blood.

*Mine,* his wolf growled. *She is ours. No one else. No one.*

Attia pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes.

His head was spinning.

It was like this girl had thrown his entire world upside down. Everything he had believed about himself-his control, his discipline, his ability to remain detached-had crumbled the moment she looked at him with those green eyes.

And worse.

There was a pull in his chest. An ache. A constant, gnawing emptiness that only seemed to ease when he was near her.

*Goddess,* he thought bitterly. *This is what it means to have a fated mate.*

His reactions terrified him.

He had spent years building walls-layers of armor to protect himself from vulnerability, from attachment, from the kind of weakness that could be exploited. And now, in the span of a few hours, she had slipped through every defense.

She was so young. So innocent. So sweet.

And he was the opposite.

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Jealousy 1

Claim

The rational side of him-the voice that had kept him alive through wars and curses and political betrayals reminded him that he should have let her go. When she had asked him, trembling, if he wanted her, he had been ready to say no. Ready to reject her for her own good. To tell her to find someone younger, lighter, less damaged.

But then she had insisted, asking for a chance.

She had fought back. Had refused to let him make decisions for her. Had looked at him with those eyes and asked *what if I want you anyway?*

And something inside him had cracked.

He had changed his mind at the last moment. Had offered her a compromise instead of a rejection. Had told himself it was because she deserved at least the illusion that she is making her own choice.

But now, after today-after seeing her with that boy, after feeling the possessive rage that had nearly consumed him-he knew the truth.

It was a lost cause.

He would never let her go.

No matter the consequences.

The thought thrilled him and terrified him in equal measure. His chest felt like it was exploding. His breathing grew shallow. He braced his hands on his desk, head bowed, trying to force air into his lungs.

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