The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 258

< Ride 1

Ride-1

Claim

Lori’s small room was chaos.

Clothes were strewn across the bed-dresses she hadn’t worn in months, blouses she had forgotten she owned, at least three different pairs of shoes that she couldn’t decide between. Her suitcase lay open on the floor, half-full, its contents spilling out like her nerves.

She was going to the royal castle and she had no idea what to wear.

Tomorrow, she would watch her best friend become the Crown Princess.

The thought made her giddy-a flutter of excitement in her chest that refused to be contained.

But beneath the excitement, something heavy lingered.

Attia.

She would be leaving him behind.

The academy would continue without her. His meetings would go on. His duties would consume him. And she would be hours away, standing in ancient halls that had witnessed centuries of history, wondering what he was doing, if he was thinking of her, if he missed her as much as she already missed him.

Lori shoved a sweater into her suitcase with more force than necessary.

*Stop it,* she told herself. *It’s two days. Two days, and then you’ll be back.*

“Two days without our mate,” Layla whined. “Two days is too long.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I am being realistic.”

Lori rolled her eyes and reached for her phone to check the time.

She had spoken with Iva last night-a long, meandering conversation that had started with ceremony plans and ended with confessions neither of them had expected to make.

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*Something is wrong,* Iva had said, her voice sharp through the phone. *I can hear it in your voice. Spill.*

And Lori had spilled.

The Alpha’s plans. The arranged mating. Her mother’s warning. The fear that had been sitting in her chest like a stone since the phone call.

Iva’s rage had been immediate.

*They tried this with me,* she said, her voice low and dangerous. *And now they’re trying it with you?* She paused. *How many innocent she-wolves have been dragged into this? How many of the chosen mates in your pack are actually chosen by themselves? And how many are dictated?*

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< Ride-1

#don’t know,* Lori had admitted.

* feel sick at the thought.*

Claim

They had been silent for a moment, both of them processing the horror of what was happening in Lori’s pack.

Then Iva had shifted the conversation.

*How are things with Attia?*

Lori’s heart had skipped.

*I think I’ve already fallen for him,* she admitted, the words coming out softer than she intended, as she blushed. *He seems to want this bond. But we will definitely have our challenges.*

*Like what?*

*His family, for one. And after that, his social standing versus mine. He’s the headmaster, and I’m a student. Plus…” She hesitated. “I can see in his eyes that the age difference makes him strange sometimes. And same for me, if I’m being honest. He’s so… manly. Totally different from the boys I used to look at.*

Iva’s laughter had been warm, teasing.

*Lori, you were looking at boys. Attia is a *man.* There’s a difference.*

Lori’s face had flushed even through the phone.

*I know.*

*Do you want advice?*

*Always.*

*Stop comparing. Stop worrying about what anyone else thinks. The bond is between you and him. No one else gets a vote.*

Lori had smiled, clutching the phone to her ear.

*When did you get so wise?*

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