The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 296

Plans for the Future-2

‘Damage?” he repeated, his voice cold. “You mean the damage to your precious reputation? To your carefully crafted image? To the plans you had for me?”

The Alpha’s face contorted.

‘I have given you everything,” he hissed. “Everything. And this is how you repay me? By throwing it all away for her?”

He gestured at Lori, his expression dripping with contempt.

Lori flinched, but she did not look away.

Attia stepped in front of her, shielding her from his father’s glare.

‘Her name is Lori,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet. “And she is my mate. Not that you would understand what that means.”

The Alpha laughed-a harsh, bitter sound.

“Your mate?” He spat the words. “She is nothing. A nobody. A Delta who seduced you for your position. She will drag you down, Attia. She will ruin you.”

Attia’s hand tightened on Lori’s.

“She has already saved me,” he said. “From you. From this family. From the life you tried to trap me in.”

The Alpha’s face went white.

“How dare you-”

“I dare because I am free,” Attia said, his voice rising. “For the first time in my life, I am free. And nothing you can say or do will change that.”

He turned away.

The Alpha’s voice followed them, sharp and venomous.

す

“You will come crawling back,” he snarled. “You and your little mate. You will come crawling back, and I will be there to say I told you so.”

Attia didn’t look back.

He walked with Lori down the long corridor, out of the shadows, into the sunlight.

Behind them, the Alpha’s rage echoed off the stone walls.

But they didn’t hear it.

They had each other.

And that was enough.

Plans for the future ?

Claim

The sunlight was blinding after the dim corridors of the Couricil building.

Lori blinked, her eyes adjusting to the brightness. The steps stretched before her, leading down to the courtyard where crowds of spectators still milled about, their voices a distant hum of speculation and gossip. The air was cool, carrying the scent of rain on the horizon.

But Lori barely noticed any of it.

Her mind was still reeling from the chaos of the Council chamber. The accusations. The verdict. Attia’s resignation. His declaration of lone wolf status. Her own impulsive decision to follow him.

It all felt like a dream-a nightmare, really-that she was waiting to wake up from.

Beside her, Attia stood frozen.

His jaw was tight. His eyes were distant, unfocused. His hand was still clasped around hers, but his grip had loosened, as if he had forgotten he was holding her.

Lori watched him, her heart aching.

“Attia,” she said softly.

He didn’t respond.

She squeezed his hand.

“Attia.”

He blinked, his gaze snapping back to the present. He looked at her, and for a moment, she saw the weight of everything pressing down on him-the resignation, the separation, the loss of everything he had ever

known.

“Where do we go?” she asked gently.

Attia’s throat worked.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice rough. “I didn’t think that far ahead.”

Lori’s heart squeezed.

Before she could respond, the sound of an engine cut through the air.

A black, tinted SUV pulled up in front of them, its tires crunching against the gravel. The back window rolled down, revealing Iva’s worried face and Caleb’s grim expression.

“Get in,” Iva said urgently. “Now.”

Lori didn’t hesitate.

She tugged Attia toward the vehicle, and they climbed into the back seat. The doors slammed shut, and the SUV sped away, leaving the Council building-and the chaos-behind.

< Plans for the Future ?

The drive was silent at first.

Claim

The city gave way to countryside, the buildings shrinking and the landscape opening into rolling hills and dense forests. The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the road.

Lori stared out the window, watching the world blur past.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts-fear relief, uncertainty, love. She had just thrown away everything she had worked for. Her education. Her future career. Her place in the pack.

And she would do it again.

In a heartbeat.

Caleb broke the silence.

“What now?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral. “Have you decided where you’re going?”

Attia shook his head slowly.

“A place with no jurisdiction,” he said. “Somewhere outside the pack system. As long as I am part of a pack, the Council can enforce the bond dissolution. The only way they’ll leave us alone-hopefully-is if we are beyond their reach.”

Caleb nodded slowly.

“I know a place,” he said. “A small territory in the north. It’s technically unclaimed-no pack, no Council oversight. A few lone wolves have settled there over the years. It’s not much, but it’s safe.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify