The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 358

Exhaustion

Iva collapsed onto the bed beside Caleb, her body heavy with exhaustion, her muscles aching from hours of standing, walking, and the constant mental exertion of matching couples. The silk sheets were cool against her heated skin, a welcome relief after the warmth of the ballroom.

She let out a long, shuddering breath, her eyes closing as she sank into the mattress.

But sleep did not come.

Her mind was racing, too full of thoughts and emotions to quiet down. The ball had been a resounding success-beyond anything she had dared to hope for. She had matched almost two hundred couples.

Exactly one hundred and ninety-seven, to be precise.

The number echoed in her head, a testament to the power of the Moon Goddess’s will and the magnitude of what she had accomplished. The news had already spread throughout the kingdom, carried by the wolves who had witnessed the matches firsthand. It was the talk of every pack, every territory, every corner of the supernatural world.

And what was even more surprising was that the matches were not limited to the young.

Mature pairs had emerged as well-wolves in their middle years, widows and widowers, those who had long given up hope of finding their fated mates. The Moon Goddess, it seemed, had not forgotten them.

And then, there was her mother.

Rana.

The thought still sent a jolt of surprise through Iva’s chest. She had watched her mother walk away with Elian, had seen the way they looked at each other, and she still couldn’t quite believe it was real.

Her mother had a second chance.

Iva’s heart ached with a fierce, protective love. She wanted to shield her mother from any potential pain, to ensure that this new bond would bring only joy and happiness. But she also knew that she couldn’t interfere.

Rana was an adult. She had lived through enough, suffered enough, earned the right to make her own choices.

Plus, she had learned her lesson.

She had almost ruined things for Lori and Attia with her well-intentioned but misguided interference. She had meddled, tried to control, and nearly destroyed the very bond she was trying to protect.

Not this time.

This time, she would let destiny take its course.

“Something on your mind?” Caleb’s voice cut through her thoughts, low and warm.

Iva turned her head to look at him. He was lying beside her, his head propped on his hand, his deep eyes soft with concern.

“Just thinking about my mother,” she admitted. “And Elian. I can’t help but worry, even though I know I shouldn’t.”

Caleb nodded slowly.

“From what I know, Elian is a good Alpha,” he said. “Steady, reliable, traditional. No scandals, no rumors, no hint of wrongdoing. He has a strong reputation and a loyal pack.”

Iva sighed.

“I know. I’ve heard all of that. And I’m happy for her-I really am. But I can’t help the instinct to protect her. She’s been through so much with my father, Caleb. She deserves happiness. But I’m so afraid that she’ll get hurt.”

Caleb reached over and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers.

“Your mother is stronger than you give her credit for,” he said gently. “She survived years of a difficult bond. She decided that she got enough and end it. She escaped. She rebuilt her life. She’s not fragile, Iva. She’s resilient.”

Iva nodded slowly.

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