The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 48

Lycans-2

+25 Points

The question settled heavily between them.

For a moment, she considered lying. For another, she considered telling him everything. The pack. The escape. The bond. The pain.

Instead, she smiled tightly, as she decided to stay cautious.

“Some things,” she said softly, “are better left unspoken.”

Sergio’s eyes sharpened for a brief second. Then he nodded.

“Fair enough.”

She left.

The next day was her only day off.

She woke early, energy buzzing through her despite the soreness in her body. The first thing she did was rush to the bank, clutching the envelope like it might disappear.

When the teller counted the money, Iva froze.

The amount was… more than generous. More than she had expected. Enough to breathe a little easier. Enough to stretch her time.

For a second, she thought it was a mistake last night as she started at the check in her hands.

She dialed Sergio with trembling fingers.

“There must be an error,” she said quickly when he answered. “The amount-”

He laughed. “No error.”

“But-”

“You worked hard,” he cut in. “And you kept your mouth shut. That’s worth something.”

She swallowed. “Thank you.”

“Get some rest,” he said. “On Sunday we do it again.”

The call ended.

Now, Iva stood there in the sunlight, money tucked safely away, heart pounding with something dangerously close to hope.

She wasn’t safe yet.

She wasn’t free yet.

<Lycans 2

But for the first time since she ran, she wasn’t drowning either.

And that… was enough to keep going.

Her first stop wasn’t back to the hostel.

+25 Points

Iva walked with purpose through the city streets, the envelope hidden deep inside her jacket, her senses alert despite the daylight. She didn’t relax until she stepped inside and headed straight for the row of safe deposit boxes where she had rented when she arrived in town a box.

When the small metal box slid open, she exhaled.

Inside lay her entire fragile world:

her documents neatly wrapped,

her birth certificate,

her ID,

her school diploma,

and the modest pile of cash she had scraped together before running away.

She added most of her paycheck to it, fingers lingering for a moment before closing the box.

Better safe than sorry.

She’d learned that lesson. What if she were robbed? What if the hostel room was broken into? What if someone followed her? Losing money would hurt-but losing her documents would be catastrophic.

She locked the box carefully, twice checking the number, then turned away.

Only then did she allow herself to breathe.

With the remaining cash, she went straight back to the hostel and paid for another full week upfront. The receptionist barely looked up, uninterested as always. The dull clack of the register echoed like a small victory in Iva’s chest.

A roof over her head was non-negotiable.

She hated the place-the thin walls, the smell of old detergent and damp carpet, the way the hallway lights flickered at night, the shady people that were renting in that place-but it was temporary. Everything was temporary. She just had to hold on long enough.

And for the first time since she’d run…

She allowed herself to think about food.

Real food.

Her mouth watered instantly, her stomach twisting painfully in response. Working in a restaurant had been a special kind of torture-surrounded by aromas she couldn’t afford, scrubbing plates smeared with sauces richer than anything she’d tasted in weeks.

2/4

< Lycans-2

Just one decent meal, she thought. Just once.

She was already imagining it when her phone rang.

Sergio.

Her brows knitted together as she answered. “Hello?”

+25 Points?

“Iva,” he said sharply, urgency bleeding through his normally controlled tone. “We need you back at the restaurant. Now.”

She stopped walking. “What? But-you said the place was closed today.”

“It was,” he replied. “Plans changed.”

Something in his voice made her spine stiffen.

“What happened?”

There was a brief pause. Then, quietly but firmly, Sergio said, “The big boss arrives in two hours. With an entire entourage.”

Iva frowned as she asked innocently. “Can’t you tell him no?”

A bitter huff of laughter came through the phone. “Trust me. He is not the kind of man you say no to.”

Her stomach dropped.

“I’m on my way,” she said immediately.

The call ended.

By the time she reached the restaurant, the atmosphere had changed completely… everyone was tense.

The back door swung shut behind her, and she instantly noticed it-Sergio stood near the prep area, his skin paler than usual, jaw tight, shoulders rigid with tension.

“What’s going on?” she asked under her breath as she approached.

Before he could answer, it hit her.

The air thickened.

Pressure crashed down on her senses like a physical force, stealing the breath from her lungs. Every hair on her body stood on end. Her muscles locked, instincts screaming danger so loudly it nearly drowned out thought.

She had felt dominant auras before.

Alphas. Betas. Even a High Alpha once.

But this-

This was different.

Heavier.

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