The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 52

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Every Lycan around the table straightened.

The air grew heavier.

He took one step toward her.

For one impossible heartbeat, nothing moved.

Then-

The invisible red thread burst to life.

Iva felt it before she saw it-a violent pull deep in her chest, sharp and searing, as if something ancient had been ripped awake inside her. Heat exploded beneath her skin, her breath catching painfully as the air left her lungs in a broken gasp.

And there it was.

A glowing red thread, vivid now, no longer hiding-springing straight from her chest.

“No-” she whispered, terror flooding her veins.

The thread stretched across the space between them, cutting through the air with terrifying certainty, and then-

It connected.

Straight into the chest of the dark-haired Lycan standing before her.

Her world shattered.

The moment the bond latched, her heart slammed so violently against her ribs it felt like it might burst. Her pulse roared in her ears, loud and frantic, drowning out every sound around her. The pressure in the room doubled, tripled, crushing her lungs as raw emotion surged through the connection-power, dominance, shock, something fierce and unyielding.

No… no, no, no-

“Oh goddess,” she breathed, panic spiraling out of control as understanding crashed into her with brutal clarity.

Second chance mate.

Her knees trembled. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as her body betrayed her, reacting on instinot alone. Warmth spread through her chest, her stomach twisting violently as if the ground beneath her had vanished.

“Avalon-” she tried, but her voice came out broken.

Her heart beat louder. Faster.

Too fast.

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+25 Points

Her vision blurred at the edges, dark spots dancing as a sharp ringing filled her ears. The room tilted, spun, The faces around her stretching and warping as if she were falling through water.

Her breaths came in short, panicked gasps. She couldn’t get enough air.

This can’t be happening. Not now. Not him.

The last thing she managed to register was his face.

Those dark, storm-filled eyes-wide now, unmistakably shocked-locked onto hers. For the first time since she’d seen him, his control cracked. His body stiffened, his hand twitching at his side as if reaching for her without realizing it.

Their gazes held for a fraction of a second longer.

Then the abyss opened beneath her feet.

The ringing became deafening.

The floor rushed up to meet her-

-and the world went black.

Pain dragged her back to the surface.

It wasn’t gentle.

A brutal pounding slammed behind her eyes, each throb sending sharp waves through her skull. Iva groaned softly, lashes fluttering as she fought her way out of the darkness. Her mouth felt dry, her body heavy, like she’d been crushed and rebuilt wrong.

Slowly, painfully, she opened her eyes.

White ceiling. Dim light. The muffled hum of a familiar place.

Confusion washed over her-then memory hit her like a tidal wave.

Serena.

The Lycan group.

Those dark eyes.

The red thread.

Him.

Her breath hitched violently as stress surged through her veins. Her heart started racing as she tried to push herself up, panic clawing at her chest-

“Easy, little wolf. How are you feeling?”

The voice stopped her cold.

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She froze, blinking rapidly before turning her head.

Sergio.

+25 Points

He was sitting on a chair beside the narrow couch, arms crossed, expression unreadable but tight with concern. Relief and shame crashed into her at the same time.

“-” Her voice came out hoarse. She swallowed. “I’m okay… ish. My head feels like it’s splitting in two.”

He hummed lowly, studying her. “That would explain the dramatic fainting.”

She winced in embarasment.

“You gave us a real scare,” he continued, then his tone sharpened. “But more importantly-what exactly did you not understand from my very clear instruction to stay in the kitchen?”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. She dropped her gaze, fingers twisting together.

“How,” he went on, clearly exasperated, “did you end up right in front of our guests?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to-”

Sergio exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. “You really did it, Iva. You put everyone’s job in danger with your little stunt.”

The words stung because they were true.

“I’m really sorry,” she said again, quieter this time.

He was silent for a moment.

Then-

“Thank your lucky stars Prince Caleb Adama was in a merciful mood today.”

Her head snapped up.

“Prince… who?”

The blood drained from her face.

Caleb Adama.

The name echoed in her mind like a bell tolling doom.

Lycan Crown Prince.

The realization hit her so hard it made her dizzy again. Even living half her life under a rock wouldn’t excuse not knowing that name. It was whispered with fear and reverence across packs and territories alike-a shadow at public events, a future ruler who rarely showed his face but whose presence was always felt.

Cunning. Brilliant. Ruthless in battle.

And the rumors were that he was possessing magic.

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