The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 7

Worse Than Death–2

“I accepted her every day,” he continued, his voice hardening, “in the hope that despite being a girl, she would be useful to the pack. That she could bring us a strong alliance.”

Iva felt as if something sharp had pierced her chest.

“But after tonight,” he went on, “forget it.”

Her heart shattered a little more.

“Who would accept a chosen mate like her?” Rhys scoffed. “The runt of the pack? Except maybe an omega. Or someone from a lowly pack desperate enough to be related to a Gamma family. You know the situation of the pack that is declining every day and we needed badly a strong alliance. This is the reason why I rejected the idea of her going to any Academy. She could study later, but the priority was to find her an influential mate, but after tonight… forget about it.”

Rana broke down then, her sobs loud and raw, and Iva’s vision blurred as tears spilled silently down her cheeks.

“Please,” her mother cried. “She’s just a child. She needs us, especially now.”

But Rhys didn’t soften.

“She is a disgrace,” he said coldly. “And will not pretend otherwise. I have no idea what we did wrong for the Goddess to punish us like this. Even the Alpha was shocked… and, of course, he is livid in fury… as now we need to reconsider the list of potential mates.”

Iva sagged against the wall, her legs trembling violently as if they might give out. Her chest burned, the pain so intense it felt physical, like a hot iron pressed directly against her heart.

Despite everything… she thought brokenly, we were a family.

Aren’t you supposed to love your pups no matter what?

Her breath hitched, silent sobs shaking her shoulders as she struggled to remain unseen. The

words carved deep wounds into her soul, wounds that might never heal.

Inside her, Avalon whimpered softly, the sound filled with sorrow and confusion.

“They don’t want us,” the wolf whispered, her voice small and aching. “We are alone.”

Iva pressed her forehead against the wall, tears streaming freely now.

Wolves were social creatures.

They needed a pack.

They craved belonging.

They survived through connection.

And yet, from the moment they had shifted, rejection had followed them relentlessly–mocked by

the pack, dismissed by leadership, and now… rejected in their own home.

The North? Her mind scrambled, trying to recall what she knew–sparse lands, harsh climates, no

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