Wrong Bride, Real Goodbye Chapter 04

Wrong Bride, Real Goodbye Chapter 04

Ivy’s POV

A while later, Adrian swore under his breath.

He wrenched the door open and stormed out.

The hallway was empty.

I was already gone.

His childhood friend sensed the shift in the room and spoke carefully.

“Adrian… you want me to go bring Ivy back?”

Adrian stared out at the dark street, something heavy pressing against his chest.

He hadn’t expected me to actually have the nerve to leave.

A moment passed. Then a cold smile spread across his face and the confidence came back.

“Bring her back? For what.”

“She’ll be back on her own in three days.”

“The Pack Hall slot won’t hold. If she misses it, she can forget about ever getting another shot at becoming future Luna.”

I was checking into a hotel when Bella sent me that voice memo.

Her voice dripped with condescension. Like she was here to walk me back to reality.

“If you’ve got any real pride, don’t ever go back.”

“But I know you can’t let go of Adrian. A future Alpha.”

“Nobody wants you there, but you’ll stick around anyway. Like gum on a shoe.”

I knew what she was doing.

Trying to provoke me. Hoping I’d never go back.

I almost laughed.

Wanted to tell her: you really don’t need to bother.

But I just blocked her instead.

The next morning, Liam Reed came to pick me up for the mate bond registration.

He looked sharp.

Black dress shirt, broad shoulders, a small silver wolf-crest pin at the collar.

He studied my face for a long moment before leaning down to press a soft kiss to my cheek.

“You look beautiful.”

I dropped my gaze and smiled, warmth rising in my cheeks.

When we arrived at Pack Hall, I took a photo of the entrance.

Then I took Liam’s hand and walked inside.

His palm was steady and warm.

For the first time, my wolf didn’t pull back.

She pressed close to his scent, quiet and still. Like she’d finally found her way home.

Meanwhile.

One of Adrian’s friends, still crashing on his couch, jolted upright.

“What the hell, Adrian. Look what Ivy’s doing!”

The second he heard my name, Adrian snatched the phone.

On the screen: a photo of Pack Hall.

He scoffed and let his lip curl.

“Cute.”

“Thought she was storming out on principle. And now she’s standing outside Pack Hall begging me to register?”

The room burst out laughing.

“You going, Adrian?”

“Obviously not. That’s the whole point.”

“Going would mean she won.”

The frustration he’d been carrying all night finally cracked. He relaxed.

He raised an eyebrow, smug.

“Depends on my mood.”

“When I feel like it, I might”

“Wait, hold on!”

Before he could finish, someone else shoved their phone forward.

His voice cracked.

“Ivy registered a mate bond?”

“Isn’t that Liam Reed? The Reed family’s Alpha heir?”