Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Alpha?” She pressed, brushing a hand over his arm. “You seem tense. Maybe I can help?”

Caleb barely glanced at her way. “Not now, Ivy. This isn’t the time.”

Her mouth twisted with irritation as she quickly fell into step beside him instead. “Alpha, come on. Our baby wants to be with you,” she said, trying to recapture his attention. “Maybe I can… cheer you up?”

Caleb‘ s gaze darkened as he stopped and turned to her, his voice sharp. “I’m not interested in being ‘cheered up,‘ Ivy. And honestly, I don’t have time for this.”

As the day wore on, Ivy paced through the Shadow Pack grounds, her mind racing. She could practically feel the weight of his indifference pressing on her, fueling her anger. For so long, she‘ d played her part, being the one to sit on the sidelines, always ready to pounce on his attention, to remind him that she was there. But now, her patience was wearing thin.

By the time night fell, Ivy had devised a plan. If he wanted to keep ignoring her, to keep chasing after the ghost of Marissa, then Ivy would remind him exactly who was here, who had always been here. And she wouldn’t be kind about it.

The next morning, Ivy made her way to the training grounds, where she knew Caleb would be. He was sparring, his movements sharp and practiced, each blow carrying a hint of frustration as he threw himself into the fight. Ivy watched from the sidelines, studying his every move, her anger simmering beneath a carefully constructed smile.

She approached him as he took a break, her voice falsely sweet. “Alpha,” she called, her tone light. “You seem so tense. Maybe I could help?”

Caleb barely looked her way, his focus fixed on the fight. “Not now, Ivy. I’m busy.”

Ivy’s smile faltered, her teeth gritting ast she forced her voice to remain steady.

“Busy? Or just… avoiding reality?” She let the words hang, watching as the Alpha turned to her with a hard, unamused expression.

“Reality?” Caleb echoed, his eyes narrowing. “And what would you know about that?”

“Oh, I know plenty,” Ivy replied, her voice laced with a smugness she didn’t bother hiding. “I know that Marissa’s gone, and that she didn’t even bother to tell you. So maybe it’s time to move on. Focus on me. Focus on me and your baby.”

Caleb‘ s expression darkened, but he said nothing. Ivy, however, pressed on. “You know she never really cared about you, right? She even left you. If she really cared, she would have stayed even though you impregnate another she–wolf.”

The Alpha’s gaze grew colder with each word Ivy spoke, his wolf growling low in his chest. He finally met her gaze, his voice low and controlled. “You‘ re wrong, Ivy. You have no idea what Marissa and I had. And I’m not about to let you belittle it.”

Ivy’s face flushed with anger, but she hid it behind a brittle smile. “Suit yourself,” she sneered. “But you‘ re wasting your time.”

Caleb didn’t respond, simply turning his back to her as he walked away. Ivy clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she watched him go. Fine, she thought. Let him keep chasing after Marissa’s shadow. But Ivy had a plan, and she was just getting started.