005; missing pups
940 Words
Ivory’s POV
I sat on the edge of a high cliff, staring into the wide blue sky, the cool air brushing my hair strands apart.
I felt too calm for what was inside me.
My chest still ached—it was hollow like something had been ripped out and nothing had filled the space. Every breath felt heavier than the last.
Below the cliff was a stretch of training tents, lined in rows. Soldiers moved about, some sparring, some preparing for drills.
I saw Draven step out of one of the tents, a bow and arrow slung across his broad back.
My chest tightened.
Immediately, memories of yesterday came rushing back.
"Someone has seen us, Ivory."
He had yanked me up from my kneeling position.
"So just say it quick."
His voice had changed. The earlier warmth and sympathy had disappeared.
He wanted to go after the intruder immediately.
My heart had shattered then like breaking glass.
I knew I had no choice.
So I rejected him.
Just like he had rejected me.
We would go our separate ways like nothing had ever happened.
Maybe the Moon Goddess had made a mistake. Maybe I wasn't good enough for him. He wanted a more attractive woman. And I wasn't.
"Ivory, get a hold of yourself." I said, pushing myself up from the cliff, ready to leave.
A crunch sounded behind me. I turned around.
“Rodrigo,” I sighed.
“You should be running. What are you doing here?”
He froze.
“What do you mean?” He rubbed his goatee—his usual tell when he was nervous.
“You know what you did last night.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sis.”
“Where were you last night?”
“Why are you asking? I was running business errands.” He shrugged.
“Really? Should I ask around?” I folded my arms. “The Alpha is about to organise a search for everyone who entered his lodge last night.”
“I…” he trailed off.
“Just be truthful, Rodrigo.”
He stared at me, eyes widening. “How did you know it was me?”
“You left the lodge in a hurry. One of the guards told me.”
“So that’s it? That’s how you concluded?” He let out a breath, still shocked.
It was incredible how easily I found him out.
Still… I wondered why that same instinct had failed me on the day of the mating ceremony.
“Don’t say a word about what you saw last night,” I said, my tone hard.
He pulled off his hood, worry written all over his face. “But the Alpha is looking for me.”
“I’ll convince him not to,” I said, standing and dusting off my clothes.
“How?” He frowned. “You just had a falling out.”
I pressed my lips together. “ We’re emotionally done with each other, Rodrigo. That makes things… simpler.”
He studied me. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “I’m over him.”
But the lie sat bitter in my mouth.
“Come on.”
He followed me down the rocky slope.
We stopped at Selene’s tent.
Selene stiffened the moment she saw me.
Her hands pausing mid-motion. She didn’t look at me directly.
I walked in and sat on a stool.
“What potion are you making?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, Ivory.”
I pressed my lips together. She was talking about yesterday. How she kept the truth I needed so much from me.
“It’s fine. You did what you thought was right.”
“Hiding the truth about the ceremony…” Her voice softened. “It didn’t feel right.”
She set the herbs in her hand aside and took my hands.
“But trust me. That union would’ve brought you pain. And isolation. It wasn’t worth it.”
I shook my head slowly, holding my breath.
“Then how am I supposed to get over it?”
My voice broke.
“We rejected each other, Selene… but I still feel something for him. I don’t know how to stop it.”
My fingers tightened around hers.
“It’s not fair,” I whispered.
Selene pulled me into an embrace.
I bit my lip, trying to hold the tears back—but they slipped out silently, wetting her shoulder.
“I’m here for you,” she murmured. “Always. I won’t hurt you again.”
I pulled back slightly, resting my forehead against hers.
For a moment… everything went quiet, and a soft calm settled over me.
“Last night, when I went to the Alpha’s lodge… I came to see you,” Rodrigo said, breaking the silence.
I moved away from Selene.
“So why did you come?”
“Ivory…” He sighed.
“What is it?”
"Ten pups were missing yesternight."
this morning.”
Shit. A chill ran through me.
"No... That's not possible." Is he playing some prank on me?
His jaw tightened.
“Ivory, I'm not joking. They're now lying dead at the foot of a tree.”
Everything inside me went still. Ten pups?! This was insane. At this point, we'll die out quicker than we reproduced.
"Who would do such an insane thing?" Selene asked, her lips parting in shock. I was already on my feet.
"Lead the way, Rodrigo." I ordered, hurrying out of the tent.
“You have to be prepared because their bodies…” he turned to me, “... are strange.”
- Writer
