Chapter 2
993 Words
Morning came far too quickly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains and landed across Ivy's face, forcing her awake long before she was ready.
She stared at the ceiling for a while, hoping the strange thoughts she'd carried to bed had disappeared with the night.
They hadn't.
She sighed and rubbed a hand over her face.
Get over yourself.
It had been one conversation.
One polite greeting.
Nothing more.
By the time she showered, got dressed, and convinced herself she looked perfectly normal, she almost believed it.
Almost.
The smell of fresh coffee greeted her as she walked into the kitchen.
Lena was already there, sitting on one of the stools with her legs tucked beneath her, staring at her phone like her life depended on it.
Without looking up, she said, "You're late."
"It's eight-thirty."
"Exactly."
Ivy laughed.
"Since when is that late?"
"Since my aunt decided every banner for tomorrow's holiday gathering has to hang at the exact same height."
She held up her phone dramatically.
"I've received seventeen messages about decorations before breakfast."
"I suddenly don't feel bad for sleeping in."
"You shouldn't."
Lena finally looked up.
"You should feel bad because you're helping me."
"I don't remember agreeing."
"You don't have to. Best friend privileges."
Ivy rolled her eyes and slid onto the stool beside her.
"I walked right into that."
"You always do."
Lena narrowed her eyes.
"You look exhausted."
"I slept fine."
"Liar."
"I'm serious."
"You've got those tiny dark circles under your eyes."
Ivy shrugged.
"New house."
"That happens."
Lena stood and walked toward the coffee machine.
"This place makes weird noises at night anyway. Half the pipes sound haunted."
"I noticed."
"See? Not just me."
Lena handed her a mug.
"Caffeine fixes everything."
"I don't think that's medically accurate."
"It doesn't have to be."
Ivy smiled despite herself.
Being around Lena always made life feel lighter.
Simple.
Normal.
Exactly what she needed.
She wrapped both hands around the warm mug, letting the heat settle her nerves.
Maybe today would be different.
Maybe she'd hardly see Marcus.
Maybe—
Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Her heart betrayed her before she even looked up.
Marcus Hale walked into the kitchen.
He'd changed into a dark charcoal sweater and jeans, the sleeves pushed carelessly to his forearms. His hair was still slightly damp, as though he'd only just stepped out of the shower.
He looked... ordinary.
Which somehow made him even more attractive.
Less like the intimidating Alpha everyone feared.
More like a man.
"Morning," he said.
His voice carried through the room with quiet confidence.
"Morning, Dad," Lena replied, still focused on making another coffee.
Marcus nodded at Ivy.
"Morning."
"Good morning."
She hated how soft her voice sounded.
Lena interrupted before the silence could grow.
"I've already recruited Ivy."
"For what?"
"Banners."
Marcus looked toward his daughter.
"So she's been drafted."
"I didn't give her a choice."
"I noticed."
"I never give anyone a choice."
"So I've learned."
The corners of his mouth lifted just slightly.
It wasn't much.
But it transformed his whole face.
Ivy found herself staring.
Again.
Marcus walked toward the coffee pot.
As he reached for a mug, he passed close enough that Ivy caught the clean scent of cedar and fresh soap.
It shouldn't have affected her.
It did.
"There'll be a council meeting in twenty minutes," Marcus said.
"So I won't be much help today."
"You never are during decorating," Lena replied.
"It's one of my better qualities."
"No, your better quality is paying for all this."
Marcus chuckled quietly.
"I'll remember that."
Lena grinned.
"I knew you would."
Watching them together felt... nice.
This wasn't the cold Alpha everyone whispered about.
This was simply a father teasing his daughter over coffee.
It made him seem warmer.
Kinder.
More real.
Which was somehow worse.
Marcus poured himself a cup of black coffee.
Before leaving, he glanced at Ivy.
"Did you sleep alright?"
It was a simple question.
The sort of thing any polite host would ask.
Still...
Something about the way he waited for her answer made her pulse skip.
"I did."
She smiled politely.
"Thank you."
"I'm glad."
Another brief pause.
"If you need anything while you're here, don't hesitate to ask."
"I will."
He gave a small nod.
Then he walked out.
The kitchen suddenly felt quieter.
Lena turned around with her own mug.
"You okay?"
Ivy blinked.
"Hm?"
"You were staring at the door."
"I was thinking."
"About?"
"The banners."
Lena laughed so hard she nearly spilled her coffee.
"Nice try."
Ivy couldn't help laughing too.
An hour later, they were standing on ladders in the enormous entrance hall.
Or rather...
Ivy was standing on the ladder.
Lena was giving instructions from the floor.
"A little higher."
Ivy adjusted the banner.
"No... too high."
She lowered it.
"Actually... split the difference."
"You have no idea what you're doing, do you?"
"Not even a little."
Ivy laughed.
"I knew it."
By lunchtime, they'd hung six banners.
Argued with Lena's perfectionist aunt twice.
Moved the same decoration three separate times.
And somehow survived without falling off a ladder.
It should have been enough to keep Ivy's mind occupied.
It wasn't.
Every now and then she caught herself remembering Marcus standing in the kitchen.
The smile he'd tried to hide.
The way he'd asked if she'd slept well.
The quiet warmth in his voice.
She was reading too much into it.
She knew she was.
He was simply being a gracious host.
Nothing else.
By evening, the mansion buzzed with activity.
Staff hurried through the halls carrying trays.
Fresh flowers appeared in every room.
Guests would begin arriving the following morning.
Soon the house would be overflowing with pack members, elders, neighboring Alphas, and family friends.
There would be no time for unnecessary thoughts.
No quiet moments.
No accidental conversations over morning coffee.
That should have made Ivy feel relieved.
Instead...
For reasons she refused to admit, she felt strangely disappointed.
- Writer
