Twenty Six
1093 Words
It was on a hot Tuesday afternoon when Enid and her delegates arrived. Ivy had known they would be arriving today, the whole pack settings had changed with Darius at the forefront. He spearheaded the new change in the pack, giving a beautiful and girly finish to most of the things in the pack.
Ivy winced uncomfortably as she walked past and her mind went to Zeke. How would he feel with these new changes? But she remembered it was his bride coming home so he wouldn't care, her eyes twitched at that.
A new lady - more like a bride, arriving the pack when she had been named Zeke's Mate was an insult to her name and she could feel some parts of the pack's inhabitants treating her differently. She forced herself not to care. Zeke had been postponing their night training for two days now and Lucas avoided her, even if he avoided Zeke more.
The whole pack was standing at the entrance of the pack house waiting for Enid, under the flaming sun.
Ivy's eyes were half closed because of the intensity of the sun and she scoffed. “This is bullshit,” She said, loud enough for Darius and all other pack members to hear. Everyone turned to her and she rolled her eyes.
“Girl, be calm.” Tessa whispered but ivy was long past being calm. Misty shifted inside her and she went still.
“You're doing well”
“Stupid, jealous wolf.” She muttered with a smile.
“As if you aren't jealous.”
“It feels wrong fighting for someone who doesn't care.”
“Who said he doesn't?” Ivy whipped her head towards the incoming Zeke and Lucas trio and their eyes collided.
Normally, Zeke would lower his eyes or divert his gaze but this time he didn't. He just stared openly, vulnerably. Glimpses of the fire flashed through Ivy's eyes and her eyes widened. Zeke's eyes widened slightly too as if he knew what she saw.
“Zeke, come over here.” Darius called.
Zeke slowly diverted his gaze from Ivy's and walked over to Darius. “Yes, alpha Darius.” He said.
“Alpha?” Ivy snorted.
“What the fuck.” Tessa hissed and Ivy looked up to her, only to find the whole pack including Zeke and Darius looking at her. That was when she realized she had said it aloud.
She could see a glint of satisfaction in Zeke's eyes and she only hoped she wasn't imagining things. “What?” She widened her palms. “I thought my mate was the alpha here.” She added and shrugged. She looked at Zeke again. A tiny smile tugged at his lips and she felt satisfied. That was until the whistle went out, signaling Enid's arrival. Zeke moved his gaze to her.
“Rubbish,” Ivy muttered.
“Let's get started.” Misty said in a tiny voice.
“Why are you whispering? No one can hear us,” Ivy chuckled. “Have you been able to talk to his wolf?” She asked.
“I have. He's quite loyal to Zeke and haven't given me any useful information, I'm still working on that though. And…” she paused for more effect.
“My mate is handsome. Like so handsome. Black, shiny black to be precise and his voice, his howl.”
“Horny thing.” Ivy said. “But come to think of it, take a look at Zeke.” She said.
“Zeke's beauty isn't up to my mate.”
“Zeke is your mate.” Ivy said amused.
“Ivy,” Tessa shook her aggressively.
“What?”
“You've been out, I've been trying to call you ever since and you're just. Nevermind, look at her.” She said.
She was alighting the chariots that brought her in that elegant way only a princess trained delicately all her life would.
Enid's eyes looked through the crowd and she wore a smile that was half flattered and half proud. Everything about her screamed riches. She greeted the pack elders warmly before walking over to Darius.
“Greetings, uncle Darius.” Enid greeted with the familiarity of someone she saw often. That was when it dawned on Ivy. Darius. He must have suggested it and Zeke not being able to disobey agreed with him.
“Disgusting old man,” Ivy spat out in a whisper and Tessa turned to her in surprise.
She could see Zeke walking over to her and she arranged her face into something stable.
“Ivy, meet Enid, my guest.” He introduced and Ivy raised an eyebrow, tauntingly and waited.
“Enid, meet Ivy, my…” he trailed off and looked away. Enid meet his eyes with expectation but ivy, she waited. The whole pack waited. “My mate.” Zeke said, finally.
“Now, that's a win.” Misty said.
“You're welcome to the Bloodcrawl pack.” Ivy stretched out her hand to shake Enid's hand. Enid's face twisted in discomfort at the way Zeke introduced ivy but she said nothing.
A smile that didn't reach her eyes plastered on her face as she shook ivy's hands.
“I've heard so much about you.” Enid said. “The girl that rejected the rejection. How brave.” She pursed her lips. But there was something about the way she said brave. It sounded remarkably close to foolishness.
Ivy smiled back. Warm, composed. “And I've heard about you. A little, but enough to know about the alliance match. How romantic - chosen for politics,” she fired back in her collected manner.
Enid's smile wavered but it stayed but her eyes didn't. Ivy's smiled widened and she turned her gaze to Zeke, winking at him. Ivy pulled Tessa away and they walked out, the whole pack watching. Round one to Ivy but she left with something. Enid was organized, collected and dangerous and had more political influence than her, she even had Darius at her back. While Zeke rested comfortably on the fence. But she, she had conquered the pack.
“I hate her face.” Tessa muttered.
“Me too,” Ivy said.
“Me three,” Misty purred.
“But hold up, Zeke introduced you as his mate.” Tessa chuckled. She could feel misty leaning against her in excitement. Ivy blushed and looked away.
“Aww, she's blushing.” Tessa teased.
“Seriously, we need to move faster.” Ivy turned to Tessa and she nodded.
- Writer
