Tightening Chains
1441 Words
The silence of the library wrapped around Iva like a thin blanket, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her.
She leaned back in the chair, eyes unfocused, fingers laced tightly together as Avalon’s presence stirred beneath her skin, more alert now, more focused than before.
“We cannot wait until the last moment,” Avalon said, her voice low and serious. “The closer we get to the mating date, the tighter the scrutiny will become.”
Iva swallowed.
“Your father is already watching you and you are grounded thanks to Nick’s lies,” Avalon continued. “The Alpha is watching you as he wants the deals done with the North. Every move you make will be questioned. Every step counted. If we hesitate too long, we may not get another chance.”
“I know,” Iva whispered, her throat dry. “I was thinking the same.”
She rubbed her temples slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. “They already grounded me. Limited my movements. If I wait until the last days… I might not even be allowed to leave the house for any reason.”
“Exactly,” Avalon replied. “We need a moment when attention is elsewhere. When eyes are distracted. When the pack is busy celebrating, drinking, watching something else instead of watching you.”
Iva straightened slightly.
“Are there any events coming up in the next seven days?” Avalon asked. “Anything that gathers everyone together?”
Iva’s heart skipped.
She closed her eyes and searched her memory desperately.
“Festivals?” she murmured. “Pack celebrations? Moon rituals? No… nothing like that.”
Her pulse quickened as the seconds passed.
“Wait,” she said suddenly, her breath hitching. “There is… one thing.”
Avalon waited.
“The high school graduation,” Iva said slowly. “The ceremony is in four days. And the party afterward. Most of the pack will be there—families, elders, Alpha’s circle, everyone.”
She opened her eyes wide as the realization hit her fully.
“The guards will be relaxed,” she whispered. “My father will be distracted. The Alpha too. Everyone will be celebrating.”
Avalon’s presence sharpened instantly.
“Then that is our window,” she said firmly. “That night.”
Iva’s heart began to pound harder, faster, echoing in her ears until she could barely hear her own thoughts. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the desk.
“That’s… that’s so soon,” she breathed.
“It has to be,” Avalon replied gently but without hesitation. “Any later, and we risk being trapped.”
Iva nodded slowly, even though Avalon could feel her agreement already.
Her mind raced.
Four days.
Four days to prepare to leave everything she had ever known.
Her home.
Her mother.
Lori.
The pack grounds she had grown up on.
The life she never truly had, but still mourned.
Fear coiled tightly around her ribs, cold and sharp.
But beneath it—
Something else stirred.
Determination.
Resolve.
A fierce, quiet fire.
“There’s no other way,” Iva whispered, more to herself than to Avalon. “If I stay… they’ll send me anyhow from here days later.”
“You are stronger than they believe,” Avalon said softly. “And stronger than you believe.”
Iva closed her eyes, letting out a slow, shaky breath.
“Four days,” she repeated. “Then we run.”
Her heart beat wildly in her chest, fear and hope tangled together until she could no longer tell them apart.
The path ahead was terrifying.
But it was hers, decided by her.
And she would take it.
--
The rest of the day passed like a dream she did not remember choosing to be part of.
Classes blurred together, voices faded into background noise, and even the ticking of time felt distorted, as if the world itself was rushing forward while she lagged behind, dragging invisible chains. By the time the final bell rang, Iva felt hollowed out, like something essential had been scraped from her and left behind somewhere between fear and resolve.
She walked home slowly, this time avoiding the forest.
When she stepped inside the house, the familiar scent of wood, soap, and herbs wrapped around her, but it brought no comfort this time.
“I’m home,” she said softly.
Her mother appeared from the kitchen almost instantly. “Welcome back, love.”
Rana smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Iva noticed it immediately—the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers twisted together, the careful stillness in her movements. Her wolf senses picked up what her heart already knew.
He’s home.
Her father.
A quiet knot formed in her stomach.
“I’ll go upstairs,” Iva murmured.
Rana nodded, hesitation flickering across her face, like she wanted to say something but didn’t dare. Iva turned away before the guilt could sink its teeth into her.
She had barely reached her bedroom when her phone rang.
She picked it up—
And nearly dropped it.
“I GOT ACCEPTED!!!”
Lori’s scream exploded through the speaker, sharp and ecstatic, making Iva wince before she burst into a genuine smile for the first time that day.
“Iva! Iva! I got accepted!” Lori continued breathlessly. “Medical program! Lycan Academy! I can’t believe it, I am over the moon! We need to celebrate, like right now, or I swear I’ll explode from happiness!”
Iva laughed softly, warmth spreading through her chest. “Lori… that’s amazing. I knew you would.”
“I’m shaking!” Lori said. “Come to me, please. Let’s do something. Anything. Netflix, ice cream, shopping spree…”
Iva’s smile softened. “Let me ask Mom and I’ll let you know, okay?”
“Deal!” Lori replied happily.
Iva ended the call and took a steadying breath before heading downstairs.
“Mom? Lori was asking if I can go to her to…” she began—
“You are grounded.”
Her father’s voice struck like a whip.
Iva froze.
Rhys stood in the living room, arms crossed, his expression cold and unforgiving.
“Did you forget?” he continued sharply. “How dare you even consider going out.”
“I just—” Iva started.
“Unless,” he cut in cruelly, “you are planning more escapes into the forest with who knows whom, to disgrace our name even further.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
“I told you before,” he said, his voice hard as stone. “You are not allowed to go anywhere. Except for the remaining two days of school and the graduation ceremony.”
Rana stepped forward hesitantly. “Rhys, she only—”
“Enough,” he snapped. “Do not undermine me.”
He turned back to Iva. “Do not make me assign a warrior to track you and make you comply.”
The words hit like a blow.
Iva nodded slowly, her throat too tight to speak, then turned and walked back upstairs, her legs trembling beneath her.
Once inside her room, she sank onto the bed and stared at the wall, her heart racing.
She typed a message to Lori with shaking fingers.
I can’t come. I’m grounded. But I’m so happy for you. Truly.
The reply came instantly.
We’ll celebrate later. I promise. I love you.
Iva pressed the phone to her chest, blinking back tears.
Then her father’s words echoed in her mind again.
Warrior to track you.
She swallowed hard.
“You were right,” she whispered to Avalon. “They’re tightening their grip on us already.”
“I told you,” Avalon replied calmly, though there was an edge of urgency beneath her voice.
“We’ll need to pack super light for our excape,” Iva continued, her thoughts racing now. “Only the absolute necessities. Nothing that could slow us down.”
“Leave that to me,” Avalon said firmly. “Once we shift, they won’t be able to keep up with us if we’re discovered.”
Iva hesitated. “Even with… your size?”
Avalon huffed softly, almost amused.
“I might be tiny,” she said, “but we are agile.”
A faint, determined smile tugged at Iva’s lips.
Fear still lingered.
But now—
So did preparation.
And time was slipping away.
She looked around the room, took her mobile and opened a new note; it was time to make the list with what she needed.
- Writer
