Athindrya

Chapter 2

Ivy crossed the lunch hall, tray in hand. A long morning of training with Mei had exhausted her. That girl may be short, but damn did she have the strength of a giant. Lorelai waved her over from across the room. A smile formed on Ivy’s face as she made her way towards her friends. Draven was predictably sat next to Lorelai while Seff was chatting to some girl. Ivy took her seat but before she could even place any food into her mouth a hand swiped it away.

“Hey! What the hell man?”

“Sorry I’m hungry, need my strength for later.” Seff winked at the girl who giggled.

“Gross. That was unnecessary information and you have just scarred me for life.” Ivy said.

She was just about to give him a quick punch to the arm when Mei came bounding over. How on earth did that girl still have so much energy?

“Guys, guess what!”

Lorelai looked up clearly sensing the same energy as Ivy was. Mei’s joy was infectious.

“What’s up hon?”

“I found my mate!” Mei was bouncing up and down now.

“Wow. That’s great, who is he?” Seff asked. He might try to pretend he was some womaniser, but they all knew he was a romantic teddy bear at heart.

“It’s Cyran!”

Cyran was a wolf like Mei and Ivy, just a few years older. He usually kept to himself, didn’t say much and seemed quite serious. So basically, the exact opposite of Mei. Well, they do say opposites attract.

Lorelai was up like a shot, squeezing Mei into one of her famous hugs.

“Oh hon, I’m so happy for you.” Tears threatening to fall. Seff soon joined the hug.

As if on cue, Cyran sauntered over and placed a protective arm around Mei’s shoulders. It was clear to anyone they were already in love. It was obvious in the way Mei looked up at him and how he effortlessly became more seemingly open around her. That’s what the mate bond does Ivy supposed.

After introductions were made and small talk began, an announcement rang out asking Ivy to report to the Mission Chief.

Sighing she walked out of the lunch hall and into one of the many corridors. Leaving the lunch hall, Ivy walked across the quad into the main building. It was a deceptively large structure. From the outside it seemed the same as any of the other boring, grey brick buildings. Inside though, there were ornate halls where carvings of Shifters were etched into the pillars. High ceilings and marble floors gave it a regal feel that Ivy never really understood. She soon arrived in front of a large mahogany door and walked in.

“You know one of these days you’re going to have to learn how to knock.” Marcus said without looking up from his paperwork, his greying hair was pulled back into a low ponytail with one strand falling in front of his eyes. Moving the strand of hair, he looked up.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Please sit down.” His jovial tone from before was gone, replaced with his serious face, hands folded on the desk in front of him.

Marcus was like a lovable uncle to Ivy, so seeing his severe style put her a bit ill at ease. He’d been the one to look after her for so many years, until he recently got promoted to Mission Chief.

“So.” He started, looking her straight in the eye. “I need you to go on a hunt for the Council.”

“Ok. No problem, why are you so serious about this? It’s not my first time going after a bounty.”

“No, but it’s the first time anyone is doing something like this.” He said. He was definitely hiding something from her.

“Listen. You’re going to have to tell me whatever you’re hiding because otherwise I don’t see how I’m going to succeed.”

Marcus raised his eyebrow at Ivy’s audacity. She quickly realised her mistake. They might have a close relationship but ultimately, he was her boss now and someone who demanded respect. She bowed her head as a sign of respect and apology.

He cupped her cheek and lifted her face. She admired how kind this man was to her. He was the only semblance of a family she had.

“The reason this hunt is so important, is because the Council suspect that one of the larger coastal packs down south are hiding wolves that may have other abilities.”

Ivy’s questioning face prompted him to continue.

“It seems the Council have heard rumours that there are wolves that could be a potential risk to the world or at least the country and need you to find out what is going on. They want you to bring back not only the Alpha of the pack but also as much information as you can.”

“But why me? Surely the Council has elite hunters they could use to do this instead.”

Marcus bowed his head, clearly not wanting to say the next thing.

“Because Ivy, the Council believe it to be one of two packs. One of which is your old pack.”

At that Ivy flinched. One of the packs she has to investigate is the pack that didn’t want her. When she was younger, she’d asked Marcus many times why she hadn’t just stayed in her old pack, and only when she was twelve, did he tell her the truth. After her parent’s death the pack had abused and neglected her, believing her to be the reason their Alpha and Luna were dead.

Marcus had told her from the get go that she had strong Alpha blood running in her veins, which is what made her such a good hunter. But she couldn’t imagine a whole pack turning their back on a three year old because of something that she had no control over. Ivy could feel Lilka getting antsy at the not so fond memories. 

“Ivy?” Marcus spoke the word carefully, saving Ivy from her spiralling thoughts. She looked up, the room spun a bit around her, but she promptly recovered.

“The Council wants you to do this in hopes that if it is your old pack, they will trust you more instinctively. But I told them it is your decision; you can always say no if it’s too much for you.”

His thoughtfulness and protectiveness were so much like that of a father, she couldn’t help but appreciate him more. She also knew that he probably had put his arse on the line by telling her she could reject the offer. The Council were not people to be messed with, and if she refused the hunt, he would most likely be the one to pay for it.  She couldn’t do that to him. Plus thinking about it, it would give her just cause to wreak havoc on the pack and wolves that abandoned her. Lilka's vengeful nature was coming out now, so much so, Ivy could barely tell which were her own thoughts and which were her wolf's.

“I’ll do it.” Her monotone voice broke the silence that had settled over the room. Marcus’ head sprung up in surprise, not hiding said surprise from his voice.

“Really? I thought you would say no, or at least think about it some more.”

“Well, I’ve thought about it and this seems like something I could handle. But on two conditions.”

“And those would be?” His authoritative voice was back.

“I can stay here till my birthday. My friends have got a celebration planned for me and I promised I’d be there. I will gladly do the hunt for the Council, but they have to promise that it is not an automatic agreement to staying at Athindrya.”

The shock was clear on Marcus’ face. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed it with the second request. But what was done was done.

“I’ll discuss it with the Council later today and get back to you tomorrow .” That man was ever the diplomat. A small smile crossed Ivy’s face. She knew he would help her; she could always count on him.

“You are dismissed now.” Typical, she thought. They’d just had an earnest moment and here he was back to being the statuesque Mission Chief.

Give him some credit, he can't always be our friend. Lilka's voice rang through Ivy's head.

Rolling her eyes, Ivy got up from her chair, and left without another word. She had some serious thinking to do.