Chapter 33: The Visit

"Who is there?" I asked, still standing in the middle of the room.

For a second there was no answer, only a faint movement outside, like someone shifting their weight impatiently.

Then the door opened slightly, and a familiar face appeared.

"I can’t believe you actually asked who it was," Ivy said, pushing the door wider as if she already belonged here. "What kind of welcome is that for your own sister?"

My stomach tightened immediately.

"Ivy?" I said, more surprised than pleased.

She stepped fully inside before I could say anything else, closing the door behind her with a quiet click.

She looked exactly the same as the last time I had seen her before the Luna ceremony, perfectly dressed, perfectly composed, like she had stepped out of a calm life that had nothing to do with war, training, or blood.

Except this time, she was standing in my room inside the fortress.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

She smiled lightly, like the question didn’t make sense. "I just got here this morning. I came straight from Ebonvale."

I studied her face carefully, she didn’t look exhausted at all. If anything, she looked... prepared.

"Why?" I asked again.

She hesitated just long enough to make the answer feel rehearsed.

"Because I missed you," she said softly.

The words sounded right, but I already know she is lying, she is in this fortress since last night, in seraphina chamber

. Ivy had never been the kind of person who said things like that easily, not even when we were children. Still, she stepped closer and looked at me carefully, and whatever she saw on my face made her expression change instantly.

"What happened to you?" she asked, reaching out as if she wanted to touch my arm before stopping halfway. "Liora, you look injured."

"It’s nothing," I replied automatically.

Her eyes dropped to the bandage wrapped around my forearm, then to the way I was still holding my side without realizing it.

"That doesn’t look like nothing," she said quietly. "Did someone hurt you?"

"No," I said, a little more firmly this time. "It’s just training."

Her brows drew together. "Training?"

"Yes."

She stared at me like she hadn’t heard correctly. "But... you’re wolfless. You shouldn’t even be in training."

I almost smiled at that. Almost.

"Ivy, you worry too much," I said, walking past her toward the chair near the window so I wouldn’t have to stand too long. "It’s just basic training. Nothing serious."

She followed me immediately. "Nothing serious doesn’t leave bruises like that. You look like you’ve been fighting real wolves, not learning how to defend yourself."

I sat down slowly, ignoring the ache in my ribs. "I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine," she insisted.

"I said I’m fine."

She went quiet for a moment, clearly trying to decide whether to argue or pretend she believed me. Eventually she let out a small sigh and sat across from me.

"You should probably go back to Ebonvale," I said, trying to sound casual. "You shouldn’t leave father and mother alone for too long."

Her head snapped up. "Go back? Already?"

"Yes. You said you just arrived, so you should leave before it becomes a problem. The fortress isn’t exactly welcoming to visitors."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I didn’t come all this way just to turn around and leave the same day."

"You’ll be safer there," I said. "And they’ll worry if you stay too long."

She leaned forward a little. "I’m not leaving, Liora. I came here to stay with you for a while."

Something in my chest tightened again, but this time it wasn’t surprise. It was suspicion.

"Why?" I asked quietly.

"Because you’re alone here," she replied, as if the answer was obvious. "You’re in a place full of strangers, surrounded by people who don’t trust you, married to someone everyone is afraid of. Did you really think I would just stay in Ebonvale and pretend everything was normal?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

For a brief moment, I almost believed her.

The way she said it sounded sincere enough to soften the anger I had carried since the day she betrayed me. For a second, I remembered the version of Ivy who used to braid my hair when we were children and pretend she didn’t care when I ruined her dresses by accident.

But that version didn’t exist anymore. Not after everything that had happened.

Before I could answer, a knock sounded softly at the door, and it opened before I said anything.

Thea stepped inside with a small tray in her hands. Two cups of tea, a small plate of fruit, and a glass of water.

She paused when she noticed Ivy sitting across from me, but she recovered quickly and walked toward the table without drawing attention to herself.

"My lady," she said politely, setting the tray down. "I thought you might need something after training."

I nodded. "Thank you."

Her eyes flicked briefly to the bandage on my arm again before she stepped back. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No," I said.

She bowed slightly and left the room as quietly as she had entered.

Ivy watched the entire exchange without saying anything, but the moment the door closed, she leaned forward again.

"So you have a new maid already?" she asked.

"Elara had to leave," I replied.

"Why?"

"Her sister is sick. She left this morning."

Ivy nodded slowly, though her eyes still held something thoughtful, like she was adding another detail to something she was trying to understand.

"And how have you been coping with all of this?" she asked after a moment.

"With what?"

"With him," she said quietly.

I didn’t need her to say his name.

"I’m doing fine," I replied.

"Liora, don’t lie to me," she said softly. "I saw what happened on the day of the ceremony. Everyone saw it. The way he killed one of his own elders in front of the entire pack... I’ve never seen anything like that. I was terrified just watching it from a distance. How are you living with someone like that every day?"

I kept my expression calm even though the memory of that day still made my chest feel tight.

"He’s not like that all the time," I said.

She stared at me carefully. "So you’re not afraid of him?"

"No."

"Not even a little?"

I hesitated for half a second, then shook my head. "No. He’s treating me well and besides,he did that because of me"

The words sounded strange even to me, but they weren’t entirely false either.

Kael had never hurt me, never forced me to do anything I couldn’t handle, and the way he had stitched my wound himself last night still lingered in my mind in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

Ivy studied my face closely, searching for something she clearly didn’t find.

"I was worried about you," she said quietly. "I thought you would be miserable here. I thought you would regret everything."

I looked down at my hands for a moment, then back at her.

"I don’t regret it," I said simply.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she forced a small smile anyway. "Then I’m glad you’re doing well."

For a brief moment, the room fell quiet. The tea on the table had already cooled slightly, but neither of us touched it.

I wanted to believe she had come here because she cared. I wanted to believe the way she was looking at me now was genuine concern and not another performance.

But I couldn’t forget the way she had stood silent when everything fell apart in Ebonvale. I couldn’t forget the look in her eyes when she realized I had survive what other previous wives couldn’t.

She noticed my silence and reached out slowly, placing her hand lightly over mine.

"You know you can trust me, right?" she asked softly. "I’m still your sister, no matter what happens here."

Something inside me almost gave in at that moment. Almost.

But then a sudden wave of nausea rose in my throat so quickly that I had to pull my hand away and stand up immediately.

"What’s wrong?" Ivy asked, startled.

"I don’t know," I muttered, pressing a hand against my mouth as the room suddenly felt too warm. "I just—"

The nausea hit harder this time, forcing me to turn away from her and grab the edge of the table for support.

My stomach twisted painfully, and for a second I was certain I was going to vomit right there.

"Liora?" Ivy’s voice sounded closer now. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," I said quickly, even though the words barely came out properly. "It’s probably just the training. I haven’t eaten much today."

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she stared at me in a way that made the back of my neck feel cold.

When I finally looked up again, her expression had changed completely. The concern was still there, but something else had replaced the softness in her eyes. Something sharper. More certain.

"Sister," she said slowly, "I think you’re pregnant."

And suddenly the room felt even smaller than it had a moment ago.