Chapter Twenty Three.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into my apartment, soft and warm, highlighting the jar of wildflowers and daisies on my bedside table. Their scent—Micah's scent of lavender and fresh-baked bread—lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of his thoughtfulness.

I ran my fingers over the delicate emerald bracelet on my wrist, the memory of Elias’s whiskey and cedarwood presence still fresh in my mind. That steady, grounding feeling from him clung to me like an anchor.

Today, though, was Callum’s turn. The Beta of the pack, Callum was vibrant in personality, always lightening the mood and bringing balance to the dynamic. Despite being scentless, there was something grounding and familiar about him, something that made him stand out as a pillar of quiet strength.

By evening, I found myself at the pack house again, anticipation bubbling in my chest. Callum greeted me at the door, cobalt blue eyes sparkling with that ever-present mischief. His dark brown hair was slightly tousled, as though he’d run a hand through it in his rush to answer the door.

“Well, look who decided to grace me with her presence,” he teased, leaning casually against the doorframe.

“Someone’s confident,” I replied, rolling my eyes with a grin.

“Confident? Nah. I’m just stating the obvious—you’ve been counting down the hours till you saw me again,” he said, stepping aside to let me in.

The house smelled incredible. Roasted garlic, fresh herbs, and a hint of something sweet wafted from the kitchen.

“You cooked?” I asked, glancing toward the source of the delicious aromas.

“Of course.” he said, guiding me to the dining room. “Sit tight, Ivy. Tonight’s all about taking care of you.”

The table was set simply but thoughtfully, with plates of roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, and freshly baked rolls. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was the kind of meal that felt nurturing and sincere.

“This is amazing,” I said, settling into my seat.

“Flattery will get you dessert,” he teased with a wink, sliding into the chair across from me. “But seriously, you’ve been through the emotional rollercoaster with Theo, Elias, and Micah. Let me bring you back to earth a little.”

Dinner started light, with Callum cracking jokes that had me laughing until my sides hurt. His humor was easy and disarming, making it impossible not to feel relaxed in his presence.

As the meal went on, his tone softened, becoming more serious. “So,” he said, leaning forward slightly, “what’s it like for you? Being with all of us?”

I hesitated, running my thumb over the edge of my fork. “It’s... a lot. In a good way, though. I’ve never felt so connected before. But it’s also a little overwhelming. I worry about being enough for all of you.”

Callum reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. “Ivy, you’re not just enough—you’re everything. And you don’t have to carry that weight alone. That’s why you have us. A pack is about sharing the load, not piling it all on one person.”

His words settled warmly in my chest, easing some of the doubts that had been swirling in my mind.

“What about you?” I asked, shifting the focus. “What’s it like being the Beta in a pack with such... strong personalities?”

He laughed, leaning back in his chair. “It’s never boring, that’s for sure. But I like it. Being scentless means I don’t have the same pull or command as the others, but it also means I’m not tied down by it. I get to be the glue that keeps everyone grounded when things get too intense.”

“Like now?” I teased, smirking.

“Exactly,” he said with a laugh. “Trust me, keeping Theo in line is a full-time job.”

Later in the evening, Callum disappeared briefly, returning with a small box in hand.

“I got this for you,” he said, sliding it across the table.

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, its simplicity offset by a tiny rose-shaped charm.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, my fingers brushing over the charm.

“Just a little reminder,” he said softly, his gaze unusually earnest. “That you’re part of us now.”

“You guys really need to stop spoiling me,” I said with a laugh, though my heart swelled at the gesture.

“You say that, but you love it,” he teased, grinning.

The night didn’t end there. After dinner, Callum guided me to the couch, motioning for me to lie down.

“What are you doing?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Trust me,” he said, grabbing a pillow. “Lie down, face down.”

I complied, curious. A moment later, I felt his hands on my back, warm and firm as he began to knead the tension from my shoulders.

“You’ve been carrying too much stress,” he said softly, his voice low and soothing. “Let me help.”

His hands worked magic, easing knots I didn’t even realize I had. His touch was confident but careful, and I couldn’t help but relax under his attention.

By the time it was time to leave, I felt like I was floating. Callum walked me to the door, his hand resting lightly on my lower back.

“You know,” he said, his grin returning, “I think you like me the best out of all of us.”

“Is that so?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Definitely. You laughed at all my jokes. That’s basically a confession,” he said, cobalt eyes twinkling.

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Goodnight, Callum.”

“Goodnight, Ivy,” he said, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my cheek. His lips lingered just long enough to make my heart race.

As I walked back to my apartment, the bracelet on my wrist felt like another small promise, another piece of the pack falling into place.

~~~

The next morning, I woke up with a heavy heart. Today was going to be full of work, and the thought of not seeing any of the pack for the first time since before my heat left a hollow feeling in my chest. But maybe it would be healthier for me, I reasoned. I needed some space to breathe, to clear my head. Still, the idea of missing their warmth, their presence, felt strange.

I let out a small laugh at a funny text from my mom, my fingers typing a quick response before I turned on the shower. I had the plan to hunt down Morgan afterward, spend a little time with her and distract myself for a bit.

About an hour later, Morgan sluggishly emerged from her room, the familiar sound of her feet dragging across the floor reaching me before she appeared in the kitchen. She went straight for the coffee machine, brewing herself a cold brew with the kind of urgency only a true coffee addict would understand.

“What happened to you last night?” I called from the couch, genuinely amused by her grogginess.

She didn’t respond right away, opting instead to skull half of her coffee in one go, her eyes squinting like she was bracing herself for impact. After a moment of silence, she grabbed the Advil from the top of the fridge and popped two pills, washing them down with the rest of the coffee before starting to brew herself another cup.

I raised an eyebrow, barely able to hide my grin.

“I went out with Courtney last night,” she muttered, looking a little worse for wear.

“Oh true,” I replied, the smile tugging at my lips. “How’d that go?” I asked, shifting on the couch and making room under the blanket for her.

Morgan leaned against the counter as she waited for the next brew to finish, looking like she was trying to piece together the events of last night. “It was… fine,” she said slowly, clearly not as enthusiastic as she usually was. “A lot of talking, a lot of drinking. You know how it goes.”

“Sounds like a wild one,” I teased, making room for her on the couch.

She sat down with a sigh, curling up under the blanket beside me. “You know how it is with Courtney,” she said, leaning into the cushions. “She gets all excited about these things, and then half the time, I end up being her emotional support while she vents about her ex.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing Morgan had probably heard every single detail about Courtney’s latest drama. “That’s… unfortunate,” I said, trying to sound sympathetic but failing miserably.

“I’m a good friend,” she replied dryly, “but damn, sometimes I wish she’d just take a break from being so… intense.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t change her for the world,” I teased, nudging her gently with my shoulder.

She shot me a look, smirking despite herself. “Maybe not, but a little peace and quiet would be nice every now and then.”

We sat there for a while, the soft hum of the coffee machine filling the silence. Eventually, Morgan finished her second cup, her energy slowly returning. “I should probably get going. Don’t want to be late for work. You still good for tonight, though?”

I nodded, smiling softly. “Yeah, I’ll be around. We can hang out later.”

She gave me a half-hearted salute as she stood, heading back to her room to get ready for her day. I watched her go, the weight of the day settling back on my shoulders. I missed the pack, and the thought of going through the whole day without seeing them tugged at my heart. But it was probably for the best—time apart, a little space to process everything.

Still, the ache didn’t go away.

~~~~

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