Chapter Thirty.

It’s been a month since Micah’s heat—a month filled with laughter, sweet moments, and a whirlwind of emotions as I’ve slowly accepted my place within the pack. I’ve been flitting back and forth between my apartment and the pack house, trying to balance my old life with this new, vibrant one.

During a dinner a few nights ago, I casually mentioned that I had been looking for a second job, dropping hints about needing to help pay for my apartment. I had hoped for some acknowledgment of the whole “getting bitten” situation, an offer to move in perhaps. but there was nothing. No mention of Theo or Elias’s knot, and while the sexual tension in the house has been palpable, the Alphas have been focused mostly on Micah, using him as their plaything while I’ve been left in the background.

“Poor baby,” I thought at first, but honestly, Micah doesn’t seem to mind at all. He thrives on the attention, and a part of me feels jealous—jealous that he gets to experience the intimacy I’ve been craving.

Now, I’m sitting on the couch in my apartment after another workday, still buzzing from a visit from Theo. He brought sweetness, kisses, and raspberry muffins, but now I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’ve accepted my feelings for them, embraced this new dynamic, and I keep expecting the next step to happen.

I groan in frustration.

“you all good, hun?” Morgan calls out from the other side of the apartment, her voice breaking through my thoughts as she opens her bedroom door, a quizzical brow raised.

I look up and pout at her, feeling the weight of my frustration. “No! I’m not good!” I exclaim, my voice rising slightly. “I feel like I’m going crazy! I’ve accepted everything—the pack, my place with them, the idea of getting bitten. But when? When is it going to happen?”

Morgan steps into the living room, her expression shifting to concern as she sits beside me. “Ivy, you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself,” she says gently.

I shake my head adamantly. "Its Weird they state it like its fact, and I can feel them holding back!"

“Have you talked to them about how you feel?”

“I’ve tried!” I huff, running a hand through my hair. “But every time I bring it up, they either change the subject or distract me with sweet nothings. It’s like they know I want more but don’t want to cross that line.”

“Maybe they’re waiting for the right moment?” she suggests, her tone soothing. “You know how they can be. They care about you, and they might want everything to be perfect when it happens.”

“Perfect?” I scoff, frustration bubbling over. “They’ve already made me feel perfect, like I belong. But I can’t shake the feeling that they’re holding back, especially with Micah getting all the attention. I feel like I’m just waiting on the sidelines.”

Morgan nods, her eyes softening. “That’s understandable. But maybe you should tell them how you feel? You deserve to be included in all of it, especially if you’ve accepted this new life.”

I sigh, leaning back against the couch, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. “You’re right. I need to stop overthinking and just be honest with them.”

“Exactly! Just be direct. You’ll never know unless you ask,” she encourages, her energy infectious.

“Okay,” I reply, the thought of confronting the situation both thrilling and terrifying. “I’ll talk to them. But first, I need a distraction.”

Morgan grins. “Ice cream? Binge-watching our favourite show? Something to take your mind off things?”

“Ice cream sounds perfect,” I say, a smile breaking through my frustration.

As we head to the kitchen, I feel a flicker of determination. Tonight, I will try not to think about it, and tomorrow, I will think of a way to confront this.

~~~~

The next morning, my stomach is tight with anxiety, a heavy knot that refuses to loosen. Morgan helped me forget the night before, distracting me with laughter and ice cream, but today, the weight of what I must confront looms over me like a storm cloud. I know I need to talk to Theo and Elias, to lay my feelings bare, and the thought sends waves of apprehension coursing through me.

I reach for my phone, the familiar comfort of my mother’s voice always a balm for my nerves. With trembling fingers, I dial her number, and when she answers, her voice bursts through the line like sunshine breaking through clouds.

“Ivy! Oh, my baby! How are you?” she exclaims, her warmth wrapping around me.

“Good, Mumma,” I chuckle, trying to keep my tone light despite the turmoil inside. “How are you?”

“Oh, you know me and your father!” she continues, her voice bright and animated. I can picture her now, probably bustling around the kitchen, laughter bubbling as she recounts stories from their busy lives.

Listening to her prattle on, I feel a smile creeping onto my face, the familiar rhythm of her words distracting me from my concerns. She talks about the garden, the latest neighborhood gossip, and the small joys that fill her days. Each word brings a sense of home that wraps around me like a warm blanket.

But amid the comfort, a resolve begins to solidify within me. Hearing her voice reminds me of the importance of fighting for what I want.

As we continue to talk, I feel the tension in my chest begin to ease, replaced by a firm conviction. I’m ready to confront my feelings, ready to ask for what I want.

When I finally hang up, I take a deep breath, the knot in my stomach still present but now accompanied by a newfound resolve.

I open the group chat, biting my thumbnail as I try to think of how to word what I want to say. I decide to keep it simple.

Ivy: Hey, can we meet up tonight? I think we need to talk.

I hit send and immediately feel a rush of anxiety.

Fuck.

That sounds bad. I realize too late as the flurry of replies comes, it comes rolling in, and of course, Theo is the worst.

Theo 🥰: What's wrong, baby? Are you okay???

Elias 💕: Chill, Theo. Always baby girl. I figured you were coming home tonight anyway. Did you want to go anywhere for dinner?

Micah ❤️: Ivy? Is everything okay?

Callum💗:Anything you need, My sweet girl.

Theo 🥰: Ivy, please reply.

I take a deep breath, my heart racing.

Ivy: Everything is fine, I promise. I am not going anywhere. As for dinner, I don't mind. 😇

Elias 💕: Okay, baby girl. I’ll pick you up at your apartment tonight, and we’ll take you out before going home.

Just as I start to feel a bit of relief, I see Theo starting to call me.

Ugh,

Please, no, my love. I quickly send him a message.

Ivy: Sorry, I am working. Will call you on lunch. xx

A little lie. Guilt churns, but fear wins.

I then return to the group chat, my fingers trembling slightly as I type.

Ivy: Please don’t worry. I just have some concerns, but please know nothing has changed. xx

I put my phone down and step into the shower, the warm water cascading over me, but my stomach twisted with anxiety. After I get out, I go through my self-care routine, hoping that tonight will be the night of my dreams—that I’ll finally take that leap with one of my Alphas.

As I’m in the middle of moisturizing, I hear my phone vibrating insistently on the bath ledge. I glance over to see a text from

Theo 🥰: Liar.

My heart sinks, and just as I’m processing his blunt message, there’s a knock on the bathroom door. Morgan pops her head in, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation. “Uh, Ives, I think the temperamental Alpha in the lounge room belongs to you?”

I can’t help but chuckle nervously, knowing Theo’s protective instincts are likely on high alert. “Great,” I mutter, trying to keep my composure. “Just what I need right now.”

I take a deep breath and pull on my dressing gown and face my angry Alpha.