Darkness swallowed me whole.
Third Person POV
The alpha gathering wound down with laughter, wine, and hollow declarations of alliance. But Ivy did not return.
Alpha Ethan stood with a drink in his hand, his arm loosely around Farah’s waist. He glanced around the thinning crowd once or twice—but only because Farah commented absently, “She must’ve gone home early. I think I saw her looking upset.”
Ethan didn’t even pretend to be concerned.
“She’s dramatic,” he muttered. “Always sulking when things don’t revolve around her.”
Farah offered a pitying look. “Well, I do feel bad. I hope she doesn’t do anything…rash.”
Ethan chuckled, sipping from his glass. “She’s not that unpredictable. She’ll be fine.”
And with that, he ushered Farah toward the car that would return them to the Foreland Pack. Not once did he look back. Not once did he ask anyone where his Luna had gone.
The next morning, a cleaning lady at the hotel knocked softly on a private room door. When there was no answer, she entered to tidy up—and gasped.
Ivy was still on the bed, unconscious. Her skin was pale, but her body was covered in a light sheen of sweat. Her breathing was shallow, and her temperature burned beneath her skin.