Chapter 0462

My name is Ivy Sinclair.

I'm 17 years old.

I stand at 5 foot 6 inches.

Brown hair, blue eyes.

I plan to become a warrior after graduation.

And no, I won't sleep with you, so back off.

That's what the note said when she shoved it into my hands before storming out of class. I read it twice, then stared at the empty doorway where she'd disappeared. This wasn't going to be easy.

Every time those ocean-blue eyes lock onto mine, my brain short-circuits. My name? Gone. Basic conversation skills? Nonexistent. At this point, she probably thinks I've got the IQ of a rock.

You are a rock. Evander, my ever-helpful wolf spirit, chimes in.

Now she thinks I'm just after one thing. When she demanded to know why I suddenly started pursuing her, I froze. I can't exactly blurt out "we're fated mates." First, I need to fix this mess I've created. Apparently, my stunned silence made her assume I only wanted her in my bed.

Which, let's be real—I absolutely do. But not as some casual fling. I want this woman beside me every night, every morning, for the rest of our lives.

Maybe let me take over. You're making it worse. Evander growls.

Fine. What's your brilliant plan? I ask as we head out to meet Alistair.

Tonight. We track her down. I'll introduce myself properly. Not the worst idea he's had.

Still better than anything you've come up with. He counters.

"Hey, how'd it go?" I clasp hands with Alistair, nodding toward Seraphina who's walking ahead of us.

"Disaster. You?"

"Same." I'd told him this morning about Ivy being my mate. When we spotted her and Seraphina walking to school, I thought it was perfect—I'd get to know my mate while he spent time with his. Instead, we both crashed and burned.

"We need strategy." He mutters.

"Evander wants to track Ivy tonight. Might as well try."

Alistair rubs his chin. "Too small. We need something bold. I'm thinking... grand gesture."

I snort. "You and your dramatic moves. Just tell me what you need."

His eyes light up. "That's it!"

"What?"

"Top Gun bar scene. Singing to win her over."

"Your voice could shatter glass, man."

"Exactly. I'll keep singing until she agrees to go out with me." A wicked grin spreads across his face.

I shake my head. "And how do we get them to the bar?"

His smile falters. "Still working on that part."

We drive back to the packhouse. My parents moved here after my first shift revealed Evander's Guardian spirit. Alistair's parents wanted me close—protected. Two years ago, my parents' plane vanished over the ocean. After that, I was given a room on the Alpha floor. Alistair and I might as well be brothers.

We split up to change for training. My pulse kicks up—I'll see Ivy again. Maybe this time I won't turn into a tongue-tied fool. Alistair and I run morning drills while his father, Alpha Dominic, handles afternoons with Beta Nathaniel.

I arrive early, hoping to catch Ivy. When she's not there yet, I start warming up. Warriors gather around me, but the moment she steps onto the field, I break away.

"Ivy."

She rolls her eyes. "Gregory. Didn't my note make things clear?"

It stings, how badly she wants me gone. My own mate can't stand me.

"Actually," I shove my hands in my pockets, "I was going to ask you to dinner Friday. Not what you're thinking."

Her frown deepens. Dating's never been my thing—why bother when I knew my mate was out there?

"Sorry," she says as Silas walks by. She grabs his arm. "Silas and I already have plans, right?"

The way her eyes plead tells me this is improvised. But Silas, the idiot, grins like he's won the lottery.

"Yep. Discussed it this morning."

"Right." Ivy drops his arm. "And we're battling over who pays."

A growl rips from my throat. This jerk gets a date with my mate and won't even cover her meal? And she prefers this over going out with me?

I turn to Silas. "You take her out but won't pay?" His face pales as I step closer. "Maybe you don't deserve to take someone like Ivy out."

She shoves between us. "I can pay my own way, thank you. None of your business."

I keep my glare on Silas. His throat bobs. "Just a joke. Of course I'm paying."

"Oh?" I focus on Ivy. "So if I beat you in sparring, you'll go out with me?"

She scoffs. "I'm not stupid enough to fight a Guardian."

This fire in her—it's intoxicating.

"Afraid you'll lose?" If she wants to be a warrior, she's got to be competitive.

"You're a Guardian." She gestures to the training field. "If any of us could take you down, you wouldn't deserve the title."

And just like that, she walks away. This time, I don't bother hiding my frustrated growl.