Chapter 0475

We halt near my house. "Ivy, promise me something." His tone turns deadly serious.

"Suuuure." I drawl, amused by his dramatics.

"If anything feels off this weekend, call me immediately. Do you have my number?"

"Is this your sneaky way of getting my digits, Grant?" I tease, hand on my hip.

"I already have yours, Ivy." A faint smirk plays on his lips. "But do you have mine?"

"Nope."

"Expect my text tonight. Save it. If trouble comes, I'll be there in minutes."

"You're not joking?" My brows furrow.

"Dead serious."

"Alright, Grant." I shake my head in disbelief.

"Now get inside before your dad starts wondering where you are."

I sprint to the door, pausing to glance back. This time, I give him a proper wave before entering.

Later, homework sprawled across my bed, my phone chimes.

Unknown: Ivy, it's Grant. Save this number.

Me: Yes, sir.

Unknown: Do I detect a hint of obedience kink?

Me: Don't you have enough girls swooning over your 'commanding Alpha' act?

Silverfang: None of them are you.

Me: There's a damn good reason for that.

Silverfang: Enlighten me.

Me: Self-preservation. Standards. Common sense.

Silverfang: Ouch. Tell me more about these... standards.

Me:

Silverfang: Sleep tight, gorgeous. See you at dawn.

Me: Night, Grant.

Morning comes too soon. Training pairs me with another female warrior - her fighting style refreshingly different from the males. We're an hour into drills when the alarm howl shatters the peace.

Rogues.

Every warrior shifts instantly, charging toward the border. Through my peripheral vision, I spot Alpha Alistair and Beta Nathaniel sprinting from the packhouse, fur erupting mid-stride. Grant and Adrian lead the vanguard.

The forest explodes with snarling rogues.

I dive into the fray without hesitation. This is why we train. Why we bleed. Why we push beyond limits.

The stench of rogues assaults my senses - rotting meat and infected wounds. Valeria clamps onto one's hind leg, shaking violently until bone snaps. Before the crippled rogue can retreat, she tears out its throat and whirls toward the next threat.

Reinforcements arrive, but we're still outnumbered. I'm engaging one rogue when another sinks teeth into Valeria's flank. Her pained yelp cuts off as she rakes claws across the attacker's face, shredding an eye.

The wounded rogue staggers back just as the first leaps onto Valeria's back, jaws snapping at her neck. I see the wounded one regrouping for another attack when suddenly -

The weight vanishes.

Valeria whips her head around to see Evander disemboweling the rogue, then ripping out its throat. He pivots and crushes the spine of my opponent before rejoining Adrian's side. No time to process that the Beta abandoned his post to save me - another rogue lunges.

When our numbers finally overwhelm them, the rogues flee. The victory howls ring hollow as I survey the wounded. Valeria moves to check the nearest fallen when Evander bounds over. He noses her wound, whining before shifting back.

Grant kneels beside me, examining the gash. "Shift back, Ivy. Rogue bites fester fast." His hands cradle Valeria's muzzle. "You fought well, little wolf." Evander's voice layers beneath his, golden eyes flashing. "But let the healers tend to this." His lips brush her forehead before he pulls away.

The shift burns like fire across the bite. Grant summons a healer the moment my human skin reforms. The wound sits high on my thigh, deep and angry.

Behind us, Alpha Alistair barks orders, summoning Grant among others.

"Stay with the healer." Grant squeezes my shoulder. "I'll check on you later."

"Grant!" He turns at my call. "Thank you."

That devastating wink flashes before he disappears into the packhouse chaos.