The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 201

Self Doubt-2

Lori rolled her eyes, but the gesture lacked conviction. “Oh, please. My mate probably doesn’t even exist.”

Iva grinned.

It was a slow, mischievous grin that made Lori’s eyes narrow with suspicion.

“Have you forgotten?” Iva said, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. “I am the Messenger.”

Lori groaned. “No. No, no, no. Don’t you dare-”

“I will not give up,” Iva continued, ignoring her friend’s protests, “until I pinpoint that elusive mate of yours. I will search every pack, every territory, every corner of the kingdom if I have to.”

“Iva-”

к

“You deserve happiness, Lori.” Iva’s voice broke on the words. “All the happiness in the world.”

The room fell silent.

Lori stared at her friend, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Her lower lip trembled.

Neither of them spoke.

Then Lori sniffled. Loudly. And laughed through the tears that finally spilled down her cheeks.

“You’re going to make me cry,” Lori said, her voice thick “And then my face will get all puffy, and I’ll look even less like a supermodel.”

Iva laughed too, pulling her friend into a fierce hug.

“I love you,” Iva said into Lori’s hair. “You know that, right?”

Lori hugged her back just as tightly.

“I know,” she whispered. “I love you too.”

They held each other for a long moment, the bond of friendship humming between them just as strong as any mate bond. Different, but no less powerful.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were crying.

Lori wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and laughed. “Look at us. A mess. Both of us.”

“A beautiful mess,” Iva corrected.

Lori snorted. “You’re beautiful. I’m a mess.”

“Same thing.”

“It is not.”

Iva threw a pillow at her.

1/3

Self Doubt-2-

Lori caught it and threw it back.

Soon they were giggling like the girls they had been when they first met-before mates and bonds and ceremonies. Before tva had become someone important. Before everything had changed.

But some things, Iva realized, didn’t change.

Lori was still Lori.

And she would fight for her friend the same way Lori had always fought for her.

“Okay,” Iva said, settling back against her headboard. “New rule. No more putting yourself down. Every time you say something negative about yourself, you owe me a chocolate.”

Lori’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Do you know how expensive chocolate is here?”

“Then I guess you’ll have to stop being mean to my best friend.”

Lori crossed her arms, but a smile tugged at her lips. “Your best friend, huh?”

“My best friend,” Iva confirmed. “Forever. No take-backs.”

Lori’s smile softened into something real and warm.

“Forever,” she agreed.

Claim

The sun continued its slow descent outside the window, painting the room in shades of amber and rose. Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang, signaling the end of another hour.

But neither girl moved.

They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the day slowly lifting from their shoulders. The bond between them-years of shared struggles, shared secrets, shared dreams-hummed quietly in the space between their hearts.

Iva thought about Caleb, about the ceremony, about the future that waited for her like an open door.

But she also thought about this moment. About friendship. About the girl who had shared her food when Iva had nothing, who had held her hair back when she was sick, who had believed in her when no one else did.

“I meant what I said,” Iva said quietly.

Lori looked at her. “About the chocolate?”

“No.” Iva smiled. “About finding your mate. I don’t know when or where, but I know it will happen. And when it does, I want to be there. I want to see the look on your face when you realize that you were never invisible. That you were never less. That you were always exactly who you were supposed to be.”

Lori’s eyes glistened again.

“You’re going to make me cry a second time.”

“Then cry.” Iva reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’ll cry with you.”

23

< Self Doubl

And they did.

Just a little.

Just enough.

Outside the window, the shadows lengthened. The campus grew quiet as students retreated to their rooms, the day’s classes finally finished

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