The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 360

Incoming Requests

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of the royal dining hall, casting golden light across the long table laden with fresh pastries, fruits, and steaming tea. The atmosphere was warm, filled with the comfortable ease of a family gathered together.

Iva sat beside Caleb, her hand resting or her growing belly, a soft smile playing on her lips. Across from her, the Lycan King and Queen beamed with pride, their eyes sparkling with joy and satisfaction.

The Queen reached across the table and clasped Iva’s hand, her fingers warm and reassuring.

“My dear,” she said, her voice warm with affection. “What you accomplished last night was nothing short of miraculous. The entire kingdom is overjoyed. I’ve received messages from packs across the territory, all of them singing to the Messenger praises and expressing their deepest gratitude.”

Iva felt her cheeks flush with pleasure, a rosy warmth spreading across her face.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. But it wasn’t just me. The goddess guided my hand, and Mira was invaluable in coordinating the logistics. Without her, the matching process would have been chaotic.”

The King nodded, his expression thoughtful as he set down his tea.

“Modesty is a virtue,” he said, “but you must also accept the credit you deserve. Nearly two hundred couples matched in a single night. That is unprecedented. The effects of this will ripple through our kingdom for generations. Families will be formed, more Elites will be born, alliances will be strengthened, and our species will be revitalized.”

Iva’s heart swelled with pride and humility.

“I’m just glad I could help. So many wolves have been waiting so long for their fated mates. It feels wonderful to finally bring them together, to give them the happiness they deserve.”

Caleb squeezed her hand under the table, his eyes soft with adoration and pride.

“You’re amazing,” he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

Iva smiled at him, her heart fluttering.

The Queen leaned forward, her expression shifting from joy to something more serious. Her eyes, usually bright with warmth, took on a calculating glint.

“There is something we need to discuss,” she said. “Since the ball, we’ve been inundated with requests. Alphas from smaller packs are asking for another event-something more inclusive, to give their unmated wolves a chance to find their matches. The incoming requests have been piling up faster than I can read

them.”

Iva nodded slowly, her brow furrowing with concern.

“I expected that. Last night was a success, but it was limited to those who could attend. There are so many more wolves out there who deserve a chance at happiness. The smaller packs, especially, have been struggling for generations.”

The King’s brow furrowed deeper, his fingers drumming against the mahogany table.

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Incoming Beque

Chart

“More than that,” he said, his voice dropping to a grave tone, “we’ve received requests from other kingdoms. They’ve heard about the Messenger’s work, and they’re asking if she would be willing to travel to help them. Some of these requests come from kingdoms we have longstanding alliances with. Others come from territories we’ve never had contact with before.”

Iva’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Other kingdoms? How did they find out about the Messenger?”

Caleb’s expression was grim.

“Word travels fast in the supernatural world,” he said. “Especially when it comes to something as significant as the return of the Messenger. News of what happened at the ball is already spreading beyond our borders.”

The King nodded gravely, his face etched with concern.

“The requests are pouring in from all directions. Some are genuine-they truly want to help their people find happiness. But our intelligence has also picked up on something more concerning. Something that kept me awake long into the night.”

Iva’s stomach tightened, a cold knot forming in her chest.

“What do you mean?”

“Some Alphas-and even a few foreign rulers-have been discussing plans to kidnap the Messenger. Or bribe her. Or coerce her into favoring their packs exclusively. We’ve intercepted communications that detail elaborate schemes to get her into their territories and keep her there.”

The Queen’s expression was grim, her earlier joy replaced by a cold, calculating resolve.

“Your decision to keep your identity hidden was wise, Iva. More than you may realize. If they knew who you were, you would never be safe. We would be fighting off would-be kidnappers every single day.”

Iva felt a chill run down her spine, her hand instinctively moving to protect her belly.

“It’s frightening,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Knowing that people are out there who would try to use me for their own gain. But I know that sooner or later, my identity will be revealed. It’s impossible to keep a secret like this forever. Eventually, the truth will come out.”

Caleb’s hand tightened on hers, his grip fierce and protective.

“Then we’ll be ready,” he said firmly. “We’ll protect you. No matter what. I will personally see to it that every resource is allocated to your safety.”

Iva nodded, drawing strength from his presence and his unwavering support.

“For now,” she said, “my priority is to deliver this pup safely. I won’t risk my health or my child’s health. But after that, I want to continue my work. The ball showed me something important.”

The King raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

“What’s that?”

incoming Begnesta

Iva’s voice grew more confident, her eyes bright with conviction.

Cham

“Moving from academy to academy to match couples is effective, but it’s not efficient. It’s slow, and it reaches only a fraction of the wolves who need help. A ball, on the other hand, brings everyone together in one place. It’s faster, more inclusive, and it reaches a much wider audience. The efficiency of the model is undeniable.”

She paused, her eyes sweeping across the faces of her family.

“I’d like to organize more balls. I know it’s a financial effort, but it’s necessary. Our species is declining- especially in the smaller packs that haven’t benefited from the Messenger’s presence. We need to act now, before it’s too late and our numbers dwindle to a point of no return.”

The King and Queen exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them.

Then the King smiled-a rare smile that softened the hard lines of his face.

“I knew you would be a remarkable Crown Princess,” he said. “But you continue to surpass my expectations. Your vision for the future is clear and your commitment is unwavering.”

The Queen nodded, her eyes glistening with emotion.

“We’ll support you, Iva. Whatever you need. We’ll allocate the funds, the resources, the personnel. You have our full backing.”

Iva felt tears prick at her eyes, her throat tightening with gratitude.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you both so much.”

She looked around the table at her family-her mate, her in-laws, the people who had welcomed her into their hearts and their home.

But as she looked out the window at the bright blue sky, a flicker of unease crossed her mind.

The requests were pouring in.

The pressure was mounting.

And somewhere out there, people were already plotting to take advantage of her. The weight of her responsibilities pressed down on her shoulders.

She took a deep breath and pushed the fear aside.

For now, she would focus on the good.

And she would be ready for whatever came next.

Suddenly, the doors burst open.

A messenger stumbled into the dining hall, his face pale, his clothes disheveled. His chest heaved with ragged breaths, and his hands trembled as he clutched a scroll.

“Your Majesties,” he gasped, his voice strained with urgency. “I bring grave news. Alpha Attia’s new territory… the Bloodfang Pack lands… they’ve been attacked.”

3/4

The Attack