Chapter 18

When Ivy heard about Damon again, it was through friends back in Thornfield. She paused for a moment.

She hadn't known it had all been Sienna's scheme. And she never expected it would end with Sienna trapping herself in her own web.

Everyone was sighing about it. "What a shame. If it weren't for Sienna, the two of you—childhood sweethearts, Mate Promise and all—imagine how happy you would've been."

"Oh, stop. I think everything worked out exactly as it should. Look how happy Ivy is now with Rhys. No drama, no nonsense about being chosen over someone else. He only loves Ivy."

"Ivy's only problem now is that Rhys is too clingy. You guys have no idea—last time I went to the Capital for work and stopped by to see Ivy, we'd barely been chatting for an hour when Rhys started whining that he missed his mate so much he couldn't eat, begging her to come home and give him a kiss."

That shifted the conversation straight to Rhys.

And the man himself had just finished feeding the baby. He came back and saw Ivy smiling at her phone. He couldn't help asking, "What's so funny? Are you looking at those Alpha thirst traps again?"

Then he muttered, "What's so great about them. My body's better than theirs."

Ivy snorted. "No, I'm not. Just chatting with friends."

Rhys peeked at her screen, trying to look casual. "Who? What about?"

Ivy didn't plan to hide it from him. She also kind of wanted to mess with him. So she answered honestly. "Damon. Everyone's saying he sent Sienna to the dungeons, then cut off all ties. Threw himself into Pack work. Basically turned into a full-blown workaholic Alpha."

At that familiar name, Rhys's eyes turned sulky.

He'd already bonded with Ivy. He shouldn't still be jealous of Damon. But whenever he thought about how, if that idiot had known what he had, Rhys might never have gotten his chance—it stung.

Every time he thought about it, he'd sulk quietly for a while.

But he didn't want Ivy to think he was petty. So he forced a casual "Oh."

Ivy raised an eyebrow and silently counted down.

Sure enough, five seconds later, Rhys scooted back over. "Do you have a thing for workaholic Alphas lately? Because I'm actually one too. Really. Everyone says so."

Ivy bit back a laugh.

She knew exactly what Rhys was like outside the house.

Decisive. Ruthless. Took no prisoners. The textbook definition of a dominant Alpha.

But the second he was with her, his brain short-circuited. He turned into a clingy puppy, wagging his tail at her nonstop.

Worried he'd actually work himself into a jealous spiral, she cupped his face. "I don't have a thing for him. It just came up. And it was only a few messages. The real topic was you."

Rhys frowned, confused. He took her phone and looked. His ears turned completely red.

After a long pause, he managed, "Babe, next time there's someone else around when you say stuff like that, give me a heads-up. I have... I have a reputation to maintain."

Ivy didn't promise anything. She just laughed.

Later, Rhys pulled her into his arms. Between every kiss, he asked, "Deal?" Another kiss. "Deal?"

Until Ivy couldn't take it anymore and gave in.

But he didn't let her off the hook. Instead, he started undoing his shirt buttons, one by one. "My mate is so good to me. I should return the favor."

Ivy's face flushed. But she couldn't tear her eyes away from his abs.

Rhys had been absolutely right about one thing.

His body really was better than those Alpha thirst traps.

Some time later, Rhys leaned close to her ear and murmured, "Babe, I love you."

Ivy's lips curved up. She answered him in her heart.

Me too.

— The End —