Chapter 54: Shadows of Change

The hum of the car engine did little to settle the unease twisting in Ivy’s stomach. She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, watching the city blur past in streaks of color.  

She had woken up that morning feeling… off. At first, she thought it was just the ache of missing Leo, the emptiness of knowing he wasn’t beside her anymore. But this was different. Her body felt strange—lightheaded, almost feverish. Her skin was slick with sweat, and every now and then, a wave of nausea rolled over her like she might throw up.  

She took a shaky breath and pressed her hand to her chest. Maybe she was coming down with something.  

Or maybe…  

Her fingers curled involuntarily. Her mind drifted back to the incident two days ago—the small cut she had gotten. It had disappeared. Completely. She had brushed it off at the time, but now, it gnawed at her.  

Only werewolves healed that fast. Only those with wolves.  

She didn’t have a wolf.  

The thought made her throat tighten. She had once lived her whole life knowing she was different. The only one in her pack without a wolf, the only one who could never shift. It had been her reality for so long that she had taught herself to accept it. To be completely human.

So how had she healed so quickly?  

Then, another terrifying thought crept in as she remembered how Leo had sunk his fangs into the cut on her hand.

‘Could I be… a vampire?’

Her stomach clenched in horror at the idea. No, that wasn’t possible. She wasn’t craving blood, wasn’t thirsty for anything unnatural. That was ridiculous.  

A dry laugh bubbled up in her throat, and she shook her head. “Get a grip, Ivy,” she muttered to herself.

Still, the unease didn’t leave her.  

She thought about Connor. About what happened just moments ago.  

The way she had shoved him back.  

The power she had felt.  

It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t human. And it definitely wasn’t something someone without a wolf could do.  

She curled her fingers into her lap, staring down at her hands as if they belonged to someone else.  

‘What the hell is happening to me?’  

She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to push the thoughts away as the car slowed in front of the restaurant. This was supposed to be a family lunch, a time to be with her dad and Uncle Marcus before they left tomorrow. The last thing she needed was to spiral in front of them.  

With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car, straightened her shoulders, and walked inside.  

The restaurant was warm, filled with the scent of expensive perfumes, roasted meat and fresh bread. A soft hum of chatter surrounded her, and for a brief moment, Ivy let herself relax.  

She spotted her father and Uncle Marcus at a corner table, both already deep in conversation. Marcus, as usual, was gesturing wildly with his hands, while her dad shook his head, clearly amused.  

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Marcus said as she approached, grinning. “Thought we’d have to send out a search party.”  

“Traffic,” she said smoothly, slipping into the seat beside her dad.  

Her father leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Glad you made it, sweetheart.”  

For the first time that day, she smiled.  

The conversation flowed easily after that. They talked about the past, about old stories from when she first started living with them, about Marcus’ ridiculous adventures that usually ended in near disasters.  

Ivy let herself laugh. Let herself enjoy.  

For a while, she forgot about the unease gnawing at her.  

At some point, the restaurant’s small band started playing, and her father stood, extending a hand toward her. “Dance with me.”  

She rolled her eyes but took his hand anyway, letting him twirl her onto the floor. They swayed to the music, laughing when he spun her dramatically.  

Uncle Marcus, not to be outdone, joined in, making a complete fool of himself.  

Ivy laughed so hard her sides hurt.  

For the first time in a long time, she felt… normal.  

Then—  

The world tilted.  

Her vision swam, the room shifting as if it were no longer stable. The sounds around her were warped, distant and muffled.  

Her heart lurched.  

A strange weightlessness took over her body, and then—  

Thud.

Darkness.  

***

Ivy’s head felt heavy, like she was swimming through layers of fog. The distant sound of beeping filled the air, steady and rhythmic, along with the faint murmur of voices. She blinked slowly, her vision clearing as she took in the sterile white walls and the familiar scent of antiseptic.  

A hospital.  

What the hell happened?  

The last thing she remembered was laughing with her father and Uncle Marcus, twirling around on the dance floor, finally letting herself enjoy the moment. Then… dizziness. The world tilting. And then—nothing.  

“Ivy?”  

Her father’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned her head slightly and saw him sitting beside her, concern etched deep into his features. Uncle Marcus stood just behind him, arms crossed, his usual easy going demeanor replaced with something more serious.  

“You gave us a damn scare,” her father muttered, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “One second you were laughing, and the next, you collapsed like a sack of bricks.”  

She forced a weak smile. “Sorry about that.”  

Her uncle let out a breath. “You sure you’re okay, kid? The doctor said they ran some tests, but they haven’t given us an update yet.”  

Ivy nodded, shifting slightly against the pillows. “Yeah, I think I just overworked myself.”  

Her father hesitated, then cleared his throat, looking oddly uncomfortable. “Uh… listen, sweetheart.” He glanced at Uncle Marcus, who gave him a pointed look, then back at her.  

Ivy frowned. “What?”  

Her father let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “The doctors—uh—they said your vitals were strange but normal. They wanted to rule something out, so they ran a few extra tests.”  

Could they discover that she’s a werewolf? But it didn't matter since she didn’t have a wolf right? But, something about his expression made her stomach tighten. “Okay…?”  

He cleared his throat again, eyes darting everywhere but at her. “Are you… uh, is there any chance you might be pregnant?”  

Ivy blinked. Then blinked again.  

A sharp laugh burst out of her before she could stop it. “What?”  

Her uncle snorted, shaking his head. “Told you she’d say that.”  

Her father shot him a look before turning back to her. “I mean, you’ve been tired, dizzy—hell, you just fainted in the middle of lunch. The doctor said it’s a possibility.”  

Ivy groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my god, Dad. No. Absolutely not.”  

“Well, I had to ask,” he muttered, looking mildly offended.  

Her uncle chuckled. “Alright, alright. So if it’s not that, maybe we should postpone our flight tomorrow. Give you a few days to rest while we look after you.”  

“No,” Ivy said quickly, dropping her hands. “I don’t need you guys hovering over me. I’ve just been exhausted. Between the deals I’ve been trying to close and the event we’re planning next week, I probably haven’t been taking care of myself the way I should.”  

Her father didn’t look convinced, but her uncle nodded. “Makes sense. Stress can do a number on you.”  

Ivy exhaled, offering them both a reassuring smile. “Exactly. So go on your trip. I’ll be fine.”  

Her father studied her for a long moment before finally sighing. “Alright. But if anything feels off, you call us immediately.”  

Ivy nodded, though deep down, she wasn’t sure if she believed her own explanation.  

Because something did feel off.  

And she had no idea why or what.