The scent of Ivy Keating clung to Carl, triggering my wolf's fury. When I glanced over, there she was, leaning weakly against him.
The two of them carried gift bags, a large bag of groceries, and even a cake—looking every bit like a loving couple heading home to celebrate.
Aunt Selma came downstairs just in time to witness the scene.
She opened her mouth to question them, but I quickly interrupted her. "Mom sent some things for you. Make sure to use them and not just let them sit around."
I didn't spare Carl a single glance, but for once, he seemed eager to explain.
"Blaire, don't misunderstand. The place Ivy was staying had a lot of rogue wolves migrating from the borders. It wasn't safe. I'm only helping her move somewhere better. I didn't know Aunt Selma lived here too."
He then noticed the luxury bags in my arms and frowned slightly. "Why did you buy so many things?"
I signaled the driver to move the things and simply replied, "You don't need to tell me your work matters. These are from my mom. She thought it'd be a while before she visited again, so she bought a lot."
Seeing I hadn't misunderstood his intentions with Ivy, Carl visibly relaxed. He said, "Actually, this place isn't far from where we live. You can just let me know next time if you ever want to come by."
He had no idea I'd already decided to leave, or that a family-arranged marriage awaited me. Anyway, I had no intention of telling him.
Aunt Selma grew silent when she saw Carl's protective stance toward Ivy.
The awkward tension lingered until Ivy mentioned she felt tired.
Carl immediately sprang into action and halted the driver mid-move. He claimed that they had fewer items and asked to use the elevator first.
I caught a glimpse of the items he carried in the bags, one of which contained a box of rubbers. Without a second thought, I stepped aside to let him pass.
Carl looked a little surprised before hurrying into the elevator with Ivy in tow.
As the elevator doors slid shut, it felt like I saw my old self in Ivy.
Back when Aunt Selma had moved out and sold her house, Carl had been just as attentive. He'd eagerly carried all my belongings into his place, grinning as he told me he was ready to welcome his future mate.
Next to me, Aunt Selma sighed with evident regret. "Are you sure you don't want me to say something? You've known each other for so long. It'd be a shame if you broke up over a misunderstanding."
I shook my head and explained, "There's no misunderstanding. Carl never lets misunderstandings fester. If he hasn't explained it, that's your answer."
Carl and Ivy's bags hadn't seemed excessive and were just enough for a single trip. Yet, by the time I'd finished delivering my farewell gifts to Aunt Selma, Carl was still nowhere in sight.
Out of courtesy, I sent him a message. "When are you leaving?"
His response came quickly in the form of a voice message.
I opened it, only to hear Ivy's sweet, lilting tone.
"Blaire, Carl is fixing the wiring in my new place. It's been unoccupied for so long, and there's just so much to fix! You should head home; there's no need to wait for him."
Before I could hail a ride, another voice message arrived.
"Oh, and Blaire, don't overthink things, okay? Carl is just helping me out with some small favors. You know I'm all alone in this pack and don't know how to do much on my own. I really need his help..."
Her words grated on my nerves, and I stamped down my anger.
Memories of my childhood spent separated from my parents flashed through my mind, along with the grueling trips I made to the borders just two days before to bolster Carl's position as the alpha.
And now, the man who claimed to be too busy giving his all to become alpha was playing handyman for his secretary. It was laughable, really.
Not long after I got into the car, Carl called me.
His voice was low and impatient as he snapped, "Blaire, what's wrong with you today? Ivy's a young werewolf from the borders. What's the big deal if I help her find a place to live? As the future alpha, it's my job to look out for weaker members of the pack.
"And what's with your attitude the other day? It was your birthday, but you gave me the cold shoulder and left early, claiming you didn't feel well. I let that slide, but now you're throwing another tantrum."
In the background, I heard Ivy's soft sobs and finally understood she was playing the victim to drive a wedge between Carl and me. Her acting skills were astonishing.
I took a deep breath. Despite knowing her intent, I couldn't be bothered to defend myself.
"Yeah, you're right. My bad. I was just asking out of curiosity. Don't worry about it. I'm already on my way back and didn't wait for you."
