A Love Like No Other

Promises Are Meant To Be Kept

Six years later

Ivy stares up at the ceiling of the room they have been staying there for a couple of weeks. Today is her 17th birthday. Six years of traveling with Aleksander and his mother. Each morning, Serena tells Ivy that they were going to pick up and ditch her. Though every morning, they were still together.

"Ivy?" Anton whispers. "Are you awake?"

Ivy turns towards Anton. He sneaks his way out of the second cot, making his way to the floor. A hug grin plays on his mouth.

"I got you something," he says.

"I told you not to get me anything," Ivy whispers.

"I couldn't help it." Anton pulls a small crescent moon necklace from his pocket. "I thought it would fit with your Amplifier."

Ivy touches her wrist. Her Amplifier sits perfectly on her wrist. Wolf bones molded to the perfect measurements of her wrists. The wolf that will always be with her no matter the consequences.

"How does a crescent moon and bones fit together?" Ivy asks, a smile on her mouth.

"Guess we won't know until you put it on."

Anton handed the necklace over to Ivy. She lets out a quiet laugh before clasping the necklace around her neck. 

He was right. The necklace did fit well with the Amplifier. Took the attention off the strangeness of the boney block.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"Of course, you only turn 17 once."

They both laugh. Serena shifts in her cot, making the laughter quiet down. Not waking the beast was something they tried not to do. If Serena ever did catch them awake, she would purge Ivy into darkness and beat Anton until he understood that when the sun goes down, it means to stay silent.

The two look into each other's eyes. Anton's grey eyes look deep black without any source of light shining on them. But that makes them ever more interesting.

Anton leans in closer. Ivy's heart picks up speed. She wants nothing more than to kiss Anton. See what it's like letting down your barriers and let someone love you.

Her feelings for Anton started to show around her 14th birthday. The same year they went looking for her wolf Amplifier. She tried to push them down at first, but then she started to notice that he was glancing at her when something was funny. A pink tint falling on his face when they locked eyes. Purposefully letting their hands brush against one another.

So, she started to lean in too. It's just one kiss. A kiss can blossom into something more or have people realize that maybe it was a mistake.

Love is a fraud, her thoughts whisper to her.

As their lips were inches away from one another, Ivy moved out of the way. She notices the confusion that passes Anton's face.

He opens his mouth to speak, but gets interrupted as people slam their way into the room. Serena was up in seconds. Anton helped Ivy off the ground.

"Get out," one man boomed.

The group didn't have time to pack their belongings, being forced from their room. Anton held onto Ivy with a protective stance.

There were multiple other guests outside the building. Some mumbling to themselves. How they were in a deep sleep when they were forced out, leaving everything they owned behind. Others seemed to know what was going on. The sinister smiles gave it away.

"Anton?" Ivy breaths out. "What's happening?"

"I don't know," he answers.

"What's happening!" a bystander yelled.

"Quiet," one man said.

Four lit torches come into view, each one being held by a different man. The bystanders back up, letting them through.

"We have to go," Serena says, trying to hide her panic.

"What's happening," Anton asked.

The building goes up in flames. Ivy couldn't help but stare in confusion. In fear. Why are they burning the building down?

It wasn't until they heard people screaming and banging on the windows did it register. They are burning Grisha. Murdering their kind.

"We have to go," Serena states.

Ivy couldn't move. Her body is fueled by rage and exhaustion. It was too much to ask for a normal birthday. A day without murder, without having to run. A normal day.

"Let's go," Anton whispered.