Ivy tried every way to reach out to Jayden, explaining her situation to him multiple times, but he continued to ignore her. They crossed paths on several occasions, but he remained distant. Frustrated and heartbroken, Ivy returned home one day, only to be met with Zander's innocent question: "Mama, where is Daddy?"
The question struck a chord, and Ivy broke down in tears, her emotions raw and uncontainable. Zander, who had never seen his mother cry before, tried his best to comfort her. Witnessing her son's concern, Ivy realized she had lived without Jayden's presence before and could do so again. It wasn't her fault that his sister was killed by hunters, a fact that fueled his hatred towards them.
The next day, Ivy returned to school with a renewed sense of hope. As she walked through the corridors, she bumped into someone, unaware that it was the very person she had been searching for. The collision was brief, but Ivy's eyes met his, and she was struck by his striking features - golden hair falling into his eyes and beautiful emerald green eyes.
Feeling a mix of emotions, Ivy forced herself to blush and apologized, "I'm so sorry." The stranger, introducing himself as James, smiled and replied, "No, it's okay." Unbeknownst to Ivy and James, Jayden was watching the scene unfold, his anger growing with every passing moment.
Ivy headed to her next class, where she sat down alongside James, who was determined to make her laugh. Despite his charming smile and carefree demeanor, Ivy sensed that there was more to James than met the eye. His intentions seemed hidden beneath a façade of friendliness.
Meanwhile, Jayden observed their interaction, his anger growing with each passing moment. His hatred for hunters threatened to boil over, but he restrained himself, not wanting to interfere. However, his wolf instincts were stirring, urging him to take action. The sight of Ivy laughing with James ignited a burning sensation in his heart.
As the teacher asked Ivy and James to share the joke with the class, Ivy felt an unfamiliar wave of embarrassment wash over her. Normally, she wasn't a shy person, but with Jayden's piercing gaze on her, she blushed quietly. James, however, stood up confidently and began to tell a humorous story.
"I was walking home from school one day, and I didn't notice a puddle in front of me," James said, chuckling. "I fell into it, and to make matters worse, a bird flew overhead and, well... let's just say it added to the mess."
The class erupted into laughter, with even the teacher joining in. Jayden, however, was furious. His anger boiled over, and he tightened his knuckles until they turned white. In a moment of rage, he tipped over his chair and stormed out of the room, leaving Ivy and James looking on in surprise.