Ivy's POVAfter spending an excruciating amount of time carefully washing my body, Spencer carries me out of the bathroom and tosses me onto the bed.The moment my back hits the blankets, Spencer is on me. He pins me to the bed and starts to kiss me passionately. His tongue slips into my mouth, and my heart starts to race, but then I remember everything that happened earlier. My eyes snap open, and I press my palms firmly against his strong chest, doing my best to push him away. Spencer breaks the kiss to let out a low chuckle. He catches my delicate wrists in one hand and easily pins them both together, quickly subduing me. I let out a frustrated huff and glare up at him as I draw my leg back and attempt to kick him. With his free hand, though, Spencer manages to grab my ankle and hold me down. “Asshole!” I breathe out, looking up into Spencer’s eyes.The crackling desire I see there clearly mirrors my own. Spencer’s large, warm hand, slightly calloused from years of handling wea
Ivy's POV“You jerk!”I look up at Spencer in surprise, trying to push him away again, but he’s quick to grab my hand. We both know my attempts to push him away are futile anyways. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses every fingertip tenderly, gazing at me with adoring–if also amused–eyes. Spencer continues to thrust into me as he presses a gentle kiss against my cheek. “Do you want me, baby?”My mouth falls open, and I try to formulate the words, but I keep coming up blank. I’m still embarassed by Spencer’s blunt words just moments ago. Squeeze him?I know it shouldn’t be a shock considering what we’re doing right now, but it certainly still caught me off guard. I’m still seeling from it when suddenly, Spencer speeds up again. Every thrust is perfectly angled , making me grip the bedsheets tighter and tighter. My eyes nearly roll back into my head as I start to moan louder and louder. “Fuck, please, just like that–” I cry out. “You feel so good for me, Ivy,” Spencer breathes
Ivy's POVSpencer and I are tangled up in the bedsheets, slowly cooling down together. His fingers stroke my shoulders gently, a soft, soothing motion that tugs at my heartstrings. Spencer kisses my body tirelessly as I breathe in and out, trying to pull my thoughts together. I’m still reeling from the waves of pleasure that swept through me, and it’s taking all my effort not to slip into slumber pressed against Spencer’s warm, reassuring body. As Spencer leans over me to kiss my forehead, my hands skim his back, and suddenly he lets out a sharp hiss of pain. My eyes widened. I sit up straight and look at Spencer’s back, and my heart drops. Now that all his injuries from the battle have been cleaned in the shower, his wounds are no longer mixed with grime–the deep cuts on his skin are fully exposed, revealing raw, red flesh that’s shocking to behold. It’s obvious that he hasn’t received any sort of medical attention for his injuries. “Oh my goodness, Spencer!” I cry out, pulling
Ivy's POV“You look beautiful.”I look up at Spencer with a grateful smile, fiddling with the long, flowing sleeve of my red dress. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say, admiring Spencer’s elegant black suit. His pocket square matches my dress exactly. “Unfortunately, considering it’s my family, this banquet is going to be dreadful no matter how dashing we look,” Spencer says with a long sigh. I laugh. “Oh, I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Let’s go.”Spencer reaches for my hand and squeezes it tightly as he leads me out of the room and into the hallway. Together, we walked to a wing of the palace that I’ve never seen before. We stop in front of a large set of double doors, a guard standing on either side. When they see Spencer, they both bow deeply before simultaneously drawing the doors open. Spencer looks at me reassuringly as we walk into the banquet hall. My sleek silver heels click on the marble floor with every step as Spencer and I approach our seats hand in hand. The Lyca
Ivy's POV“From here on out, Delilah will be Prince Spencer’s fiancée.”I feel like I’m in shock, the words replaying in my mind over and over again. I can hear a faint ringing in my ears, can feel the start of a headache splitting the base of my skull. Spencer’s fiancée?How is this possible? Judging by the stunned, angry expression on Spencer’s face, he’s every bit as shocked as I am.“Spencer can’t marry Delilah!” Princess Sylvia blurts out, looking at the queen with an expression of surprise that mirrors my own. “Ivy is Spencer’s mate, and the two of them share a special bond that can never be broken.”At Sylvia’s reminder of the Blood Oath Ceremony, I feel somewhat reassured. She’s right–Spencer and I share something that no one else could ever share with him. No one can take that from us.But even still, I’m terrified of losing him. The Lycan Queen glares daggers at me from across the room. “A she-wolf without a wolf has no right to become the Prince’s Luna,” she declares. Th
Spencer's POVAt the sound of Delilah’s words, I can’t help but wonder if maybe, like me, she’s only here because of the arrangements her parents made for her.After all, marriage alliances between powerful pack figures certainly aren’t uncommon, and Alpha’s daughters are the most sought-after girls in the world. Delilah’s youth, as well as her pack’s strength, put her in an ideal position to be used in the most optimal and high-strength alliances. An Alpha’s daughter is considered lucky if she gets a say in who she’s married off to, so it certainly wouldn’t come as a shock to me if Delilah is just as unwilling a participant in this whole scheme as I am. I look at Delilah’s wide, shining eyes. She wants to be friends with me and Ivy? I figure friendship is much more in Ivy’s wheelhouse than mine, but nevertheless, it’s a harmless enough request. I nod at her, granting her request. “We should leave now,” I tell Ivy quickly, grabbing her arm. Just as the two of us are about to leave
Spencer's POV“You need to reject your mate.” I look over at my mother in irritation, crossing my arms over my chest. We’ve only just swept out of the banquet hall and into a small private meeting room, but my mother is certainly not one to beat around the bush, and I can see from the steely look in her eye that she's absolutely made up her mind. She hates Ivy, and there’s nothing I can do to get around that fact. As much as I hate it, I might as well let go of the notion of my family opening up to accept her. For as long as Ivy remains in this palace, I know my mother will do everything she can to make her life a living hell. “You know I’m not going to reject her, Mother,” I say impatiently, already turning to leave. This is a waste of time, and I want to be with Ivy now. I don’t need to entertain her cruelty any longer, and I have no interest in seeing how many other people she can rope into her schemes. “Wait!” She cries out, grabbing my arm. I turn around and look down at m
Ivy's POVA day after the disastrous banquet, as I’m decompressing in my room, I suddenly hear a knock on my door. I set down the book I was reading and rush over to my door in a hurry, wondering who it could be. Spencer’s off training for now, and I know he’ll be busy for a while longer. I’m not sure who I’m expecting, but when I open the door to find Delilah Devereaux–Alpha Maverick’s daughter–standing in the doorway, I’m caught off guard. “Um, hello?” I say uncertainly. “Can I help you…” Delilah smiles politely, hands clasped neatly in front of her. “I’ll be in the area for a short while longer,” she says, voice sweet and lilting like bells. “And I was wondering if, during my stay here, the two of us could be friends?”“Oh!” I reply, slightly taken aback. It’s not Delilah’s fault–since arriving at the palace, no one here has made an effort to befriend me. More often than not, I’ve been met with upfront cruelty, especially at the hands of other women here. So Delilah’s offer is
Ivy’s POV“How far along is she, Doctor Danbury?” The Lycan Queen’s question breaks up the solemn silence brought about by my child’s heartbeat. Doctor Danbury looks up from her notes in surprise before shifting her attention over to the queen, eyebrow raised. “About twelve weeks, Your Highness,” she replies. “She’s just at the end of her first trimester.” “And do we know the baby’s sex?” Spencer and I purse our lips, both exchanging meaningful glances. We both heard what the witch said when she threatened my pregnancy–we both know she prophesied that the next Lycan Heir is a boy. And while I don’t trust the vast majority of what she said, I don’t understand why she’d lie about this. Neither of us says anything to the Lycan Queen just yet, though.“That information won’t be discernible until usually around the eighteen to twenty-two week window,” Doctor Danbury explains. “Seeing as the baby’s internal organs are still being developed.” “Alright,” the queen muses. “Twelve weeks–w
Ivy’s ’s POVJust as Doctor Danbury’s assistant begins to spread the ultrasound gel over my exposed stomach, the door to my hospital room bursts open. I gasp, head whirling towards the door. Much to my surprise, it’s not just Spencer that greets me in the doorway–it’s the entire Lycan Royal Family, as well as Delilah and Beta Wilson. My face flushes, and I feel oddly vulnerable in front of everyone. I want to roll my shirt back down and hold my hands over my stomach protectively, but I don’t want to mess up the gel. “What… what’s going on?” I ask hesitantly. “How is it?” The Lycan Queen asks the assistant in a sharp voice. “How’s the baby? Is it still okay?” “And how’s Ivy?” Spencer presses anxiously. He approaches my bedside and sits down next to me, taking my hand in both of his and squeezing gently. His gaze rests anxiously on the ultrasound machine to my left beside the assistant, though the screen isn’t displaying anything just yet. “Give me just one second, Your Highnesses
Spencer’s POVYou’re the next Lycan King. As my mother’s words ricochet around the room, it’s hard not to feel like I’m taking someone else’s place. For so long, this was my father’s crown, and no one was prepared to lose him so soon. But as I look around the room, slowly, gradually, it begins to feel more and more right. Despite their usual snark and sarcasm, both Sylvia and Colin look gravely serious at this moment. They both look up at me with evident respect, and I know that despite the troubles I’ve had with my siblings in the past, they’re here to support my ascension to the Lycan throne. My mother, too, as she returns to her seat at the table, is looking up at me proudly. She smiles faintly as the crown continues to rest on my head and wipes her eyes. “I know you’re going to do great things, Spencer,” she says softly. “And I’m terribly sorry for the lack of ceremony today. I promise that once the date of your coronation does finally roll around, you’re going to get all the
Spencer’s POVAs I watch a tall woman in a lab coat grab Ivy’s arm, an instinctive jolt of panic rushes through me. “What–what’s going on?” I ask, immediately scanning the surroundings for any indicator that Elder Jet’s forces may have somehow made their way back into the palace. “Who is that?” “One of Doctor Danbury’s assistants,” my mother assures me quickly. “After everything Ivy’s been through, we need to ensure that your heir is still alive and well within her. We should really discuss what’s going to happen once she begins to show, and how we can cover up for how Ivy is carrying your child despite your impending marriage to Delilah.” I purse my lips and look towards Colin at the mention of my previous engagement to Delilah. Does she not know about you two? I want to ask him. He seems to read the question etched across my features, because he shakes his head almost imperceptibly. I suppose I can understand Colin’s reluctance to tell our mother about the change in nuptials–af
Ivy’s POVAs Spencer kisses me, it feels like everything wrong in the universe has finally righted itself. He kisses me softly, sweetly, like he knows we can finally linger in these gentle moments without having to worry about whatever is coming next. Spencer’s hands are chaste, one resting on my waist as the other tangles into my hair. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and return the kiss passionately until my lungs start to scream for air. Spencer is the one who finally pulls away. I look up at him, eyes fluttering open and slightly dazed as his hand moves from the nape of my neck to my cheek. He caresses my face lovingly, gazing deep into my eyes with an expression of profound concern. “Are you going to be okay, Ivy?” He asks softly. “After everything that happened…” “I’ll be fine,” I assure him quickly, smiling gently at him. “I’m healed now, thanks to the Moon Goddess. I feel healthy. The worst of it is all behind us.” “Our child…” Spencer begins tentatively. “I feel good
Spencer’s POVThe crowd of rebels erupts into shock and disgust, and for just a few moments, another wave of chaos ripples over the now-still battleground. “I’d never speak to that traitor!” “I’d sooner die than let some betrayer try to make me anything like him.” “They’re trying to brainwash us!” I let the complaints ring out for just a few seconds more before opening my mouth to speak. “ENOUGH!” I roar, bold shout crackling over the amassed crowd like thunder. I clench my hands into fists as I look over all of them. “This is what you’re getting,” I say. “I’ve told you all you need to know. Warriors, take them to the dungeons.” The warriors all nod once before finally escorting the captured rebels off the battlefield. I breathe out a steady sigh of relief as I watch them depart, finally letting myself relax somewhat as finally the threat is ushered away. Ivy comes up beside me and squeezes my shoulder. “You said all the rebels would get the chance to speak with Alpha Leo?” She
Ivy’s POV As the last of the rebels either turn themselves in or are swiftly taken into custody, I finally, finally feel like things are actually coming to a close. The rebels may shout or growl or spit as they’re escorted out of the barracks and towards the dungeon, where they’ll all be held until we have more time to thoroughly think out what our next moves should be, but it’s better than the noises that had filled the air before. The screams of agony and death and anguish will rattle through my brain for as long as I live. Every time I close my eyes, the sights that greet me are terrible. Fur being pulled from bleeding skin. The unearthly contortion of bones crunching and snapping. Those red potions and the horrific effects they’d had on the rebel werewolves’ bodies, all those grotesque enhancements. What’s happened here today will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’ve been changed by all I’ve had to bear witness to, all I’ve had to experience. The knowledge of what it fel
Ivy’s POVAs Spencer’s words ripple through the ground of battle-hardened rebels and warriors, at first, all I can hear is the deafening sound of silence. I look around, watching with bated breath. I understand the weight of what we’re trying to do here–after all, for the Lycan Royal Family to suggest surrender, especially after such a horrific bloodbath, is a truly unprecedented thing to occur. I can see that it’s still taking everyone a couple moments more to process what has just transpired. But above all else, I believe in the inherent goodness of people. One way or another, kindness will win. It has to. When the first werewolf steps forward, head lowered and arms folded behind his back in a clear display of acquiescence, I can hardly stop myself from beaming. “I surrender,” the werewolf announces softly. The words echo through the battlefield, a whisper somehow amplified over and over again by all the history in the making of this one moment. With a flick of his wrist, Spenc
Spencer’s POVThis time, as I walk out onto the almost-still battlefield, I can feel the full force of my power returning to me. Heads swivel in my direction as I approach the center of the battleground. My Lycan aura crackles around me, a silhouette of pure power that follows behind me everywhere I step. Thanks to the Moon Goddess’s blessing as well as Ivy’s rejuvenation, I feel good again. Strong. I know I could control everyone on this field right now if I wanted to, but I don’t need to. Not yet. Right now, the gentle coercion of my Lycan aura around me is all I need. Ivy follows behind me. I can tell by the rhythm of her gait that she’s anxious to get out of here as soon as possible. I can’t see her, but I know her well enough by now that I can guess her gaze is darting around anxiously, eyeing every enemy in sight. But the longer I walk, the more confidence in my step, the more the sounds of battle start to quiet. Soon enough, the only sound to be heard is the soft pad of my f