Ivy’s POVWhile the scattered sounds of combat continue to fill the air, by and large, it seems that the battle has begun to come to a close. The last werewolf rebels are continuing to attack every Lycan warrior they see, but our enemy’s numbers have been considerably thinned. Now, the rebels are few and far between, sticking out like sore thumbs as they attempt to take down our ranks. It’s clear that we could still lose quite a few more lives at this point, but it would be meaningless. The battle has been won. It’s over. Anything else that happens now is just tying up the loose ends. “What happens now?” I ask Spencer softly, taking a look around. Wilson is still on the ground, writhing in agony as the silver spray continues to worm its way into his skin. My heart twinges with sympathy for him, but there’s nothing Spencer or I could do to alleviate the pain. Nearby, I can see Gamma Everly kneeling over Alpha Leo’s unconscious–hopefully unconscious, that is–body. Everywhere I look
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
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
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
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 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 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
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 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
Ivy’s POVWhile the scattered sounds of combat continue to fill the air, by and large, it seems that the battle has begun to come to a close. The last werewolf rebels are continuing to attack every Lycan warrior they see, but our enemy’s numbers have been considerably thinned. Now, the rebels are few and far between, sticking out like sore thumbs as they attempt to take down our ranks. It’s clear that we could still lose quite a few more lives at this point, but it would be meaningless. The battle has been won. It’s over. Anything else that happens now is just tying up the loose ends. “What happens now?” I ask Spencer softly, taking a look around. Wilson is still on the ground, writhing in agony as the silver spray continues to worm its way into his skin. My heart twinges with sympathy for him, but there’s nothing Spencer or I could do to alleviate the pain. Nearby, I can see Gamma Everly kneeling over Alpha Leo’s unconscious–hopefully unconscious, that is–body. Everywhere I look
Ivy’s POVI leap towards the witch without a moment’s hesitation. She lets out a shrill scream and tries to angle her antlers towards me. The side of one of the antlers cuts into my left arm, but it’s a shallow enough wound not to faze me, and I’m able to use the momentum against her and send her tumbling to the ground. The witch’s body is cold, uncannily so, and I can feel shivers starting to run through me as I press my paw against her throat. But the blood spilling from her severed hand is warm, and beneath all the strange magic etched into her being, she does seem to be alive. Which means she could, feasibly, be killed. “You’ll never get away with this!” The witch shrieks. Her voice seems to be going up to unnatural heights that I’m only able to hear due to my enhanced senses. “Jason is my son. You’ll never understand him like I could. He’ll never belong with you! You’re sentencing him to life as an outcast. Put your own cruelty and selfish wants aside for just one second. The