Ivy's POVI find myself in a vast forest, dappled sunlight pouring through the trees and warming my skin. I know I’ve never been here before, but something about the forest feels uncannily familiar. The arch of the trees, maybe, the crook of the branches. The way a gentle path winds and curves around the woods. The lazy slope of hills spilling across the horizon. It feels safe here. Realizing I’m on my knees, I stand up quickly and turn in a slow circle. The trees spread out in every direction, humming with wildlife. Birds and insects chirp all around me. The sunlight is golden and feels holy against my body. How did I get here?I don’t know where to go, so I pick a direction at random and start walking. I’m barefoot, but the ground is laden with soft moss and grass. A simple white slip falls just past my knees, occasionally lifted by the wind. I know I should be terrified, but I feel more at peace than I’ve ever felt before.“Hello?” I call out tentatively.No response.Am I alone
Ivy's POVI wake up to find myself lying naked in Spencer’s strong arms, his hands clasping mine tightly. I blush immediately, pulling my hands out of his. Much to my surprise, thick beads of gold blood run down both our wrists. I wipe my cut palm frantically on the bed sheets before wriggling my way out of Spencer’s embrace. Just as I’m about to leave the bed, pondering how I could’ve possibly ended up where I just was, a muscular arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back down onto the bed. Spencer lets out a low chuckle as I land next to him on the sheets, together once again. “Just came back to life and you’re already leaving me?” Spencer questions, looking me over intently. My blush somehow intensifies, and I look away from his piercing gaze. “I…”Back to life? The memories hit me all at once, a relentless wave. Suddenly, I remember what had happened back at the Werewolf Council’s chambers, and how I’d ended up collapsing in Spencer’s arms. I take a look around the room an
Ivy's POVSweat dampens the hair on my forehead. I whimper, not quite sure what to do. I want him to hit me again. I know that much. “I’ve taught you what I want to hear,” Spencer reminds me patiently, lightly biting my earlobe and eliciting another moan at the slight sting of pain. My mind reels, struggling to figure out what my next move should be. I’ve never felt this excited–or helpless-before. I respond instinctively to Spencer’s kisses. Everything we’ve done so far has felt completely natural. But I have no idea how to answer his question. As Spencer continues to pleasure me with his free hand, teasing and toying but never actually applying direct pressure to that sweet spot where I want his fingers the most, I can feel both my mind and my body becoming clumsy. Finally, I settle on an answer. “Prince Spencer,” I moan. He would want me to respect him, right?Plus, even if my answer is wrong–and I have a sneaking suspicion that it is–I think I quite like what my punishment
Ivy's POVI can’t believe what a jerk Spencer is being right now. He continues to fuck me shallowly, and it feels so, so good, but it’s not enough. He’s torturing me. He’s torturing me, and he knows it. I look up at him with a resentful gaze, not quite sure what to do. My face is bright red. Catching my frustrated expression, Spencer smiles indulgently. He reaches forward and brushes the pad of his thumb against my lips, as if to say, “come kiss me.” I don’t need any further encouragement. I wrap my arms around him tightly, pulling him close and crushing my mouth against his. Spencer moans into my mouth as he starts thrusting into me again, ramming me into the bedsheets. I can feel myself getting closer and closer, completely lost in my own pleasure as he continues to fuck me. “Beg me,” Spencer urges between thrusts. I can barely form words. “I… I…”“Come on, Ivy,” he says, thrusting me especially hard. I moan, digging my fingers into his shoulders for balance. “Just beg,” S
Spencer's POV“Is Miss Ivy Bell your mate?”My father’s face darkens in disappointment as he asks the question. I know he already knows the answer. He just wants to hear it from me. His hands grip the sides of his chair angrily, knuckles white. I can feel just how enraged he is even at the mere prospect. No Lycan Prince should be with a lowly girl like Ivy, and we both know it. And yet, here we are. “She is,” I admit, looking him squarely in the eyes. My father sighs, rubbing his temples with one hand. He glowers down at me. “Have you gone mad? Why did you lie to me about this, Spencer?” He asks in frustration. “I had no intention of actually acting upon our Mate Bond,” I explain calmly. “I wasn’t planning on holding any sort of Mate Ceremony. While it’s true that Ivy is my mate, I figured nothing else in my life would change–she would simply remain by my side. And so, as far as anyone was concerned, no one else needed to know. Not even her.”It’s strange to think–I mean what I’m
Ivy's POVThe maids don’t seem to have any intention of treating me well as they escort me through the palace. They sneer and glower at me, pulling me along harshly. My body is still weak from everything that happened in the Werewolf Council’s halls, and I find myself stumbling along, disoriented, as they continue to drag me forwards.At least they let me get changed before they dragged me out of the hospital room. Still, though, the thin paper gown leaves me far more revealed and vulnerable than I’d like to be. I haven’t endured such a cruel treatment from the palace staff since Spencer made me his personal maid. Which means that something in my standing must have changed. Fear seeps into me as the maids bring me to the doors of a luxurious hall. Two of them pull the doors open, revealing stunning royal chambers. A regal middle-aged woman sits in the middle of the room, lounging on a gilded gold throne. She’s clearly been waiting for me. The maids throw me to the ground. I cry
Ivy's POVEven though I’d never even imagined becoming Spencer’s Luna, the Lycan Queen’s rejection still stings. Only since my father’s death have I truly realized just how much malice exists in the world. Once, I’d been my father’s pride and joy, the crown jewel of my pack–cherished and pampered and adored from such a young age. But now, there’s no one on my side. I have to face these challenges alone. The maid’s whip lands on the already-bleeding wounds, causing me to gasp sharply again. Thinking about Spencer makes me feel a bit better, though. Even just imagining him is something of a comfort. I fight the urge to scream at the queen. I won’t give her the satisfaction. “I never thought I could… become Spencer’s Luna…” The gaps between my words are interspersed with sharp hisses. “But I am his mate. The choice of who his Luna is should be made by Spencer himself…”The queen narrows her eyes at me in anger, and I feel proud of my small rebellion. No doubt she had hoped to see m
Ivy's POV“You won’t kill her, Mother.”Spencer’s defiant command rattles around the hall, causing the queen’s face to tighten with rage. How many more orders can he defy for me? My gaze shifts nervously towards the maids and their whips, wounds aching even more at the sight of them. I know the maids won’t dare attack me with Spencer in the room, but if somehow he ends up leaving… I shiver and try to tear my thoughts away from worst-case scenarios, returning my focus to the Lycan Queen. “You are being insubordinate, Spencer!” She shouts. “Although you may be my son and the Crown Prince, you have no right to disobey me over and over again. She will die today.”I tremble in Spencer’s arms, but he still looks completely unfazed. “We’ve sworn a Blood Oath together,” Spencer says calmly. A Blood Oath. What is that? Spencer’s voice may not be raised, but it crackles through the hall like a thunderclap, causing the queen to shrink back into her chair in shock. A pair of maids step fo