Leo’s POV“Is that all you came to say?” I growled angrily at Dina, bored out of my mind. I thought they had come for a battle.“This is my one and only last offer, Alpha, you should reconsider,” she sneered with a vicious laugh.Dina’s words clung to me like a curse on their own, the shadows inside me latching onto them, twisting them into something darker. I couldn’t shake them—‘sacrifice your light’. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stalked out of the great hall, leaving Dina’s smug expression behind.Zane followed me, his boots echoing on the stone floor as he kept pace. “Alpha,” he started, his voice calm but firm.“Don’t.” My tone was sharp, final, but I knew Zane too well to think he’d stop.He ignored my warning. “If she knows about this ‘light,’ we need to address it. Who or what is she talking about?”I stopped abruptly, turning to face him. My claws itched to extend, and the hybrid in me begged for release, but I fought it down. “Drop it, Zane,” I growled, my voice low an
Ivy’s POV It has been two days since Lila’s last visit. Two days since the girl who was once my sister barged back into my life, uninvited and unwelcome, yet carrying an air of authority as if she still had power over me. The memories of our last encounter lingered in my mind like a sour taste. Lila’s arrival wasn’t casual—it was calculated. Everything about her was deliberate, from the tilt of her head to the faint smirk that curled her lips when she thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t trust her, and yet, her presence unsettled me more than I was willing to admit. I wrapped my arms around myself, pacing the length of my room. The faint hum of city life buzzed across the estate walls, a distant reminder that the world kept moving, even as my own stood still with the appearance of the past I thought was long buried. My chest tightened at the thought of Leo. Two weeks. Two excruciating weeks without a word, a text, or even a whisper of his existence. He is not my mate but that di
Ivy's POVMy blood ran cold. That voice—a voice I hadn't heard in weeks but knew as intimately as my own heartbeat. "Leo," I whispered, my voice trembling against his palm. He released me slowly, and in the faint moonlight streaming through the window, I could see him. He looked... different. His frame was leaner, his face sharper, as though the weight of the world had been pressing down on him. But his eyes—they burned with the same intensity as before, smoldering with something between anger and longing. For a moment, neither of us moved. The tension in the room was suffocating, like the calm before a storm. I clutched the towel tighter around me, my damp hair clinging to my shoulders. "Where have you been?" I asked, my voice breaking as a mixture of relief, anger, and heartbreak surged through me. "Two weeks, Leo. Two weeks of silence. Do you have any idea what that did to me?" He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, stepping closer. "I know, Ivy. I know. But I had to—
Connor's POV The garden was quiet, save for the distant hum of crickets. I should’ve been back at the pack house hours ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave—not while she was so close. Definitely not while I burned with the desire to touch her.Aria. The memory of our first meeting after so many years burned brighter than anything else in my mind. Even after days and weeks have gone by, I couldn’t discard it. The way my wolf—Theo had howled for joy in the corner of my mind and the guilt that threatened to destroy me.The moment I saw her, clinging to that bastard, I felt a spark in a world that felt dull and lifeless to me since I discovered she might be dead. A single look, and I was lost. When I first discovered that she was my mate,Theo, had claimed her the moment her scent hit me—a mix of lavender and rain, intoxicating and impossible to forget. But I couldn’t accept her and now, I burn with regret.I’d become her shadow after that last meeting, drawn to her like a moth t
Leo's POV It had been two weeks and all I could think of as I entered the human world was Ivy. I only wanted to feel her next to me. To feel her warmth but when our lips collided, I knew that I wanted more.The taste of Ivy’s blood still lingered on my tongue, and the hunger roared within me like a beast awakened. The taste had rejuvenated me in a way I hadn’t expected. My strength, which had worn out over the last few weeks, had surged back with the ferocity of a storm. I could feel the power coursing through me, as though I were whole again—recovered, renewed. I felt ten times stronger than I’ve ever felt.But it wasn’t just the physical strength. There was something darker that had come to life, something raw, deep within me that wanted more. More of her, more of that blood.I could almost feel the temptation clawing at me, urging me to sink my teeth deeper, to take her in a way that would bind her to me forever. I fought it, gritting my teeth, my body tense as if holding onto a
Leo’s POVThe world around me began to blur as I hovered over her, my hands shaking as I tried to stop the bleeding. Blood soaked through my fingers, staining my clothes and the floor beneath us. Panic surged within me, but there was nothing I could do to undo what just happened. “Ivy… please,” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. “Please, don’t leave me. I didn’t mean to—I thought…”“Leo,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.“Ivy, stay with me, I’ll get help,” I begged, pressing my hands to her wound. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—it wasn’t supposed to be you.”Her gaze softened, and she lifted a trembling hand to touch my face.I looked down at my blood stained hands, my clothes, and the tiled floor beneath us. My wolf howled inside me, the pain and guilt threatening to consume us both.“I’ll fix this,” I promised, my voice breaking. “I’ll fix everything. You’re gonna be okay.”But my words fell away as her eyes, those warm brown eyes that had always been my anchor, began to
Lila’s POV I hate him. The thought clawed through my mind as I slammed my fist against the dresser. Connor, with his cold, detached words, his cruel rejection—it was almost laughable. The same man who once worshiped me, who whispered my name like it was a prayer, now looked at me as though I were dirt under his boots. Once, he clung to me like I was the air he needed to breathe. I remember the nights we spent tangled together, the way he burned for me, the way he whispered promises that now taste like ash. And yet, now he has the audacity to say I was just a replacement for her? For Aria? I hate her. I hate them all. The venom surged through me as I stalked across the room, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. Let them burn, all of them. They would pay for the humiliation, the betrayal and for making me a second option. By the time I was ready to leave, the sun was high in the sky. Lunch already, and my plan had barely begun. I pulled on a hoodie, tuck
Author’s POV Ivy studied Lila across the café table, her expression guarded but no longer icy. Though she hadn’t said nice words, the hardness in her features was softening. Lila bit her lip, letting a trembling sigh escape as she looked down, feigning a mix of guilt and longing. “I just… I tried to find you all those years ago when you suddenly disappeared, Aria,” Lila said softly, twisting her hands together on the table so that her drama could seem more real. “Against Mom, Dad’s and Connor’s wishes, I searched everywhere. When you went missing, it was like a piece of me disappeared too, because whether I admit it or not, you’ve always been a part of me. My twin sister. I couldn’t let it go.” Ivy shifted uneasily in her seat, her fingers toying with the edge of her coffee cup. Her silence was heavy, but Lila knew better than to rush her. “I didn’t want to believe it,” Lila continued, her voice faltering slightly. “They said you were gone, that I should move on, but I couldn’
Leo's patience snapped.The power in his voice sent a tremor through the air. “You have no idea who you’re speaking to! I am the Alpha King. She is my mate. How dare you harbor feelings for the Queen of our realm?” Connor’s expression faltered, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then— Leo’s golden irises darkened, flashing with raw power. Connor’s wolf recognized it.A shudder rippled through him. His wolf whimpered, instinctively bowing its head. Leo stepped closer, his voice a deadly whisper. Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. This was it.This was why his wolf instinctively bowed whenever Leo spoke. This was why his body yielded despite the Alpha blood running through his veins. The truth settled in his bones, heavy and unshakable. ‘So this is the invisible king of our realm…’The man who ruled from the shadows. The one who never showed his face, yet his presence alone commanded submission. The ruthless, unchallenged ruler every pack whispere
Alpha Raul’s growl ripped through the chamber, primal and raw, shaking the very walls. His claws unsheathed in an instant, his chest rising and falling with ragged fury. But Ivy? She only smiled.“Like I said,” he murmured, ignoring Ivy's taunts, his grip tightening on her jaw. “I’ll do what I didn’t do last time. I’ll mark you as mine.” He leaned closer, his breath hot on her face. “Only then will you know your place. Only then will you learn total submission.”The words sent ice plunging through my veins. Ivy's eyes widened. “No. No, you can’t fucking do that.” She fought, jerking her head away, but his grip was iron. “Hold her down!” His men obeyed instantly. She screamed as they pinned her down, their hands like shackles against her arms and legs. Her body shook violently, every instinct inside her roaring in defiance. The king’s fangs elongated, his pupils dilating as his gaze locked onto her neck. His breath was warm against her skin, and she knew what was coming
Ivy’s POVMy eyes snapped open, my chest rising and falling frantically. The moment I woke, I felt the cold bite of metal against my wrists and ankles. Chains. Again. My body ached, my head swam, but it was the collar around my neck that burned the most. A cruel reminder that my wolf was trapped, silenced. I rattled the chains, yanking at them as fury flooded through me. My voice came out raw, shaking with rage. “You killed her!” I screamed, my body jerking against the restraints. The memory of the vision burned behind my eyes, searing itself into my soul. Nyxara. Her pain. Her death. I had seen it. I had felt it. And the monster who had done it was standing right in front of me. The king. He was here. Watching me with a dark, satisfied smirk. Beside him stood the man who had sprinkled something on me before I passed out—his sorcerer, no doubt. Three other men lingered in the room, their presence nothing more than shadows at the edges of my vision. “Let me go and watch m
Ivy’s POVMy eyes snapped open, my chest rising and falling frantically. A dim glow flickered above me, casting shadows along the stone walls. My breath hitched as I realized I couldn’t move. Cold metal encased my wrists, the chains rattling softly as I struggled. The ridiculous outfit I had been forced into still clung to my skin like an insult. Panic gripped me, but before I could fully process my situation, the door creaked open. A woman stepped inside. My breath caught in my throat almost immediately.She was stunning—otherworldly. Curls of pure white cascaded down her shoulders, glowing in the faint light. Her eyes, a vibrant shade of green, gleamed like a forest after a fresh rain. Every part of her radiated an ethereal beauty, but there was something else—something almost… sorrowful. I swallowed hard. “Excuse me?” I rasped. “Can you help me out of this?” The woman didn’t react. She wasn’t even looking at me. Instead, her gaze was fixed on a small wooden table besi
Lila’s POVDarkness swallowed me whole.The wind howled in my ears as I fell, my body twisting, weightless in the abyss. My screams were silent, lost in the void. I reached out, desperate for something—anything—to grab onto, but there was nothing. Just the endless fall, the cold air biting into my skin.Then—I hit the ground.Pain exploded through my body, my bones rattling from the impact. But the surface beneath me wasn’t solid—it was wet. Warm.I gasped, my hands sinking into a thick, viscous liquid. My breath hitched. The scent hit me first. Metallic. Sharp.Blood.It was everywhere.I scrambled up, my fingers coated in red, my gown soaked through. The entire floor—no, the entire room—was drenched in it, seeping from the walls, pooling in the corners, dripping from the ceiling in slow, deliberate drops.Drip. Drip. Drip.I trembled, my heart pounding against my ribs as I staggered backward. My breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. This couldn’t be real. It wasn’t real.A hallucin
Lila’s POVThe night air was crisp, the city stretching out beneath me in a sea of golden lights. Colorado had been a good choice. No responsibilities, no stress—just endless luxury. Exactly what I deserved. It was so easy to become Aria. To take her place. My mind suddenly raced to that morning when I was supposed to travel. The night before, my father and uncle had stormed into my room. Leo had discovered that I wasn’t Ivy, and I had to think fast. I made up a lie. I told them that Leo had cheated on me with someone named Isabella, that he was furious because I had found out and was threatening to ruin me if I didn’t come back to him. I made myself sound terrified, my voice breaking as I clutched my throat. It helped that his imprints were still there, dark bruises forming along my skin. Richard and Marcus were beyond furious and vowed that they would have him arrested for trespassing and assaulting me.I painted him as an obsessive psychopath. And of course, they belie
Ivy’s POVPain.It was the first thing I felt as I slipped back into consciousness, my body aching from head to toe. The weight around my throat burned, the collar digging into my skin like a brand of ownership. I didn’t want to be owned. I didn’t want to be anyone’s.My head pounded, my limbs heavy and unresponsive. Darkness still surrounded me, but I could sense the presence of others. Watching. Waiting.I forced my eyes open.A dimly lit chamber greeted me—stone walls, damp and cold. A throne sat at the far end of the room, and on it, the king lounged, golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction.He was waiting for me.I clenched my jaw. My wolf stirred faintly inside me, weak, barely there. Whatever magic that bound me was suffocating her.I looked down. I was wearing a flowing black garment that draped around me, the dark fabric swaying with every subtle movement. Real flowers adorned the fabric—delicate yet striking black roses, their petals velvety and deep as the night. The sight
Ivy's POV Nyxara?Who the hell is that? And why is he so sure I was her?The name sent a shudder through my very bones. It felt foreign yet familiar, like a song I had once known but long forgotten. The king chuckled, as if he could sense the shift inside me. “Ah… you don’t remember, do you?” He brushed a strand of silver fur from my face, his grip tightening for just a moment. “But your blood does. Your soul does.” His grin was sharp, victorious. “And soon, I will make you remember everything.”I whimpered, desperately willing my wolf to rise, to fight, or at the very least, to shift back into my human form. But my body refused to obey. I was trapped—helpless within my own skin. He watched me tremble, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. With a slow, mocking tsk, he shook his head.“Did you really think I wasn’t prepared for something like this?” His voice was soft, dangerous. "That collar around your neck—oh, you didn’t notice?" Collar? I tried to shift, to shake, b
Ivy's POV I kicked. I thrashed. I screamed. Nothing worked. The man who carried me was an immovable force. His grip was like steel, his strength effortless. I tried to wriggle free from his shoulder as I dangled, hitting his back with as much force as I could muster. But there was no reaction from him. He carried me effortlessly, his grip unyielding, and let out a victorious growl as if he had just claimed his prize. I pleaded within myself for something—anything—to help me escape. A transformation, a sudden surge of strength… but fate was not on my side today. It has never been. From how he held me, I could see that we had already left the forest and reached the clearing of the pack. He strode forward, taking an unfamiliar path and stepping into a long, dimly lit corridor. The sound of an oak door creaking open sent a chill down my spine. Then—thump! He dropped me onto the cold floor before turning sharply and walking away, his footsteps fading as the heavy door