Ivy’s POVThe adrenaline still pumped through my veins as I watched the family representatives exchange nervous glances, their relief palpable yet tinged with unease. They weren’t used to this kind of warfare—the sharp-edged dance of power and intimidation that came with dealing with men like George Albert. I had been forged in it, tempered by the heat of betrayal and the cold steel of resolve.“Thank you, Ms. Blackwood,” the elder representative, Mr. Whitman, finally said, his voice shaky but sincere. His hands trembled as he adjusted his glasses, and I could see the weight of their decision etched into his tired eyes. “We don’t know what we would have done without you.”I offered a curt nod, keeping my expression composed, even though my mind was already racing through the next steps. “This deal is secure now, but you need to prepare for what’s coming. George doesn’t take kindly to losing, and he’ll find a way to retaliate. Be ready.”The younger man, Aaron Whitman, shifted uncomfor
Ivy's hands trembled as she called to the guard to retrieve the envelope, her gut screaming at her to burn it, to let it remain unread. Yet, she couldn't. Whatever this was, it was meant for her. The ominous gesture wasn’t something she could ignore. Minutes later, the head guard entered the room, the envelope resting on a tray, as though its contents might bite. He placed it on the desk before stepping back, awaiting her orders. "Open it," Ivy said, her voice steady despite the icy fear gripping her chest. The guard hesitated for a moment before nodding. He donned gloves, carefully unsealing the envelope and pulling out the thick, black-edged card within. He glanced at her briefly, his face tightening, before clearing his throat and reading aloud. “To the Queen who defies the tides of power, Do you really think you’re untouchable? You’ve made your move. Now, it’s my turn. Every rose has its thorns, Ivy. And I promise you, they’ll find their way to your skin.” The room fe
Ivy's heart pounded wildly as Leo’s limp body sagged into her arms, his whisper echoing in her ears like a haunting melody. Blood? The word sent a shiver down her spine. What had he meant? Her eyes darted over his pale face, his sharp features now slack and vulnerable. She felt the coldness radiating from his skin, and a strange, vivid memory flared in her mind—the nightmare. The one where shadows chased her, where crimson eyes burned in the dark, and where Leo almost sank his fangs into her neck. Could it be? No. He can't be…Her breath hitched. Half vampire?The thought felt ridiculous, and yet, staring at him now, the pieces began to fall into place. Ivy’s gaze hardened with determination. She couldn’t let him suffer, couldn’t stand by and watch him writhe in pain. If blood was what he needed, then so be it.Her hands trembled as she reached for the small blade her father always kept on the nightstand—a habit he had developed after too many sleepless nights filled with uneasiness a
Leo’s heart nearly stopped as his eyes locked onto the man standing before him. Mr. Richard Blackwood. Ivy’s father. The older man’s sharp, calculating gaze flickered between Leo and Ivy, narrowing slightly before sweeping over the room. His brows furrowed, and for a moment, he simply stood there, the weight of his presence filling the space. Leo felt Ivy tense beside him. She hadn't expected this. None of them had. Thomas wasn’t supposed to return for another month, yet here he was, standing at the threshold of his own room—where his daughter and her fiancé were currently residing. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Richard’s voice cut through it like a blade. “What,” he said slowly, enunciating every syllable, “are you two doing in my bedroom?” Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Ivy’s mouth opened, then closed. Her mind scrambled for an explanation, but the awkwardness weighed down on her like a lead blanket. “Uh…” she started, then
Leo's POVMy entire body went rigid. That wind—it wasn’t natural. It carried something eerie, something watching. The cold wind swept through the open balcony door, sending a shiver down my spine. But it wasn’t the chill that unsettled me. It was something else—something lurking just beyond the estate walls. The kind of presence that made the hair on the back of my neck rise. The kind of presence that felt… wrong.I turned my head slightly, my ears tuning out the conversation still unfolding between Ivy and her father. Whatever was out there, it wasn’t ordinary. I could feel it in my bones.But no one else seemed to notice.I forced my expression to remain neutral as Richard continued questioning Ivy about her arm. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless, alert. I needed to leave. Now.Clearing my throat, I straightened. “I just remembered,” I said, keeping my voice even, “I have urgent business to attend to. I need to leave.”Richard barely spared me a glance, too focused on Ivy.
Connor’s POV I’d been trailing Aria for weeks now, trying to get close enough to her without raising suspicion. Each time, it felt like some invisible force kept pulling her away from me. Either she was surrounded by bodyguards or stuck with Leo Ashton, her so-called fiancée. My wolf churned in frustration, desperate to get close to her, but there was always a wall. But it wasn’t just Aria I was worried about. Lila. That damn woman had been creeping around, her movements more suspicious than I cared to admit. Every time she tried to seduce me, I rejected her, made it clear I wasn’t interested anymore. But there was something about her energy these days—something I couldn’t put my finger on—that felt dangerous. I couldn’t shake the fear that Lila might go after Aria, seeing her as a weakness to exploit. That thought made my wolf snarl, the tension between us nearly unbearable. Aria—no, Ivy—is my mate. And despite Leo’s warnings, I’d fight to my last breath to claim her as mine. T
Connor’s POVThe second my fingers brushed against Aria’s wrist, she jerked away. Not just a flinch—she ripped herself free, staggering back like I’d electrocuted her.Her eyes flickered. Again.For the briefest moment, a strange glow passed through them again—wild, untamed, primal. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but I knew what I had seen. My wolf stilled, every nerve in my body going rigid. Was it possible? Could she have her wolf after all these years? Was that what my wolf felt that day? Her wolf awakening?The thought of running through the forest with my mate, of feeling her presence beside me in the wild, made my wolf start pacing, restless and eager. The silence between us was suffocating. The kind that fills the air just before something explodes."Aria…" My voice came out rough, barely above a whisper. She took a step back, shaking her head. “Don’t. I told you, I don’t need this drama right now.” But I wasn’t listening anymore. My gaze was locked onto hers, s
The hum of the car engine did little to settle the unease twisting in Ivy’s stomach. She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, watching the city blur past in streaks of color. She had woken up that morning feeling… off. At first, she thought it was just the ache of missing Leo, the emptiness of knowing he wasn’t beside her anymore. But this was different. Her body felt strange—lightheaded, almost feverish. Her skin was slick with sweat, and every now and then, a wave of nausea rolled over her like she might throw up. She took a shaky breath and pressed her hand to her chest. Maybe she was coming down with something. Or maybe… Her fingers curled involuntarily. Her mind drifted back to the incident two days ago—the small cut she had gotten. It had disappeared. Completely. She had brushed it off at the time, but now, it gnawed at her. Only werewolves healed that fast. Only those with wolves. She didn’t have a wolf. The thought made her throat tighten. She ha
Ivy's POV John Rodney. I hadn't seen him in years, but I could never forget that face. The greasy, stringy hair, the hollowed-out cheeks, the nervous twitch of his lips—he was another ghost from my nightmares, standing right in front of me in handcuffs. I couldn't breathe. The room shrank around me, the past crashing over me like a wave, dragging me back to a time I had fought so hard to forget. The café.The smell of roasted coffee beans and caramelized sugar had once been comforting—a small piece of normalcy I had clung to.I once loved working at that café, pouring lattes and wiping down counters, believing that with every shift, I was proving something. Proving to my father and uncle that adopting me wasn’t a mistake. Proving that I wasn’t just some broken girl, a discarded thing left to rot in the shadows of her past. They had given me another chance at life, a home, a family. And I was desperate to show them I deserved it. That I wasn’t useless, like everyone in my
IvyI had misunderstood Leo. That much was clear now, and guilt gnawed at my insides. But what choice did I have? I had been betrayed before, left to pick up the shattered pieces of my trust. So when the woman claimed to be his mate, when the world whispered doubts in my ears, I assumed the worst. And now? Now, as Leo held my hand, leading me toward the exit, I should have felt relief. Instead, unease crawled up my spine. The ding of the other elevator echoed behind us, and hurried footsteps approached from my left. “Connor?”His name left my lips before I could stop it, my voice betraying an excitement I hadn't expected. Why was I so happy to see him? All of a sudden, Leo’s presence became suffocating. The warmth of his grip, once reassuring, now made my skin crawl. My mind screamed that this was Leo—the man I loved—but a deeper instinct recoiled, repulsed and... scared. I tried to pull away, but Leo’s grip tightened. He ignored Connor entirely, dragging me outside. At th
Leo Why the fuck is she here? Isn't she the reason we're in this mess in the first place?"Um, Mr. Ashton. I think you need to leave. You have a guest, and I would like to have a moment with my guest," I heard Ivy say as she took her seat, arranging the files closest to her on the desk.A moment with Connor? Like hell am I supposed to let that happen?!"Isabella, what are you doing here?" I demanded angrily, turning towards her.Isabella is my friend, no mistaking. She was one of the people that knew I was the Alpha King before I revealed my face. She had been at her modeling academy, and I should be happy she's back after so long, but how could she think of spewing such nonsense to Ivy? This past week, I've been nothing but hard on her. She joined the manhunt and was deprived of proper rest as well. How could she dare to be all cozy when my mate is out there, possibly in danger?"Leo? Did you hear what I just said?" She asked, tugging at my shirt. The action made my wolf flinch bac
Leo"Can you all excuse us, please?" Ivy said, her voice calm, collected—too collected. The members of her board exchanged glances before rising from their seats. Some murmured under their breath as they exited the room, their whispers grinding against my nerves. But I didn’t come for them. I came for her. How could she be here? How could she not tell me? I had spent the last week unraveling, losing my mind as I scoured every inch of the forest, every desolate place, searching for her. My men combed through the darkest corners of the city. I even consulted the sorceress, desperate to track her down, to find out if Dina had taken her. But there was nothing. No trace. No scent. Nothing. The sleepless nights, the hunger, the ache—it all consumed me. The darkness became my companion, pressing into me, sinking into my bones. Every second without her was agony. And now, here she was, seated as though I wasn’t standing right in front of her. As though my very presence didn’t burn th
IvyI took a deep breath and steadied myself. Shaking off the remnants of my nightmare, I moved toward the bathtub, turning the shower on to let the hot water wash away the lingering unease.Once I was clean, I wrapped myself in a plush towel and stepped in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, pale but composed. I couldn't afford to look fragile. I couldn't afford to look like my nightmares.I picked an elegant black pantsuit from my wardrobe, pairing it with a silk blouse in a muted shade of blue. The structured blazer sat perfectly on my shoulders, a protective armor of its own. After fastening a delicate silver bracelet around my wrist, I slipped on a pair of sleek heels. My fingers worked through my hair, styling it into a sophisticated low bun—sharp, professional, controlled. Light makeup followed—just enough to conceal the exhaustion beneath my eyes. A soft nude lipstick finished the look. With one last glance in the mirror, I straightened my posture. Whatev
IvyI blinked against the darkness of the room, my heart pounding for a second before I registered the sound. It was coming from the door.The voice on the other end called me again. It was Joe.Joe came in and handed me the new phone. With trembling fingers, I dialed my father’s number. The moment he picked up, my composure crumbled. “Dad,” I choked out, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. “Oh my God, Ivy!” he screamed instantly, his voice thick with unshed tears. “Are you okay? Talk to me. Where are you?”“I—I’m fine now,” I managed between shaky breaths. “The police are handling it. I just—I just wanted to hear your voice.” He let out a slow, heavy breath. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice raw with guilt. “I’m sorry your uncle and I weren’t there when you needed us.” A sob escaped me before I could stop it. “I was so scared, dad,” I admitted. “I know, baby,” he murmured. “But you’re safe now. That’s all that matters.” He paused. “Tell me what happened. Who
IvyMy fingers trembled slightly as I thought of calling my father and uncle, knowing they would be worried sick. But a call right now would only open the floodgates of emotions I wasn’t ready to face right here. I’d call them when I was home, where I could breathe, where the walls wouldn’t feel like they were closing in. But every second I lingered in this pack, the past pressed down harder, threatening to pull me under.A soft knock on the door made me pause. I turned to find Connor standing in the doorway, his gaze filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.“You’re leaving,” he stated rather than asked, his voice rough with something akin to regret.“I need to,” I replied, moving away from the mirror after fixing my hair.Connor stepped forward, blocking my path. “Ivy, please. This is your home. You belong here. With me.”I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “This place ceased to be my home a long time ago, Connor. I don’t belong here anymore.”His jaw tightened, and
Ivy Icy silence settled over the room, stretching between Lila and me like razor wire, each second slicing deeper into old wounds. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. Her words hung in the air, venomous and final.What makes you think I like you now, Aria?I had expected cruelty—this was Lila, after all—but hearing my old name from her lips felt like a blade twisting in my chest. Aria. Not Ivy. That name belonged to the girl who had died long ago, buried beneath betrayal, rejection, and loss.How many times do I have to remind her not to call me that?!I stiffened, my jaw tightening as I met her gaze. “Don’t call me that. Ever.”She smiled, but it was sharp, all teeth. “Why? Does it hurt? Does it remind you of everything you lost?” Her eyes gleamed with something dark—satisfaction, perhaps. Or maybe something worse. “Good.”My nails bit into my palms. I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. Not again. I had clawed my way out of hell—o
IvyDarkness swallowed me whole.I could feel the damp, cold stone beneath me, the air thick with the scent of mold and decay. My wrists ached where the chains had dug in, my throat raw from screaming. Shadows moved at the edges of my vision—no, not shadows.The Keeper.The voice slithered through the dark, thick as tar, wrapping around my mind. You thought you could run? Thought you could escape me?I tried to move, but my limbs felt like they were sinking into the floor, melting into the filth. My breath came in ragged gasps. The walls pulsed, closing in, the ceiling stretching impossibly high. A hand—bony, cold—closed around my ankle, yanking me back.I screamed.Then—light.I jolted upright, my chest heaving, my skin damp with sweat. But the filth, the chains, the Keeper—they were gone.Instead, I was in one of the softest beds I had ever felt, the sheets clean, smelling of fresh linen. My body no longer reeked of mold and damp, my skin scrubbed clean. My fingers curled into the f