Leo Three days. Three endless days. I couldn’t get my mind off Ivy, and every minute that passed felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. We spoke on the phone yesterday but since then, I haven’t been able to get her on the line. The work stacked in front of me was becoming a blur—territory disputes, rogue reports, nothing compared to the pull I felt to be with her. A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. It was Zane, his face tense as usual. “Your majesty,” he began, his voice careful, “What are we going to do with her? You haven’t said anything since we took her hostage. It’s so unlike you to kidnap a shewolf and subject her to that amount of torture, even if it’s a rogue. Do you know her personally?” I looked up at him then, the gears in my mind grinding to a halt. Zane’s question lingered in the air like a poison. My gaze dropped, remembering the day we’d captured her. The rogue she wolf. The moment I locked eyes with her—there was something about her that sc
IvyI pushed open the door to Leo’s house, expecting to find the quiet warmth I had come to associate with him. Instead, I was met with the sight of a woman—elegant, poised, and far too comfortable—lounging on his couch as if she owned the place. She was wearing his shirt. My stomach twisted at the sight, jealousy threatening to overwhelm me. I took a shaky step forward, my voice cutting through the room. “Who the hell are you?” The woman glanced up lazily, a slow smirk curling on her lips. She set her wine glass down and crossed one leg over the other. “I could ask you the same thing.” I clenched my fists. “I practically live here.” She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her sharp eyes. “Oh? So, what are you? His assistant? His housekeeper?” A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Excuse me?” Paul, one of Leo’s guards, stood off to the side, looking stiff and uncomfortable. I turned to him, my voice sharp. “Paul, who is this, and why the hell i
Leo The afternoon air was thick with tension as I stormed back into the house. The scent of Ivy still lingered, mixed with the faint traces of something else—something I wanted gone. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the room, my wolf Theo restless beneath my skin. I need to understand exactly what happened so I can figure out the best way to handle this. The moment I stepped into the living room and saw Isabella wearing my shirt, my blood boiled. My fists clenched at my sides, and a surge of possessive rage shot through me like wildfire. That was my shirt. On her. And the implications hit me like a punch to the gut. What must have gone through Ivy’s mind when she saw this? Did she assume the worst? The very thought made my stomach twist. And then, as if she had been waiting for me, Isabella threw herself into my arms the moment her eyes landed on mine. “Leo bear,” she cooed, squeezing me tightly. “It’s been forever! Didn’t you get my message? I told you I was coming
Leo The evening air was thick with tension as I yanked open the car door, only for flashing red and blue lights to blind me. The shouts came again—sharp, authoritative, cutting through the pounding in my skull. "Hands where we can see them!" "Step away from the vehicle, now!" A dozen police officers surrounded me, weapons drawn, their expressions grim. I clenched my jaw, irritation flaring. These fools were wasting my time. Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone, fingers moving swiftly as I dialed the one person who could put an end to this bullshit. Someone who owes me his life.The line clicked. "Who is in charge here?" I barked, my voice cold, cutting. "You're wasting my damn time." One officer, a tall man with a hard stare, stepped forward cautiously. "Sir, we need you to—" The call connected. "Commissioner Jared speaking," came the voice on the other end. I didn't bother with pleasantries. "Your officers are pointing their guns at me." Silence. Then, a
It's been two days since Ivy was kidnapped. Two long, agonizing days, and there was still no sign of Ivy. Leo was losing his mind. He had turned over every inch of the city, organized a special squad with the police to search every possible hiding place in the city, and scoured every lead, but nothing. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. But he knew better. Someone had taken her. And every instinct in his body told him exactly who that someone was. Dina. Something about the black rose and the envelope had triggered a memory buried deep in his mind. It was the kind of signature move Dina would pull—subtle yet taunting, poetic in its cruelty. But what solidified his suspicion was the talisman. Ivy’s protection had been left behind, as if whoever took her wanted her vulnerable. And that reeked of Dina. The problem was, Dina was like the wind. She had no real home, no place to track her down. She appeared when she wanted and vanished just as easily. He had order
Connor’s breath hitched, his wolf clawing at his skin, demanding he rip the smirk off Lila’s face. But he held himself back—just barely. He had learned long ago that Lila thrived on control and manipulation. If he let his rage get the best of him, she’d only enjoy it.Instead, he stepped forward slowly, his voice eerily calm. “You’re going to tell me everything you know.”Lila cocked her head, her lips curling. “And if I don’t?”Connor didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The air in the room thickened, his power pressing against her like a suffocating wave.Her smirk wavered, but she held her ground.“Tell me what you know, Lila,” he repeated, softer this time, almost dangerous in its quietness.She let out a dramatic sigh, flicking invisible dust off her sleeve. “Fine. But if I talk, I want something in return.”Connor’s hands curled into fists. “You’re in no position to bargain.”“Oh, but I am,” she purred. “Because while you and your Mr Leo have been running in circles, I’ve been payi
IvyThe walls around me seemed to breathe, shifting in the dimly lit space.Two days. Forty-eight endless hours since I was taken.I counted them through the steady drip of water somewhere in the distance, the only sound breaking the suffocating silence of this prison.No one had come for me. No one was coming. The realization settled deep in my bones like a sickness.I curled on the small, grimy mattress they had given me, my hands and feet bound, my body aching from lying on the damp, filthy fabric. The air was thick with rot, the stench of mold and stagnant water clinging to my skin. The walls were cracked, peeling, revealing the decaying structure beneath. Rats skittered in the corners, their tiny claws scratching against the concrete. The only light seeped in through a high, grimy window, casting sickly yellow streaks across the floor. The silence was unbearable. Does my father even know I’ve been taken? Will Leo inform him or will he be too busy with his mate?I swallowed
Ivy’s POVHow? I hadn’t moved. I was tied down, helpless. So how could I possibly have— No. No, it wasn’t me. It couldn’t have been. But the blood was warm, fresh, trickling down my fingertips like a confession I wasn’t ready to hear. The metallic scent filled my nostrils, thick and overwhelming. My breath came in ragged gasps as I fought the nausea rolling through me. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the silence that had settled in the room. Then, I remembered. The voice. The same one I’d heard when I was being kidnapped, a whisper at the edge of my consciousness, lurking in the shadows of my mind. I had dismissed it then, thinking it was nothing but the remnants of an old nightmare. But now? Could it be? Was my wolf awakening? Will I finally get to shift?Tears pricked at my eyes as I struggled against the ropes binding my wrists. Any werewolf could snap out of this—so why couldn’t I? Why was I still so weak? “Hello?” I whispered hoarsely, my voice b
IVY'S POV“No!” I thrashed, every limb rebelling as I strained against the chains. “Get your filthy hands off me! You’re all monsters!”The burn of the restraints cut deeper, but I didn’t care. My voice tore through the chamber like a wounded beast. “You think this makes you powerful? You think having your way with a chained woman makes you a king? You’re nothing, Alpha. Nothing but a coward too weak to accept rejection. Your mate despised you. I despise you too!”The Alpha stood in front of me, unshaken. His eyes gleamed—not with rage, but something worse. Hunger. Satisfaction. Humor.He turned to the sorcerer, his voice low, almost casual. “If I spill my seed into her… will it hold?”The sorcerer’s breath caught, then his face lit up as if struck by divine revelation.“Oh… oh, my King,” he murmured, sinking to one knee. “You are brilliant beyond compare. A true leader. Of course! Of course! If she bears your heir, the bond will be forever weakened. No Alpha would dare claim a woman
The estate loomed into view like a palace of memories she wanted to bury. The towering gates, the long marble driveway, the manicured hedges. To anyone else, it looked like luxury.To her, it looked like a trap.A trap that could destroy all her plans.The moment they stepped inside, staff rushed to greet her. She didn’t recognize any of them despite their attempts to be friendly. They all wore the same annoying expression—concern mingled with curiosity.As if wondering what had really happened to Miss Ivy.Lila smiled.Fake. Perfect. Practiced.She had no choice now.“It’s good to be home,” she said smoothly.Richard narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.They led her up to her room, the unfamiliar halls pressing in around her like the walls of a tomb. The maids bustled in behind her, changing the sheets, restocking the drawers, pretending not to notice the tension radiating from her.When they left, she stood in the center of the room, staring at her reflection.Ivy stared bac
The scent of antiseptic hung thick in the air, cold and suffocating, clinging to the sterile white walls like a ghost that refused to leave. The room, though bathed in daylight streaming through a narrow, barred window, held no warmth. The only sounds were the distant echo of shoes on tile and the low, mechanical hum of machines monitoring the fragile boundary between sanity and madness.In the center of it all lay Lila.Or as the staff here knew her: Ivy Blackwood.Her brown hair was disheveled, matted to her forehead with sweat. Her pale skin, once radiant with carefully curated poise, now looked wan and haunted. Her eyes, wild and rimmed with exhaustion, flicked around the room like a cornered animal searching for an escape. But there was none. The straightjacket bound her arms tightly to her torso, and leather restraints anchored her ankles to the bed frame.She hadn’t spoken since the screaming stopped.The nurses whispered when they thought she couldn’t hear. Said she was mad. T
Leo’s POVThe battlefield quieted, save for the crackling fires and the groans of the dying. My pulse still thundered in my ears, but the bloodlust began to ebb, leaving behind a sharp, aching clarity.I stood among the ruins of Malrik’s failed rebellion, blood soaking my skin, teeth still stained from the life I had ripped from their veins. The night was far from over—I could feel it, like a splinter in my mind. Something dark was coming.The air shifted.Colder. Heavier.Even my warriors sensed it. Their post-battle roars died out, one by one, and an unnatural silence swallowed the clearing. Connor’s lips curled into a snarl, Zane’s claws still dripped red, but their eyes darted to the treeline.Then I saw her.She stepped out of the shadows like smoke made flesh.Dina.The last time I saw her, she stood in front of my throne room, asking me to sacrifice my mate. She hadn’t changed—still dressed in her dark robes that rippled like oil in the wind, her face pale and ageless, her eye
Ivy’s POVThe fourth day turned out to be the worst.Worse because I am still alive. Worse because every time Alpha Raul marked me, the pain got sharper. Deeper.And every time, my wolf—valiantly, defiantly—rejected him.The room stank of sweat, old blood, and Alpha Raul’s scent—thick and clinging like rot. My body was raw, my neck a patchwork of torn flesh where Raul had tried to mark me over and over. But my wolf—the last spark of resistance I had left—rejected him every time. And each rejection felt like death.The mark was slow to heal, and before it could fully fade, Alpha Raul would sink his teeth into the same spot—reopening the wound and claiming it all over again.Each time he sank his fangs into me, it was as if my soul was being torn in half, only to be stitched together by burning wire. I would scream until my voice gave out, until my throat was ragged and raw, until the pain folded me into unconsciousness. But every time I came back, chained and shivering, he would try a
Leo’s POVThe air crackled with energy as I stepped onto the battlefield, the scent of war thick on the wind—blood, sweat, steel. The moon hung low, bloated and red like it was thirsty for carnage. Good. It would feast tonight.My boots crushed charred earth as I led my warriors across the eastern border of the palace, where Malrik’s pathetic rebellion had gathered like a swarm of diseased rats. I could hear their howls echoing in the distance, could hear the roar of their chants—wild, desperate, undisciplined. Fools.Zane met me at the front lines, blood already staining his cheek and his blade. “They’ve broken through the outer ring,” he said breathlessly, “but they’re sloppy. No formation. Just brute force.”I sneered. “Then let’s show them what real force looks like.”I shifted.Bones cracked, flesh tore, and a searing fire ignited in my veins as my wolf burst free. My muscles expanded, fur black as shadow blanketing me, claws gleaming like blades. But it wasn’t just my wolf—my va
Leo’s POVMy hand shot out, grabbing Dante by the throat again —but this time, I didn’t squeeze. I leaned in, my golden eyes burning with a primal, ancient rage. Does the name Blackwood ring a bell?" I growled, my face mere inches from his. I watched his features quiver, the slight tremor betraying the fear he was too proud to voice.He didn’t answer. Didn’t even blink.Rage ignited in my veins. My fist slammed into his face—once, twice, again and again—until the wet crunch of bone and flesh filled the air. Blood sprayed across my shirt, warm and slick, but I didn’t stop. Not until his head lolled and his breath came in ragged, shuddering gasps.“Ivy Blackwood,” I murmured, my voice like a death sentence. “The woman you kidnapped weeks ago. The one whose life you almost ruined. The one you would have killed if she hadn’t escaped you.” Dante's body jerked violently beneath my grip, his muscles spasming as I held him in place. I struck his face—once, twice—the sharp crack echoin
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