Ivy’s POVA sharp, searing pain shot through my skull as I slowly opened my eyes. My vision blurred, my surroundings nothing more than dark, shifting shadows. I sucked in a breath, but it did little to steady my pounding head. Someone had hit me. The realization sent a fresh wave of nausea rolling through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the dizziness to subside, then opened them again, bracing against the pain that exploded across my skull. Slowly, my trembling hand traveled to the back of my head, fingers brushing against something clotted. Blood. My breath hitched as I pulled my hand back, the dark crimson staining my fingertips. The shock cut through the fog in my mind, allowing fragmented memories to slam into me all at once. Isabella. Lila. Betrayal struck me like a dagger to the chest, sharp and unforgiving. I had trusted Isabella. I had clung to the fragile hope that there was still good in her, that maybe—just maybe—she had saved me from Daniel because she car
Ivy’s POVThe world exploded into chaos the moment the howl faded. The truck skidded violently, throwing me and the others forward. A deafening crunch echoed as something massive slammed into the front, bringing us to a dead stop. Then came the sounds—the unmistakable symphony of war. Growls erupted from all around us, deep and guttural, sending a shiver through my spine. Claws scraped against metal, and the sickening snap of bone filled the air. The cries of agony that followed were more beast than man. I clenched my hands over my ears, heart hammering, bracing for the worst. And then—silence. The stillness was heavier than the violence that came before it. Inside the truck, we exchanged wary glances, our breaths quick and panicked. No one dared to move, each of us straining to hear what was coming next. The door was wrenched open. Towering figures loomed over us, their massive frames blocking out the dim light filtering through the trees. I had never seen wolves like the
Lila’s POVAs soon as I stepped into the almighty mansion where Aria had been living, I inhaled sharply. It was beyond magnificent. Every glistening surface, every polished detail screamed wealth, power, and privilege—things I had been denied my entire life. My fingers itched to touch everything, to claim it as my own. But I held back. I couldn't afford to let my excitement slip. I am Ivy now. A strong, reassuring hand squeezed my shoulder, and I turned to face the man who had unknowingly brought a viper into his home. "I'm sorry your uncle and I are late. I promise you that monster won’t ever come near you, okay?" Richard, Ivy’s so-called father, whispered before pulling me into a warm embrace. I nodded, allowing my body to relax against him. How ironic. He had no idea the real monster was right here in his arms. Ivy’s uncle, however, wasn’t as sentimental. He stormed off, his expression grim, disappearing down the hallway. Richard shot him a worried look before turning back
Lila barely held back a smirk as soon as those words came out of Richard's mouth. Before she could say anything, Ivy's phone rang. Lila looked down. It was Leo Ashton. Her breath caught in her throat as panic surged through her. She quickly glanced up, her face rattled with pretend fear, and held the phone up to Richard. His face darkened instantly, his expression tightening with rage. Without hesitation, he snatched the phone from her hand. "Look here, Mr. Ashton," he barked into the receiver, his voice laced with fury. "I respect you as a respectable voice in the corporate world, but don't test my patience. Stay away from my daughter!" He ended the call abruptly and dropped the phone onto the table with a sharp thud. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating. "You are leaving for Colorado first thing tomorrow morning," he announced coldly. "Your uncle and I have made preparations. One of the maids is packing your bags as we speak." Lila forced herself to remain com
Ivy's POV From the moment we were thrown into their dungeons, the sun became nothing more than a distant memory. Days bled into nights, swallowed whole by the suffocating darkness. Time lost all meaning in this cold, damp cell, where the only light came from the flickering torches the guards carried when they came to drag us to our labor. Every morning since I arrived, the routine had been the same—wake up before dawn, get dragged out of the filthy cell, and work until exhaustion consumed me. The guards didn’t care if we were weak, tired, or sick. To them, we were nothing but slaves. The stench of sweat and decay had become a part of me. At first, it made me gag, but after a week, I had learned to endure it. The other prisoners—women like me, broken but still breathing—were no different. We scrubbed floors, carried heavy loads, and endured the humiliation of being less than human in the eyes of this ancient pack. I had never spoken to one of them directly, but I had watched.
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
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 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“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