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’
Lila's POVThis bitch should be thanking me for trying this hard.I could barely contain the satisfaction curling in my chest as I watched Ivy. She sat across from me, her usual fire dimmed to something quieter, more cautious—like a cornered animal, unsure if I was a predator or an ally. Good. That was exactly where I wanted her. She was unraveling, piece by piece, and the control I’d always sought was slowly slipping into my grasp. I leaned forward slightly, eyes locking on her as if to study her every movement, savoring the subtle shifts in her posture. “I don’t know how you’ve been doing this, Ivy. Keeping it all together,” I said, my voice soft, almost gentle. The act was flawless, years of practice coming to light. I made her believe I cared. “Oliver’s death. Everyone of us was constantly breathing down your neck. Do you realize how strong you are?” I made my voice crack at the end for the effect and it worked like magic.I didn’t need to spell it out. I knew exactly what I w
Ivy’s POVI wasn’t sure whether to feel angry, betrayed, or just utterly exhausted. There was a dull, gnawing ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake, no matter how many times I tried to breathe through it. Watching Lila, so calm and composed, put on this act of concern, pretending to offer help when all I saw was manipulation, felt like a slap in the face.But I wasn’t going to break. I refused to let her see it. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.I had thought she wouldn’t bother me again after the last time, but here she was, filling me in with her sorry stories.And Connor? What sick game are they both playing? They think I’m the same weak helpless girl?As she leaned in, her voice soft, almost too soft, I could feel the subtle pressure building in my skull. She was good—too good. Every word that left her mouth, every look she gave me, was calculated. She knew exactly what buttons to push. I could feel her fishing, prodding for a crack, and I refused to give it to her."
Leo’s POVWhen I stood from the bed earlier today, I felt Ivy’s warmth retreating from my side. The haunting nightmare from before gripped me tightly, but it was not enough to tear me away from Ivy’s presence, her scent lingering in the room like a drug I craved. Before I snuck out of her room, I left her a note on the pillow, knowing her soft eyes would find it the moment she stirred.“I’ll always be here, Ivy. My heart is yours, no matter what I become. Just a promise I’ll never break. Leo.”I couldn’t help but smile as I thought of her reading it, even though the ache in my chest from the nightmares still lingered. I needed to go, needed to clear my head. With a last look at her peaceful sleeping form, I headed towards the balcony. I leapt from the ledge and landed with a soft thud, my boots kissing the pavement. My penthouse was still dark as I entered, and the silence seemed to follow me, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. I made my way to my desk, the soft glow
The air between Leo and Ivy crackled with intensity, their lips locked in a kiss that spoke of a hunger both physical and emotional. The secluded restaurant path, hidden from prying eyes, offered the perfect setting for the raw passion they shared. Ivy's hands slid through his hair, her breath quickening as she felt his warmth, but then, suddenly, the moment was broken."Leo," she murmured against his lips, trying to catch his attention.But Leo didn’t respond right away. A figure stepped into their space, clearing his throat.Ivy’s heart skipped a beat as Leo pulled away with lightning speed as soon as his driver whispered something to his hearing alone, a noticeable shift in his demeanor. His eyes, once soft and filled with affection, were now sharp, cold. The warmth that had enveloped them was gone. He sat up abruptly, causing Ivy to stagger, almost losing her balance in the process. She barely noticed, too consumed by the sudden shift in him. His face darkened, his posture rigid.
Ivy’s POV Leo.His growl deepened, vibrating the very air around them. His presence was suffocating, commanding, and utterly terrifying. Connor’s wolf tensed, his fur standing on end as he suddenly veered to the side, an unmistakable sign of submission. My heart skipped a beat as a thought crossed my mind. Leo isn't just any Alpha, is he?—what if he's something more. "And what should I call this drama?" his voice rumbled through the still night, sharp and cold, and my breath caught in my throat.Leo emerged from the shadows like a storm, his form towering and undeniable, eyes burning with the ferocity of a predator. His gaze locked onto Connor and I, a storm of emotions swirling behind the ice-cold exterior. My heart hammered in my chest, a mix of dread and desire bubbling inside me. I could feel the intensity radiating from Leo—raw, possessive, and dangerous."You think you can just take her on a ride?" Leo’s voice was a low growl, laced with fury as he glared at Connor. "You thi
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