Leo’s POV The soft glow of my desk lamp cast long shadows across the walls of my study, the faint scent of leather and paper lingering in the air. Stacks of documents cluttered the surface—territory reports, patrol schedules, grievances from the lower ranks. The mundane weight of leadership.But my eyes weren’t on the papers.My fingers curled around the document in my hand, tightening as my mind drifted elsewhere—back to the night I stepped out of the shadows and into the light of my throne room.The day I revealed myself.I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair as the memory unfolded in vivid clarity.**Flashback**“Speak. And make it worth my time,” I had growled.One Alpha cleared his throat hesitantly, stepping forward with forced confidence. “Your Majesty, we—”I lifted a hand, silencing him instantly. My gaze swept over them with calculated precision.“You dare insult my throne,” I drawled, my tone laced with amusement, though my wolf burned with fury underneath. “Calling
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
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
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