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
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
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