Ivy
I found myself standing in the middle of the Crystal Grove, the air thick with the scent of roses. Amidst the scent of roses, another familiar scent hit me hard.
And then I saw her.
By the fountain in the center of the grove stood my mother. She was smiling, the way she always does—bright, radiant, as if nothing in the world could dim her light.
“Mom?” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. She opened her arms, and without hesitation, I ran to her, my heart leaping in my chest.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I murmured, my face buried in her shoulder as tears welled up in my eyes.&ldq
IvyThe pack was bustling with energy. Tonight was it, the day everyone was looking forward to---the Reawakening Ceremony. It was all about the last minute checks now. Cora was running around like a mother hen, barking orders. I stood and watched the guys hard at work, hammering and hammering endlessly. It was boring, but it allowed my mind to wander and think over everything Killian said last night when I found the courage to call him...“I want to meet you,” “Do you have the Book?” “No,”“Then I am afraid I am not interested…” “It’s with the witch…I couldn’t retrieve it. She has kept it somewhere secret and will only be retrieved on the day of the ceremony,” “You mean the witch you are best friends with…?” “I am not!” I protested. “She is friends with Rose…” “Little Alpha, if you have anything better to say or offer than please get to it, or I would like to get back to my business…” he sounded bored.
IvyThe back lawn was already filled with guests, everyone having taken their seats in the banquette seating on either side of the wooden deck in the very center. Beautiful Chinese lamps illuminated the lawn and sitting areas, but other than that, the lights were kept dimmed. The scent of autumn flowers was scattered throughout. On the very center of the wooden deck was a raised platform where, apparently, the ancient relic or pack soul as they call it was to be kept.I noticed a few omega men taking positions with heavy drums on for corners of the deck. It was all very fascinating.“What exactly is that for?” I whispered to Cora.We stood beside the deck, Cora in the center as the eldest Luna with me and Rose flanking her. She wore a stunning white gown with very intricate detailing made of blue stones that made the strapless bodice. Just like mine, her dress also had a long white cape to go with it. Wit
IvyChaos erupted all around us. The flames of the Reawakening Ceremony had barely even dimmed. Vampires. They were here. My heart raced as I glanced at the frantic faces of the pack members. Alphas and Lunas rushed forward, their instincts to protect, to defend, taking over.“Asher,” I whispered, my chest tightening with fear.He was already barking orders, his voice commanding and steady despite the panic that rippled through the air. "Eli, take the strongest warriors and hold the final perimeter! No one passes you, understand?" His jaw was clenched, eyes flashing with the kind of cold fury that sent shivers down my spine. The air was electric with tension. Eli gave him a nod and then disappeared towards the forest. Logan, Noah, Archer, and Jordan gathered quickly. Jordan turned to his mate, Lia, his hand resting protectively on her belly, his handsome face taut with tension and added, "Stay inside the pack house,
AsherThe night was thick with tension, the air heavy with the scent of blood and death as I charged forward with my brothers. Mac was on alert, his muscles rippling as we held the line. The final perimeter was all that stood between the vampires and the secondary wall of defense that protected our pack. Behind us, our people—their families—were safe for now. But if we faltered, even for a second, that safety would vanish.“They’re coming from the left,” Logan’s voice echoed through the mindlink, his tone as sharp as his wolf’s claws as he faced another wave of vampires. There was a small army gathered. “Noah, cover me!”I turned just in time to see Logan launch himself at the nearest vampire, sinking his teeth into its throat with a growl that echoed through the trees. The creature let out a shriek before my brother tore through its cold icy skin. Noah was already a blur of motion beside him, charging after an
Song: Hold On (Chord Overstreet) AsherThe world around me collapsed, and all I could hear was the pounding in my chest. Avery’s words echoed, the room shrinking, suffocating. Ivy… was pregnant. My mate, the woman I loved beyond reason, was carrying our pup. And I didn’t even know. Maybe she didn’t either. A part of me, a part of us, was growing inside her, and now... I was about to lose both.I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. The pack doctor’s voice continued, but her words were lost in the fog of my mind. I watched as her lips moved, her mouth forming words I didn’t want to hear, couldn’t process.“...just
AsherShock settled over the room like a thick fog as I stared at Ivy, my breath hitching in my throat. The glow that had enveloped her during the Reawakening Ceremony was back, wrapping around her in a halo of shimmering silver light. It was as if her body was illuminated from within.Everyone else was just as mesmerized, their eyes wide, mouths slightly agape. Cora broke the silence first, her voice trembling. “Avery, is this normal?”Avery shook her head, her brow furrowed with confusion. “I’ve never seen anything like it. This is… in no way normal.”“Sabrina… Call Sabrina,” Rose said quickly.Noah rushed out of the room in response, urgency in his steps as the rest of us remained dazed. Five minutes felt like an eternity, but when Sabrina finally burst through the door, the look of shock on her face mirrored our own. But it quickly shifted to something else as she stepped closer to Ivy, her eyes na
Two Days later…I stood just outside the infirmary, my heart hammering in my chest like a war drum. Morning light filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows across the floor, but I barely registered it. All I could focus on was the door that separated me from Ivy. I took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overtake me.Slowly, I pushed the door open. My eyes found Ivy, sitting quietly, staring out of the window. The sunlight bathed her in a warm glow, but she seemed so distant, lost in her thoughts. My heart leaped at the sight of her. She was alive.The relief that surged through me was almost overwhelming, nearly knocking me off my feet. I stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind me and opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.Then, as if sensing my presence, Ivy turned her head slowly. The moment our eyes met, tears sprang to both of our eyes. I felt my breath catch in my throat. Without hesitation, she opened her arms, and
IvyAnxiety twisted in my chest as I stood at the edge of the assembly hall, watching the crowd gather. Four days had passed since I recovered from the nightmare that nearly claimed my life, and now it was time for Tessa’s trial. I never wanted it to come to this, but Asher was livid—and so were Logan and Noah. Everyone agreed that a trial was necessary to uncover the real culprit behind what happened. In my heart, I knew it wasn’t Tessa. She wasn’t capable of such deceit, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Graham was behind it, pulling her strings. But I feared she might take the blame just to protect him. Because of that, Sabrina had prepared a special potion, a truth-telling serum of sorts. It would put the person lying in a haze and force them to reveal what they were hiding. It felt cruel, but we had no other choice.Tension prickled in my scalp as the elders—Silas, Ansel, Alpha Joseph, and Luna Grac
AsherKillian’s army was a flood of darkness, their silhouettes stark against the snow. Rogues, hybrids, and vampires, all moving in perfect unison, their eyes glinting like red-hot embers. They were spread thin at first, testing our defenses, but I knew better than to think it was random. They were probing us, looking for weakness.“Hold fast,” Logan’s voice rumbled through the link. “Stay focused.” Noah’s wolf, Noel, was at my right, his massive form solid and unyielding. His deep growl vibrated through the ground as we waited for the first strike.To our left, Cora and Catalina led the charge on the flank, their wolves sleek and fast as they darted through the snow. The left side was tight, their warriors moving like a well-oiled machine, cutting off any attempts by Killian’s forces to circle around us.Then, I saw it—the telltale signs of their strategy. A group of vampires, positioned in the trees on the far
AsherThe wind howled, carrying a bitter chill as we marched toward the battlefield. Snow whipped through the air, stinging like icy shards against my wolf’s fur. Mac's paws crunched through the thick blanket of snow that coated the ground, the cold barely registering in my mind. The forest loomed ahead, its dark silhouettes blurred by the blizzard.At my sides, the pack moved in perfect formation. GrayCrest wolves formed the vanguard, their steps steady and deliberate. To our left and right, allied forces spread out, forming a crescent that stretched into the treeline. Despite the storm, every movement was precise, every warrior holding their position with discipline.Logan’s black wolf, Axel, massive and imposing, led the charge at the center. Beside him, Noah’s wolf, Noel, kept pace, its bulk matching Logan’s, his ears twitching at every sound carried by the wind. I took my place beside them, Mac surging for
IvyI stepped closer, my dagger glinting in the dim light. “What were you doing here? What was the ritual for?”Thalora’s lips curled into a smile as if she were savoring some private joke. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”Sabrina’s magic flared, and the chains constricted sharply. Thalora hissed in pain but laughed again.“You’re standing in the middle of it and you don’t know? Typical. Always so blind to the bigger picture. Fine, fine. You disrupted it anyway, but you might as well know what you’ve doomed yourselves to.” Her gaze flicked to me, dark amusement dancing in her eyes.
IvyThe tunnel opened into a dimly lit corridor, damp and suffocating. The walls were carved from rough stone, and the air carried a mix of mildew and iron—the unmistakable scent of blood. My boots scraped softly against the uneven floor as Sabrina and I moved forward, her magic casting a faint glow that barely pierced the oppressive darkness. I knew this place. This was the Crescent Moon dungeon.“Stay alert,” Sabrina whispered, her sharp eyes scanning ahead.A faint noise—shuffling footsteps and low murmurs—pricked my ears. We slowed, pressing against the cold stone walls.“They&rsqu
IvyI armed myself with whatever possible weapon I could—wolfsbane in small vials, a wolfsbane laced dagger and even small blades laced with wolfsbane. My heart was pounding in my chest as I took deep breaths, pulled on my gloves and headed downstairs. The weather outside was turning darker by the second and Sabrina predicted a blizzard to hit soon.The last update Asher gave me through the mindlink was that the armies have gathered and the glimpse he tried to give me of Killian’s army…things were really not looking good for GrayCrest. We literally had half of what he had apart from the vampires and the hybrids. The only hope now was tha
Christmas morning was filled with the comforting smell of roasted meats, warm bread, and the spice of mulled cider as pack members gathered around the tables for a feast. No one talked about the war, even if between us, we knew that Silas was dead and Noah had actually sent his dead body over to the Crescent Moon—a Christmas gift Killian would remember. Sabrina told me that she has managed to create the antidote and tomorrow she and Avery will start injecting the warriors and everyone else with it before leaving for the battlefield.Cora, Rose, and I had gathered gifts over the past weeks, and together, we made our way through the pack, handing small wrapped bundles to every member. The omega children squealed with delight as they tore into theirs. Stacks of gifts piled up for Aurie and Theo, each pack member contributing something to bring joy to the children. I glanced at Shae and Lia as they added their own contributions to the ever-growing pile. Everyone’s gestures, big or small,
Ivy“How could they even decide that without asking us what the truth was?” Cora growled as Asher’s eyes scanned the letter, turning dark with rage every passing second.“Natalie must have been very convincing,” I grimaced. “Does Logan and Noah know?”“Yes, I told them,” she nodded.“Are they still working on Silas?” I asked. “It’s been long enough.”“None of what Silas told them is of any use to use. And apparently, even he doesn’t know Killian’s war strategy. Logan has tried enough…you wouldn’t want to see what he has done with him. I have never seen Logan this angry in all my life and I have seen a lot…” I pursed my lips. If it scared Cora watching what Logan had done to Silas, then I definitely didn’t want to know.“Well, if we get through this the Council is fucked,” Asher hissed, crumbling the paper in his hands.“Now what?” Cora asked.“Now we fight with all we have got,” he said. “This isn’t going
Out of all the places, I didn’t expect Asher to take me to a tattoo parlor. Did he want to get a tattoo now?“I don’t think this is an appropriate time to get a tattoo…” I muttered as he headed inside.“I’m not here to get a tattoo, but this is where I have got all my tattoos done, in case you were curious. And when all of this shit is over, I have a matching tattoo planned for us as well,” Asher said. “Now…this is why I am here,” I frowned as he pointed to a woman in black standing by one of the booths. She had pink hair tied in a ponytail and looked pissed as fuck as she watched an artist work on a guy.“Ruby,” Asher called. The woman turned around and I blinked. She was typically not the kind of female I could imagine Asher being friends with.“Hello Alpha,” her scowl instantly turned to a grin as she walked over and gave Asher a hug before turning her eyes covered in kohl and liner to me. “Wait…don’t tell me…it’s her, isn’t it? The Silver wolf?” I frowned.How did she know that?“
Ivy Reed, dad and I were gathered in the common study to discuss war strategy. We had spread out maps and charts and all that stuff and now my father was deep in talks with Reed as he explained the old strategies of the army to him. My father looked much recovered now, very much like the alpha he was. If there will ever be a second in my life where I won’t be grateful for Eli’s sacrifice, then I hope the Moon Goddess kills me right there.“Hmm. I believe Killian’s forces will be advancing from this side…” Dad muttered, deep in thought.“Yes,” Reed agreed, his expression serious as he analyzed the map. “And we’ll be positioned here.” He tapped a cluster of trees on our side of the field. “It’ll be steep and treacherous, but we can use that to our advantage. If Killian’s vampires try to attack from higher ground, the slopes and snow will slow them down.”“They’ll likely position their main forces here—vampires an