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
IvyI stared at Tessa in disbelief. After everything he had done... she was still begging for his life. The heartbreak in her voice was unmistakable. Despite it all, she loved him. I couldn’t understand it, but there it was, plain for everyone to see.The Elders exchanged looks, murmuring among themselves. Finally, Grace stood, her voice steady. “Taking Tessa’s request into account and keeping in mind the services Graham’s father has done to the pack, he will be spared the death sentence. However, he is to leave the pack immediately. If he is found anywhere near Graycrest’s borders, he will be killed without question.”"No," Asher growled, his voice low and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine. "That’s not enough. He can’t just walk away after everything he’s done."He took a step forward, his eyes burning with a feral intensity. “He forced himself on her, he abused her! And he tried to kill MY MATE! The pack’s Luna!” His voice rose octaves, reverberating through the hall. “You thi
Ivy “Why does he live up here again?” I demanded from Asher as he drove up the narrow mountain road.We were headed to meet Alpha Carter Gray, Asher’s grandad as was decided. We were high enough to be on snow-covered roads. The thick white blankets of snow glittered under the sun and I was in awe. I loved snowfall and hopefully in a few days we will have snow fall down below as well.“Because he wants peace and a life away from the pack nonsense,” Asher answered, eyes focused on the narrow, snow covered road.“But why?” I frowned. “I didn’t know werewolves grew old that quick,”“Not old. He just got to the point where he wasn’t interested in pack business any longer. The ex-Beta of our pack, Paul Jensen, and his witch mate kind of messed with his head for years. We managed to get him better but he is still not completely recovered and every now and then he has “fits.” Hence why he seeks solitude.”“Wh
“Fionn’s coven had drawn up a strict treaty with all the werewolf packs that forbade them from entering his territory without prior permission. After years of dispute and violence, we had agreed to it. The treaty was so binding that our hunters didn’t set foot there even if it meant letting the last remnant of the RiverPride pack go. We were certain that Fionn would kill them anyway. ”“But that clearly didn’t happen because Killian is alive with an army of vampires to back him who have already started creating a rampage,” Asher hissed. “I won’t be surprised if it’s Fionn’s army. And Killian he is…we are assuming he is a hybrid. Half werewolf and half vampire…” This time Carter turned to us, his eyes wide.“Hybrid?” he whispered.“We are assuming. And it makes sense with the vampire army he has gathered…” Asher said. “How could he have been turned into a hybrid? Could Fionn have killed him and then he died and…” He trailed off because he clearly wasn’t making any sense.“I have no ide
Asher“I’m going to show you tonight,” Ivy murmured, her voice sultry and full of promise. She took my hand and led me to the bed, her eyes dark with intent. “How much I love you.”My breath hitched at the sound of her words, and my pulse pounded in my ears. The way she looked at me sent a surge of need through my body. Ivy had this way of stripping away every wall I put up, leaving me vulnerable and raw. I wanted to speak, to protest, but when she gently pushed me onto the bed, her hands parting my legs, all I could do was let her take control.“Ivy, you don’t have to… Let me—” My words faltered as her finger pressed against my lips, s
IvyHe was going to soul mark me.I remember vaguely sometime ago what a soul mark was. It was the deepest commitment two mates can have. It’s not just marking your mate’s body but rather marking her soul in a way that binds both the mates’s souls together for an eternity. As such, when one mate dies, the other mate is bound to die too because the pain tatters the soul in a way that couldn’t be survived.A soul mark also intensifies the matebond times hundred hence why only Alpha males can do it and even only when the intention comes from the deepest part of his soul and not some whim of the moment decision. I gazed up into the amber eyes of Asher&rsqu
“So there is a possibility that Killian is backed by an army of vampires and supported by a vampire king who somehow felt like taking mercy on him?” I grimaced.“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Asher scowled as we headed back.“And he probably be backed by whatever pack he is using as his headquarters for a lack of better term,”“If someone is allowing him to take shelter in their pack then yes, I believe you are right.”“And then probably he has his own army, rogues or whatever…” Asher’s jaw clenched tighter, his knuckles turning white as he held onto the steering wheel.“We still have our allies,” I added carefully. “And then Sabrina is working on the antidote…”“It won’t be enough,” Asher said. “Killian has spent years on this. And he is a hybrid…”“We need someone exceptionally powerful on our side,” I sighed. “Do you think that lycan king would have agreed…Rafael, is it?”“Wouldn’t know until we get back. I believe Logan a
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