“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
AsherWell this was news. The mystery of Natalie’s disappearance will finally be solved. And maybe now we can have the Crescent Moon in our list of allies too. Natalie was an Alpha and a prolific fighter. And I knew she would definitely join us.“Did she come back with a mate?” Cora asked, peering over Logan’s shoulders.“I don’t know. This is just an invitation,” he answered. “Crescent Moon holds this ball every year. It’s a part of their tradition.”“A ball is the last thing I am interested in at the moment,” Noah made a face. “I am not going”“It’s customary for the Alphas and Lunas to attend. We have this debate every year, Noah,” Logan rolled his eyes. “And we can use this opportunity to discuss whether she will be joining us for the war, not that I think she won’t.”“If she has a mate, I don’t think it would be her call anymore,” Cora muttered.“That’s ridiculous,” Ivy grimaced. “It’s still her pack…”
AsherI was getting a queasy feeling as we headed to the Crescent Moon pack for the annual masquerade ball. Ivy wore a stunning halter neck gown with black bodice and white flowy skirt decorated with stunning embellished red roses all over completed with a fur throw since it was very cold outside. In fact I could feel the snow coming tonight. Her hair was tied in a knot at the nape of her neck and she paired it all with dark eyes and sexy red lips. Ever since I marked her and she became pregnant, her scent has become so magnetic to me. The damn ball could go to hell because all I wanted at this point was to get that dress off her and fuck her while she wore that stunning mask she got with the dress.“All in good time…” Mac whistled.“Is everything alright?” I asked, turning to Ivy as she stared out of the window, absolutely silent. She hasn’t spoken in a long time. Ivy turned to me and frowned.“This rout
AsherI froze and so did others. My heartbeat was frantic, rage creeping up my veins as the man approached us. This…this was the guy who almost killed my mate. And I noticed how his eyes flitted to Ivy, surprise brimming in there for a split second before he covered it up with the calm, collected mask.From what I could see, this man appeared to be someone of Logan’s age, maybe even younger. But I knew he wasn’t and, in fact, he should be much older because Logan wasn’t even born at the time of the Cold War. It affirmed that he was a part vampire and may have stopped aging after a certain age. His scent was also different from normal werewolves.&ldq
IvyThere was no way I was going home without seeing dad. I knew Asher was going to throw a fucking war at the idea, but I needed to see my father. It’s been an eternity since I last saw him. I won’t let the motherfucker do this to me.“What did you say?” Asher demanded, his eyes wide.“I am going to see dad,” I repeated.“No,” Asher said instantly, his jaw tensing. “No fucking way…”“Ash is right, Ivy,” Logan added. “It’s an immense risk…”“I can’t hold back knowing he is right here, Logan…” I said, my voice breaking. “I haven’t seen him in weeks…I don’t know how he is, what he is doing…maybe…maybe it could be the last time I get to see him…” Logan opened his mouth to respond but then closed it again.“No,” Asher said again. “No chance. I understand where you are coming from, Ivy, but no…it’s too much of a risk, I can’t let you…”“I wasn’t asking,” I snapped.“Neither am I…its a command from your alpha…” he snapped back.“
Thankfully, I didn’t run into anyone again. I grabbed my heels from where I hid them and winced as I slipped them on. Asher was waiting outside the assembly hall, pacing back and forth. Even from a distance, I could see how tense his body was. And panic flooded his face the moment he spotted me, limping back to him. In two long strides, I was in his arms and he was holding me like his life depended on it.“I am fine,” I assured. “I am fine…Asher,” He didn’t reply. Just continue to hold me as tight as he possibly could.“Ash…” I said softly. Finally, he released me but held me at arm’s length, his eyes examining me from head to toe.“Are you hurt?” he asked, almost breathless.“No, I am completely fine,” I said. “Not a scratch.”“Then why are you limping?” he demanded.“I hurt my feet because I left my heels in the bushes and ran the rest of the way barefoot. I got a few cuts,” I answered.“Let’s go home, and I’ll tend to it,” he said, dragging me towards the parking lot.“Wait, wait…I
IvyMy heart broke and through the bond I could literally every emotion he felt. So much fear he was still holding onto and such unconditional love. It blew my mind.“I am sorry,” I whispered, gently wiping his eyes. “I am really sorry. I just…it…”“Why can’t you let me in?” he asked. “Why can’t you trust me enough, Ivyanka, to let me help you out and stay by your side? Why do you always have to push me away?”“I am not pushing you away…” I exclaimed. “No, Asher…you’re marked in my soul! It’s just that…I…I am so scared of losing my father…and every time Killian provokes me, I lose my mind, and then I can’t think straight…”“Had Leah not stopped you in time, that fucking witch would have got to you,” he said. “Do you even understand what that means?”“I am sorry,” I repeated, because there was nothing better for me to say. I indeed took a stupid risk today, and it just showed how much of a hold Killian had on me. “I know
“I have to personally thank you for helping Ivy today, Beta,” Asher said as we all sat down on the white iron chairs. The omega woman was quick and had already set-up an arrangement of coffee, tea and snacks. The kids were taken away by their nannies, two very sweet omega ladies—Shaine and Keya.“It was my pleasure,” she said. “I knew what they were planning, I overheard them, so I decided to wait out… Killian was so sure that Luna Ivyanka would fall for it…” Asher gave me a look and I blushed, feeling like an utter idiot.“So, really what happened, Leah?” Logan asked. “Natalie seemed extremely weird yesterday and how is Killian even there?”“First, I would like to know how you guys know Killian? What is this that he wants?” she demanded, anger clearly visible on her face.“I believe Ivy can answer that the best,” Rose said. Leah glanced at me and as Cora poured her a cup of steaming coffee, I launched into my story of how we knew Killian.“I knew the bastard was demented,” Leah hisse
Ivy“We have to be very careful with how we tread from here on,” Logan said as we walked Leah to her car. “There’s a mole in our pack…so whatever communication we have needs to be very confidential, Leah. Apart from the six of us and Eli…no one else should know about this.” “Of course,” she nodded. “I will figure out some safe way to contact you guys in a week.” “What about your army, though?” Asher asked. “Does Killian have a hold on them too?” “He has now,” she grimaced. “He kicked out the leader of our army a few days back and replaced him with one of his men…our warriors and hunters are loyal though, and they clearly aren’t happy.” “He had planned it all to perfection,” Noah muttered under his breath. “It would be some feat beating him.” “Have you seen any of his vampires?” I inquired. “No, I had no idea he’s part vampire. There sure has to be some hiding place he’s hiding the rest of his gang,” Leah frow
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