Ivy“No!” a woman screamed from the inside of the cell. I knew her. She was an Omega in the pack. Without any hint of hesitation on his face, Alejandro placed the knife on the child's neck and I watched as he dug the pointed end into his flesh.“Wolfsbane,” Killian stated as-a-matter-of factly as the little boy screamed out in pain. “It will kill him slowly and painfully,” I watched, my stomach recoiling as Alejandro dragged the knife a little further, making him scream out so loud that I knew this was going to haunt me for ages.“Stop!” I shouted. “Stop it!!”“No, don’t feel like it…”“I will do it! I will do whatever you want! Just stop…please stop! I beg you, please…” Killian glanced at me and then at Alejandro and nodded. He let go of the child who sagged down on the floor, still crying. I rushed over to him and pulled him into my chest, holding him tightly to me.“The wolfsbane will spread and poison him!”
AsherI watched Ivy storm out of the bedroom and scowled. Lately, I was having a very hard time recognizing myself and the way I was behaving with her. And it wasn’t about sharing my space. I was not some stupid baby boy who hated sharing toys. No, it was something else. It was the thought of sharing the space with her. I lose control around Ivy. The way she makes me feel just by existing, just by breathing, scares the living daylights out of me.I wanted her.There, that was my confession. I wanted her like I have never wanted another woman and like I would never want anyone again. But I wasn't sure what this want was. Lust? The bond’s influence? Or more? I couldn't understand my feelings for her, and without being completely sure, I couldn't let her in. She deserved better, especially since I'm all she has now. I wasn't perfect, but I believed in being there a hundred percent for someone or not at all. No in-betw
I stared blankly at Sabrina, and so did the others."The blood tears. That’s a classic sign of that. Whoever used this spell, crushed the soul of whoever this wolf belonged to, which explains why the body is left unharmed. It would have caused insufferable pain to this wolf’s soul along with its human counterpart from the inside. Make sense?” Sabrina said.“So, because there was no damage to the physical body, it hasn’t decayed?” I demanded.“Precisely. We usually say the body dies, and the soul lives on, but with this curse, you crush the soul, leaving the body intact. It’s one of the ten Forbidden Curses that witches aren’t allowed to use because the pain is excruciating. The pain incapacitates the body, like paralyzing you, and then slowly and painfully the soul dies inside and there is nothing you can do.” she answered.“And how long does it last?” Dad asked, looking pale.“As long as the one who places the curse wants. It could be days, weeks, months and even…years.”“So you slow
Ivy“What are you doing here at this hour?” Eli demanded, raising a brow. I gulped, my mind completely blank, with no reasonable answer coming to my mind. Why was he even here? This place was at least ten minutes away from the final perimeter. Why does he need to guard around here?“Ivy?” Eli repeated. I opened my mouth to respond, but again wasn’t sure what to say. Did he see me get out of the car? That would be the end of me then. His expression was hard to read, so I couldn’t even decipher whether he was suspecting me or just curious.“I…was…taking a stroll…”Idiot. What an idiot!“What?” Eli frowned, looking blank. “You were taking a stroll here, outside the pack perimeters in the middle of the night?”“No…I was just around the lake house and I…I was following this trail and then I heard something and rushed towards it. Before I realized it, I was here…so, I was just heading back.” I steeled my voice, maintai
IvyI glanced around and was startled to find myself sitting on the gigantic bed in Asher Gray’s room. What was I doing here? Because I remember passing on the couch in the living room. Did he bring me here? Or someone else? And when?“I…what am I doing here?” I muttered, averting my gaze as he pulled off his drenched T-shirt, standing in just his low hanging track pants.His curly hair was tied in a bun and the way his body and muscles flexed and bunched as he took deep breaths was almost disorienting. There were so many tattoos on his body and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to touch them and explore what they all meant.“Twenty-one,” Asher said, pouring himself a glass of water.“What?” I frowned.“I have twenty-one tatoos on my body,” he said, flopping down in front of me. And way too close for my liking. “My birthday falls on twenty-first so,”“Oh,” I nodded.“How many do you have?” he asked casually, taking a slow sip. It was so disorienting to watch him. And how disg
Asher“I am taking the R8,” I stated nonchalantly, pointing to my matte black Audi R8, one of my favorites.“For the Council meeting?” Noah raised a brow.“Your point is?” I grimaced.“Are you trying to show off to your mate, brother?” Logan smirked, nudging me with his elbow.“Ivy isn’t the one to be impressed by fancy cars,” I muttered, retrieving the keys. “I just…”“We get it, Ash,” Logan laughed, patting my back. “Have fun,” I scowled at him before giving my brothers a wave as they pulled out in Logan's BMW while I
Ivy“Ready?” I peeked up at my mate, his fingers firmly wrapped around mine, and managed a nod. Anxiety loomed in my belly as Asher opened the sleek double wooden doors at the far end of the polished, marbled corridor.I blinked and immediately instinctively moved closer to him as we faced a large assembly hall crowded with unknown faces peering back at us. In front of me, on a raised platform, sat three older men and on either side of that platform, sitting in long rows, were the Alphas. There were only two women present out of so many men. As my eyes scanned the faces, a part of me almost expected to see Killian. But thankfully, I didn&rsquo
Once the meeting was over, everyone gathered around in another hall for drinks. Asher introduced me to the Alphas and the Ministers, the most common reaction among them that of surprise that Asher Gray has a mate now. They wanted to ask questions about me, about my pack and what blood I was, but I was in no mood to answer. Asher agreed with me because he waited long enough to make basic introductions and then pulled me away, all the while holding my hand.When we were finally done, we looked for Noah and Asher and found them talking to a woman. She was accompanied by a young man who stood a few steps behind her.“Beta,” Asher greeted him and the woman gave him a nod. She was gorgeous but also held an aura of power to her with her silver pixie-cut hair, grayish-blue eyes and freckles dotting her cheeks and nose. She had a sharp, angular face which screamed no-nonsense."Alpha Asher. Nice to see you after so long,” she gave him a polite smile. &l
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