IvyThe darkness wrapped around me as I sat up, my body heavy with exhaustion, but the pain—a dull, relentless throb—dragged me back to consciousness. The ache flared up sharply, a fresh wave of agony ripping through me as my eyes fluttered open. I groaned, doubling over, clutching my stomach as the fire inside me burned hotter, more intense.Where am I?The room was dimly lit, shadows flickering against the walls. Through the large windows, I could see the forest stretching out beneath the stormy sky, the rain still pouring in thick sheets. I was sprawled across a massive bed, the sheets soft against my heated skin. My clothes were damp, clinging to my overheated skin, making the sensation worse.My body ached, every muscle tense, the lingering burn of the heat coiling in my stomach. I groaned as the pain flared again, a wave of agony and need so strong it left me breathless. Another wave of pain rolled through me, and I cried out, my body curling in on itself as the hunger tore throu
IvyI stared out of the window as I stood on the beautiful balcony adjoining the vast bedroom. As far as my eyes could see, there were wide stretches of greenery all around and then the beautiful lake sprawling out in the midst of it all. This was another lake house the Grays owned apart from the one adjoining the pack. This one was a proper house rather than a wooden cabin and was beautiful and as close to nature and peace as you can get. Not that I have gotten the chance to get out of the bedroom.Never in my life have I ever imagined that you could experience sexual desire in a way that can consume your entire existence. But what I felt today, it was beyond explanation. I have heard about heat before, and seen a few females go through it. But to actually feel it, I was not sure if I would like to ever go through it again. But then again, the sex…it was more than anything I could have imagined. The point when
IvyI turned my head towards the kitchen and blinked to find my mate trying to whisk something, his biceps rippling in the process while something seared in the pan. It took me some time to adjust to the sight.Was he really cooking? As in…Asher Gray?“You are cooking?” I couldn’t help but exclaim, folding my arms across my chest. Asher stopped whisking and I squirmed inwardly at the way his eyes glazed over my body and my naked legs.“What’s with that tone,” he muttered, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “And nice choice of attire, Mrs. Gray,” I bit my lip, peeking over his shoulder to see what he was whisking so hard. It seemed like eggs.“It’s hard to imagine you in a kitchen actually cooking,” I murmured. He turned around and threw me a disdained look.“I know how to cook,” he grimaced. “Don’t judge a book by its cover, Ivyanka. You don’t know a lot about me yet.” This was true. It baffled me how
Ivy“What?” I mumbled, blinking at him. Asher’s eyes were dark, his thumb caressing my cheek gently.“I want to mark you,” he repeated. “If…you allow me, that is.”“Now?” I demanded, not really expecting him to say that. Asher shook his head, but I noticed the hungry look in his eyes as they fell between my shoulder and neck.“Soon…,” he replied. “I will take you to the mating ground and do it the right way. But…I just hope now that you have told me everything and there is nothing else to hide…this will be a possibility between us. I will never force you, of course. But with everything going on…I just don’t wanna have any regrets.”“Heck yes! Please don’t say no,” Silver chimed in. I was amused to listen to her voice because she has been eerily silent for a long time. Especially since I found out about my mom.“Say something…” Asher probed.“I would love it,” I said. “No more rules between us. No more distance and no more…secrets.”“And a lot of sex?” he grinned. I smiled and nodded.“
“The Luna ring…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “You were supposed to give it to me during the oath-taking ceremony.”He nodded, his expression solemn. “But I didn’t… because I was angry. I didn’t think you deserved it then. But deep down…” His gaze softened as he slipped the ring onto my finger, his touch gentle. “I never believed that and now after everything, I know you deserve this as much as Rose and Cora, maybe even more.”“Asher… I don’t know what to say…”“You don’t have to say anything,” he whispered, cupping my face in his hands as he leaned in to kiss me softly. “You deserve this… and so much more. No more secrets. No more distance between us. I want you, all of you… forever.” I gazed into his eyes and found myself surrendering completely to the overwhelming love I felt for him. I kissed him back, hard and desperate, my hands tangling in his hair as I pulled him closer.Asher groaned against my lips, his hands gripping my waist as he guided me onto his lap, my legs stradd
IvyI 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
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