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8. Ivan
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Beta's Prize 9. Cherish
It’s been three days since he grabbed me, and I haven’t said a single word to him. I go to the bathhouse, he goes to his training, sparring, whatever it is he does all day. I won’t be forced into anything I don’t want to do. I’d rather die. I’d tell him that too if we were talking but he appears to be waiting for me to cave. Instead I glower at him and read the same limited book again. More fool him. He ambles about coolly, my eyes still seeking glimpses of his muscular body as he wakes and retires each day. Each morning I hear him turn over in the bed, his face peering over from the high mattress, wondering if perhaps I was going to give up being frosty. Not a chance. Today he slammed the door as he left, clearly frustrated with me. Good. Provided with the modest clothes, Martha told me Vincent was away on business so there was no risk to us while I was in the room. Meaning Ivan could stay the hell away from me. Martha still came for me every morning though since she witnessed
The Beta's Prize 10. Ivan
The girl can hold a grudge that is for sure. She is far more hot-headed than me, which I think riles her up even further. Even I have my limits though. She has no concept of how much danger she could be putting us both in. Thank fuck Vincent is away on business and that Kingsley doesn’t like calling on me, otherwise we would be in serious trouble. Heading down to training I had hoped maybe this morning she would drop the childish act. A night of tossing and turning in my sleep has left me agitated. Koh now fills my head with vivid, colourful dreams when it has been blackness for so long. Such intense dreams, recalling the beauty of Silver City and its castle left me more tired than when I went to bed. To roll over and see a frosty, angry face that considers me a murderous demon does not help matters either. But the sparks. That brief contact had sent Kohl spinning in confusion, as much as he enjoyed it, he cannot place her wolf. Perhaps it has retreated from the trauma of her kid
The Beta's Prize 11. Cherish
Genevieve’s reality terrified me to my very bones. So much so that I paced Ivan’s room restlessly once Martha escorted me back to the room. Eventually my own desperation to make things right got the better of me and I took a few steps outside the corridor. The slightest noise had made me as skittish as a mouse but after ten minutes of aimless wandering I heard raised voices. When I realised one of them was Ivan my body set off running before my brain could even process it. I cannot explain it, it was as though another force was in charge of propelling me forward. Though I didn’t disagree with the action, it was bolder and more confident than I would ever dare. When I rounded the corner and saw his face, that fire of russet red hair and blazing green eyes I only sped up. I expected when I leapt at him to be overwhelmed with the same tingling sensation as before. A flash of disappointment hit me as there was only the boring, unexciting sensation of material. Had I imagined the sensa
The Beta's Prize 12. Ivan
It has been two weeks. T Two weeks of absolute hell and torment as I stick to my silent vow. It has not been easy, but tonight has been the worst. Now I know she has a fiancee, well that was the slap in the face I needed to put away any foolish notions I had about her. Feelings for her captor? Absurd. The best thing I did was get her those gloves. It seems cold of me to just throw them on the bed when she was not there but I will not be tortured by any further accidental touches or glancing friction. I make sure to see Vincent in his office everyday now he is back, giving him no reason to drop by. Kingsley is away hunting the next batch of prizes, something he seems to relish more than the fights themselves. Cherish attempted to talk to me when I returned from first leaving the room. My skin is still burning from her touch, my heart racing from trying not to place my lips to hers. I had to get out of there before I did something dishonourable. “Ivan, I need to tell you…” “You d
The Beta's Prize 13. Cherish
I don’t know what the hell my mind is doing to me but it’s driving me crazy. Taking Ivan’s pillow was such a random act. As I gathered all the towels as usual and made my comfy little nest once more I spied it hanging over the side of the bed. The scent of sweet apples was so strong I couldn’t help just taking it. Telling myself, ‘it’s just a pillow, he has four, he won’t miss it’ seemed so sensible. Waking up in a fright with it clamped between my legs, covered in my wetness…I cannot possibly give it back to him now. Yet I want it nowhere near me. Not when it sends my brain haywire. My dreams are still of the country air, ascending heights to see panoramic views of forests and lakes. It is breathtaking. But last night, as I felt myself effortlessly climbing through the tall pine trees, as you do in dreams where everything is easy and light, someone was waiting for me. Stood at the top of the hill, facing away with a black hooded cloak over their head. The cloak hung down to their c
The Beta's Prize 14. Ivan
I hung back after showering and changing from training today, I needed to ask Vincent for a favour. Considering these past few weeks were the most I’ve ever spoken to him he must think I’m losing my mind. “What is it Ivan?” he barked as the room emptied. “I can tell you’re waiting for me?” Like a silverback gorilla he stood tall and proud, his scars and white hair for all to see. “I’m wanting to ask if I can use the running track later?” “Just you?” “Well, I want to take my prize out there. She’s not used to the lack of fresh air here so I’m thinking…” “You want her perking up before the showcase?” he guffawed, “or you just like doing it outside Ivan?” he asked with a filthy leer. I couldn’t help my face turning scarlet, not because it wasn’t true but because Vincent clearly thought deep down I was as feral as the rest. “Something like that.” “Course you can, I can’t guarantee you’ll be alone, the truck with the new prizes arrives today so it might get busier but you can take y
The Beta's Prize 15. Cherish
I could have cried, being out in the fresh air was amazing after so many weeks of corridors and the tiny window in his room. I didn’t want to let go of his hand though, just because he had finished guiding me didn’t mean I wanted him to break his hold. Instead I squeezed it tighter, whispering “thank you, I really needed this.” He led me towards the oval four-hundred metre race track and we started slowly walking around. There was even the odd bird chirping, I almost felt free if I squinted and looked past all the barbed wire and buildings surrounding us.. “What happened today?” Ivan asked carefully, keeping his face forward. I told him all about Genevieve and Martha, how I had helped carry her to the recovery ward. I stared up at him while I spoke, watching his jaw clench and work as I described the pitiful state she had been left in. “Do you think she will live?” “Yes, but only because Martha has promised to take her to watch his fight so that she might cheer his death.” “Hmm
The Beta's Prize 16. Ivan
Kingsley, of course. Practically bouncing across the track he was that happy with his hunting. The man definitely had some sadistic tendencies, I’d hate to think what kind of conversations he had with his wolf. He never took a woman himself though, or had any kind of relationships that we could see. “Ivan, ready for the draw?” he said, completely ignoring Cherish by my side. “I’m ready either way, can I help you with anything?” “You want to see the new prizes I’ve fetched back. We’re making it more interesting this time, we have a pair of sisters. Stunning blonde things, definitely up your street seeing as you picked this one,” glancing at Cherish. What the fuck am I meant to say to that? Well done for stealing two daughters from a home? It’s sickening but I know I am only able to protect Cherish right now. Her hand squeezing mine tightly is the only thing I can focus on. “Are you coming to watch the draw?” Kingsley asked Cherish, “we’ve got some much sexier dresses and heels we
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The Beta's Prize Epilogue 6: White Forest Ball (Cillian)
Without thinking I shouted “Stop!” causing the cloaked person to sprint. “GUARDS!” I screeched, unable to mind-link members outside of my pack. Why was the entire fucking castle asleep! Sprinting after the cloaked figure I saw nobody else, no guards, not even a servant to help me catch the stranger. Arriving at the huge foyer of the castle, surrounded by flickering torches, hanging tapestries and miserable grey stone walls I had nothing to follow. They had vanished into thin air. All I knew from the build around the cloak was that they were a man, a man wearing long black trousers. Giving up the chase, I headed back to my room, flights of stairs, leading me to nothing but duplicating corridors of arched doorways, presumably student accommodation. The door to my parents’ suite remained open. “Papa?” I knocked softly to no answer. /Cillian, I am so sorry/ Vez said, realising before I did that my world had been knocked from its axis, shattered like porcelain. On the double bed, wrappe
The Beta's Prize Epilogue 5: White Forest Ball (Cillian)
I understood immediately why Papa never took us to many of these charades. Standing there in a pompous white shirt, on display like a prize pig at a fair I was happy to escape with Genevieve into the masses. I wasn’t so happy about Nikolai. We had only met briefly during a few childhood meetings but as a man he oozed anger and resentment. What for, I have no idea, but my sister and her wide eyes clearly thought it was the hottest thing she had ever seen. Silently, from my chosen distance, I watched his charisma overwhelm her, my own heckles rising. /She asked you to let her be an adult, to make her own choices/ Vez urged. Ever since first shifting and Vez came into my world it has been like having two fathers, both eager for me to prosper as Alpha. Our wolf fur was as red and fiery as my hair. I cringed, remembering how Jackson had laughingly called me the Infant Inferno, leaving me furious. Vez however, despite our fiery colour was sage, calming and fair. My papa tried to downpl
The Beta's Prize Epilogue 4: White Forest Ball (Genevieve)
Having to walk in behind my parents I felt like a child amongst women. Despite the stunning dress, the styled hair and jewels I’d been given, the ballroom had a strange feel about it. I felt watched ,studied, but not in the usual way, like at home in Cragstone when crowds gathered. One person’s gaze had me flustered. The smell of burning spice made my eyes widen in fear, urgently seeking out the owner. As though we were in danger of attack, then I saw Nikolai Romanov. He headed up towards our little royal enclosure furtively, as though he was breaking in. He was just as entitled to be there as the rest of us and yet his fearsomely dark eyes were stuck on me. He offered no greetings to anyone else, not even his parents. My heart flipped, what do you do when someone looks so blatantly at you? He wasn’t undressing me with his eyes or anything crude like the silly Kharkov boys. Instead, he was seriously, steadily looking at me as a person. Almost the same age as me, already nineteen and
The Beta's Prize Epilogue 3: White Forest Ball (Ivan)
I know exactly why she is nervous. It’s not ideal and we’ve put it off for so long that it’s brought the formal gold bordered letter from Alexander to force our attendance. They are so young, the twins are barely even adults. If they find their mates tonight there it is more complicated than they realise. For Kharkov’s girls, or Lyon’s boys, when they make their match it will be a simple case of falling in love and finding a place to live and be happy together. Our children, should it be from a rival pack, will see alliances drawn up, decisions taken out of their hands as their parents become a tangle of wants and wishes. Should my beautiful, delicate little Genevieve be drawn in with that dark-haired lout Nikolai, what then? He is the future Alpha of White Forest, as Freya is to live in Rising Star. I would lose my darling girl. I know it is just the mindset of a scared father. I am a proud, happy man, terrified of nothing the world can throw at me. Except for damaging my family'
The Beta's Prize Epilogue 2: White Forest Ball (Cherish)
I gasped at the sight of our intruder. Cillian, my beautiful boy, had somehow transformed into a powerful, charismatic man, his white shirt open at the top showing the sculpted chest he inherited from his father. His coppery red hair had an even fierier tone than Ivan’s, almost sheer red, whilst his eyes had eventually turned blue like my own, despite starting green. He had a strong, masculine jaw and his figure had developed over the past year. He had trained like a beast with Kharkov and Jackson, as if preparing for his mate by getting into perfect shape. “Are we ready to do this parade then?” he grumbled, fiddling with his cufflink, the rasping depth of his manly voice still making me wistful even after years of it breaking. “How has a white shirt made you look this grown up,” I said softly, adjusting the collar of his shirt whilst he towered over me and his father. The squidgy faced little boy who hid behind my skirts clutching stacks of buns he had stolen from Martha was no m
The Beta's Prize Epilogue 1: White Forest Ball (Cherish)
** TWENTY YEARS LATER ** “I cannot believe it has truly been so long since we were last at White Forest,” I murmured, standing in the same suite we had used so many years ago. Back when I shouted at Helena and suggested she had failed Ivan. The four-poster bed and stained glass windows were unchanged. As if we had simply stepped back in time. The sight of the balcony, where I had once stood in only a black cloak for Ivan to devour under the pale blue moonlight made me smile and Halo purr in remembrance. “You are as amazing now as you were then,” Ivan murmured, approaching me with a grin. In his late forties he was getting somehow even more handsome with age. His hair remained the stunning copper beacon I looked for first in every room whilst his frame remained strong, tall and muscular. Although my heart had two other beacons to contend with in Genevieve and Cillian, Ivan’s strength was the tree which my roots had grown around. They had turned eighteen last winter, Ivan insiste
The Beta's Prize 106. Cherish
Although Ivan’s silly trick with the balcony made me laugh, we were soon back in the same glum mood we had left the dinner party with last night. The stone walls around us swirled with confusion, the footsteps of unknown servants constantly pattering by made me feel watched, edgy. At home, in Cragstone we knew exactly who roamed our smaller world. “We should just ask Helena outright,” I snapped in frustration, “they’re discussing us and our babies so why shouldn’t we know.” Ultimately we had the matter taken out of our hands. A small, elderly male servant summoned us for breakfast with Alpha Brandon and Luna Hollie down in the dining hall. Kissing the babies and leaving them with Kharkov and Penelope we made our way for attempt Day Two of the so-called Conference. As expected the four of them were already there. Brandon raised his hand as soon as he saw us enter and saw Ivan assessing the situation. Alpha Alexander for once looked distressed. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes wer
The Beta's Prize 105. Ivan
My worst fears were confirmed. This wasn’t a proper conference, there was no respect for our attendance as the leaders of the Shadowlands pack, it was some ridiculous notion by Helena to try and fix her own ego. Kissing Cherish softly as she tended to the babies with Penelope I informed Kharkov I was heading for a stroll, he could stay with the women and enjoy some breakfast. His face lit up at the prospect, whether it was breakfast or the company of the women I could not tell which thrilled him more. I loved the fact he had such a bond with Cherish. Having someone in your corner like that, it’s how I used to see myself and Helena. Different but the same. /If everything had stayed the same, we would have been dead in a ditch long ago. Some things have to change/ Kohl murmured sagely. I agreed with him, but I still regretted my lost friendship. Heading out of the huge double doored stone archway I found myself looking down upon a splendid view of the surrounding forest. It was so
The Beta's Prize 104. Cherish
When the servant brought us into the dining hall it was just as grand as I expected. Huge golden candelabras and chandeliers lit up a picture perfect room. The usual tapestries and war scenes I had grown used to seeing at White Forest were not present here. Rising Star was a gallery of landscapes. The valleys, lakes and forests depicted everywhere gave the castle a softer feeling than I had expected this pile of stones to provide. Even the soft rugs were welcomely eyed by Halo, my feet still not fully healed made me want to jump to the nearest chair. I preferred this castle to White Forest, though as Halo warned me, that may just be because I had lingering reservations about Luna Helena and her knowledge of Fate. Ivan, bless him, knew my feet were not fully healed yet and made sure to have me seated comfortably before anything else. Alpha Brandon and Luna Hollie were kind and gracious hosts. They clearly adored Helena and Alexander, a cosy coupling that we were on the outside of.
