Ch-03

Ivy

A man, I guess to be the butler, meets me as soon as I step through the gates.

“Luna Blackwood,” he bows to me, his voice warm, but extremely professional. “We have been told of your arrival. Welcome to the Rosewood Manor.”

I nod carefully, glancing around the huge estate. There’s a water fountain right in front of the mansion, with rows of garden beds to the side. It looks even more luxurious than our pack house back in Blackwood.

“Unfortunately, Alpha Liam is currently inspecting the northern regions and deeply regrets that he cannot welcome you himself.” The butler cuts into my thoughts, and I jerk my head back to him. “However, he sent me to ensure you have everything you need. You’re in great hands, Luna.”

Liam is not here.

Relief floods through me, and I almost sag against my suitcase. Truth be told, I’m not ready to face Liam. Until my defenses are stronger, I don’t want to see those dark eyes that always seem to look right through me.

“Thank you,” I manage to say.

“Very well, then. Please come with me.” The butler ushers me forward, introducing himself as Sterling. He leads me through the manor, and everything is literally made of marble. It’s so elegant and screams old money.

We climb a grand staircase, and he opens a double door to a bedroom suite that's bigger than the entire first floor back at home.

I freeze in the doorway, taking it all in with wide eyes. The room is filled with fresh white roses in crystal vases. A closet stands open, revealing designer clothes that seems to be my exact size.

On the vanity sits a velvet jewelry box that’s also opened and the jewelry pieces it contains are made of diamond and gold.

“The Alpha had everything prepared for your arrival,” Sterling says, walking up to the desk. He picks up a cream envelope and hands it to me. “He wanted to ensure you had access to whatever you might need.”

My hands shake slightly as I open it. And what I see inside steals my breath away. There’s a black credit card with my name embossed on it and several blank checks, pre-signed by Liam.

I stare at them, my throat growing so tight I can barely breathe.

This is several times more extravagant than anything I had at Blackwood Pack. More than I ever dreamed of having.

I can’t help thinking of Liam. The dangerous, powerful man who left the blackwood pack when he was just a boy and he built his own power all by himself away from the influence of his family…

Now that I am in my most vulnerable moment, he is choosing to help me.

I may not know the full story, but there has always been bad blood between him and the family back in blackwood.

So I think the reason Alpha Liam is choosing to marry me is mainly because he wants to take revenge on his family.

What better way than to take their Luna away from them?

It's perfect this way. I'll play a role in his revenge and he'll help me divorce my useless husband.

The perfect contract relationship.

“Alpha Liam has also contacted the finest royal wedding planning team on the continent,” Sterling breaks into my thoughts. “They’ll reach out within the week to begin preparations.” He pauses and a smug expression appeared on his face. “I understand your previous…arrangement at the Blackwood pack lacked proper ceremony. Alpha Liam wishes to ensure this union receives the dignity it deserves.”

His subtle dig at Noah isn’t lost on me, and he’s not entirely wrong. Afterall, I planned a wedding for six months, perfected every detail down to the custom Ivory silk dress and its delicate embroidery. And Amy took it all.

She wore my dress while marrying my husband in the pretense of wanting to experience a wedding before she dies.

Crazy how life works anyway. In just a few months, I’m about to have another wedding.

“Thank you, Sterling,” I say quietly. “I’d like to rest now.”

“Of course, Luna. I’ll have dinner sent up at seven or if you’d prefer to eat downstairs…” He raises a brow.

“I'll let you know then,” I say, and he bows and leaves, closing the doors softly behind him.

Finally, I’m alone.

I look around the room more carefully, confirming the signs that someone lived here recently. There’s a book on the nightstand with the bookmark still in place. Men’s cologne on the dress and a jacket hanging in the wardrobe between the women’s clothes.

Did Liam give me his own bedroom?

The thought makes my stomach flip strangely.

I drop my suitcase and walk to the massive bed, crawling between the sheets to the left side. The sheets are fresh, but when I press my face into the pillows there, I catch a scent embedded in them.

Cedar and winter air tinged with a masculine musk. It makes my wolf stir for the first time since the miscarriage.

Liam’s scent.

My heart beats faster, and suddenly I’m transported to that night seven years ago. Liam sat alone at the hotel bar, drinking whiskey after the party ended…And, I joined him, somehow ending up in his bed. His skilled mouth brought me to seeing stars, and now, remembering it, my thighs clenched uncontrollably.

Forcing myself to clear my thoughts, I curl into my side, and the scent lulls me to sleep.

I’m woken up the next morning by a series of knocks on my door. Groaning, I check the time on my phone, and it’s nine. Damn, I’ve never slept this late in my life. I must be very relaxed in this place.

“Luna, may I come in?” Sterling’s voice echoes through the wooden barrier.

Glancing down at the silk pajamas I’m wearing, which I found in the wardrobe last night, I sit up and call out. “Yes, sure.”

He enters with a bow, placing a tray of coffee before me. “Luna, the wedding dress designers have arrived early on the Alpha’s orders. Would you like to begin fittings?”

“No, thank you,” I rubbed the remaining sleep from my eyes. “I have a contract to sign today.”

The butler’s bushy brows rise slightly. “A contract?”

“Yes,” I take the coffee, and oh goddess, the taste is so delicious, I finish it before I continue to speak. “It’s a business deal I’ve been managing for months. I need to finish it.”

Even though I’m not Blackwood’s Luna anymore and I’m done working for Noah’s stupid company as their manager, I’ve followed that corporation from the beginning and did all the work on it. If I complete the signing, the company procedure guarantees me a substantial bonus.

I refuse to work for Noah for free from this moment onwards, and I’ll never give up what I’ve earned ever again.

“Of course, Luna,” Sterling finally says with a smile. “Shall I arrange a car?”

“Please.”

I shower quickly and soon leave the house in the car. The signing is at the Grandview Hotel, which is thankfully on neutral territory. I arrive on time, wearing one of the simple dresses from Liam’s wardrobe, and I feel more confident than I have in months.

The bonus from this deal will give me options and independence.

I push open the door to the private conference room, and all the blood drains from my face.

There’s the business partner and two more people I didn’t expect in the room. Noah is standing by the window with his arms crossed while Amy sits at the table with a pen in her hand and a stack of contracts in front of her.

My contracts.

She looks up and flashes me a plastic smile. “Oh, Ivy. Why are you so late?”

Her voice drips false sweetness.

“I begged Noah to wait for your arrival, but he said the group needs a more capable leader, so I’ll temporarily be taking your position until you prove you’re reliable.” She taps the papers with the pen she’s holding. “I already signed everything.”

White-hot rage explodes in my chest.

“I followed this project for months,” I say with a shaky voice, turning to Noah. “You know more than anyone how I didn’t even rest during my pregnancy because of it. I worked through morning sickness, swollen ankles, and exhaustion. This is mine,” I’m nearly shouting now. “Why does she get to steal my credit, Noah? Why?”

Noah’s expression hardens, and he crosses the room in three strides, grabbing my arm and dragging me out of the room.

“You should explain why you sold our wedding ring,” he hisses at me and pulls the ring from his pocket. Surprise sweeps through me as he shoves it towards me, and his grip on my wrist is bruising.

“Let me go!” I try to yank free, but he’s too strong. And he uses his Alpha authority on me, making my knees lock, unable to move.

“This time is just a warning,” he growls at me. “What I’ll do to you next time you create a fuss, won’t be this easy, Ivy.”

That said, he forces my fingers open and forces the ring back onto my finger. He was so rough that the ring sliced the delicate skin, and the cut swelled with blood.

“You will always be my Luna,” he continues to speak, brown eyes flashing with rage. “Always the company’s manager. Don’t be jealous of Amy for fucks sake. She’s just a patient with barely months to live.”

I could only stand, shocked, staring at the man I once loved.