Ivy POVI sat in the corner of my room, knees pulled up to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. The cold stone wall pressed against my back, but I barely felt it. My body was numb. My heart heavier than it had ever been. I had been locked away like a criminal, hated by everyone I had tried to love, and accused of something I didn’t do.And now Selena confessed.It should have felt like victory. Like relief. But it didn’t. It felt hollow.I remembered the way everyone had looked at me. Like I was dangerous. Like I didn’t belong. Like I was nothing.No one had defended me.Not until it was almost too late.Kieran came to see me after the trial. He stood outside my door for a long time before he knocked. I had been sitting in silence, staring at the blank wall, wondering how long it would take to heal from something like this."Ivy," he called softly. "Can I come in?"I didn’t answer. But after a while, the door opened anyway.He stepped in, closing it gently behind him. He didn’t
Selena's POVThe air was cold in the forest, colder than I remembered. The tall trees loomed overhead, their skeletal branches clawing at the gray sky as if nature itself sought to imprison me. My breath puffed out in quick, angry huffs, my boots crunching against dead leaves as I trudged up the narrow trail to the cabin hidden deep within the woods. It had been days since I was exiled from the pack. I didn't have anywhere to go, so I made my way to the cabin. It had been days since I had been exiled from the pack, and stripped of all my titles and rights. No one knew about this place except me—and now, it would be my haven. My lair. My prison.I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, trembling. Not from the cold, but from the rage that twisted inside me like a venomous serpent.Ivy.That name echoed in my mind like a curse. The perfect little omega with her sad eyes and soft voice. The one who stole everyone's sympathy. The one who made me look like the villain. My fingers
Selena's POVThe morning came gray and still. Fog clung to the trees like a ghost refusing to leave. I woke on the old couch in the corner of the cabin, my back aching and my mind already spinning. Magnus had left without another word, and I hadn’t slept well since. I didn’t trust him. But I needed him. That was the difference between being desperate and being foolish.I pulled on my coat and stepped outside, the cold air biting my face. The forest was quiet. Too quiet. My breath came in short puffs, and I listened for any sign of life. Nothing. No birds. No wind. It felt like the world was holding its breath, waiting.Inside, I started a small fire and boiled water in an old kettle I found buried in a cupboard. The cabin had been abandoned for years, but it still held traces of a life long gone—dusty books, broken furniture, a cracked photograph of a family I didn’t know. This place had stories, like me. Forgotten stories.As I sipped the hot water, the bitterness reminded me of the
Selena's POVA week passed.The days were quiet now, but it wasn’t peace—it was silence before the storm. Anastasia had been exiled. Not killed, not locked up, just sent away. Banished, like I had been. It should’ve been enough.But it wasn’t.I walked through the village again, my hood pulled low, eyes alert. Whispers followed me wherever I went. Some still didn’t trust me. Others looked at me like I was some sort of tragic hero. The girl who took the fall for her maid. Who forgave her father. Who came back stronger. I let them think what they wanted. Let them believe what they needed.I was back. That’s all that mattered.I avoided Ivy for the first few days. Not out of fear, but because I didn’t want to rush. Revenge isn’t loud and messy. It’s slow. Quiet. Like poison in water.But on the seventh day, we crossed paths.She was outside the healer’s tent, gathering herbs in a woven basket. Her hands trembled as she moved. She looked tired. Pale. Haunted.Good.I slowed my steps just
Ivy’s POVThe air outside was thick with frost, but the chill that clung to my skin wasn’t from the cold. It came from the truth still settling into my bones—someone wanted me gone. And they were willing to go far enough to poison one of the most powerful women in the pack to make it happen. Or maybe Selena had gone that far herself. The line between victim and villain was so blurred now, I didn’t know what to believe.I sat cross-legged on the window seat of Kiernan’s quarters, my wrist still wrapped tightly. The healer finally came and left, murmuring instructions to rest, to stay calm. As if calm was even possible anymore.Kiernan hadn’t said much since we left the Alpha’s study. He stood near the door, arms crossed over his chest, his gray eyes focused on the hallway as if expecting trouble to walk right in.The silence stretched between us, heavy but not uncomfortable. It was strange, how his presence made me feel more secure than anyone else ever had in this place.“You’re still
Ronan’s POVThe training grounds were nearly empty. Just a few warriors still practicing as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dirt. My knuckles were bruised, my shirt clung to my back with sweat, and my muscles burned with exhaustion. Still, it wasn’t enough to clear my head. I landed one more punch into the training dummy, watching the way it swayed from the force."That thing didn’t insult you, brother."I didn’t have to turn to know it was Elias. His voice always carried that edge of sarcasm that grated on my nerves."I needed to hit something."He walked closer, tossing me a water bottle. I caught it without a word."You’ve been out here for hours. Trying to forget about her?"I didn’t respond.Elias exhaled and leaned against the fence, his blue eyes watching me carefully. "She’s still under Kiernan’s watch. The Alpha hasn’t made a public decision yet.""He will," I said. "He’s just waiting to see which way the wind blows."Elias was quiet for a mo
Ronan’s POVThe training grounds were nearly empty when I arrived. Just the dull thud of fists meeting sandbags and the occasional shout from warriors sparring in the distance. The cold wind bit at my skin, but I welcomed the sting. It kept me grounded. Focused.I needed to be focused.My brothers didn’t know I’d come here alone. Elias was probably off somewhere brooding like always. Kiernan… well, he had his own reasons for hiding things. But me? I had no excuse.I tightened the wraps around my knuckles and threw a punch at the practice dummy. Again. And again. Harder each time until the sound of flesh meeting leather drowned out the thoughts in my head.Ivy.Her name had burrowed deep under my skin since the moment our bond had awakened—and I’d rejected it.Foolish.The moment I looked into those eyes of hers, soft hazel that turned silver when she was angry or afraid, something inside me cracked. But I did what I was trained to do. I crushed it. Shut her out. Denied what the moon g
Ivy’s POVThe morning came slowly, dragging a pale gray light through the thick clouds outside the window. I hadn’t slept. My body was tired, but my mind had stayed wide awake, thoughts turning over again and again. Everything felt too loud inside my head—Ronan’s words, Kiernan’s silence, Selena’s lies.I sat curled on the edge of the bed, knees pulled to my chest, a blanket wrapped tightly around me. The air was cold, and the fire in the hearth had died sometime during the night. Still, I didn’t move to relight it. I just watched the flames that weren’t there.I didn’t know what time it was when the door opened softly. Kiernan stepped in without saying a word. He looked like he had been up all night too. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was messier than usual.He walked over and placed something on the small table. A bowl of soup. Warm bread. A cup of tea."You should eat," he said, voice quiet.I nodded, though I didn’t move.Kiernan walked to the window, arms crossed as he star
IVY’s pov,I kept my eyes on the fire, letting its low crackle fill the silence in my head. It was late. Everyone else had already gone inside, but I couldn’t sleep. Not with the way my thoughts kept spinning, nor with the way my heart kept pulling in three different directions.I’d told Ronan I loved him. And I meant it. But love didn’t stop the ache in my chest when I thought of Elias. Or the steady calm Kiernan gave me, like a lighthouse in the storm.I didn’t know how to love them all. I didn’t know how to stop either.The sound of footsteps made me turn. I expected Kiernan. Maybe even Elias. But it was Ronan again, a blanket over one shoulder, two mugs in his hands.“You left without tea,” he said, sitting beside me.“I didn’t want to wake you.”“You didn’t.” He handed me a mug. The scent of chamomile drifted up, soft and familiar.We sat in silence for a while. The kind that stretched, but didn’t hurt, not with Ronan. With him, quiet was easy.“I don’t regret last night,” I said
Ronan’s Pov,The wind had a bite to it that morning, a sharp edge curling around the keep's corners and slipping under collars. I stood in the training yard, arms folded, watching the younger wolves run drills. They were too fast, forgetting the importance of patience, of reading your opponent before striking. I should’ve corrected them. But I didn’t.Ivy hadn’t come down yet. I told myself I wasn’t waiting for her, but that was a lie, and I no longer believed it.The dream from nights ago still haunted me. Not the image of her in the storm—that had faded—but the way she called my name. Not with love. With fear. With anger. It had etched itself into me, deeper than any scar.When I finally saw her, it was like the air shifted. She wore that heavy coat again, with the fur lining that brushed her jaw when she walked. Her hair was braided to one side, simple and loose. But her eyes—gods, her eyes—held something that made my heart stutter. Determination. And something else. Sadness maybe.
Ronan’s POV,I left Ivy in the garden with her hair tangled by the wind and her eyes turned toward the stars. She didn’t say much after resting her head on my shoulder. She didn’t need to. There was a quiet peace to her that I hadn’t seen in days. Maybe weeks. And I’d take whatever pieces of calm she could find in this place.I couldn’t sleep again. Not that I expected to.I tried. I lay there, staring at the cracks in the ceiling, listening to the sound of my breath. But every time I closed my eyes; I saw her face. Not the peaceful one from the garden—but the one from the dream. Wild. Afraid. Calling for me in the storm.So I got up, dressed in silence, and walked until my feet led me somewhere new.The eastern edge of the territory was quiet this time of night. Cold, even though spring had started to thaw the ground. The moon hung low, half-shrouded in clouds. The air smelled of frost and pine. And I walked.It wasn’t the kind of walk that had a destination. It was the kind that hel
Ronan's pov.The sky was painted in dusky gold when I stepped out onto the back terrace. The garden below glistened with dew that hadn't burned off from the morning. It had rained just before dawn, leaving everything soft and damp. The air smelled like pine and wet stone. And something sweeter—like a promise just waiting to be broken.Ivy was already there. Barefoot, in an oversized shirt that didn’t belong to her. I knew because it was mine. I’d left it in her room last night, folded neatly at the foot of her bed before I slipped out just before the servants stirred.She didn’t say anything when she saw me. Just looked. Like she was memorizing something small and quiet. Like she needed to carry it with her a little while longer.“You’re up early,” I said, softening my voice.“I didn’t sleep.” Her words were low, brushed with something heavy. Not sadness. Just tired.I moved to her side, close but not touching. Not yet.“You okay?”She hesitated. “I keep asking myself that too.”I nod
Ronan’s Pov,I stood by the window longer than I meant to. The sun was already past the ridge, bleeding color across the trees like spilled wine. Ivy’s scent still lingered on my shirt, soft and warm like wild violets crushed in the heat. I hadn’t changed. I hadn’t moved. My hand was still tingling from where she held it last night, curled beside me like something fragile and breakable.I knew I shouldn’t let it get to me.But it already had.I didn’t hear the knock until it came again, louder this time. I turned away from the window and opened the door to find Kiernan leaning in the frame like he owned it. He didn’t smile. Just looked at me, slow and quiet.“We need to talk,” he said.I stepped back and let him in.Kiernan paced once, twice, then turned on me. “What are we doing?”The question was short, blunt, sharp enough to cut bone.I didn’t answer right away. He crossed his arms, waiting.“I don’t know,” I said truthfully.“She was with you last night.”It wasn’t a question. It
Narrator's POV.The morning mist clung low to the ground, curling between the tree trunks like a secret. Ivy stood barefoot in the clearing behind the main house, the grass cold and wet under her toes. She wasn’t sure why she came out here. Maybe to breathe. Maybe to remember what it felt like to be something other than caught.She wrapped her arms around herself and stared up at the grey sky. Everything felt too quiet. As if the whole world was waiting.Behind her, she heard a step. Slow. Careful.“I thought I’d find you here.”Kiernan.She didn’t turn around. She didn’t flinch either. He always moved like a shadow—quiet but strong, like the storm inside him had learned to walk soft.“I couldn’t sleep,” she said.“Me either.”He stopped just beside her, close enough she could feel his heat, but not touching. He never touched unless she let him. That used to frustrate her. Now it felt like kindness.“What’s wrong?” he asked.She didn’t know how to answer that without giving too much a
Elias’ Pov.I haven’t seen Ivy all day.Not since that moment in the hall. When I passed Ronan and didn’t say a damn word. He didn’t either. But his silence said everything. They’re getting closer. I’m not blind.And it’s killing me.I shouldn’t care. I told myself I’d let her go if that’s what she needed. If it made her happy. But I didn’t mean it. Not really. Not when every breath feels heavier without her near. Not when I can still hear the way she said my name the night she almost kissed me.I’m losing her.I go to the training yard. I hit the dummies until my knuckles bleed. Then I shift and run. Fast. Hard. Until the trees blur and the air burns in my lungs.But I can’t outrun this.Ivy’s in my head. She’s under my skin. She’s every damn heartbeat.By the time I shift back, it’s dark. My clothes are soaked with sweat. My body aches. But it’s not enough.Nothing is.I make my way back to the house and stop at the river trail. I smell her before I see her.Ivy.She’s sitting on a
Narrator's Pov.The storm rolled in slow, creeping like a secret across the mountains. By mid-morning, the clouds had settled thick over the valley, muffling sound, muting light. Ronan stood at the edge of the training yard, the steady drizzle soaking into his cloak and boots, but he didn’t move.He was waiting.Ivy had said she wanted space. That morning, she'd left early without a word. No note. No goodbye. Just gone. It wasn't like her, not anymore. Not after last night.He had barely slept. Her warmth had lingered on his skin like a ghost. The scent of her hair still clung to his pillow. But when he opened his eyes, she was gone.Now, the absence felt louder than thunder.Footsteps behind him pulled him from his thoughts. Kiernan. Ronan didn’t have to turn to know. The younger twin’s presence always came with quiet tension, like a wire pulled too tight.“She’s at the chapel,” Kiernan said without greeting.Ronan glanced back. “Alone?”Kiernan nodded. “She wouldn’t let me stay.”Th
Ronan’s POV.I don’t dream much anymore.When I do, it’s usually of the past. Of fire. Of blood. Of the sound my father made when he told me I would never be enough.But tonight, I dream of Ivy.Not in the way I expected.She’s not smiling. Not glowing in sunlight or dancing through wildflowers. No, she’s in the middle of a storm, soaked and shaking. Her eyes are wild with something between fear and rage. And she’s calling my name, but I can’t reach her.I wake with a sharp inhale, chest tight.The room is dark. Still. Cold.I sit on the edge of my bed and drag my hands down my face. It’s been days since I got real sleep. Days since the fight between Elias and Kiernan. Since Ivy came back from the ridge with her heart caught between them.I stayed out of it.That’s what I do.The steady one. The logical one. The heir. The one who doesn’t get involved.Except I am involved.More than I want to be.More than I’m supposed to be.I see her the next morning outside the training yard. She’s