Chapter Ten

LEO’S POV

It had been two hard weeks. Two endless weeks of forcing myself to stay away from Ivy, strictly following the doctor’s advice to give her space so her fragile mind wouldn't shatter under the weight of my presence.

I sat at the head of the polished obsidian table in my private palace office, resting my chin against my hand as my team went over the preparations for our upcoming annual mineral showcase. My company, Royal Crest Mining, the largest exporter of precious star-gems and raw metals across the continent, was finalizing a multi-billion-dollar trade deal. The project lead was speaking animatedly about shipping routes and vault security, but I barely heard a word.

My mind was stuck somewhere else, clouded entirely by the fragile female carrying my child.

Suddenly, the heavy double doors clicked open, cutting off the project lead mid-sentence.

A tall, regal figure stepped into the room, draped in an elegant royal blue silk gown that swept the marble floor. Queen Valeria’s sharp, amber eyes swept over the room with effortless authority. Her silver-threaded dark hair was styled into an intricate crown braid, and the diamonds at her throat caught the morning sun. Even without unleashing her aura, her presence as the Queen Mother commanded instant submission.

Every executive at the table scrambled to their feet, bowing their heads low. “Your Majesty,” they murmured in unison.

"Clear the room," I commanded quietly, waving my hand toward the door. I didn't need to ask why she was here; my mother never paid unannounced visits to my business offices for small talk.

The executives gathered their tablets and files in a frantic rush, bowing once more before hurrying out the door. The moment the heavy latch clicked shut, Queen Valeria crossed the room, the faint scent of crushed roses and sandalwood following her.

"So," she began, her tone dangerously smooth as she rested her manicured hands on the back of a leather chair. "When were you planning to tell me about the Omega living in your private quarters?"

I didn't even flinch. I casually leaned back in my chair, lacing my fingers together. "I was planning to, Mother, but as usual, your ears in the palace have already done the work for me."

She tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "I heard she is pregnant. Is that true?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Are you certain it is your child?" she asked, her voice dropping into a razor-thin edge of curiosity and suspicion.

"I am one hundred percent sure," I answered firmly, my voice leaving no room for debate.

The Queen gave me a long look of quiet disappointment, letting out a faint, weary sigh. "And what, exactly, are you planning to do with her?"

I frowned, confused by her wording. "What do you mean?"

"I am asking because I hope you are not actually considering making her your mate," she said plainly.

I stayed completely silent, staring back at her. My lack of an immediate denial caught her off guard, and her eyes widened in genuine shock.

"Leo," she warned, taking a step closer. "In case you have forgotten, the position of Queen in the Silver Kingdom cannot be handed to just anybody. You are the future King. You must choose the absolute best, a female from a noble line who can strengthen our crown. From what my sources tell me, this woman is a discarded runt from a disgraced border pack."

"Mother, don't be harsh," I grunted, my inner wolf stirring uncomfortably at her words. "Does her title really matter?"

"It matters more than anything!" she insisted, her voice rising in sharp authority. "This is not a matter of pity, Leo. Yes, take care of your child. Raise the baby with all the royal privileges, and settle the girl handsomely with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. But making an Omega your Queen? You cannot even entertain such an absurd idea."

I knew my mother well enough to know that arguing with her right now was a waste of breath. Her pride in our bloodline was a mountain that couldn't be moved by words alone. I simply gave her a brief, tight nod. "I have heard you, Mother."

"Good," she said, her expression softening just a fraction. "Lord Vane’s daughter, Celeste, just returned from her studies in the capital. Try and make time to see her this weekend. You two were so close as children, and she has grown into a breathtaking, high-ranking Alpha female. Do you have any idea how many Alphas would kill to make her their mate?"

I rolled my eyes, fighting the urge to groan out loud. My mother had been pushing Celeste on me for years. Celeste’s mother was her closest friend among the high-court nobility, and the two of them had been planning to unite our families since we were in diapers. I was thoroughly exhausted by her constant matchmaking.

"Mother, please," I said, rubbing my temples as I pointed toward the stack of trade documents on my desk. "I have work to finish."

Seeing that I was cutting her off, Queen Valeria smoothed her dress and turned toward the exit. "I will leave you to your business for now. But remember, Leo, I am not getting any younger. I want to see my son married to an equal before I die."

"Okay, I've heard you."

She reached the heavy wooden door, her hand resting on the brass handle. She paused for a second, then turned her head back to look at me, her eyes flashing with a sudden, dark intensity.

"Just remember one thing, my son," she whispered, her voice chillingly calm. "A kingdom built on pity always crumbles from within. Choose wisely, or the court will choose for you."

Before I could answer, she pulled the door open and stepped out, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

By the time I returned home, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the hallways in deep shades of gold and purple.

As I walked down the quiet corridor leading to Ivy's suite, two maids bowed low against the wall. I stopped in front of Sarah, the head maid assigned specifically to care for Ivy.

"How is she doing today?" I asked in a low voice.

"She is fine, Your Highness," Sarah answered softly, keeping her hands folded politely in front of her. "She is very sweet and obedient. She never complains or makes any fuss about her meals."

"Any changes? Anything out of the ordinary?"

"Nothing major, my Lord," Sarah replied thoughtfully. "She spends most of her hours sitting by the window, staring silently into space. But... she seems to really like the glass garden downstairs. She spent almost two hours watching the white roses earlier."

"I see. Thank you, Sarah. You are dismissed for the night."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

I stood alone in front of the tall, carved double doors of her room. My heart thudded heavily against my ribs, a strange, nervous tension twisting in my gut. I took a deep breath to steady my aura, reached for the handle, and gently pushed the door open just a few inches, peeking inside.

The room was bathed in the soft, warm light of a bedside lamp.

Ivy was sitting on the edge of the plush armchair by the balcony doors, wearing a simple white silk nightgown. Her tiny hands were resting over her stomach, her long hair spilling over her shoulders like a waterfall of dark silk. She was staring out at the moonlight, looking so fragile, so delicate, yet so impossibly captivating that I couldn't tear my eyes away.

She looked so beautiful, and I felt an overwhelming, magnetic pull tug sharply at my chest..as if her soul were calling out to mine.

As I stood there in the dark hallway, watching her , I let out a slow breath and expanded my senses, filtering through the air. And that was when I felt it again.

Beyond the faint smell of the drugs, beyond her sweet, natural scent of honey and rain, a tiny ripple of energy brushed against my skin. It was faint... almost unnoticeable... but it hummed with an ancient power that made my Royal Alpha wolf twitch inside my chest, his ears pinning back in alert.

It was faint, but I felt it. It wasn't even the aura of a normal wolf.

I slowly closed the door and walked away, wondering.

Who are you really, Ivy?