4

Ivy’s POV

My heart hammered against my ribs so hard it hurt.

The glowing eyes in the forest moved closer.

One by one. Predators circling prey.

My hands trembled as I slowly stepped backward. 

Was this how it ended?

Not in the Grey mansion. Not from Maven.

But alone in a dark forest after running for the first time in my life.

A branch snapped to my left. My head whipped toward the sound. A tall figure stepped out of the shadows.

“What did I tell you about following rules?” My stomach dropped.

Lucian Darkwood.

Moonlight cut across his face, revealing the hard line of his jaw and the icy steel of his grey eyes. He looked furious.

Not irritated. Not annoyed.

Furious. Like the mere fact that I had tried to escape was a personal insult.

Before I could speak, two more shadows emerged from the trees behind him.

Kael.

Rowan. The three brothers stood around me like a silent wall.

And suddenly I understood something terrifying. 

Those wolves that had surrounded me? They weren’t wild animals. They were them.

They had been hunting me.

“I- I can explain,” I stammered.

Lucian took a slow step forward. The pressure of his Alpha aura  crushed down on me. “We gave you a roof over your head,” he said coldly.

Another step.

“A family name powerful enough to make enemies think twice.”

Another.

“And we saved you from that madman Maven Grey.”

His voice dropped dangerously low.

“And this is how you repay that?”

I lowered my head. There was nothing I could say. I couldn’t admit the truth.

That I ran because I was afraid they would abandon me eventually. Because that was what everyone always did.

And if I left first… At least it wouldn’t hurt as much.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous this forest is?” Kael suddenly asked.

For once, the usual amusement in his voice was gone. His tone was sharp. Dead serious.

“Do you know how easy it would have been for an enemy pack to find you out here?” he continued. “Or worse?”

I shrank back slightly. I hadn’t thought about that.

All I had thought about was escaping before I started believing I belonged somewhere. Kael stared at me for a long moment.

Then his brows slowly furrowed. Like something had just occurred to him.

“Wait…”

His gaze sharpened.

“Do you even know who you are?” Rowan glanced at him immediately.

The two brothers exchanged a quick look. 

Something passed silently between them. 

Something I didn’t understand.

“Unfortunately,” Lucian interrupted sharply, “you’re a Darkwood now.” His voice cut through whatever Kael had been thinking.

“Whether you like it or not.” He turned toward the mansion.

“You don’t run unless we allow it.” I had no choice.

Silently, I followed them back.

—

The entire household was awake when we returned.

Tatiana.

Richard. Even some of the servants.

“Ivy,” Richard said immediately. Tatiana rushed forward.

“Oh goddess, Ivy- are you hurt?” She grabbed my arms, turning me gently as she checked for injuries.

I flinched automatically. Expecting a slap. A shove.

Punishment. But it never came.

Instead her hands only hovered carefully over my bruised arms. Concern filled her face.

That somehow made it worse. I nodded quickly.

“I’m fine.”

“How could you run away?” she asked softly. “Did we do something wrong?” My throat tightened.

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. Richard studied me quietly for a moment.

Then he nodded once.

“That’s enough for tonight.” He looked toward the stairs.

“Go back to your room. We’ll discuss this later.” Relief flooded me.

I turned to leave.

“Ivy is not to leave her room without supervision.” 

Lucian’s voice cut through the room. Everyone froze. The servants nodded immediately.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Lucian’s gaze settled on me again. Hard. 

Unforgiving.

Then he turned and walked away, his brothers following close behind. Richard gave my shoulder a gentle pat.

“I’m glad you’re safe.” Then he left as well.

Tatiana walked beside me back to my room.

“Lucian can be… intense,” she said gently. “That’s just how he protects the family.”

Protects.

I nodded even though I didn’t fully understand. 

When we reached the door, she hesitated.

“Try to get some rest, okay?” I nodded again.

Once she left, the room fell silent. But sleep never came.

I tossed and turned for hours. The bed felt too soft.

Too big. Too unfamiliar.

Finally, I gave up. Lucian said I couldn’t leave the mansion.

But he never said anything about walking around inside.

So I slipped out of my room quietly. The mansion was dark and mostly empty.

I kept to the shadows, avoiding the servants and guards. Eventually I heard voices.

Angry ones. They came from behind a closed door.

I knew I should keep walking.

An omega had no business listening to family discussions. But then I heard my name.

“There is no logical or political reason why you adopted that omega.”

Lucian.

My feet stopped. I couldn’t move.

“Politically,” he continued sharply, “she is the worst possible choice. You’ve painted a target on our backs.”

My chest tightened. So he really did hate the decision.

“I don’t care what you think Ivy is,” another voice replied.

Richard.

“Your stepmother and I made the decision.” His tone was firm.

“She is part of this family now.”

A pause.

Then he added quietly-

“And there is something undeniably special about that girl.” My heart skipped.

“You’ve felt it too.” Silence filled the room.

Then Lucian scoffed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he snapped.

“But she’s weak.” A loud thud echoed through the room.

Like a fist hitting a desk.

“She has no wolf,” Lucian continued. “A terrible background. No status. No power.”

His voice turned cold.

“She’s a stain on the Darkwood name.” The words hit like a knife.

Then Richard spoke again.

Slowly. Carefully.

“You forget who is still in charge, Lucian.”

Silence. Then a low growl.

“Very well, father,” Lucian said tightly.

“But whatever trouble she brings- ”

He paused.

“Make sure you’re ready to deal with it.” I backed away from the door quickly. That was enough.

More than enough.

I turned-

And slammed straight into someone.

A strong pair of hands grabbed my shoulders before I could fall. “Careful.”

Rowan.

My heart jumped into my throat. Before I could react, the study door opened.

Lucian stepped out. His eyes landed on Rowan.

Then on me. I must have looked guilty. Because I was.

“Excuse me,” I muttered quickly.

I tried to slip past them.

But the moment I turned- 

I ran straight into another solid chest.

Kael. His arms wrapped around my waist automatically to stop me from falling.

My breath caught. For a moment, none of us moved.

Then Kael leaned slightly closer. And sniffed.

Again. Just like earlier. His expression changed instantly.

Confusion. Then disbelief.

He sniffed the air again. Closer this time. Rowan frowned.

“What is it?”

Kael slowly released me. But his eyes stayed locked on my face.

Sharp.

Searching. Lucian stepped closer. “What are you doing?”

Kael ignored him.

Instead he tilted his head, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle. Then he muttered something under his breath.

Something that made Rowan’s expression darken immediately. Lucian noticed.

“What?”

Kael looked at him. Then back at me. His voice dropped into a whisper of stunned realization.

“That scent…”

My stomach twisted. “What scent?” Kael took one slow step closer.

His golden eyes burned into mine. And then he said the one thing that made the entire hallway go silent.

“What the hell are you?”