One( Ivy’s POV)

The morning sunlight brightened the window, too warm for how cold I felt inside. I sat on the bed, relaxed on my pillow still looking at my sketchpad as if it was my life. 

This same dream again? I muttered, my heart was still racing from the dream.

A tall man, soaked in the rain, reached out his hand to me without any recognition. “Are you okay?” he had asked.

I looked down at my sketch. His Sharp and hot lips were heart-warming, his dark eyes were too cute, his full hair and his height were so blossomed. Everything about him looked so right! But not him, No not him. “I’ll get it right next time,” I whispered to myself.

My wolf stirred, she has been restless lately or my dreams were waking up. Before I could dive into another thought, a noisy knock brought me back to reality. I knew it was Sera, she's here with her troubles.

I signed and shoved the sketchpad under my pillow, brushing strands of hair away from my face as I stood up.

“Ivy!! Open up before I shift and break this door of yours!” She growled. “A minute please".I replied but before I could finish my words, the door opened. Sera barged in like a storm, her flaming red curls bouncing with every step. 

“Ivy why do you always look like you've seen a ghost, all weird?” she sneered. “Not, just tired,” I lied. My wolf stirred again, She hates lies. 

Sera folded her arms.“Or you dreamt about him again” giving me a questioning look.

“Oh I guess right, you've been staring at your imaginary mystery man” she added looking at the sketchpad popping outside under my pillow.

“Yes,” I looked away, trying to find more words. She blinked. “Wait, every time you have the same dream? I nodded slowly, playing with my fingers. “ Ivy, how many times have you dreamt about him hun?” She jumped on the bed, uninvited. 

“10 times now” I whistled. “It's not a dream anymore, that's your wolf calling you, your wolf is lonely and mate hungry” she smirked. “No, I'm not hungry,” I said, rolling my eyes.

She giggled, twisting a strand of her flaming hair. “Well, your wolf is, that's fate knocking Ivy.” “Please don’t start,” I growled. Sera raised her hand in mocking manners, but her smile didn’t fade. I stood up, feeling too hot inside like something was burning under my skin. I needed air.

I walked over to the window and pushed it open, my legs were still trembling from the dream. A cool breeze swept into the room, brushing against my face but it didn’t cool the rising under my skin. 

That was when I smelled it. A strange scent.Smoke, Something darker like a burnt cinnamon. It wasn't from anyone from the pack, because I knew every one's scent within our pack. This was…new. But also familiar? 

My wolf went rigid. She growled deep inside me, so unexpectedly, it made me grip the window frame and curtains. “Ivy?” Sera’s voice was curious now. “Are you fine?” I smelled something” I muttered. My eyes scanned the forest edge behind the packhouse. 

From behind the trees, tall, soaked. His black shirt was stuck to his chest, rain dripping down every angle like it was sent. It was him, the man in my dreams, the man I had been sketching on the pad. He wasn't just a dream, he was real. He stood there, eyes locked in mine. Like he knew me..

My brain skipped. My wolf was going wild and out of control, so desperate to break free. Sera shouted from the bed. “Ivy, what is it? Talk to me!!!” Sera snapped.. 

But I could barely breathe

Sera rushed towards me. “Ivy! She grabbed my shoulders and hit me hard. “Get out of it” 

I blinked. The forest was empty, no man, no scent, just trees and wild. My heart pounded loudly that I thought it would rip my chest off.

“What did you see ?” Sera asked, widening her eyes. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry. “I think I saw…him”

“Who?!” 

I stared out of the window. “The man from my dreams”. Sera stepped back slowly. “ Ivy, are you sure it wasn't another vision? Or you're still a half-numb woman. But I shook my head, this was different.

Then I heard it, not too loud, not from Sera but from within me. “You're not dreaming or hallucinating, Ivy, you're remembering”. I gasped and stumbled back, nearly knocking over my sketchpad. 

“What the hell?” I whispered. Gazing widening and holding on to my chest like I could hold the voice in. My wolf was breathing heavily. She had finally broken free from the ancient.

“He’s real” the voice came again.

I blinked. “What did you mean by 'he's real?” I whispered.

Sera took a step back. ‘Ivy... who are you talking to?’ she asked, her voice unsure, eyes flicking between me and the empty window.”

I turned to her, forcing a smile. “Sera it’s nothing, I'm okay”. But I wasn't. Just as I reached out for my sketchpad, the door slammed open again. I gasped.

“Mother?”

She stood at the doorway, her long red hair loose and wild, eyes sharp like she had seen a ghost. She didn't knock. She never did that when she was afraid.

Her gaze went to the open window, then to me, then to Sera. “Sera,” she said calmly, trying to force a polite tone. “Give us a moment.”  Sera blinked, “Oh…sure,” She said slowly, “ But mum…” “Sera!,” my mother said again, her voice louder this time.

Sera went mute, she glanced at me, half concerned with a curious look before walking towards the door. “I’ll just be outside,” she whispered to me. The door clicked shut.

“What is going on?” I asked.  My mother crossed the room in the twinkle of an eye and slammed the window closed. Her hands were shaking. “What did you see Ivy?” 

I thought I saw someone, I whispered. “Outside the forest.”

Her face went pale. She turned towards me, grabbed my wrist, eyes widened.

“No more sketches, no more dreams. Do you hear me? The seals are breaking. The bond is waking. Didn't I tell you not to think about  it?”

“I didn't think about anything,” I snapped, pulling my hand back. “It's just a dream of a memory mother, I don't even know anymore”

She stared at my pillow, checked my sketchpad, and looked down at the drawing. Her expression twisted with fear and something deeper was coming up.

“Listen to me, Ivy,” she said, voice low and restless.

You must not attend the Thorne’s Moon Ceremony next week. No matter what, if they drag you or if your friends beg, make sure you refuse. Promise.”

I stared back. “Why? What are you afraid of Mother?”

“Because if you go, you won’t come back the same, neither will he.” She said, storming out.

I muttered, “What did she mean by I won’t come back the same? And neither will he? Who is he ?” I muttered, looking at my Sketchpad.