Face reveal

Chapter 11

Ivy’s POV

He scoffed. Loud and bitter.

“Me? In love with you?” he repeated, shaking his head like the idea alone offended him. Then, he laughed again…mockingly, cruelly, like the thought was ridiculous.

I flinched.

He stepped closer. The sound of his boots thudded against the floor with each calculated step. My heart lurched, my breathing hitched. I looked up and our eyes met…his gaze intense even beneath the shadow of that dark mask. For a second, I forgot where I was. Forgot who he was. Forgot everything. My knees almost gave out beneath me.

What's going on with me?

I felt like my chest was caving in and heat was rushing to my cheeks. Like I was about to cry and yet... like I didn’t want him to stop looking at me.

“What way?” His voice sliced through my thoughts, low and sharp. “I’ll tell you again…never fall in love with me.”

Then, out of nowhere…crack.

His hand struck the side of my head.

Pain exploded through my skull like a burst of fireworks. My vision blurred and the world tilted. I hit the floor hard, a groan escaping my lips as the throbbing took over.

Then he vanished. Just like that. Gone….like a ghost in the night.

I didn’t even have time to process the pain before another voice rushed in, concerned and clear.

“Are you okay?”

I blinked through the ache, trying to focus.

That same guy this morning. He knelt beside me, his face etched with worry. He looked like something out of a dream…golden skin, stormy eyes, and a smile that could probably make anyone forget they were hurting.

He stretched out his hand.

I hesitated. Then slowly, I took it. His palm was warm, grounding.

“I’m Jack,” he began, his tone gentle. “And…"

But he didn’t get to finish.

The crowd descended like a hurricane.

“Jack! Jack!”

Girls swarmed him like bees to honey, giggling and squealing and practically knocking me aside like I was invisible. One bumped into me with her hip so hard I stumbled.

I didn’t care.

I stood back, gathered what was left of my dignity, and slipped away. I needed to get to class. I needed space. I needed anything but this chaos.

But as I walked into the building, I could feel it…the whispers.

The rumors.

“She’s cursed…”

“I heard she’s the bride of the cursed Lycan…”

“Don’t go near her. He’s dangerous…”

Their voices didn’t need to be loud; they carried just fine on the weight of fear. I clenched my fists, heart pounding. I tried not to react. Tried to keep walking like I hadn’t heard a thing.

Then…his voice again.

“Is it true?”

I turned.

Jack.

Standing there like he hadn’t just been mobbed by a hundred girls.

“What?” I stammered. I wasn’t ready to see him again. Not this soon. Not when my head still hurt and my emotions were a mess. I got lost in his eyes again…why was he so pretty?

“That you’re the bride of the cursed Lycan?” he asked directly.

And before I even thought, I nodded. Like my body answered for me.

Wait…what?

“That’s not true…I mean, not confirmed yet. Ugh, what am I even saying?” I muttered, scratching my head in embarrassment. I wanted to bury myself in the floor.

He laughed, deep and warm. His smile made my stomach flip like a gymnast.

God, he was beautiful.

After class, I thought I’d finally have peace. But then he appeared.

“I’ll take you home,” Jack said casually as he approached me, like it was no big deal.

But before I could answer, a tall guy stepped in front of us out of nowhere. I froze.

“Who…” I began.

“I’m your new bodyguard. Sent by...”

Before he could finish, I slapped my hand over his mouth, laughing nervously.

“Ahaha… sorry! That’s my cousin! He jokes a lot,” I lied, turning to Jack, heart racing.

“I’m sorry…I can’t go with you,” I said quickly, giving him a small apologetic smile before grabbing the guy’s arm and pulling him aside.

The moment I touched him… shock. Like static ran through my skin.

What the hell?

I jerked my hand back, eyes wide. My wolf growled inside me.

Something’s wrong. Something’s not right.

He felt familiar. But I had never seen him before. At least… not that I could remember. My anger rose, unbidden. My eyes burned, shifting red, and I took a step back as I fought the urge to pounce on him.

His scent. His energy. It wasn’t hostile…but it wasn’t ordinary either.

I stared at him, chest rising and falling with each breath, trying to steady myself. He didn’t look like an enemy. And yet… every cell in my body screamed that I knew him.

But from where?

I could still feel the strange electric shock from that bodyguard’s touch. It wasn’t normal. And neither was the way my wolf stirred when he got close…as if it recognized him. But how could that be?

“I’m your new bodyguard. Sent by the cursed Lycan. I’ll be in charge of picking you up and dropping you off every day,” he said coldly, walking over to open the door of a sleek, black BMW.

My lips parted slightly in surprise. The damn car looked like it had just rolled off the cover of a luxury magazine. Before I could even blink again, I slid into the leather seat. But something made me pause and look back.

Jack.

He was still standing there.

His eyes were fixed on me.

Why was he staring like that?

My chest tightened.

The car door shut.

As soon as we got to the castle, he walked ahead of me, and I followed. The moment I stepped through the doors, that voice greeted me…deep, commanding.

“You're back,” the cursed Lycan said without looking at me. “How was school? I’m sure you had fun… with your new friend. Jack, right?”

What?

My stomach dropped.

“Wait…did you… listen to us?” I asked cautiously.

He didn’t even flinch. “Note…I didn’t listen. It’s natural for me to know. Rest a bit and prepare my bath. You have an hour.” Then he walked away, disappearing down the hallway before I could even reply.

I stood there, fuming. Who did that? What was he…some kind of psychic stalker?

Still, I sighed and headed to my room. The second I hit the bed, the door creaked open.

Selene.

I jumped up immediately. “Good day,” I greeted, trying to sound respectful.

She smiled politely. “I heard you’ve been enrolled. He must favor you more than I thought. That’s good.” She turned to leave. “If you need anything, let me know.”

“Wait,” I said quickly.

She paused.

“I… I need your help.” My voice dropped.

She walked back in slowly. “Tell me, what's it about?”

“Come closer,” I whispered.

She leaned in, and I whispered something into her ear.

She blinked. “That’s… that’s not going to be easy. But I’ll try.”

“Please do,” I said, giving her a hopeful smile. “I’d really appreciate it.”

She nodded and left.

But by then, the hour had passed.

The cursed Lycan hated lateness. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that.

I groaned, pulling myself up.

His bath had to be done the traditional way…whatever that meant in this outdated mansion deep in the forest. And apparently, traditional meant dragging buckets of water from some old stone well at the back of the castle, boiling them over open flames like we lived in the 1600s.

When hot and cold taps existed.

I ran back and forth, sweat coating my skin, the buckets getting heavier with every trip. By the time I was done, I was soaked and exhausted, but it was finally ready.

He walked in.

Dipped his hand in the water.

“It’s too hot,” he said flatly. “Heat it more.”

My eyes narrowed. I wanted to scream. I wanted to pour that boiling water over his smug face. But I bit my tongue and turned away. I knew he’d hear if I muttered a single curse word.

So, I went back.

Did it again.

My arms trembled as I dropped the bucket beside the bath.

He came in again, this time dipping his hand deeper. “Hmm,” he muttered. “Too cold. Fill it again.”

That was it.

I lost it.

“I’m not going to do anything else!” I exploded, turning to him. “Why do you live in this old-fashioned dump in the middle of nowhere? You're stressing me out! Just install a damn heater like a normal person! I have college assignments…I don’t have time for this nonsense!”

I spun around, furious, ready to storm out…until his hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

His eyes blazed. “How dare you speak to me like that!” he thundered. “I’m the Lycan. Everyone listens to me. Everyone fears me. No one talks back to me…not to my face. You’ll fetch the water again. Now!”

I didn’t move.

I stood there.

My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, but I didn’t care anymore.

“I won’t,” I whispered.

His eyes widened.

“What did you just say?” he hissed.

Before I could answer, he moved.

But so did I.

In the next second, we both slipped…his hand grabbing mine, my foot catching the edge of the bucket…and we fell. Both of us, crashing into the water. The wooden tub splashed wildly as I gasped, water soaking my clothes.

And then…

His mask fell.

Right into the water.

It landed with a loud clunk and slid to the floor.

He turned his head, slow, his wet hair sticking to his forehead as he wiped water from his face.

And that’s when I saw it.

His face.

My breath caught in my throat.

My eyes widened. My chest stopped moving.

It was…

Him.