Chapter Six.

A head poked out of the room, looking down the hallway, making sure no one was in sight.

Alone in her room, Zeke's voice haunted her, almost driving her crazy. “I would ruin you” Like it was so hard to do.

She ran a finger over her hair before stepping out cautiously. She wasn't ready to face Tessa now.

She took a step forward, letting out a deep sigh. The day was going better than she had imagined.

“Ivy!” The name sliced across the hallway. She froze, body tensing, eyes shot wide. She had concluded a tad too early.

“Ivy!” This time it came out breathless between pants.

She turned on her heels taking in Tessa bent on one knee, hair hiding her face. “What's wrong? You're breathless this early?” Ivy took a step forward.

“I was hurrying over to catch you before you leave again” A mischievous grin appeared on Tessa's face.

“Again?” Ivy's face contorted into a frown. Eyes narrowing into slits.

But Tessa didn't give her the time to think about it as she pulled her back into her room.

“Yes again,” She confirmed. “If not tell me where you're sneaking off to this early?” She questioned, a hand resting on her hip.

“I… You look like an old gossip right now,” Ivy chuckled.

“Right, you're trying to change the topic” Tessa counter-replied.

Ivy face-palmed, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips. “What do you want?” She finally asked and Tessa's face lit up into a bright smile.

“So how did it go? Was he good? You know in bed?” The questions came rushing, bringing with it a rush of blood up Ivy's face, heat climbed into her face, her eyes darting across the room.

“What… What do you mean? “She breathed out. “ Nothing of that sort happened,” she added.

“Oh, quite convincing,” Tessa smiled. “You're not always this nervous. Are you sure nothing happened?”

“Yes, and nothing like that would happen” She replied. A sting shot across the chest when she said that. Her wolf groaned inside her and she flinched.

“What's wrong?” Tessa asked.

“My wolf. She moved!” Ivy exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Finally, That's great news” Tessa jolted up with trembling lips.

“I'm off to see grandma” Ivy stood up, reaching for the door.

“Zeke?”

“He can wait” She pushed through, moving past the hallway.

She had taken less than five steps when a guard walked up to her.

“The Alpha requests your presence,” The guard said, head bowed.

“Stoneheart?” Her brows furrowed before she nodded, walking behind the guard. She knew better than to refuse.

Her hands pushed the door open, a little too eagerly, lips pursed into a smirk.

“Stoneheart,” She called immediately they were alone, the name bouncing through the walls.

Zeke raised his head from the files, eyes looking her over, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. “You're here” He finally spoke up, easing the tension that was beginning to build.

“Yeah, I am. A surprise?” She slumped into the couch.

“You've been reassigned…”

“Thank Goddess” She let out a satisfied sigh.

“To the kitchen,” he added.

“What?” Her voice came as a whisper.

“You heard me. Leave now” He commanded.

“Stoneheart?” Her voice softened.

“I said leave.” His voice came out rough and cold. Too cold.

She nodded, her feet dragging across the padded floor. Her newly found wolf whined inside her.

“Get the fire workers on standby,” She threw to the man seated beside the table, slamming the door beside her. She could swore she heard a faint chuckle vibrate through the door but she couldn't care less.

Her legs carried her across his chambers to the kitchen.

Heat attacked her first as she set her feet into the kitchen, the sharp smell of hot oil invaded her nostrils and she took a step back.

The noisy chatter came later, hitting her like a strong wave, the kitchen staff gossiped away, unaware of her presence. Her arms curled around her, her wolf whimpering inwardly.

“Be calm,” She whispered.

“Luna!” A sharp voice cut through her oceans of thought.

“Humph!” A snicker echoed across the huge kitchen. “A rejected mate doesn't make her a Luna”

Something stirred in her but her tongue moved faster than her head. “I was worthy of being a Luna by the moon goddess. The difference is that you aren't” She snickered, turning to the owner of the voice.

A blush climbed into her face and she stepped back as Ivy took menacing steps at her.

“And till the official rejection ceremony is carried out, I'm still a Luna” She growled.

“Not a Luna, just a rejected…”

It happened too fast, her hands clawed at the voice owner's face, leaving a trail of red blood.

“You would address me as Luna,” Her voice was low yet commanding, almost raw. Sounding like… wait, her wolf. She quickly came to the realization and stepped back. Eyes wide in horror as she looked down at her hand that had just clawed the face.

“I'm sorry” She forced it out of her mouth with a trembling voice. The girl retreated, hands clutching her cheek with petrified eyes.

“I'm sorry,” She choked out, her eyes never leaving the girl. She took a step forward but it only made the girl retreat a little further.

“I said I'm sorry!” Her voice vibrated through the room. Wide eyes laced in fear stared back at her.

“Shit!” She slammed a finger over her mouth, turning on her heels to get away from the kitchen.

The familiar figure stood at the doorway accessing her with unreadable eyes.

She stopped for only a moment before continuing her exit.

“Grandma,” She whispered as she ran, feet thudding against wet soil.