Chapter five

“Fuck Zeke” Ivy's strained voice cut through the air, sweat trickling down her temples as she scrubbed at the pile of shirts stacked beside the wooden basin. 

Her arms burned, her palms were raw, and the water - already murky from soap and dirt - sloshed against her wrists like it mocked her. 

The scent of sweat, iron and Zeke's musky cologne clung to the fabric. She groaned. “Even his damn clothes smell so arrogant” 

“Hey girl, love the scent of his clothes” She heard the super annoying voice. Tessa. 

Ivy dropped the clothes back into the basin with a wet slap “What are you doing here?” She turned her head to her. 

“I've been looking for you” Tessa said, crouching beside her with that grin that could make anyone suspicious “Went to the greenhouse but Mika said she had no idea where you are. Got the news from Lucas” 

Ivy sighed. “See more reasons why you should have accepted the rejection” Tessa teased. 

“No” Ivy replied almost immediately. “Seeing more reasons not to accept it. Zeke's a dickhead” She commented. 

“At last” Ivy sighed and stood up, wringing water out of the last piece of clothing. 

“You've done great Luna” Tessa teased. 

“Lucas is rubbing off on you” Ivy noticed and Tessa looked away. 

“Tell me all about it” Ivy smirked. 

“About what?” Tessa scoffed. “There's nothing to say about anything” She added. 

“Oh really?” 

“Here's your Alpha” Tessa changed the topic smoothly with the speed of a professional liar. 

Ivy followed her gaze and froze. 

There he was. 

Zeke stood tall under the bright sun, golden sword in hand, his black shirt hugging every hard line of his form. He was commanding the soldiers, sharp and flawless, every motion precise. The sunlight gleamed against his blade, throwing sparks of gold around him like he was born from fire and discipline. 

“Stoneheart” Ivy's voice sliced across the field. 

Heads turned. 

“Ivy, no” Tessa groaned softly beside her. 

But Ivy’s grin only widened. She was already walking - no, storming - across the training ground, boots thudding against the packed dirt. She could see the muscle in Zeke’s jaw flex when he noticed her. He didn’t stop his soldiers, didn’t look at her fully, but the tightness in his grip gave him away.

“Hey, Stoneheart! I’m talking to you!” she shouted again, planting herself right in front of him. The air thickened instantly - soldiers whispering, glances trading.

“What on earth are you doing?” Zeke asked, voice hard as steel.

“Done doing your laundry, I need my thanks” Ivy said, chin tilted. 

His brows furrowed. “Thanks?”

Ivy nodded, lips curving. “Yes”

“You're crazy, that's your duty” He replied. 

“My duty?” She repeated, voice rising before she could stop it. “Are you nuts?”

Gasps rippled through the soldiers. 

Every head turned. 

And then. 

“Ivy.” Zeke’s voice thundered across the field like a whip. It wasn’t loud - it was commanding. Deadly. Every soldier straightened, then disappeared like shadows. Only the two of them remained.

Zeke’s hand shot out, gripping her arm as he pulled her away from the field and into his office. The walk was silent - charged - and the moment the door shut, the sound of wood hitting frame echoed like a gunshot.

He slammed her against the wall. Not cruelly, but firmly - like he was trying to hold something inside from breaking free. The impact sent a sting through her back, but what stunned her more was the way his eyes burned into hers. Not anger. Not entirely. Something else.

“You felt it too, right?” she whispered, unable to look away.

For a moment, he froze. His lips parted, then closed again. His chest rose sharply, like the words had struck too close.

“Repeat what you said in the field,” he ordered, low and dangerous.

“Why are you pushing it so hard, Stoneheart?” She asked, voice trembling just slightly - the sass stripped away, replaced by something raw. “You think acting like ice makes it easier to breath?”

“If I don't Ivy…” He let out a slow breath, his tone cracking at the edges. “I'm going to ruin you” He sighed. 

Her heart stuttered but she held his gaze. “Then just do that, Stoneheart. Ruin me” 

“You have no idea what you're saying” He chuckled helplessly. 

“Yeah, because you're the most intelligent” She slipped back into the sassy nature she had dropped for a moment. 

“Just put me down if you're not going to give me my thanks” Zeke threw her at the couch. 

“Ouch” She winced. “You almost broke my waist” She rubbed the imaginary pain at her hips away. 

“Get out” Zeke's voice thundered and she stood up. 

“I was waiting for you to say that” She took controlled steps towards the door. 

“And remember, I'm your Alpha” He added. 

“You're Stoneheart first” She threw back at him and walked away. 

She was so damn hungry. 

***

The smell of coffee combined with the usual wolfsbane and lavender taunted her nose as she stepped him. 

“Grandmother” She called as she looked around. 

“Ivy” She heard her name being called from the kitchen. 

She sighed and made her way into the kitchen. “What are you cooking?” The rumbling of her stomach followed her voice almost immediately. 

“Porridge” Her grandmother smiled and handed her a cup of coffee “Your favorite” She added. 

Ivy nodded and took a sip from it “Perfect” She gave a thumps up with a smile. 

“You're hungry” Grandma stated the obvious. 

“As hell” Ivy groaned. 

“Can you imagine I've been doing his laundry all day?” She shook her head. 

“More reason to accept his rejection” Grandma smiled weakly. 

“Nope, more reason to not accept it” She stated. “I'm gonna frustrate that guy” 

“Here” Grandma handed her a plate of hot porridge and she smiled thankfully before heading to the counter and setting the plate down. 

“I'm definitely going to conquer you Stoneheart” She muttered under her breath and the wind rang out as if acknowledging her vow.