Ivy’s POVI stood frozen by the window, my breath caught in my throat. There, in the shadows just beyond the tall wrought-iron gates, stood a figure. Its silhouette was vague, but the glimmer of pale eyes staring directly at me sent a chill down my spine. I couldn’t make out the details, but the feeling was unmistakable—it has to be the Keeper.Did I scream? I couldn't tell anymore. I thought Leo said I was safe here? How is the keeper here as well?The figure’s gaze didn’t falter, and my heart began to pound in my chest. ‘What does it want? Why is it here?’ I reached for my phone, but my hands were shaking too much to type. Without thinking, I rushed to the door, my instincts pulling me away from the dark figure outside. Before I could step into the hallway, a heavy knock echoed through the door. Startled, I spun around, my pulse quickening. I hesitated, staring at the door for a long moment, debating whether to answer. Another knock followed, more insistent. "Ivy, it’s Leo," cam
Leo’s POVI had barely settled into the leather chair in my study when the air around me grew heavier, thick with unease. The recent events involving Ivy gnawed at my mind, but I pushed those thoughts aside for now. I need to know who I'm dealing with first. I picked up my phone and called Zane, my Beta and best friend, to issue critical orders. “Zane, I need you to dig deeper into this so-called Keeper. Find out anything you can—where it came from, what its purpose is, and if it’s connected to any old magic we might’ve overlooked.” There was a pause on the line, followed by Zane’s steady voice. “I’ll get right on it, Alpha. Anything else?” “Yes. Send a few trusted men to track Malrik. A rogue was seen lurking near my house and my mate. I want to know who it is and what they’re after. No mistakes.” “Understood. But, Leo…” Zane’s voice hardened, his tone shifting from professional to personal. “You’ve found your second-chance mate, and you didn’t think to tell me? I’m not just
Leo's POV But then, it clicked. Something is not right.A faint scent lingered in the air—one I hadn't noticed before because it was almost too faint, as if cloaked in magic. It wasn’t Ivy’s usual vanilla and lavender fragrance. No, this was something darker, metallic, and foreign. My wolf, Theo, immediately went on high alert. Someone had been near her. No, inside the house. Recently.My heart pounded as I scanned the room, my senses sharpening. Every inch of me wanted to bolt out the door and find Ivy, but reason held me back. I needed more information before I acted. I moved quickly, retracing my steps through the connecting door, pausing outside her room again. The scent was stronger in her room, almost suffocating.Apart from Zane and Isabella, there is someone else that knows my true identity. The sorceress, Lena. She had fortified this wing, so how did this happen?“Zane,” I growled into my phone as soon as he picked up. “We have a breach.”“What? A breach? How the hell—?”“I
Leo's POV Who could have done this? My thoughts were all over the place, trying to solve the puzzle. Lena placed the talisman on the table, her gaze meeting mine with an intensity that made the hair on my neck stand on end. “That’s what you need to find out, Alpha. Whatever this is, it didn’t attach itself to her by accident. Someone—or something—wanted this to happen.” My fists clenched at my sides, anger simmering beneath the surface. “When I find out who’s responsible, they’ll regret ever setting foot close to her.” Zane placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “Easy, Leo. We’ll figure this out. Right now, we need to focus on your mate. She’s the key to understanding what’s going on.” I nodded, though the rage in my chest refused to subside. Lena resumed her work, muttering incantations as she added the final touches to the talisman. Meanwhile, I continued pacing, my thoughts a whirlwind of worry and fury. Theo was restless, his instincts urging me to act, to protect
Leo's POV Through the window, I saw Ivy. She was lying on a bed, her face bathed in soft moonlight, her expression serene—more peaceful than I had ever seen her. She had this slight smile on her lips, as though she was dreaming of something beautiful. My heart clenched painfully. She’s at peace? Here? In the same land that haunted her and gave her nightmares? Theo growled low in my mind, jealousy and anger rising at the thought of her finding solace here—without me. The urge to burst in, yank her away, and shatter whatever fragile peace she had dared find in this place surged within me. But beneath that storm of emotions, I felt something else. Sadness. Because deep down, I knew—I hadn’t been able to give her this. Ivy stirred, her body stretching languidly as though she had slept soundly for the first time in ages. As if sensing my presence, her eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine—golden, glowing wolf eyes peering through the window. She froze, confusion flickering across her
Leo's POV “You think a flimsy bond can keep her tied to you forever? You have no idea what a real bond feels like.” Connor’s defiance faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “She was mine first. The moon goddess marked her for me before you ever knew her name.” His words only fueled my rage, but something deeper gnawed at me—a cold, calculated need to understand the full extent of this bond he claimed existed. I didn’t want to just break him. I wanted to crush any hope he had of ever reclaiming her. “Aww she marked her for you?” I said, my voice dangerously low and mocking. “And yet, here she is… running to me. That mark of yours—weak. Fragile. A symbol of something already fading.” I leaned in even closer, until my mouth was near his ear. “Do you feel it, Connor? The bond weakening every time she touches me?” His eyes widened, a flicker of fear and anger passing through them. Good. I loosened my grip just enough for him to catch his breath. He coughed violently, but
Ivy’s POV How did he even get into our company?I tried to ignore him—tried to convince myself that walking away was the only way to keep my sanity intact. But the moment Connor’s hand wrapped around mine, pulling me into him, everything shifted. It was as though the storm raging inside me suddenly stilled, and for the first time since last night, I could breathe properly. I fought the urge to lean into him, to draw strength from his presence, but it was futile. Deep down, amidst all the chaos surrounding Leo and me, a dangerous thought crept in: Connor was someone I could trust. He was my mate, after all… right? Could the past repeat itself? I didn’t want to leave Leo, but the nightmare I had—it felt so real. What if it wasn’t just a dream? I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. Yet, the feel of Connor’s hand on mine sent a warmth through my body that made me weak. My resolve crumbled beneath the weight of exhaustion, and before I could stop myself, I stumbled. Sleep threat
Ivy's POVThe voice belonged to a figure stepping out from the shadows of the hallway. A woman—tall, graceful, and eerily familiar. Her hair cascaded in dark waves, and her sharp black eyes locked onto my frame with a mixture of anger and hatred. Is she really my mother? I remember asking myself this question over and over again. How could she bear to treat me the way she did? And even after all these years, the hatred still burned fresh.Aria.I hadn’t heard that name in years until my past came clashing with my present. It was a name I had long buried, a name tied to a past I wished to forget—a past filled with lies, hatred, and betrayal. A past I had longed to return to in my moment of weakness.Leo’s grip on my waist tightened as he pulled me closer, his body tensing with unease. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.The woman didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a step forward, her gaze never leaving mine. “Don’t play games with me, Aria. You know exactly who I am
Meanwhile, inside the palace.Raul’s eyes widened as his sorcerer’s spell faltered. He stared at the empty space where Ivy had stood, and then back at the guard who shot the arrow.“How dare you shoot an arrow at your Luna?! My queen?!” He roared.“I’m sorry…Alpha. I—”But he never got to finish his statement. Raul tore through his throat with his claws and watched with empty eyes as the man struggled to breathe.“She's gone...” Raul whispered in defeat, his voice shaking, as though the very idea of her escaping was too much to bear.His sorcerers cursed, their eyes darting frantically around the room. “She... She’s strong. But she’s wounded.” The tone was unsettling. There was both fear and reverence in the man’s words.“And you, Anto,” he barked, turning to look at the new sorcerer that came in. “I sent for you two nights ago. Why are you just showing up now?”“Your majesty, I wanted to make sure that…”“What now?” Raul demanded, cutting him off, his voice dangerously cold.“We will
Ivy’s POVRaul stepped in front of me like a shield.Pathetic.“She came to kill you, my Nyxara," he snarled, voice booming off the stone walls. "But I won't let that happen. I won't lose you. Again. You must be mine.”His hand lifted, two fingers snapping sharply.A low rumble answered.From the smoke outside, figures entered — this one robed in red and silver, face obscured by a bone-white mask.Another of his personal sorcerers? Or some kind of demented cult leader?"Seize her," Raul commanded.The new sorcerer, together with the one from earlier, raised their staff. Runes carved in old, forgotten tongues shimmered to life, burning through the air in spirals of light and sound.Chains of searing blue magic shot toward Dina.But she only laughed — a cruel, knowing laugh that made the walls seem to shudder."You fool," Dina hissed, her arms thrown wide as if embracing the chaos. "I only came to help you. But instead, you just dug your own grave!"The chains wrapped around her wrists
IVY'S POVNo. This can’t be happening. The figure drifted forward through the shattered doorway, her form blurred by the black smoke that oozed from her steps, as if the shadows themselves bowed to her. The air grew thick, sour with memory. I knew her. How can I forget?Every night since the forest, she had crept into my dreams—no, my nightmares. The Keeper. The one who had chained me, broken me, left scars on my spirit deeper than any wound to my flesh. The child in me, the Aria I once was, shrieked and recoiled, curling into the farthest corner of my mind, clutching invisible knees to her chest, sobbing without sound. But not Nyxara. No. Nyxara straightened, her lips curling into a feral grin. The Keeper drifted closer, the folds of her dark robe trailing embers along the floor, black flames licking the stone, humming that lullaby. That cursed lullaby. The one that had driven me to madness when I was nothing more than a helpless, trembling girl.Nyxara bared he
IVY'S POV“No!” I thrashed, every limb rebelling as I strained against the chains. “Get your filthy hands off me! You’re all monsters!”The burn of the restraints cut deeper, but I didn’t care. My voice tore through the chamber like a wounded beast. “You think this makes you powerful? You think having your way with a chained woman makes you a king? You’re nothing, Alpha. Nothing but a coward too weak to accept rejection. Your mate despised you. I despise you too!”The Alpha stood in front of me, unshaken. His eyes gleamed—not with rage, but something worse. Hunger. Satisfaction. Humor.He turned to the sorcerer, his voice low, almost casual. “If I spill my seed into her… will it hold?”The sorcerer’s breath caught, then his face lit up as if struck by divine revelation.“Oh… oh, my King,” he murmured, sinking to one knee. “You are brilliant beyond compare. A true leader. Of course! Of course! If she bears your heir, the bond will be forever weakened. No Alpha would dare claim a woman
The estate loomed into view like a palace of memories she wanted to bury. The towering gates, the long marble driveway, the manicured hedges. To anyone else, it looked like luxury.To her, it looked like a trap.A trap that could destroy all her plans.The moment they stepped inside, staff rushed to greet her. She didn’t recognize any of them despite their attempts to be friendly. They all wore the same annoying expression—concern mingled with curiosity.As if wondering what had really happened to Miss Ivy.Lila smiled.Fake. Perfect. Practiced.She had no choice now.“It’s good to be home,” she said smoothly.Richard narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.They led her up to her room, the unfamiliar halls pressing in around her like the walls of a tomb. The maids bustled in behind her, changing the sheets, restocking the drawers, pretending not to notice the tension radiating from her.When they left, she stood in the center of the room, staring at her reflection.Ivy stared bac
The scent of antiseptic hung thick in the air, cold and suffocating, clinging to the sterile white walls like a ghost that refused to leave. The room, though bathed in daylight streaming through a narrow, barred window, held no warmth. The only sounds were the distant echo of shoes on tile and the low, mechanical hum of machines monitoring the fragile boundary between sanity and madness.In the center of it all lay Lila.Or as the staff here knew her: Ivy Blackwood.Her brown hair was disheveled, matted to her forehead with sweat. Her pale skin, once radiant with carefully curated poise, now looked wan and haunted. Her eyes, wild and rimmed with exhaustion, flicked around the room like a cornered animal searching for an escape. But there was none. The straightjacket bound her arms tightly to her torso, and leather restraints anchored her ankles to the bed frame.She hadn’t spoken since the screaming stopped.The nurses whispered when they thought she couldn’t hear. Said she was mad. T
Leo’s POVThe battlefield quieted, save for the crackling fires and the groans of the dying. My pulse still thundered in my ears, but the bloodlust began to ebb, leaving behind a sharp, aching clarity.I stood among the ruins of Malrik’s failed rebellion, blood soaking my skin, teeth still stained from the life I had ripped from their veins. The night was far from over—I could feel it, like a splinter in my mind. Something dark was coming.The air shifted.Colder. Heavier.Even my warriors sensed it. Their post-battle roars died out, one by one, and an unnatural silence swallowed the clearing. Connor’s lips curled into a snarl, Zane’s claws still dripped red, but their eyes darted to the treeline.Then I saw her.She stepped out of the shadows like smoke made flesh.Dina.The last time I saw her, she stood in front of my throne room, asking me to sacrifice my mate. She hadn’t changed—still dressed in her dark robes that rippled like oil in the wind, her face pale and ageless, her eye
Ivy’s POVThe fourth day turned out to be the worst.Worse because I am still alive. Worse because every time Alpha Raul marked me, the pain got sharper. Deeper.And every time, my wolf—valiantly, defiantly—rejected him.The room stank of sweat, old blood, and Alpha Raul’s scent—thick and clinging like rot. My body was raw, my neck a patchwork of torn flesh where Raul had tried to mark me over and over. But my wolf—the last spark of resistance I had left—rejected him every time. And each rejection felt like death.The mark was slow to heal, and before it could fully fade, Alpha Raul would sink his teeth into the same spot—reopening the wound and claiming it all over again.Each time he sank his fangs into me, it was as if my soul was being torn in half, only to be stitched together by burning wire. I would scream until my voice gave out, until my throat was ragged and raw, until the pain folded me into unconsciousness. But every time I came back, chained and shivering, he would try a
Leo’s POVThe air crackled with energy as I stepped onto the battlefield, the scent of war thick on the wind—blood, sweat, steel. The moon hung low, bloated and red like it was thirsty for carnage. Good. It would feast tonight.My boots crushed charred earth as I led my warriors across the eastern border of the palace, where Malrik’s pathetic rebellion had gathered like a swarm of diseased rats. I could hear their howls echoing in the distance, could hear the roar of their chants—wild, desperate, undisciplined. Fools.Zane met me at the front lines, blood already staining his cheek and his blade. “They’ve broken through the outer ring,” he said breathlessly, “but they’re sloppy. No formation. Just brute force.”I sneered. “Then let’s show them what real force looks like.”I shifted.Bones cracked, flesh tore, and a searing fire ignited in my veins as my wolf burst free. My muscles expanded, fur black as shadow blanketing me, claws gleaming like blades. But it wasn’t just my wolf—my va