Leo’s POVI forced a steady breath, my heart still hammering from the rush of the hunt. But the moment I stepped inside, that adrenaline shifted into something else—something heavier. Ivy’s gaze followed me as I walked in, her brows knitting with concern. "Leo?" I couldn't let her see the war raging inside me. Not now. I needed to leave. Fast. I forced a small smirk, running a hand through my hair. "Just some business. I’ll be back soon." She sat up, her expression tightening. "Business? You just got back." I leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I won’t be long." Ivy studied my face, as if searching for a crack in my excuse. "You’re lying." My jaw clenched, but I kept my voice even. "Ivy, don’t start. I have to go." She grabbed my wrist before I could move away. "Wait. Did my father say anything to you? I just spoke to him today, and it was… strange." Her words made my stomach tighten. I knew things she didn’t—things she didn’t need to know. I cupped her
Ivy’s POVI couldn't shake off the stories Isabella had told me about her and Leo. The way she spoke about their shared past, the little details she knew—his favorite meals, the way he liked his coffee, the things that made him tick—it all gnawed at me. I knew Leo loved me, but the jealousy inside me was relentless. It curled in my stomach like a slow-burning fire, impossible to ignore. I wanted to push her words away, to convince myself that they didn’t matter, but they clung to me like a stain I couldn’t scrub out. It made me feel… small. Inadequate. Like no matter what I did, I would always be second to her. A herbal tea? I scoffed to myself, gripping the edge of the counter. I’ll give him more than that. “Miss?” A startled voice broke through my thoughts. I turned sharply, my expression unreadable, to see one of the maids standing there with a pile of bedspreads in her arms. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me. “What?” I asked, irritation lacing my tone. She hesita
Ivy’s POV I couldn’t move. Leo’s words cut through me like a knife. ‘Just go, Ivy.’ The weight of my own breath felt unbearable, my chest tightening as guilt twisted deep in my stomach. I wanted to scream that I didn’t do it on purpose. That I would never—could never—hurt him. But the words stuck in my throat. Leo lay there, his skin paler than before, his breaths shallow but steady as Isabella tended to him. I should have been the one at his side. I should have been the one holding his hand, whispering apologies, doing anything to take away the pain I had caused. But instead, Isabella was there. ‘He could have died!’ Her words still rang in my ears, looping over and over. Leo still wouldn’t look at me. I took a step back, my fingers trembling. “I didn’t mean to…” My voice cracked. No one answered. No one even looked at me. I felt like a ghost in the room, unnoticed and abandoned. The walls closed in, suffocating me with memories—memories of Leo’s laughter,
Isabella’s POV The evening air was cool, crisp, and utterly perfect. A gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth, rustling the curtains as I stepped onto the balcony, my lips curling into a satisfied smirk. Everything was falling into place. Every carefully laid seed of doubt was taking root, twisting around Ivy and Leo’s fragile bond like vines squeezing the life out of a tree. I wrapped my arms around myself, savoring the tension I had orchestrated between them. The weight of my victory settled over me like a warm cloak. Ivy looked like a ghost of herself, broken and riddled with guilt, while Leo—well, Leo was still too soft toward her for my liking. That part irked me, but it wouldn’t last. Not with what I had in store. I traced the rim of my glass, the cool condensation dampening my fingertips as I recalled the past few nights. I gripped the railing, my nails grazing the iron as I replayed Ivy’s devastation in my mind. The way she had stood there, trembling,
Isabella’s POV“Isabella,” I heard him growl with barely restrained fury.The night air, once cool and intoxicating with the scent of pine, now felt suffocating—thick with the weight of something dark and dangerous.Leo stood motionless in the shadows, his figure outlined by the faint silver glow of the moon. His burning gaze latched onto me, unblinking, unwavering.A chill slithered down my spine, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wine glass. I swallowed hard, my mind scrambling, searching for a way out.How long had he been standing there? What exactly had he heard?Then his voice came, cold as ice, sharp as a blade.“You can’t wait to separate me from my mate?”Each syllable dripped with restrained fury, his deep voice like the low growl of a predator ready to strike.My breath hitched. My carefully crafted mask of confidence faltered, cracking at the edges.“No—Leo, I—”A step.The sound of his boot against the balcony floor sent my heart into a wild frenzy.Another step
Isabella’s POVThe sting on my cheek still burned, the taste of iron lingering in my mouth. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stood frozen in place, my heart slamming against my ribs. Who the hell does she think she is? Just as I was about to react, I stopped when I felt it. A shift in the air. A presence. Leo. His energy was unmistakable—an approaching storm, dark and furious. A primal fear gripped me, raw and suffocating. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, my feet moving on instinct. I spun on my heel and bolted, my heels clicking against the marble as I rushed back into the dimly lit room where I had been staying. The heavy door slammed shut behind me, sealing me away from the wrath I knew was coming. My chest heaved, my fingers trembling as I pressed them against my burning cheek. This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t supposed to end this way. I had spent years weaving myself into Leo’s life, and days planting seeds of doubt, making him believe I was
The scent of damp earth and pine filled the crisp morning air as Ivy’s unconscious body slumped on the cold ground.Isabella smirked in satisfaction, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she looked down at her Ivy’s limp form.“You almost had me worried for a second,” Lila said softly.Isabella scoffed. “Please. Your sister is predictable—too trusting for her own good. And now?” She turned to Ivy. “She’s right where we want her.”Lila turned to Isabella with a triumphant smirk. “We’re back on track now,” she said smoothly. Isabella, still reveling in their victory, narrowed her eyes slightly. “And what are we going to do with Ivy?” Lila’s expression darkened with satisfaction. “A good friend who owes me a favor is going to sell her to the rogue Alpha, Malrik. Someone told me he’s desperately looking for anyone dear to Leo Ashton.” A shared smirk passed between them as they basked in their success, their plan unfolding seamlessly. “I already set my script in motion. Told
The tension in the room was suffocating, thick like a storm cloud ready to burst. Leo stood before "Ivy," his chest rising and falling with sharp breaths, confusion and frustration clashing in his gaze.But this wasn’t Ivy. It was Lila.Her twin sister.She wore Ivy’s face, spoke with Ivy’s voice, carried herself with Ivy’s mannerisms—but she wasn’t her. Lila had spent weeks perfecting the deception, stepping into her sister’s life from the shadows with one goal: ruin her relationship with Leo beyond repair and take her place in every possible way.It took her long to get here, and she was thrilled to play the role of Ivy Blackwood.Lila crossed her arms, schooling her expression into one of cold indifference. “I can’t do this anymore, Leo.”“Hey, baby, talk to me.” His voice was hoarse, desperate. He reached for her wrist, trying to steady her, but the moment his fingers brushed against her skin, Lila jerked away like his touch burned her. “I said don’t touch me!” Her voice crack
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