Leoâs POVThe world around me began to blur as I hovered over her, my hands shaking as I tried to stop the bleeding. Blood soaked through my fingers, staining my clothes and the floor beneath us. Panic surged within me, but there was nothing I could do to undo what just happened. âIvyâĶ please,â I whispered, my voice barely a breath. âPlease, donât leave me. I didnât mean toâI thoughtâĶââLeo,â she whispered, her voice barely audible.âIvy, stay with me, Iâll get help,â I begged, pressing my hands to her wound. âIâm so sorry. I didnât knowâit wasnât supposed to be you.âHer gaze softened, and she lifted a trembling hand to touch my face.I looked down at my blood stained hands, my clothes, and the tiled floor beneath us. My wolf howled inside me, the pain and guilt threatening to consume us both.âIâll fix this,â I promised, my voice breaking. âIâll fix everything. Youâre gonna be okay.âBut my words fell away as her eyes, those warm brown eyes that had always been my anchor, began to
Lilaâs POV I hate him. The thought clawed through my mind as I slammed my fist against the dresser. Connor, with his cold, detached words, his cruel rejectionâit was almost laughable. The same man who once worshiped me, who whispered my name like it was a prayer, now looked at me as though I were dirt under his boots. Once, he clung to me like I was the air he needed to breathe. I remember the nights we spent tangled together, the way he burned for me, the way he whispered promises that now taste like ash. And yet, now he has the audacity to say I was just a replacement for her? For Aria? I hate her. I hate them all. The venom surged through me as I stalked across the room, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. Let them burn, all of them. They would pay for the humiliation, the betrayal and for making me a second option. By the time I was ready to leave, the sun was high in the sky. Lunch already, and my plan had barely begun. I pulled on a hoodie, tuck
Authorâs POV Ivy studied Lila across the cafÃĐ table, her expression guarded but no longer icy. Though she hadnât said nice words, the hardness in her features was softening. Lila bit her lip, letting a trembling sigh escape as she looked down, feigning a mix of guilt and longing. âI justâĶ I tried to find you all those years ago when you suddenly disappeared, Aria,â Lila said softly, twisting her hands together on the table so that her drama could seem more real. âAgainst Mom, Dadâs and Connorâs wishes, I searched everywhere. When you went missing, it was like a piece of me disappeared too, because whether I admit it or not, youâve always been a part of me. My twin sister. I couldnât let it go.â Ivy shifted uneasily in her seat, her fingers toying with the edge of her coffee cup. Her silence was heavy, but Lila knew better than to rush her. âI didnât want to believe it,â Lila continued, her voice faltering slightly. âThey said you were gone, that I should move on, but I couldnâ
Lila's POVThis bitch should be thanking me for trying this hard.I could barely contain the satisfaction curling in my chest as I watched Ivy. She sat across from me, her usual fire dimmed to something quieter, more cautiousâlike a cornered animal, unsure if I was a predator or an ally. Good. That was exactly where I wanted her. She was unraveling, piece by piece, and the control Iâd always sought was slowly slipping into my grasp. I leaned forward slightly, eyes locking on her as if to study her every movement, savoring the subtle shifts in her posture. âI donât know how youâve been doing this, Ivy. Keeping it all together,â I said, my voice soft, almost gentle. The act was flawless, years of practice coming to light. I made her believe I cared. âOliverâs death. Everyone of us was constantly breathing down your neck. Do you realize how strong you are?â I made my voice crack at the end for the effect and it worked like magic.I didnât need to spell it out. I knew exactly what I w
Ivyâs POVI wasnât sure whether to feel angry, betrayed, or just utterly exhausted. There was a dull, gnawing ache in my chest that I couldnât shake, no matter how many times I tried to breathe through it. Watching Lila, so calm and composed, put on this act of concern, pretending to offer help when all I saw was manipulation, felt like a slap in the face.But I wasnât going to break. I refused to let her see it. I wasnât going to give her the satisfaction.I had thought she wouldnât bother me again after the last time, but here she was, filling me in with her sorry stories.And Connor? What sick game are they both playing? They think Iâm the same weak helpless girl?As she leaned in, her voice soft, almost too soft, I could feel the subtle pressure building in my skull. She was goodâtoo good. Every word that left her mouth, every look she gave me, was calculated. She knew exactly what buttons to push. I could feel her fishing, prodding for a crack, and I refused to give it to her."
Leoâs POVWhen I stood from the bed earlier today, I felt Ivyâs warmth retreating from my side. The haunting nightmare from before gripped me tightly, but it was not enough to tear me away from Ivyâs presence, her scent lingering in the room like a drug I craved. Before I snuck out of her room, I left her a note on the pillow, knowing her soft eyes would find it the moment she stirred.âIâll always be here, Ivy. My heart is yours, no matter what I become. Just a promise Iâll never break. Leo.âI couldnât help but smile as I thought of her reading it, even though the ache in my chest from the nightmares still lingered. I needed to go, needed to clear my head. With a last look at her peaceful sleeping form, I headed towards the balcony. I leapt from the ledge and landed with a soft thud, my boots kissing the pavement. My penthouse was still dark as I entered, and the silence seemed to follow me, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. I made my way to my desk, the soft glow
The air between Leo and Ivy crackled with intensity, their lips locked in a kiss that spoke of a hunger both physical and emotional. The secluded restaurant path, hidden from prying eyes, offered the perfect setting for the raw passion they shared. Ivy's hands slid through his hair, her breath quickening as she felt his warmth, but then, suddenly, the moment was broken."Leo," she murmured against his lips, trying to catch his attention.But Leo didnât respond right away. A figure stepped into their space, clearing his throat.Ivyâs heart skipped a beat as Leo pulled away with lightning speed as soon as his driver whispered something to his hearing alone, a noticeable shift in his demeanor. His eyes, once soft and filled with affection, were now sharp, cold. The warmth that had enveloped them was gone. He sat up abruptly, causing Ivy to stagger, almost losing her balance in the process. She barely noticed, too consumed by the sudden shift in him. His face darkened, his posture rigid.
Ivyâs POV Leo.His growl deepened, vibrating the very air around them. His presence was suffocating, commanding, and utterly terrifying. Connorâs wolf tensed, his fur standing on end as he suddenly veered to the side, an unmistakable sign of submission. My heart skipped a beat as a thought crossed my mind. Leo isn't just any Alpha, is he?âwhat if he's something more. "And what should I call this drama?" his voice rumbled through the still night, sharp and cold, and my breath caught in my throat.Leo emerged from the shadows like a storm, his form towering and undeniable, eyes burning with the ferocity of a predator. His gaze locked onto Connor and I, a storm of emotions swirling behind the ice-cold exterior. My heart hammered in my chest, a mix of dread and desire bubbling inside me. I could feel the intensity radiating from Leoâraw, possessive, and dangerous."You think you can just take her on a ride?" Leoâs voice was a low growl, laced with fury as he glared at Connor. "You thi
Meanwhile, inside the palace.Raulâs eyes widened as his sorcererâs spell faltered. He stared at the empty space where Ivy had stood, and then back at the guard who shot the arrow.âHow dare you shoot an arrow at your Luna?! My queen?!â He roared.âIâm sorryâĶAlpha. IââBut 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.âShe's gone...â 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. âShe... Sheâs strong. But sheâs wounded.â The tone was unsettling. There was both fear and reverence in the manâs words.âAnd you, Anto,â he barked, turning to look at the new sorcerer that came in. âI sent for you two nights ago. Why are you just showing up now?ââYour majesty, I wanted to make sure thatâĶââWhat now?â Raul demanded, cutting him off, his voice dangerously cold.âWe will
Ivyâs POVRaul stepped in front of me like a shield.Pathetic.âShe 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.âHis hand lifted, two fingers snapping sharply.A low rumble answered.From the smoke outside, figures entered â 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 â 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 canât 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 dreamsâno, 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 POVâNo!â I thrashed, every limb rebelling as I strained against the chains. âGet your filthy hands off me! Youâre all monsters!âThe burn of the restraints cut deeper, but I didnât care. My voice tore through the chamber like a wounded beast. âYou think this makes you powerful? You think having your way with a chained woman makes you a king? Youâre nothing, Alpha. Nothing but a coward too weak to accept rejection. Your mate despised you. I despise you too!âThe Alpha stood in front of me, unshaken. His eyes gleamedânot with rage, but something worse. Hunger. Satisfaction. Humor.He turned to the sorcerer, his voice low, almost casual. âIf I spill my seed into herâĶ will it hold?âThe sorcererâs breath caught, then his face lit up as if struck by divine revelation.âOhâĶ oh, my King,â he murmured, sinking to one knee. âYou 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 didnât recognize any of them despite their attempts to be friendly. They all wore the same annoying expressionâconcern mingled with curiosity.As if wondering what had really happened to Miss Ivy.Lila smiled.Fake. Perfect. Practiced.She had no choice now.âItâs good to be home,â 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 hadnât spoken since the screaming stopped.The nurses whispered when they thought she couldnât hear. Said she was mad. T
Leoâs 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 Malrikâs failed rebellion, blood soaking my skin, teeth still stained from the life I had ripped from their veins. The night was far from overâI 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. Connorâs lips curled into a snarl, Zaneâs 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 hadnât changedâstill dressed in her dark robes that rippled like oil in the wind, her face pale and ageless, her eye
Ivyâs 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 wolfâvaliantly, defiantlyârejected him.The room stank of sweat, old blood, and Alpha Raulâs scentâthick 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 wolfâthe last spark of resistance I had leftârejected 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 spotâreopening 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
Leoâs POVThe air crackled with energy as I stepped onto the battlefield, the scent of war thick on the windâblood, 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 Malrikâs 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 chantsâwild, desperate, undisciplined. Fools.Zane met me at the front lines, blood already staining his cheek and his blade. âTheyâve broken through the outer ring,â he said breathlessly, âbut theyâre sloppy. No formation. Just brute force.âI sneered. âThen letâs show them what real force looks like.âI 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 wasnât just my wolfâmy va