Ivy's POV"I, Cassian Ansaldo, Alpha of the Dark wood pack, take you Ivy Elsher as my mate and Luna," The words fell from his lips simply. Cold. Nonchalant. Emotionless.My teeth sank into my lips so I could stop them from trembling.God, it hurts like hell. Everyone said this was going to be the most beautiful day of my life but why don't I feel like it? Why do I feel suffocating while standing opposite to my mate on the stage? I want the ground to swallow me up. I want to cease my existence. Knowing that the person who's marrying me doesn't love me makes my head spin. This is a nightmare. A terrible nightmare.I took a deep breath, the chill night air filling my lungs as I did so. His scent wafted into my nostrils, making me shudder.It was a full moon and the night was beautiful. The place was decorated with red roses and curtains. Colorful lamps spread their beautiful light everywhere. I've never seen such a beautiful setting before. It must be mesmerizing for everyone else he
I stared at myself in the mirror. The new dress that I had changed into looked beautiful. It looks like something that was made specifically for me. I took a tissue and tried to fix the smudged mascara around my eyes. My aura is already pitiful. I need to at least look presentable.A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I said before taking a deep breath. The door opened, letting the calming Jasmine scent reach me. I turned back to see Luna Evelyn standing there with a small smile. "I came here to get you. Do you need any help?" I looked down and threw the tissue in the trash can. "Can you help me run away?" It was a dumb question I know, but at that moment that's what I felt. I wanted to run away.Thinking about being in a loveless marriage like this makes me feel sick. "Oh, dear…" Luna Evelyn whispered, her shoulders slouching. She walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. "I know you feel like everything is falling apart. I know that feeling. I have been t
"So about your honeymoon–""There is no honeymoon," Cassian interrupted his mother halfway through.Stella frowned. "What are you saying? You are a newly wedded couple. You should enjoy some time away from all these pack things. It's for the better—""Mom," Cassian said sternly. "I told you. There's no honeymoon." Mr. Ansaldo, Cassian's father, cleared his thoughts, sensing the awkward conversation. "Darling, let the kids decide these matters. It's better not to push these things. Let them move at their own pace." I smiled back at him when he glanced at me for a few seconds. "For now, it's better if we give some time to our new Luna to get familiar with the pack." Stella sighed in disappointment before she put a smile on her face. "That is right. I should have thought about this. I will introduce you to the pack members today and we can spend some time with them to get you familiar with them. There are a lot of girls your age in our pack. Maybe you'll find a good friend." She gleam
I was thankful to all the gods that exist because I didn't have to see my mate's face first thing in the morning. The bonehead alpha had already risen before me and went out for his training. It was a peaceful morning and the fact that Stella told me that I would be able to make friends today was the icing on top. I really want to make friends. Getting to know people and learning from them is something I look forward to doing a lot. I need to be better for this pack. "Mom?" I called as I entered my mother's new room to check on her before going to meet Stella."Ivy?" I heard her voice. It sounded a bit weaker than before."Mom, are you okay?" The change in her voice is enough to send me into panic mode. "I'm fine, dear. I just woke up so I have a sore throat." She laughed.I still didn't feel convinced. I'm on the edge every time I think about her. Her health is getting worse day after day. She tries to hide it from me but I can see it. Her trembling every time she tries to stand u
"Oh, umm…it's not so bad. You'll find it beautiful when you get used to it. There are a lot of amazing things in the woods that we won't be able to see unless we bond closely with the forest. It's truly an amazing place," I grinned."So you got no education?" Jackson raised a brow."I did. You can get education anywhere, you know?""How? You didn't go to school? Or were there schools in the woods that we don't know of? Is it something we can't see unless we bond close to the forest goddess?" Ryle laughed, causing his friends to follow. I let out an awkward chuckle. "No, there weren't any schools there but I did learn a lot of things. Education is learning. You and I might be learning different things but it's both education so it's the same," "Luna, not to offend you," Liya laughed, covering her mouth. "We're talking about actual education." My smile faltered. "Oh,""Yeah, like do you know biology, physics, and chemistry? We were taught science. It's not the same as using sticks an
"These are the clothes my mom bought for me even though I don't like this style at all. She thinks I'll change one day and wear the dresses she buys for me," Ruth rolled her eyes before she picked out some colorful clothes from her closet. "I don't have many clothes for you to try on. These are the only ones I think will suit you. The others are clothes that are my style. It won't suit you since you're someone who'll look best in a soft girl aesthetic." I tilted my head as she talked. I don't understand much about style. I always thought of clothes as something worn to cover your nakedness and keep you warm. I never really looked at it as an accessory until I came to this pack.Meeting new people really changes your whole perspective on life.I don't understand what she meant by soft girl aesthetics. Does she think I'm some kind of defenseless soft girl? "I'm not a soft girl actually. I know how to fight. My father taught me. I can easily take down men who are double my size," I said
We had a car full of things when we got back to the packhouse. After buying me clothes, Ruth took me to buy shoes and other necessary things that she said I would need.Some of the pack members helped us move the things into my room. Stella was the one to see me first."Oh, my goddess!" She gasped when her eyes landed on me. "You look so gorgeous! I couldn't even recognize you!" She let out a laugh before she came to hug me. "Ruth, are you sure you brought the same person back?"I shook my head. She exaggerates too much.Ruth laughed at her joke before she turned to me. "It's the same person, Stella. I can guarantee," "What did you guys buy? I want to see it all," Stella looked at the bags we were carrying."We bought a lot of things. Come on, let me show you," ***I let out a heavy sigh as I fell onto the bed. Today was exhausting. We did a lot of things and it feels like I fought a war. But my hair and body smell so good from using the things we bought. And the pajamas Ruth sele
Ivy's POVIt's almost dawn and they're still not back. Stella told me that they went patrolling the northern side of the pack because they spotted traces of rogues or hunters there. Stella sat on the couch with a glass of wine in her hand as she let out a sigh for the nth time. She tries not to show her worry but it's obvious from her nervous fiddling. Her mate sat down next to her."Relax, dear. You know him. He has always been like this. He's going to return just fine. It's not the first time he's done this," He tries to calm her."I know but I can't help it. He's my son. I'll always be worried about him…" She shook her head, chugging the wine down in one go. "I told him to stop his hunt. Why won't he listen?""He is an alpha, my love. He's territorial over his pack. They came into our territory. I would have done the same." Stella raked a hand through her hair while the former alpha continued his efforts to calm her. I nervously shifted on my spot not knowing what to do.Is he sa