All Chapters of The Alpha’s Love Came Late: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Three weeks had passed since the gala, and Dominic had thrown himself into rebuilding Nightfang Pack with an intensity that bordered on obsession. He'd fired half the council, restructured their finances, and personally overseen the training of every warrior in the pack. The results were beginning to show, but slowly. Too slowly. He sat in his office reviewing territorial maps when Marcus burst through the door, his face ashen. "We have a problem," Marcus said, tossing a manila envelope onto the desk. "A big one." Dominic opened it and felt his blood turn to ice. Photographs. Dozens of them. Ivy and Ethan at dinner. Ivy and Ethan with the children at a park. Ivy and Ethan kissing on her balcony. But that wasn't what made his wolf snarl with rage. It was the final photograph: his three children, clearly taken with a telephoto lens, playing in Silvercrest's private gardens. Someone had been watching them. Stalking them. "When did these arrive?" Dominic demanded. "This morning. D

They didn't speak until they were back on the street, blocks away from the hotel. Then Ivy turned on Dominic with fury in her eyes. "Sophia is working with him. Your mistress is working with the man who threatened our children!" "Ex-mistress," Dominic corrected. "And I had no idea she was involved with Sebastian. I thought she'd left the city." "Well, she's back. And she's clearly out for revenge. Against me, against you, maybe against all of us." Dominic ran his hands through his hair. "This is worse than I thought. Sebastian, Sophia, Miranda, they're all connected somehow. This isn't just about territory or power. This is personal." "Of course it's personal. Everything is always personal where Sophia is concerned." They stood in the shadows, both breathing hard, the adrenaline of the meeting still coursing through them. "We need to find out what Sebastian really wants," Ivy said. "Because that speech about stability and alliance? That was theater. He's planning something else

Ivy's throat tightened. "No, baby. No one is taking you anywhere. I promise." "But you promised before and the bad things still happened." She closed her eyes, guilt washing over her. "Aiden, listen to me. Your father, Dominic, and I are working together to keep you safe. Both of us. We're not going to let anything happen to you or your sisters." There was a long pause. "My father is helping?" "Yes. He is." "Does that mean he's not bad?" Ivy looked at Dominic, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. "No, sweetheart. He's not bad. He made mistakes, but he's trying to fix them. Just like Mommy made mistakes too." "Okay," Aiden said, his voice small. "Mommy? I'm scared." "I know. But you're the bravest boy I know. Can you be brave a little longer? Just until I get home?" "I'll try." "That's my strong boy. I love you, Aiden. So, so much." "Love you too, Mommy." When she hung up, she found Dominic staring at her with tears in his eyes. "Thank you," he

The next twenty-four hours were a blur of preparation. Ivy and Dominic trained together, learning each other's fighting styles, planning strategy. They couldn't defeat Sebastian individually, he was too skilled, too powerful. But together, if they fought as a unit, they had a chance. The children remained safe but hostage, the bomb a constant threat hanging over everything. Ivy had to trust that Cassandra wouldn't actually harm them. That this was all leverage and theater. She hated having to trust her children's lives to someone so clearly unstable. As the full moon rose over Crescent Falls, hundreds of wolves gathered. Every major pack had sent representatives. The Council of Elders presided, their ancient faces solemn as they prepared to witness an Alpha duel that would reshape the political landscape. Sebastian arrived with an entourage of warriors, looking confident and completely unbothered by the accusations against him. "This is quite the spectacle," he said to Ivy a

Two months had passed since the picnic at Crescent Falls, and the fragile peace Ivy had built was beginning to feel almost real. Almost. She sat in her office reviewing the latest territorial agreements when Justin knocked on her door, his expression grave. "We have a visitor," he said. "From the European Council." Ivy's pen stilled. The European Council never sent representatives unless something catastrophic was happening. "Show them in." The woman who entered was striking, tall, with silver-white hair despite appearing no older than forty, and eyes the color of arctic ice. She moved with the fluid grace of a predator who'd never known defeat. "Alpha Blackwood," the woman said in accented English. "I am Katerina Volkov, Emissary of the European Council. We need to discuss your children." Every protective instinct in Ivy's body flared to life. "My children are not up for discussion." "I'm afraid they are. You see, there's a law. A very old law that predates modern pack