Chapter 14%
The world had shattered, and the jagged pieces of my broken reality cut deep. Ivy. Fated mate. Alpha Vincent.
The words echoed in my mind, a relentless, torturous refrain. I stood there, realing, the scent of her furious disgust still stinging my nostrils, the ghost of her slap burning on my cheek.!!
But even with my world imploding, I couldn’t tear my eyes from her. All night, my gaze was glued to Ivy. She moved with grace; it radiant confidence that had never been truly hers when she was with me.l
I shouldn’t feel this way. All my life, I’d convinced myself, convinced everyone, that Farah was the one, the only one.
But now, as I danced with Farah, her sweet scent cloying, her attempts at affection feeling hollow, all I could see was hy She was ac the grand ballroom, her laughter echoing, a vibrant, genuine sound that drew my eyes like a magnet. She was laughing with Alpha inchiri her head thrown back, her eyes sparkling.
And then it hit me. I hadn’t known how much I missed her scent until I finally inhaled it again, weeks after she vanished from my pack The earthy musk, the hint of lavender, the subtle undercurrent of something wild and untamed–it was intoxicating, a scent that spokes home, of solace, of a connection I had foolishly taken for granted.
My wolf whimpered, a low, moumful sound, a silent testament to the undeniable truth: he missed her. And so did L
I felt like shit. Utter, complete, soul–crushing shit. Confusion swirled in my mind. How could I feel such a potent, visceral longing for a woman I had convinced myself I didn’t love? How could this gaping hole exist when I had everything I had supposedly wanted?
And the worst of it? The bitter, indigestible truth that lvy’s fated mate was someone else. Someone powerful, someone who clearly cherished her, someone who was now touching her, laughing with her, in ways I never had. The thought twisted my gut into knots. The Moon Goddess, in her infinite, cruel wisdom, had played a hand that was nothing short of torture.
Farah tried to tiptoe and press a kiss to my lips after a dance. I didn’t bother to kiss her back. My eyes, locked onto Ivy, could only watch as Alpha Vincent leaned down, his head dipping, and claimed her lips fully. A slow, intimate kiss that sent a jolt of raw agony through me..! A strangled sound ripped from my throat. I pushed Farah away, not gently, but with a sudden, forceful shove. She shrieked, a high–pitched sound of shock and hurt. I didn’t care. I didn’t even glance at her as she stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth. My eyes, narrowed with a burning, possessive rage, were fixed on Ivy and Vincent.
I began to move, striding purposefully across the polished floor, my wolf roaring within me, demanding action, demanding retribution, I was going to stop them. I was going to pull them apart, tear them apart if I had to. No one, no one, was going to touch my by like that. fated mate or not
Just as my hand clenched, ready to grab Vincent, ready to unleash the fury that had been building for weeks, the host’s voice boomed across the grand hall, cutting through the music, cutting through my rage.
“Esteemed Alphas, Lunas, and honored guests!” The voice was jovial, full of practiced cheer. “Welcome, welcome! And now, for a bit of fun, a little game to mark this glorious evening!
The grand hall dimmed, the dazzling chandeliers softening to a warm glow, casting long, dancing shadows across the polished floor. The sudden shift in light, the unexpected interruption, momentarily halted my furious charge. I stopped my tracks, my eyes, still blazing, fixed on the platform where the host stood.
“Tonight,” the host continued, his voice ringing with excitement, “we play a game as old as our kind! A game of intuition, of destiny, of the Moon Goddess’s favor!” He paused for dramatic effect. “We ask each Alpha to choose the she–wolf they believe the Alpha King has deemed the ‘Phoenix of the Night!”
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Whoever chose her would be granted exclusive entry into the Alpha King’s private, sacred garden for a private, intimate gathering.
The moment the host declared, “And when the lights dim fully, Alphas, you
will make your choice! Grab the hand of the she–wolf you believe to be the Phoenix of the Night!” the hall plunged into near darkness. Only the faintest glow of emergency lights guided the way, creating a chaotic scramble of bodies
My wolf, cunning and instinctual, didn’t hesitate. Ivy. The thought was a burning certainty.
I moved through the dimness like a shadow, my senses heightened. Vincent’s scent, strong and possessive, was close. Too close. He would try to find her, to claim her. I knew the power of a fated mate bond. He would find her in this darkness.
But I didn’t care anymore.
I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed her wrist, my grip fim, possessive, pulling her away from where I knew Vincent stood. I moved fast, navigating the chaos, getting as far away from him as possible. I knew Vincent could find his mate no matter what, but in this moment, in this fleeting darkness, I had to try. I had to prevent him from reaching her first.
The second the lights flared buck to full brilliance, a collective gasp swept through the hall. My eyes, still narrowed from the recent darkness, instantly focused on my hand. My fingers were clamped around a slender wrist. I looked up.
It was Ivy. Her eyes, blazing with fury, were fixed on me. “Let go, Alphat she hissed, her voice low and dangerous, a raw snarl that spoke of pure rage. She tried to pull away, but my grip remained firm, unyielding &
I didn’t care.”
Then, the host’s voice, booming with excitement, cut through the tension. “And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The Phoenix of the Night, chosen by the Alpha King himself! The she–wolf whose destiny bums brightest tonight.. is none other than Ivy of Nightshade Pack!
My grip on Ivy’s wrist tightened, a triumphant smirk spreading across my face!!
My grip on Ivy’s wrist tightened, a triumphant smirk spreading across my face.!!
Our eyes met. My gaze flicked past her, across the crowd, to where Alpha Vincent stood, his powerful frame rigid with fury, he blazing with a frustrated, possessive rage that mirrored my own.
I smirked at him. She’s mine. For tonight, she’s mine.
