Chapter 17: In the grip of Secrets

Ivy’s POV  

It has been two days since Lila’s last visit. Two days since the girl who was once my sister barged back into my life, uninvited and unwelcome, yet carrying an air of authority as if she still had power over me. The memories of our last encounter lingered in my mind like a sour taste. 

Lila’s arrival wasn’t casual—it was calculated. Everything about her was deliberate, from the tilt of her head to the faint smirk that curled her lips when she thought I wasn’t looking. I didn’t trust her, and yet, her presence unsettled me more than I was willing to admit.  

I wrapped my arms around myself, pacing the length of my room. The faint hum of city life buzzed across the estate walls, a distant reminder that the world kept moving, even as my own stood still with the appearance of the past I thought was long buried. 

My chest tightened at the thought of Leo. Two weeks. Two excruciating weeks without a word, a text, or even a whisper of his existence. He is not my mate but that didn’t stop my chest from burning with the feel of his absence.

Who was he?  

I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots as if the pain would bring clarity. Leo Ashton—business tycoon, charmer, gorgeous. And, as I recently discovered, a werewolf. The realization still felt surreal, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit into the picture I had of him.  

What was I getting myself into?  

My heart ached with longing, but it was laced with fear. I knew so little about him, and yet, he had this power over me—a pull I couldn’t resist, even if I wanted to. My breath hitched as I thought about the way he looked at me, how his presence alone could set my soul on fire. But what did I really know about him apart from the fire in my chest?  

And then there was me. I steadied my breath, trying to quiet the storm within. I’d become too human, too disconnected from the werewolf I was supposed to be. 

At 25, I should have had the ability to sense when another wolf was near, yet that part of me felt lost—vanished as though it had never existed. And it never did. I haven’t felt my wolf or even turned since I was born.

Was I sad about not having a wolf? Hell no.

Was I relieved to be free from a world that seemed to promise only pain and betrayal? Heck yeah!

I feel like I’m losing the control I’ve managed to secure. But one thing was certain—I couldn’t keep living in this haze of uncertainty. I had to find out who Leo truly was. Could I trust him? Could I trust myself with him?  

A sharp knock at the door startled me, dragging me from my thoughts. My heart raced as I froze in place, staring at the door as if it might reveal secrets on its own.  

“Ivy?”  

It was Marcus.  

I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me, though a lingering sense of dread remained.  

“Come in,” I called, trying to steady my voice.  

Marcus stepped inside, his presence commanding as always. Over the years, we’d grown close, though it hadn’t been easy. It took months—no, years—of effort on my part to break through his walls. Richard had told me why Marcus had been so guarded when we first met.  

My father had taken someone in before. Someone who betrayed him, destroyed everything he’d worked for, and, worst of all, killed his daughter.  

I remembered crying for hours when he told me that story. The weight of it crushed me, knowing that they had every reason to distrust me, and yet they still gave me a chance. Their acceptance meant everything to me.  

Now, as Marcus sat on the edge of my bed, his expression unreadable, my stomach twisted with unease.  

“There’s something you’re hiding from us, Ivy,” he said, his voice calm but firm.  

My breath caught in my throat. My mind raced. What did he know?  

Was it about the drama at the engagement party? Or worse—did he know that I wasn’t fully human?  

I forced a laugh, hoping to mask the panic clawing at my chest. “What could I possibly hide from my family?”  

Marcus sighed heavily, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me. “Don’t look at me like that, Ivy. You know what I’m talking about.”  

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling ever so slightly. I clasped them together to keep them still, maintaining an air of practiced calm.  

“Who was that man in the office a few days ago?” Marcus pressed, his tone growing heavier. “Are you seeing someone else apart from Leo? You know how much he’s done for our family—how much he’s done for you. We can’t betray his trust.”  

Relief washed over me, though it was fleeting. At least he wasn’t onto the truth—yet.  

“You know more than anyone how much I love Leo,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I would rather die than betray him.”  

Marcus frowned, the weight of his concern etched into his features. “Nobody’s dying, kiddo. Not while I’m around. But you need to be careful. Who was that man?”  

I explained quickly, weaving a story about Connor being an old stalker—someone Leo had warned to stay away from me. I told Marcus that Connor had shown up unexpectedly and that I hadn’t known Daniel had scheduled a meeting with him.  

Marcus nodded slowly, his frown deepening. “I’ll have a word with Daniel. He should’ve been more careful.”  

After a while, he left, his heavy footsteps fading down the hall. I exhaled sharply, the tension in my chest loosening just slightly.  

I decided to take a bath, hoping the warm water would wash away the weight of the week. I soaked for what felt like hours, letting my thoughts drift as the steam enveloped me.  

As I stepped out of the tub, wrapping a towel around myself, the lights flickered.  

Then they went out completely.  

A chill ran down my spine. This had never happened before.  

I stepped cautiously into my bedroom, the darkness pressing in around me. My breath quickened as I scanned the room, my eyes straining to adjust.

And that’s when I saw it—a figure lounging near the vanity.  

My heart leapt into my throat as I froze in place, my mind racing. Was it my imagination? Or was someone really there?  

Before I could move, the figure was in front of me, faster than anything I’d seen in years. I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand clamped over it, silencing me.  

“Shhhhh,” a voice whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “That’s no way to say hello.”  

My blood ran cold.