Chapter 28: Alpha vs. Alpha

Ivy

Leo.

His growl deepened, vibrating the very air around them. His presence was suffocating, commanding, and utterly terrifying. 

Connor’s 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?—what 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 Leo—raw, possessive, and dangerous.

"You think you can just take her on a ride?" Leo’s voice was a low growl, laced with fury as he glared at Connor. "You think you can claim what's mine?"

Connor’s wolf growled in return, hackles raised, but it was clear the beast understood the gravity of the situation. The air between them crackled with tension, thick with the undeniable presence of two alphas, each unwilling to back down. 

My breath caught in my throat as I felt the unmistakable shift in Leo’s aura. He wasn’t just angry—he was enraged. His eyes narrowed, glowing with an unnatural intensity. Without warning, he stepped forward, his voice now laced with an unmistakable Alpha command.

"Set her down," Leo ordered, his voice deep and powerful. The very air around us seemed to bend under the weight of his words, and I could feel the force of his command settle deep into my

bones.

Connor’s wolf snarled in resistance, but I could feel the way he trembled slightly.

"Now," Leo’s voice dropped to a deadly whisper, his Alpha power wrapping around us  like a vice. "Stand down, Connor. Before I make you."

Connor’s wolf whined in submission, retreating a few steps back. My stomach churned as I  watched, my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to shout, to demand Leo explain, but the grip he had on me, on us both, left me speechless.

The moment Connor retreated, Leo moved. With swift and possessive movements, he strode forward and snatched me off Connor’s wolf’s back.

I flared up in anger. "What did you expect, Mr Ashton?" I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing at the dark eyes staring down at me. "That I’d just wait around like a puppy, ready to play whenever you decide I’m worth your attention?"

The sound of his growl cut through the still night. "Ivy," he commanded, the power in his tone impossible to ignore, "Don’t ever call me that."

My heart skipped, the familiar surge of his authority hitting me with the force of a physical blow. But the anger I felt toward him made me dig my foot into the ground. I refused to let him control me, not after everything he’d just done. 

"No," I snapped, my voice hard as steel, "I’m going to call you whatever I want to."

The growl in his throat deepened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something bloody in his eyes. But he wasn’t giving up easily. 

"Ivy," Leo said again, his voice laced with the raw power of his Alpha command. "Turn around and face me."

I ignored him, even though the command echoed in my bones, pushing at my will. I couldn’t give in this time. Not when everything about his sudden disappearance had left me feeling abandoned and betrayed. 

"You think I’m just going to drop everything for you?" I spat, my fists clenched at my sides. "You think I’m just some girl you can walk away from when you get bored?"

Leo took a step forward, his presence looming over me. "You don’t get to call yourself some girl, Ivy. Not when you're mine. My girl."

My jaw tightened as I tried to fight the butterflies that swarmed my stomach at his words. "You have no right to call me yours, Leo," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "You walked away from me, like I meant nothing. What did you expect when Connor offered me a ride? I’m not your wife yet, Leo. Not your toy either."

The air around us crackled with tension. Leo’s gaze hardened, his eyes flashing with something darker—something possessive, something I couldn’t deny made me feel giddy inside. He was strong. And in this moment, his power was raging, undeniable.

"I said turn around," Leo growled, this time, the command cutting through the air like a whip. His voice held the weight of an order that I knew I could never truly defy. But still, I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest. 

"I won’t," I gritted out, defiance evident in every line of my posture. "You don’t get to control me, Leo. You left me cold, like I was nothing more than a passing distraction. So don’t expect me to just roll over when you decide you’re ready for me again."

"I’m not here to explain myself. But you will listen, Ivy,” Leo said, his voice low and controlled.

Before I could react, Leo’s movements were swift. He scooped me up, lifting me effortlessly into his arms, and with a single bound, he jumped into the air, his muscles rippling as we soared. I gasped, unable to suppress the scream that was building in my chest.

"Leo, stop! What are you doing?" I yelled, my heart hammering in my chest as we soared toward the second floor of the estate. I caught a glimpse of Connor’s wolf, running into the woods and a feeling I couldn't describe washed over me.

Leo didn’t answer. His grip on me tightened, and with one last burst of speed, we landed on the balcony of my room, the sound of his feet landing like a thunderclap in the quiet night.

"Leo, what the hell—" my words were cut off as he spun around, his fierce gaze locking with mine.

"I’m done with the games, Ivy," he growled, his voice low, dangerous. "You’re mine. And I’m not letting some weak Alpha give you piggyback rides. My wolf is big enough to carry you and our pups whenever you're ready."

My chest tightened. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, caught between fury and desire. I’ve never seen this side of him—this obsessive, unrelenting side.

"Get off me!" I spat, struggling in his hold, but Leo didn’t relent. Instead, he pressed me against the wall, his lips capturing mine in a fierce kiss that silenced all resistance.

His mouth was demanding, but so was mine, and in the battle of wills, there was no room for anything but our burning need.

"Leo—" I began, but my voice faltered when I saw the expression on his face. His eyes were dark, wild with intensity, and there was something in his gaze that made my stomach tighten. 

I swallowed, my breath shallow. I could feel the heat emanating from him, could see the wild possessiveness in his eyes. His words—his claim—sent a thrill of fear and excitement through me all at once. 

He leaned in again, brushing his lips against mine in a searing kiss, claiming me once more with a hunger that left me breathless.

"I'm sorry for leaving like that, Ivy," he murmured against my lips, his tone a growl that sent shivers down my spine. "You don't deserve that."