Chapter 29: The Chase of Shadows

Leo

I stood on Ivy's balcony, her scent wrapping around me like a drug I could never escape. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, satisfied that she was in my arms but unsettled by her resistance. She stood before me, trembling with anger, her chest rising and falling as she glared at me with those piercing eyes.

"I'm sorry for leaving like that," I said for the third time, but Ivy wasn’t having it. She barely glanced at me, scrolling through her phone like I didn’t exist.

I didn’t mean to ditch her like that at the restaurant. But when my driver told me about someone shady lurking around my house, my instincts kicked in before I could even think.

First thought? Dina. Second thought? A clueless rogue.

There’s something about the glint in her eyes during our last meeting that’s been messing with my head lately. Like, she knows exactly who I am, but she’s playing dumb. And that’s way scarier than I could imagine. If she’s figured out where I live, that puts her one step closer to Ivy.

And I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to my Ivy.

Here in the human world, I’m just another Alpha who’s killing it in business—clean suits, tight connections, the whole deal. Nobody’s supposed to know what’s really lurking underneath. And until I figure out how to break this curse, I have to keep that act locked down.

When I got back, my home was already crawling with security, flashlights cutting through the night. It was exactly what I expected—a rogue. But somehow, this idiot managed to slip right through their hands.

That’s when I lost it.

I wasn’t about to let this slide, not when they’re supposed to be the best. My chief of security caught the worst of it—he didn’t even try to fight back while I let my fists and claws do the talking. By the time I stopped, his face was bloody, and my knuckles throbbed.

That was when it hit me.

I left Ivy. Alone.

The rogue’s appearance suddenly felt like a setup, a distraction. My heart dropped as I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. Straight to voicemail.

“Shit,” I muttered, checking the time. She should’ve been back home by now. I had to make it right.

I stormed into my room, yanking off my shirt and grabbing a hoodie and some ripped jeans. No way was I showing up in full CEO mode to apologize. I glanced in the mirror as I pulled the hoodie over my head. The guy staring back looked like he’d just stepped off some influencer’s IG feed, but the fire in his eyes? That gave me away.

While I paced around, anxiously waiting as I dialed her number. ‘What if something bad happened to her? What if Dina got to her?’ But the sight that appeared before me was…heart wrenching.

Ivy. On his back.

My wolf clawed at the surface, begging to take control as the memory of Ivy clinging to that pup's fur flashed in my mind, but I wouldn’t let him.

Ivy’s sudden pull out of my grasp brought me back to reality.

"I’m not done talking to you, Ivy," I said, my voice low and unyielding as I held her firm.

"And I’m not done being angry with you, Leo," she snapped back, crossing her arms defiantly. "You think you can just walk in here, act like some caveman, and I’ll just fall in line?"

I suppressed the growl building in my chest. She didn’t understand the fire she was playing with—the instincts roaring inside me to claim her, protect her, and keep her safe from anyone who dared challenge my authority.

But then, I felt it.

A shift in the air.

My eyes darted toward the edge of the forest just beyond the estate grounds. A flicker of movement in the shadows, quick and fleeting. My wolf snarled in my mind, his instincts sharp and alert. Someone was watching us.

My jaw tightened, and I took a step closer to Ivy, my hand resting on her arm. She tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.

"Go inside," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Her brows furrowed, her fiery gaze meeting mine. "What? Why?"

"Now, Ivy." My voice dropped an octave, laced with the command of an Alpha.

She bristled, her defiance flaring once more. "You can’t just order me around, Leo. I’m not some—"

"Ivy," I interrupted, my tone sharper now. "Go. Inside."

She opened her mouth to argue again, but something in my expression must have silenced her. She huffed in frustration, spinning on her heel and climbing in through the window. But before stepping inside, she paused, glancing back at me with a glare that could melt steel.

"This isn’t over," she muttered before slamming the window shut behind her.

The moment she was inside, I turned my attention back to the forest. The figure was gone, but my hybrid heightened senses caught the faint scent of someone unfamiliar—a scent tinged with malice. My blood boiled, and without a second thought, I jumped from the balcony, landing silently on the grass below. My muscles coiled as I took off in pursuit, my wolf clawing to break free.

The intruder had a head start, but they wouldn’t get far. I followed the trail, my senses locked onto the faint scent that grew stronger as I pushed deeper into the woods. The trees closed in around me, their branches casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. My ears caught the faint sound of footsteps ahead, quick and uneven, as if the person knew they were being hunted.

I pushed harder, my feet pounding against the earth as adrenaline surged through my veins. The scent grew stronger, sharper, and I knew I was closing the gap. Whoever this was, they weren’t a regular human. The way they moved, the speed—they were something else. Rogue, perhaps. Or worse.

The footsteps suddenly veered to the left, and I followed without hesitation. My wolf snarled, eager for the chase, eager for the confrontation. I caught a glimpse of the figure ahead—a blur of movement, cloaked in shadows. My lips curled into a feral grin. They wouldn’t escape me.

"You can run," I growled under my breath, "but you can’t hide."

The figure darted through the trees, their movements desperate and erratic. I leapt over a fallen log, my eyes narrowing as I gained on them. The distance between us closed with each stride, my senses honed on the prey before me. My wolf howled in my mind, urging me forward, demanding I end this chase.

And then I saw them—a dark silhouette just a few feet ahead, their form illuminated by a sliver of moonlight. I lunged, my hand outstretched to grab them—

But then I heard it.

A scream.

Not just any scream.

Ivy’s scream.

My heart stopped, the sound chilling me to the core. The raw terror in her voice was unlike anything I’d ever heard before. My wolf snarled, torn between the hunt and the mate bond pulling me back toward her.

I froze for a split second, my mind racing. The figure ahead used the momentary hesitation to their advantage, disappearing into the shadows. But I couldn’t focus on that now. Ivy needed me.

I turned on my heel and bolted back toward the estate, my chest tight with fear. My legs moved faster than they ever had before, the trees blurring around me as I pushed myself to my limits. My mind raced with horrible possibilities—was she hurt? Was she in danger? Who had gotten to her?

As I neared the edge of the forest, the estate came into view. My heart pounded in my chest as I caught sight of her balcony, the window still shut. Ivy’s scent was stronger now, laced with fear and adrenaline.

"Ivy!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the night as I raced toward the house. But there was no response.

The sound of her scream replayed in my mind, fueling my desperation. I reached the base of the estate and leapt upward, grabbing hold of the balcony’s edge and pulling myself up in one fluid motion. I landed silently, my eyes scanning the room inside.

It was empty.

"Ivy!" I called again, stepping into the room, my heart hammering against my ribs. Her scent was everywhere, but she was nowhere to be seen. My wolf snarled, the mate bond straining as panic threatened to consume me.

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong.