Chapter 32: A Safe Place...Or Is It?

Ivy

I remained in Leo’s arms, my heart still racing, but his steady presence grounded me. His soft murmurs of reassurance filled the quiet room. “It’s okay, Ivy. You’re safe now.” 

He didn’t want to leave me alone, especially with my father and uncle away. After a moment, he helped me pack my things. I grabbed a few essentials, and Leo carried my suitcase as we headed downstairs. 

Strangely, the entire mansion was eerily quiet—too quiet. It was as if the servants and security staff had all decided to sleep at once. 

My unease grew as I dialed Paul’s number, the head of security, but there was no answer. We walked toward the security quarters, where I cautiously opened the door. Inside, Paul was sprawled on the floor, unconscious, while the other guards were slumped in their chairs, deep in an unnatural sleep. 

My breath hitched. ‘Did the Keeper do this?’ The thought surfaced before I could push it aside. I knelt beside Paul, shaking him gently, but he didn’t stir. “Paul, wake up!” I whispered urgently. Nothing. His body was too still, his breathing shallow. Before I could try again, Leo stepped forward. “Step back,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

I moved aside, and without hesitation, Leo landed a heavy punch on Paul’s jaw. The man jolted awake, gasping in shock, clutching his cheek. I leaned in. “Paul, I’m leaving for a while. Lock up the estate, and report anything strange directly to me. No one is to be let in until my father or uncle returns.” 

Paul nodded shakily, still reeling from the unexpected punch. But before I could turn away, Leo’s voice, laced with fury, filled the room. “How did an intruder get in while you were all asleep?” 

His words carried the weight of authority, his presence intimidating. Paul instinctively stepped back, fear evident in his eyes as he clutched his bruised cheek. I grabbed Leo’s arm, holding him back. “That’s enough,” I whispered to his hearing alone. “They’re human. They won’t understand.” I knew revealing our kind now would only complicate things. 

Leo’s gaze remained cold, but he relented. With one last warning glare at Paul, he led me outside. A sleek black car waited by the driveway, Leo’s driver already prepared to leave. We got in, and as the car pulled away, I couldn’t help but glance back at the darkened estate, a sense of foreboding settling over me. 

The drive was mostly quiet, save for the occasional exchange. Leo kept his hand over mine, his touch comforting yet firm. It wasn’t long before we arrived at his own estate—a sprawling, modern mansion that exuded wealth and power.

I stared in awe as we passed through the towering gates. The driveway was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and marble statues, and guards stood at attention, each one distinctly well-trained werewolves. 

The car stopped, and the driver opened the door. As we stepped out, a line of maids and guards greeted us, their postures rigid, their expressions unreadable. ‘They’re all werewolves,’ I realized, a strange mixture of comfort and unease settling in her chest. 

I hadn’t been around my kind in years. For so long, I’d lived in the human world, pretending to be something I wasn’t. Now, surrounded by wolves, it felt overwhelming. 

Leo’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Everyone, this is Ivy Blackwood, my fiancée and your future Luna.” The staff bowed in unison, murmuring respectful greetings. My cheeks flushed at the title, but I said nothing. Leo dismissed the staff with a nod, then led me inside. 

The interior was just as grand as the exterior. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, and the marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting. Leo guided me toward the east wing. 

“This is the Light Wing,” he explained. “You’ll be safe here. No one can enter without our permission. A powerful witch placed a spell around it—only you and I can grant entry.” 

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of witches. ‘Who is Leo Ashton really?’ Alpha, yes. Business tycoon, undoubtedly. But dealing with witches? That was something entirely different. I remembered his earlier words: “Whatever I am, I’m all yours.” The thought calmed me slightly. 

He opened the door to his room, and I stepped inside. The space was vast and masculine, decorated in shades of deep gray and black. The bed was large, covered in dark sheets, and the walls were lined with bookshelves and weapons displays. I glanced around, feeling slightly out of place. “Are we… sharing a room?” I asked shyly, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Leo smirked, the heat in his gaze unmistakable. “Do you want to?” he teased, stepping closer. The air grew thick with tension, but before things could escalate, I shook my head. “My father… he wouldn’t understand. He’s human, remember? He wouldn’t like the idea of us… sharing a bed before marriage.” 

Leo’s smirk faded, replaced by understanding. He took my hand and led me to a connecting door, opening it to reveal another room. 

This one was entirely different from his—light, airy, and decorated in soft pastel tones. “This will be your room,” he said gently. “If you need anything, use the landline to call the maids. Just make sure to confirm it’s a maid before letting anyone in.” He paused, his expression serious. “I have something urgent to handle. Make yourself at home, it's your home after all.” With that, he left. 

Alone, I sat on the bed, letting out a deep breath. The events of the day weighed heavily on my mind. I picked up my phone and dialed my father’s number. He answered almost immediately. As soon as I heard his voice, the water works broke out again.

“Hey, pumpkin! Why are you crying?” Richard’s familiar voice brought a fresh wave of tears. “Did Leo do something? Or are you just missing your old man?” he teased. 

I wiped my eyes, unwilling to tell him about the strange incident at the estate. He wouldn’t understand—he didn’t even know that I was a werewolf. How could I explain something like the Keeper? 

The memory surfaced, uninvited—a flashback to when I was younger, terrified after returning from the strange disappearance. No one in the pack asked where I had been, except for the pack doctor, Agnes. 

Agnes had been kind, the only one who cared about my well-being. She listened as I recounted my experience, then said something that stayed with me: “It was the Keeper. The Keeper takes children to steal their wolves, so they can’t transform. You were spared because you don't have your wolf yet.”

Agnes had left the pack shortly after, finding her mate and losing touch with me. When she left, I lost the only person in the whole pack that cared if I was dead or alive.

My father’s voice broke through the memory. “Ivy? Darling, are you okay? Did you hear me?” 

“Um… yes. I just miss you, that’s all.” I whispered back. He chuckled. “Don’t worry. The conference will be over soon. We should be back next month, okay?” We talked for a little while longer, and after saying goodbye, I set down my phone and lay on the soft bed. 

Exhaustion pulled me under, but not for long. A sudden sound jolted me awake—thump… thump… My heart raced as I sat up, straining to hear. The sound came again, from the window. My breath hitched as I moved closer, dread filling me. I peered outside—and froze. 

My eyes widened in shock. “What the hell…?”