Chapter 36: The Talisman
Leo's POV
Who could have done this? My thoughts were all over the place, trying to solve the puzzle.
Lena placed the talisman on the table, her gaze meeting mine with an intensity that made the hair on my neck stand on end. “That’s what you need to find out, Alpha. Whatever this is, it didn’t attach itself to her by accident. Someone—or something—wanted this to happen.”
My fists clenched at my sides, anger simmering beneath the surface. “When I find out who’s responsible, they’ll regret ever setting foot close to her.”
Zane placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “Easy, Leo. We’ll figure this out. Right now, we need to focus on your mate. She’s the key to understanding what’s going on.”
I nodded, though the rage in my chest refused to subside. Lena resumed her work, muttering incantations as she added the final touches to the talisman. Meanwhile, I continued pacing, my thoughts a whirlwind of worry and fury.
Theo was restless, his instincts urging me to act, to protect what was ours. But for the first time in a long while, I felt powerless. Ivy was out there, unaware of the danger she was carrying with her, and I had no idea how to keep her safe without scaring her away completely.
“What happens if she refuses to wear the talisman?” I asked Lena, trying to keep the concern from seeping into my voice.
“She won’t,” Lena said confidently. “Once she’s near it, she’ll feel its pull. The talisman was crafted specifically for her energy. Even if she doesn’t understand it, she’ll instinctively want to keep it close.”
That offered a small measure of relief, but it didn’t ease the tension in my chest. The questions still loomed, unanswered and ominous. Why Ivy? Why now?
Zane broke the silence. “Alright, we’ll keep digging. But Alpha…” He shot me a pointed look. “Don’t let your temper get in the way. We need clear heads if we’re going to catch whoever’s behind this.”
I bit back a growl. He was right, as much as I hated to admit it. Rage wouldn’t solve anything—it never did. Still, the thought of Ivy in danger clawed at my insides like a beast on the verge of breaking loose.
Zane and Lena gathered their things. Before stepping out, Zane turned to me one last time. “Don’t forget the meeting later. You skipped the last two. You can’t afford to miss this one.”
“I’ll try to be there,” I muttered.
“You better be. No excuses this time,” Zane added with a smirk before they disappeared out the door.
As they left, the tension around me eased slightly. I glanced at the talisman now resting on the table, its faint glow pulsing softly. My fingers itched to grab it again, to hold on to the only thing that offered a shred of protection for Ivy.
God, I miss her. Every second apart feels like a knife to the chest.
Just then, my phone buzzed, breaking me from my spiraling thoughts. The screen lit up with Caleb’s name. The bodyguard I had assigned to watch Ivy. Some might call it spying. I call it protecting what’s mine.
“Speak,” I barked as soon as I answered.
“Um… Alp—Alpha…” Caleb’s voice was shaky.
“Speak!” I thundered, my patience unraveling fast.
“I—I lost her.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “She was just here. I swear I blinked, and she was gone.”
Rage roared through me, hot and blinding. I could barely hear the rest of what he said over the sound of blood rushing in my ears. I shoved the talisman into my pocket and stormed out of the house.
“Listen to me,” I growled into the phone. “You better pray I find her in one piece, or you’ll live the rest of your life as a broken shell. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” Caleb stammered, but I didn’t wait for a response. I cut the call, my mind already racing ahead.
I shoved the driver out of the car with one swift move and took the wheel myself. Darkness swirled around me, feeding off my desperation, my fury. I fucking need Ivy.
She wasn’t at her office. None of the places she frequented showed any sign of her. My men reported nothing. No sightings, no leads. Just empty streets and silence.
I dialed her number again for what felt like the hundredth time. Straight to voicemail. Every time. The thought of someone—anyone at all—taking her, made my skin crawl. If the Keeper, or whoever else was involved, had touched her…
Suddenly, the line connected.
“Hello?”
Relief washed over me, only to be replaced by dread when I realized something was off. That wasn’t the sound of Ivy's breathing. My grip tightened on the wheel.
“Ivy? Where are you? What happened? Are you okay?” I demanded, my heart pounding.
No response. Just silence, followed by a low, mocking chuckle.
“Who are you?” I growled, my voice cold and deadly. “What have you done with my mate?”
“You mean my mate?” the voice snarled back, venom dripping from every word.
“Well, well, well…” I replied lazily, dark amusement lacing my tone. “Let’s see how far you’re willing to play this game with me, Alpha. Shall we?”
Why did she decide to go back there after everything they did to her? Or was she kidnapped?
I ditched the car the second I reached the edge of the forest, letting my wolf take control. Bones cracked, reshaping with a painful familiarity, and in mere seconds, Theo stood tall, my massive black wolf form ready to tear through anything that dared stand in my way.
His instincts took over, guiding me toward the Hollow Ville pack. We’d only been there once, during a tense meeting that nearly ended in bloodshed. I never thought I’d return—not like this.
I sprinted through the dense woods, the wind tearing through my fur as I raced past the shadows of ancient trees. Each step was driven by pure, unyielding rage, the scent of damp earth doing little to cool the fire in my veins. My paws barely touched the ground, propelled forward by a single thought: Get to Ivy. Destroy anyone in your way.
As the distant scent of the Hollow Ville pack hit my nostrils, Theo growled, low and menacing. We were close. The scent of pine and wildflowers mingled with something far sweeter, something unmistakable—her scent.
It grew stronger with every stride, pulling me toward her like a lifeline. But it was tainted, mixed with something else. Him. The pup who dared take what was mine.
The treeline broke, revealing the pack’s borders. A few younger wolves stood guard, their eyes widening in fear as I charged forward.
I snarled at them, my voice carrying an authority that left no room for hesitation.
When one of them hesitated, Theo acted before I could think, swiping him aside with a powerful paw. The pup tumbled to the ground with a yelp but scrambled out of the way as I passed. None of them dared to follow. Smart. I didn’t come to negotiate.
I followed her scent deeper into the pack’s territory, ignoring the curious eyes that peeked out from windows and behind trees. Fear rippled through the air as they realized something was very, very wrong.
Good. They should be afraid.
The trail led me to a large, isolated building at the heart of their land—the Alpha’s quarters. Ivy’s scent was overwhelming now, suffocating in its intensity. My paws slowed as I approached the window, Theo’s snarls growing louder in my mind.
Every instinct told me to barge in, to rip through the walls until she was safe in my arms. But then I froze, heart pounding as I took in the scene inside.