Chapter 40: A Mother's Hatred

Ivy's POV 

The voice belonged to a figure stepping out from the shadows of the hallway. A woman—tall, graceful, and eerily familiar. Her hair cascaded in dark waves, and her sharp black eyes locked onto my frame with a mixture of anger and hatred. 

Is she really my mother? I remember asking myself this question over and over again. How could she bear to treat me the way she did? And even after all these years, the hatred still burned fresh.

Aria.

I hadn’t heard that name in years until my past came clashing with my present. It was a name I had long buried, a name tied to a past I wished to forget—a past filled with lies, hatred, and betrayal. A past I had longed to return to in my moment of weakness.

Leo’s grip on my waist tightened as he pulled me closer, his body tensing with unease. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

The woman didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a step forward, her gaze never leaving mine. “Don’t play games with me, Aria. You know exactly who I am. Or did you lose your memory? That can be the only explanation as to why you dared to set foot on this land.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. She couldn’t be here—not now, not when things were already so complicated. But fate has a twisted sense of humor, and it seemed determined to drag my past further into the present.

“Ivy,” I corrected, forcing my voice to remain steady. “My name is Ivy now.”

Her lips curled into a smirk, one that sent a shiver down my spine. “You can change your name, but you can’t change what you are. A murderer.”

Finally I looked into her eyes. 

My mother. Elizabeth Carrington.

Her gaze was sharp, cold, and unyielding—exactly how I remembered it. Before Leo could say a word, she stepped forward, her voice laced with bitterness.

“So, this is who you’ve been hiding with?” she spat, her eyes flicking over me with disdain. “Living comfortably while we suffer in the hell you created. How convenient.”

I tensed. My fingers curled into fists, but I kept my expression neutral. I couldn’t let her words get to me. Not again.

“Mother, this is not the time for this,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

Her eyes narrowed, and her lip curled into a sneer. “Don’t you dare call me that. You lost the right a long time ago—when you killed my only son, your little brother.”  

Her words sliced through me, reopening wounds I thought had healed. I felt my heart breaking all over again, the guilt twisting deep inside me like a blade. My vision blurred slightly, but I forced myself to hold it together. At least outwardly. I wouldn’t let her see how much it hurt.

The small crowd that had gathered murmured quietly among themselves, their eyes darting between me and my mother. I could feel their judgment in the air, thick and suffocating, just like old times.

“Enough,” Connor growled, stepping out from his quarters to stand beside me protectively. His voice was calm but laced with warning. “Leave now Elizabeth, before this gets out of hand.”

But my mother wasn’t one to back down easily. She took another step forward, glaring up at him with defiance. “Alpha, you of all people should know what she did to us—what her foolishness and carelessness cost us.”

Connor’s eyes darkened, and his posture stiffened. I could tell he was fighting to keep his composure, but before he could speak, a low growl rumbled through the air. Leo stepped forward, his presence commanding, his golden eyes locked on my mother. The sound of his growl echoed through the clearing, deep and chilling, vibrating in my chest.

“Leave,” he said, his voice laced with the undeniable power of an Alpha. 

My mother trembled, her defiance faltering for a moment. She lowered her head slightly, a sign of submission she had no choice but to offer. Despite the scene, I felt no satisfaction—only discomfort. This wasn’t how I wanted things to go. 

I glanced at Leo, who still hadn’t bothered to shift back into his wolf form. His naked form stood tall and unbothered, but I was growing increasingly uncomfortable. We might be werewolves, but this was far from proper—at least to me.

“We should leave,” I whispered, taking a step closer to him as I tugged his arm. “Not because of me… but because you’re standing naked in front of these people.”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but he didn’t argue. Without a word, he stepped back, his form rippling as he shifted effortlessly into his wolf. He was massive, his black fur gleaming under the sunlight, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that made me feel both safe and on edge. 

Before I could react, he lowered himself slightly, motioning for me to get on his back. I hesitated for a moment, glancing around at the gathered pack members. Their expressions were a mixture of awe and curiosity, but I couldn’t care less about their stares anymore. With a quiet sigh, I climbed onto his back, gripping his thick fur tightly.

Connor gave me a brief nod, silently promising he’d handle the aftermath of my mother’s outburst. I appreciated it, though I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

Then Leo took off, his powerful legs propelling us forward with ease. The wind whipped against my face as we sped into the forest, the world around us blurring into a mix of green and brown. I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his muscles beneath me, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his thick coat. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe again.

This feels different compared to when I rode on Connor's wolf. With Connor it seemed more…natural but with Leo? It was a mixture of different things all at once. But I do love the tingles that came with it. Being with Leo feels right.

As we raced through the forest, I couldn’t help but glance back over my shoulder, watching the village fade into the distance. Memories of the past clawed at me—memories of the life I thought I had buried. The life I hated. 

But despite the pain, I didn’t break. Not entirely. I had survived this long, and I wasn’t going to let it consume me now.

Leo slowed down as we reached a clearing towards the exit of the forest. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over the area. I slid off his back, landing softly on the ground, but I didn’t move far. My hands still clung to his fur, reluctant to let go of the comfort it provided.

He shifted back into his human form a moment later, and this time, he pulled on a pair of pants he must have stashed nearby. I looked away, giving him a moment of privacy, but when I felt his hand on my shoulder, I turned back toward him.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded slowly, though the truth was far more complicated. “I will be.”

Leo cupped my cheek gently, his thumb brushing over my skin in a way that made my heart ache. “You don’t ever have to go back there. No matter what happens, your place is by my side.”

I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a brief moment. “I know. But I'll have to face them eventually. I just… I need a little more time.”

He didn’t argue. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. For now, it was enough. For now, I could allow myself to be vulnerable, even if just for a little while.