Chapter 44: Not a Rogue
Ivy’s POV
The morning sun spilled through the sheer curtains, painting the room in soft gold. Yet, the warmth did little to chase away the unease curling in my chest. I hadn’t slept, not really. My mind replayed the events of the night before—the distant howls, Leo’s sharp commands, the tension in the air that had felt like it might snap at any moment. And yet… nothing had happened. At least, nothing I knew of.
I had slept off on the couch downstairs last night while waiting for Leo. He must have carried me up here. I didn’t even hear him leave this morning.
What did he find? Was it something serious? Why are all these things happening now? Why is the life I left behind forcing itself back into my carefully crafted world?
I slipped out of bed and padded to the balcony, the city stretching out before me in sleek glass and steel. It was a stark contrast to the forest beyond the mansion’s borders, where danger had prowled under the cover of night. The view here should have calmed me, reminded me of the life I was building away from the chaos of my past. But it didn’t.
Instead, it felt like the calm before a storm.
The loud ringing of my phone broke my thoughts. I turned to the vanity table and picked it up. It was uncle Marcus.
“Morning, Ivy,” he said as soon as I picked up, his voice steady but soft. “You didn’t even bother to call me for a while now.”
“I’m sorry, Marcus. A lot has happened lately,” I admitted, stepping away from the balcony. “Is something wrong?”
Marcus hesitated, his silence stretching as though he was debating how much to share.
“There’s a meeting at the office today. Something about a corporate acquisition we’ve been negotiating. I’d like you to be there.”
“An acquisition?” I asked, surprised. Uncle Marcus rarely involved me in the more cutthroat aspects of the company. He’d always said he wanted me to focus on my passions, not the boardroom battles.
But I guess since they were away, I should be representing them.
“Yes,” he said carefully. “But this one is… unusual. The company we’re acquiring is smaller, family-owned. They’ve been resistant to sell until now, and their sudden change of heart feels off.”
I frowned. “You think there’s more to it?”
Marcus gave a small, humorless smile. “There’s always more to it, Ivy. Your father and I need someone we trust to sit in on the meeting, to watch and listen. You have a knack for seeing what others miss.”
The praise warmed me, even as a thread of unease pulled tighter in my chest. “I’ll be there,” I said, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just about business.
After ending the call, I glanced at the clock and cursed under my breath. The meeting wasn’t until later this morning, but I’d need time to get ready and head into the city. Moving quickly, I grabbed a towel and rushed to the bathroom, determined to look sharp for whatever awaited me.
The hot water helped shake off the restless energy clinging to my skin. Once I stepped out, I took my time choosing an outfit. A crisp white blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers, paired with sleek nude heels. Professional, sharp, and just enough elegance to mask the turmoil underneath. I added a delicate silver necklace and small stud earrings, keeping it simple but intentional. My makeup was minimal—just enough to highlight my features. Finally, I ran a brush through my hair, letting it fall in soft waves over my shoulders.
I gave myself one last glance in the mirror, adjusting the blouse before stepping out of the room. The house was quiet, save for the faint murmur of activities in the kitchen. Descending the wide staircase, I could smell freshly brewed coffee and toast wafting from the kitchen. My stomach growled in response.
On the way to the dining area, I passed Leo’s study. I paused, the muffled sound of someone grunting drawing my attention. Through the heavy door, I could hear his measured steps—back and forth, back and forth. Something was bothering him.
I debated knocking, asking if he was alright, but the unease from last night held me back. What could I say? That I’d spent the night waiting for him, consumed by worry? That I didn’t want to feel so out of the loop anymore?
No. He had enough on his plate without me piling on my questions. With a quiet sigh, I turned away and continued to the kitchen.
Breakfast was quick—a slice of toast and a small cup of coffee that barely scratched the surface of my hunger. But I didn’t have time to linger.
As I stepped outside and slid into the waiting car, the unease remained, a heavy weight in my chest. My mind buzzed with questions about the meeting, about Leo, about the strange undercurrent that seemed to have taken over my life.
By the time we reached the city, my nerves were a tangled mess. The towering glass structure of our company loomed in the distance, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t walking into a simple negotiation.
Something was waiting for me in that meeting room.
And as the car came to a smooth stop in front of the building, I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on my hand bag as I stepped out of the car.
The calm before the storm, indeed.
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Leo’s POV
The forest had been eerily quiet after the howl. Too quiet. I’d chased the scent for miles, my wolf’s instincts driving me forward, but it was like chasing a ghost. The tracks had disappeared, the acrid scent dissipating as if it had never been there at all.
It didn’t sit right with me. Rogues didn’t vanish without a trace. And whatever had been out there wasn’t a rogue at all—it was something else. Something unnatural.
The darkness clawed at the edges of my mind, whispering in a voice that demanded blood, chaos, and vengeance. It threatened to consume me, pulling me into a black void I had fought so hard to control. My fists clenched as I felt the familiar burn of rage coursing through me, begging for release.
But then there was Ivy.
Her warmth had anchored me through the night, the soft rise and fall of her breath soothing the storm that raged within. I held her close, her body molding perfectly against mine, her scent chasing away the shadows. She didn’t know how much power she wielded over me, how her very presence was the only thing keeping me from shattering.
She is my salvation.
Even now, as she hovered outside my study, I felt the conflict in her. That delicate sigh of hers—hesitation mixed with concern—pierced through the walls like a whisper of guilt. I tensed, my hand frozen over the papers spread across my desk. Part of me wanted to go to her, pull her into my arms, and assure her that everything was fine.
But it wasn’t.
I didn’t want her to see me like this, unraveling under the weight of things she couldn’t know. Things that would only drag her deeper into the darkness I was trying to shield her from.
So I stayed where I was, silent and still, until I heard her turn away. The faint sound of her heels echoed down the hall, followed by the soft slam of the door. I waited, counting each second, until the distant hum of her car told me she was gone.
The moment it faded, I grabbed my phone and dialed the number I’d memorized the day I hand picked her bodyguard.
“She just left,” I said, my voice low and commanding. “Follow her. Don’t let her out of your sight. If anything feels off, you know what to do.”
“Yes, sir,” the voice on the other end replied without hesitation.
I ended the call, my jaw tightening as I leaned back in my chair. Ivy’s safety was non-negotiable
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. One of my men, Paul, stepped inside, his expression grim. “Anything?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Paul shook his head. “No sign of the rogue. The patrols didn’t find anything unusual after you left.”
My jaw clenched as I spoke, each word laced with conviction. “I’m absolutely certain that what we were hunting last night wasn’t a rogue,” I muttered, the weight of the realization sinking in.
He nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. “If it wasn’t a rogue, then what was it, Alpha?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have one.