Chapter 49: A Knock in the Night

Ivy's heart pounded wildly as Leo’s limp body sagged into her arms, his whisper echoing in her ears like a haunting melody. Blood? The word sent a shiver down her spine. What had he meant? Her eyes darted over his pale face, his sharp features now slack and vulnerable. She felt the coldness radiating from his skin, and a strange, vivid memory flared in her mind—the nightmare. 

The one where shadows chased her, where crimson eyes burned in the dark, and where Leo almost sank his fangs into her neck. Could it be? No. He can't be…Her breath hitched. Half vampire?

The thought felt ridiculous, and yet, staring at him now, the pieces began to fall into place. Ivy’s gaze hardened with determination. She couldn’t let him suffer, couldn’t stand by and watch him writhe in pain. If blood was what he needed, then so be it.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the small blade her father always kept on the nightstand—a habit he had developed after too many sleepless nights filled with uneasiness about an intruder. She hesitated, the edge hovering over her forearm. What if she was wrong? What if this did more harm than good? 

But one glance at Leo, his body twitching as low growls escaped his throat, banished her doubts. With a sharp intake of breath, she pressed the blade into her skin. A thin line of crimson welled up immediately, and she held her arm to his mouth, her heart hammering as the first drop touched his lips.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with alarming speed, Leo’s eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with a dark hunger. His hand shot up, gripping her arm with a force that made her wince. His lips latched onto the wound, and Ivy gasped as he drank, his growl deepening, primal. 

The room seemed to darken, the air thick with tension as the man she knew melted into something else entirely. Ivy fought back the fear clawing at her chest, whispering softly, “It’s okay, Leo. Take what you need.”

But the moment was fleeting. With a guttural snarl, Leo’s eyes burned bright gold as he shoved her away, scrambling back like she had burned him. “What the hell were you thinking? What have you done?!” he roared, his voice hoarse and laced with fury. 

Ivy staggered, cradling her arm. “You said that you needed blood! You were dying, Leo! What else was I supposed to do?”

“You don’t understand!” he snarled, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t ever do that again. Ever!” His fangs, still elongated, glinted dangerously before he turned his back on her, struggling to calm the storm raging inside him. 

Ivy stepped closer, her voice firm despite the tears brimming in her eyes. “If that’s what it takes to keep you alive, then I’ll do it again. You don’t get to scare me like that, Leo.”

His growl was low, his shoulders taut. “It’s dangerous. You don’t know what could’ve happened. I could’ve—” His voice broke, and he turned to face her, his expression torn between anger and guilt. “I could’ve killed you.”

“But you didn’t,” she countered firmly, standing and moving closer. “And I won’t let you talk to me like I’m some damsel in distress. If my blood is what keeps you strong, then I’ll give it to you as many times as you need.”

Leo’s jaw clenched, his body trembling. “You don’t understand what you’re saying. You’re literally human, Ivy. You don’t heal like normal wolves do. That wound—” He pointed to her arm. “It could get infected. It could scar. And I…” He trailed off, his voice cracking.

“Then maybe you should think about all that before passing out in front of me again,” she snapped, her voice steady despite the trembling in her hands.

His eyes softened, but his frustration remained. “You’re reckless. What you did—it’s dangerous.”

“So is loving you,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze. “But I don’t care.”

He exhaled sharply, his eyes dropping to her arm. The sight of the faint bite marks made his jaw clench. Without a word, he closed the distance between them and gently took her arm in his hands. His touch was tender, almost reverent, but his expression was stormy.

“Where’s the first aid kit?” he asked, his voice low.

She nodded toward the bathroom. “Top shelf, behind the mirror.”

Leo moved with his head hung low, returning moments later with the kit. He sat her down, pulling out antiseptic and gauze. When he poured the liquid onto her wound, Ivy flinched, crying out softly at the sting. 

His eyes softened. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her cheek before wrapping the wound with care. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For everything.”

She watched him in silence, her heart aching at the torment in his eyes. When he finished, he scooped her into his arms and held her close, his hand gently patting her head. “I know you have questions,” he said quietly. “And I’ll answer them. I promise. Just… not now. Not yet.”

Ivy closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest. “Just promise me you won’t shut me out, Leo. Whatever this is, we face it together.”

He didn’t respond, but his grip tightened around her, as though he feared letting go.

Ivy didn’t push him, sensing the weight of his struggle. But as he held her, his mind was a war zone. He berated himself for his weakness, for succumbing to his vampire instincts. 

What if he hadn’t been able to stop? What if he had drained her dry? What if history repeated itself? And worse, Ivy didn’t even have a wolf to heal the damage. The idea that anytime he looked at her arm, he would see the bite mark, made his heart ache. The thought was unbearable.

His grip tightened protectively. ‘I’ll keep her safe. Even if it’s from me,’ he swore to himself.

A little after three in the morning, a persistent knock echoed through the room, sharp and unrelenting, breaking the fragile quiet like a blade slicing through silk. Ivy flinched as she woke up with a jolt, her breath catching in her throat. She exchanged a glance with Leo, his jaw tightening as a shadow of unease crossed his face.

The knock came again, louder this time, more insistent. “Who could that be?” Ivy whispered, her voice trembling. It was late—too late for any of the security guards to come knocking.

Leo’s eyes darkened, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his tone firm and unyielding.

Ivy obeyed, clutching the bandaged wound on her arm as Leo moved toward the door with careful precision. Each step he took seemed to stretch time, the air growing thicker, heavier.

He paused in front of the door, his hand hovering just above the doorknob. Tension rolled off him in waves, and Ivy could feel the faint tremble in her fingers as she held onto his shirt. His shoulders were taut, every muscle in his body coiled and ready to strike.

“Leo,” Ivy murmured, her voice barely audible.

He didn’t respond, his focus entirely on the door. Slowly, he gripped the handle, the sound of metal creaking under his grasp cutting through the silence. He twisted it, the mechanism clicking loudly in the otherwise still room.

The door swung open, and both of them froze.

“Shit,” Leo breathed, the word barely a whisper.