Chapter 50: The Alpha vs. The Father

Leo’s heart nearly stopped as his eyes locked onto the man standing before him.  

Mr. Richard. Ivy’s father.  

The older man’s sharp, calculating gaze flickered between Leo and Ivy, narrowing slightly before sweeping over the room. His brows furrowed, and for a moment, he simply stood there, the weight of his presence filling the space.  

Leo felt Ivy tense beside him. She hadn't expected this. None of them had. Richard wasn’t supposed to return for another month, yet here he was, standing at the threshold of his own room—where his daughter and her fiancé were currently residing.  

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Richard’s voice cut through it like a blade.  

“What,” he said slowly, enunciating every syllable, “are you two doing in my bedroom?”  

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Ivy’s mouth opened, then closed. Her mind scrambled for an explanation, but the awkwardness weighed down on her like a lead blanket.

“Uh…” she started, then cleared her throat. “Dad! Why are you back so soon? Didn’t you say you were coming next month? And why didn’t you call? I could have picked you up from the airport.”

Her father’s expression remained unreadable. “The second part of the conference is being held here,” he explained. “I’ll be going back to Chicago in two days.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “That still doesn’t answer my question.”

Leo had faced death. He had fought battles against creatures that most people could only dream of in nightmares. He had been feared, revered, and obeyed without question. But standing under the scrutinizing glare of Ivy’s father, he felt something he never had before.  

Sheer. Utter. Terror.  

Ivy swallowed hard and stepped forward, her voice hesitant but honest. “I just… I missed you, Dad. So I thought I should sleep in your room.”  

Richard’s features softened for the briefest moment before his eyes flicked to Leo. “And you?”  

Leo could feel the sweat forming at the base of his neck. He had to say something. Anything.  

“I—uh—” He glanced at Ivy for help.  

Ivy let out a breath. “Because… he misses me?”

Leo ran a hand down his face. ‘Dear moon, help me this once,’ he muttered to himself.

Richard’s eyes darkened. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply. “So let me get this straight,” he said, crossing his arms. “You missed me… so you came into my room. And you,” he pointed at Leo, “missed my daughter, so you followed her into my room?”  

Leo fought the urge to shrink under the man’s stare.  

Before either of them could respond, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and a deep, familiar voice rang out.  

“Oh, this is rich,” Uncle Marcus said, stepping into the room and taking in the scene. A grin spread across his face as he crossed his arms, shaking his head. Then, without warning—he burst out laughing.  

Ivy groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my God.”  

Richard, however, was not amused. “This is not funny, Marcus.”  

But Marcus clearly thought otherwise. “No, no, it’s hilarious. The mighty Leo Ashton caught sneaking around like a teenager. In his father-in-law’s room, no less.” He let out another deep laugh. “Oh, this is priceless.”  

Leo could feel his face heating up. The great Alpha King, the most feared leader in his kingdom—reduced to a boy being scolded by his girlfriend’s father.  

Ivy nudged Marcus with an exasperated glare. “You’re not helping!”  

Marcus wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. “Oh, I am helping. This is the most fun I’ve had all year.”  

Richard turned back to Leo, his expression hard. “I don’t care what title you hold out there, Leo. Here, in this house, in my house, you will respect me.”  

Leo swallowed. He wasn’t used to this. No one dared talk to him like this. But for some strange reason, the scolding… felt nice. Like something he had missed his entire life without realizing it.  

As Richard continued his lecture on respect, boundaries, and how utterly disappointed he was in them, Leo found himself wearing a small, almost amused smile.  

Richard paused mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes. “Do you find this funny?”  

Leo straightened immediately. “No, sir. I meant no disrespect, sir,” Leo finally said, his voice steady despite the embarrassment clawing at his insides.

“Good.” Richard’s gaze swept over Ivy again, and that’s when he saw it.  

His expression shifted in an instant. His eyes locked onto the bandage wrapped around Ivy’s arm, and the room’s atmosphere changed. The humor evaporated.  

“What happened to your arm?” he asked, his voice controlled but laced with concern.  

Ivy hesitated. “It’s nothing, Dad. Just a little kitchen accident.”  

Richard’s brows furrowed further. “Since when do you go into the kitchen? Don’t we have maids for that?”  

She sighed. “I just… I was trying something new.”  

But Richard wasn’t convinced. He stepped forward, gently taking her wrist. “Let me see it.”  

She pulled back. “Dad, you just got home. You should rest.”  

“Ivy.” His tone left no room for argument. “Sit down.”  

Ivy glanced at Leo, who was suddenly fidgeting. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched.  

Oh no.  

Leo was already imagining the moment the bandage came off. The bite mark. The impossible-to-explain reality. What the hell was he supposed to say?

His mind raced. Think, Leo. What will you do?

If Mr. Richard saw the bite mark—if he realized what had really happened—what could he even say? 

‘I’m sorry, sir, but the darkness within me nearly consumed me, and my vampire instincts took over, so I drank your daughter’s blood?’

Yeah. That would go over well.

His hands clenched at his sides as Mr. Richard carefully pulled the last layer of gauze away.

Leo braced himself, heart hammering in his chest.

But then—nothing.

No reaction.

No outburst.

Leo hesitated, then forced himself to look.

His breath caught. No scars. No bite marks. Just smooth, unblemished skin.

Leo’s knees nearly buckled.

Ivy’s pulse pounded in her ears as she looked down at her arm, then at Leo, then back at her arm again. She had been so sure the bite would be there.

But it was gone.

Leo swayed slightly. His mind raced. How?  

Richard examined her arm, turning it over before frowning. “Ivy,” he said carefully, “I thought you said you were hurt.”  

“I—” She swallowed. “I was.”  

Richard’s expression darkened. “Are you hiding something?”  

Leo clenched his fists. What was this? Magic? A delayed healing factor he didn’t know about? She doesn't have a wolf, so how come?

His heart thundered against his ribs.  

Then, out of nowhere—  

“Ivy,” Richard said, his tone more serious now. “Are you pregnant?”  

Leo choked.  

Ivy’s mouth fell open. “What? No! Dad!”  

Marcus, who had been taking a sip of water, promptly spit it out, bursting into laughter all over again.  

Richard wasn’t laughing. He was watching Leo like a hawk. “Did he hurt you?”

“Who, Leo? Hell no, dad,” Ivy answered with an exasperated sigh.

Meanwhile, Leo battled with his thoughts. How did this happen? Has Ivy's blood or body healed itself? Had his bite done something to her?  

Richard’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t like secrets, Leo.”  

Leo forced himself to hold the man’s gaze, but for the first time in his life, he felt small.  

Just then, a cold gust of wind swept through the open balcony door, and Ivy shivered.

Leo’s senses sharpened instantly. That wasn’t just any wind.

Something—or someone—was close by.