Chapter 82 - The Luna He Rejected

I saw Sophia's body transform back. Her father hadn’t said a word since Ivy ripped her throat. He was probably in shock as he never realized that his daughter could lose, and even worse, even die. At least that is what I thought, but then I saw him stand up and leave the arena. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, and that he would probably go back to claim Sophia's body, but Andrew mind linked me, telling me that he had been informed that Arthur was leaving the premises. He left his daughter's body, like she was nothing to him. Even if she tried something so awful as killing my mate, she didn't deserve that her own father practically disowned her, and left like she was a piece of garbage.

Ivy stood victorious in the middle of the arena, but no one said a thing. Everything was in complete silence, like they couldn't believe what they had just seen. I approached her to declare her as the winner, but I saw Silvia getting to her first. He brought a blanket to cover her, because even if she wasn't naked, it was still chilly outside. She whispered something to Ivy and looked at me. I got the message and approached Ivy once again. Even if she was victorious, it showed that she didn't want to kill her. She gave her the option to back down, but Sophia's pride was what got her killed.

Ivy wasn't the person that loved to kill, she had a heart of gold, and even if Sophia drove her to this action, she wasn't happy with it. I hugged her to show her my support. She did what she had to do, and nobody would judge her for that. When she looked into my eyes I could see how much it affected her, but I wanted to make sure the scar that this event would leave, and to assure her that she was not at fault. She even tried to give Sophia a way out.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Her eyes started watering like she wanted to cry, what could it be that had made her so sad?

“Sophia’s father. The last thing he said to her was that she was a disappointment.” I should have imagined that he would do something like that.

Sophia was crazy, but she only mirrored all the damage that her father inflicted on her. She had learned from a young age that she had to manipulate to get her father's approval.

I wished that one day we could get rid of those Alphas. The ones that didn’t protect their packs, the ones that used their family or pack members to get something for their benefit. It was a dream that I had, but that I never knew if I could accomplish it.

I didn’t feel sorry for Sophia, as I saw her lying there on the ground. But I could still recognize that she deserved a burial, not being left there like a stray dog. Still, this decision would be made by Ivy. I didn’t want to upset her any further.

I had to say something to the pack, but I couldn’t find the right words. This is why challenges were something of the past, because they were brutal. But what was done, was done, and now I wanted her to heal from everything that had happened. She deserved a rest.

“Thank you for attending tonight. Ivy is the winner, and with this she has established that she is the only one worthy of the Luna Queen position. I wanted to remind you all that your queen tried to give Sophia another chance, but she didn’t take it. Please remember that your queen is merciful, and a great fighter. You can go to your houses now.”

A loud “Yes Alpha” was heard all over the arena. I took Ivy’s hand and helped her get out of there. She needed rest, and I was going to provide her with that. In the middle of our way home, I felt her tiredness through the bond, so I carried her bridal style, earning a squeal when I elevated her from the ground.

“Kaid! I can walk. Put me down.”

“No way love, I can feel you through the bond, you can walk, but you are tired. Besides, I like to feel you this close.” She blushed at my comment, and I loved she still responded to me even if she was still sad.

When we reached our room, I gently put her on one of the chairs. She was covered in blood and needed to take a bath urgently.

“Wait for me here love, I’m going to prepare you a bath.” She nodded. I gave her the remote control, so she could watch something while I filled the tub.

It took a while as I waited for the water to get warm. Once it was filled, I put some pine essence that Silvia gave me secretly today. Apparently, that is her favorite scent. The interaction with Silvia made me realize that I had to spend more time with Ivy, we needed to go out on dates to get to know each other more. I looked at the clock on my wrist and it was already twelve. I hope that she wasn’t asleep in the bedroom, and thankfully she wasn’t.

“Ivy, love, the bath is ready.” She started to get up, but I reached her quicker and carried her once again to the bathroom.

I sat her on the counter and helped her get rid of her clothes carefully. She had a bruise on her arm where Sophia’s claws had slashed her. I was amazed by her healing ability. If it had happened to me, I would have needed a few stitches.

“Kaid?” She looked up at me. Her eyes were two magnificent green orbs. The sadness was almost gone by now.

“Yes love. Do you need anything?” She moved her head from side to side to tell me no.

“When do you think we’re going to change?”

“Change?” She nodded. It seemed like I was not getting what she was trying to tell me.

“Yes, when are we going to become Lycans?” And it snapped. I had forgotten that after we marked and mated we could access her Lycan power. Still, I had no idea what to tell her.

“She could ask Athena. She might know.” Atlas interjected. It was a good idea. After all, our wolves had a deeper connection with Selene.

“Atlas suggests that you ask Athena.” She looked at me like I had said something brilliant. Her gestures were so adorable sometimes that I wanted to kiss her all over.

“Athena says that we should prepare for the next full moon. Our transformation may hurt again.” The next full moon? But that was… Oh damn.

“Ivy, that is tomorrow.” She opened her mouth to show her surprise. Everything was happening so quickly that we could barely register the changes.

“Oh? I thought we had a little bit more time.” Sadness was once again evident in her voice. I kissed her cheek and then her lips. I could never get enough of her.

“You don’t want to become the most powerful being on Earth?” I tried to joke to cheer her up. I didn’t like seeing her sad, it didn’t feel right.

“It is not that. I don’t know what to expect. Athena is a constant in my life now, and she is going to change tomorrow. What is it like to be a Lycan?” I knew Ivy probably didn’t have much information as the Lycan’s were like a myth.

When I was crowned I was given access to all the books and knowledge that the council possessed, and even they didn’t have anything about the Lycans.

“I can’t answer that, Ivy. And remember that we are in this together. I’m changing as well.” She gave me a weak smile, proving that she wasn’t happy with the change.

“I’m sorry you and Atlas are dragged into this.” She tried to get off the counter, but I pinned her against the mirror.

I leaned in, and our noses were almost touching. I looked at her lips and saw how her breathing became shallow.

“Don’t apologize for that, Ivy. If I had to go to hell, so we could be together, I'd do it.” I put my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent. Her heart beat loudly against her chest. “Now, I want you to embrace what you are, a very, very powerful queen. The queen that has my heart in her hand.” I kissed her jawline and then her lips. She melted and even let a moan slip.

I put her down and helped her get into the tub. She was disappointed when I told her that I wouldn’t accompany her. She needed a bath to relax her muscles and if I joined her that was going to be the last thing she was going to do. It was hard controlling Atlas. He wanted to take control and make love to her until the sun rose.

Once she was clean, I took a towel and wrapped it around her. I wanted to help her put on her pajamas, but she smacked my hand and told me to go back to the room. Once she was done, she came to our bed and I hugged her.

We slowly drifted to sleep, knowing that finally the people that wanted to hurt her were now gone or in jail.

Only one thing was missing. Her Luna ceremony.