Ivy
She was wrought with fear, every time she closed her eyes and attempted to get comfortable. Ivy was jerked awake by a strong pull in the direction of the window in the room. Her body told her that something wasn’t right and spent the last few hours nauseous. She begged for Rowan to give her a sign or a feeling to know her instincts were right. Ivy punched his pillow next to her and huffed as she got up. She wrapped herself in her dressing gown and sent a link to Alex in hopes to make a connection; it failed. Ivy felt nervous and impatient. All she wanted to do was cry which she couldn’t even manage. During her bath that was prepared for her, she sobbed until her eyes were sore and swollen.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal20WaSx55
“Why is no one taking me seriously?” Ivy thought out loud. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU5YdForiP
She knew that Rowan was in danger and even felt it to her core, she thought that she’d almost felt his pain. The feeling was infuriating because it was something so uncommon and that day had been a whirlwind of emotion. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMcditOlMO
Ivy hadn’t had the opportunity to digest the information that Emerson spat at her, like who is was and why he’s here, or why James and Angus are with him. The part that Ivy focused on most was her missing father.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpTrPnws0i
“Are you awake Ivy?” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh9sgCbtM2
A small voice infiltrated her head and she realised it was Alex.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qb2mWMVlM
“Yes, yes I’m awake!” she shouted back through the link. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuCQcVmtUp
Ivy knew he was further away from the house because the connection was weak.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCIjqReTn1
“Is Emerson with you?” he asked.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzShtFV1wN4
“No, he’s in bed. Why?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9CRiuzVvC
“Get dressed and meet us at the Elder Hall.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiq6c3YNg9
It didn’t take long for Ivy to throw her robe onto the bed and to change her clothes. She raced into Alex’s room and started to shake Emerson violently to wake him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0JR6vzOwE
“Get up! Wake up! Hurry up!” she urged. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHQl2Uqlro
“What in heavens,” he mumbled and then realised that it was Ivy standing over him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzachRQBkY
“Are you okay? What is going on?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXQtTb20IA
“Alex told me to wake you and meet them at Elder Hall. Let’s go get James and Angus.”
Emerson shot out of bed and grasped his clothes off the wardrobe door where they were draped and quietly excused himself to the bathroom, blushing. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4FCRWvNv7
“It’s not like I haven’t seen a naked body before Emerson,” Ivy teased.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcULf4hyPG
“Well, you haven’t seen mine,” he called as he walked out from the bathroom fully dressed. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI4V8uhqT7
Emerson struggled to keep up with Ivy’s pace as she quickly walked down the hall and stairs to James and Angus’ quarters. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8qeO7vv4h
“You don’t need to bother,” panted Emerson.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UvbMmNqjN
“Why?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIiOD1f3W7
“They went with Alex.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJQgxab65x
Ivy felt glad that they were there already and impressed that they offered to help Alex find her mate. It made her feel like they had her best interest at heart.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA16CP7W8ZW
“Okay Alex, we’re coming,” Ivy reached out. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJISgncY5h
It didn’t take long to reach the Elder Hall and poor Emerson struggled to keep up the whole way. Ivy was too eager to reach Alex and hopefully get some answers. Even though she hadn’t slept all night, her eyes were wide and alert to their surroundings. The Elder Hall looked creepy in the middle of the night, especially with no lights, which was odd. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQS9eCFMfj
Ivy could make out broad, muscly shadows from the Warriors as they gathered around the front entrance when they arrived. The men talked amongst themselves quietly and shared the same grave emotion. Some looked beaten and the others had a look in their eyes that they’re ready to kill. Ivy scanned the group and couldn’t see Alex.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZmfc80QLK
“Where is Alex?” she asked the group.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxiAfRz30S
“Luna, Alex is tracking and should be returning at any moment,” a Warrior answered, with his head lowered. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkijblng3u
“What’s going on here?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxZzIuJiMb
“We think you should wait for Alex to explain.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6w6yf5jsD
“I think you ought to tell me now Warrior. Alex didn’t drag me out for nothing,” snapped Ivy.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2LF0UmNMJ
The Warrior turned his back slowly and walked up the first few stairs to the main doors of the Hall. He didn’t need to open them completely before the scent hit Ivy’s nostrils, musk and pine.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTbssvca80
“Where is he?” she growled. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Xm6EHfJG9
“Please Luna, wait for Alex,” the Warrior pleaded.
She pushed past the burly man and into the foyer of the Hall. Rowan’s scent was all over the room but no sign of him. No sooner had Ivy walked into the room, she slipped and fell flat on her ass and her hands hit ground first. There were no lights to light up the room, other than a few lanterns the Warriors carried outside. The ground was slippery and sticky to touch.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6extNQR6u
“Give me the goddamn lantern,” she huffed. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnLGniowHR
Ivy heard the Warrior gulp as she heard Angus and James rush in through the door to help her up. She used their strength to pull herself to her feet when Emerson walked in with a lantern.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZM0RaRyTo
“Oh, my dear Moon Priest, have mercy,” he whispered. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBctbxNBrXS
Ivy’s eyes followed his gaze and through the light from the lantern, she saw the foyer covered in blood. She gasped loudly, only thinking the worst.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRFamRZyrJ
“Whose is this?” she asked whoever listened.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthQR8gWnyt
“I’m sure that it isn’t -,” Angus tried to say.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhCjZZyh1N
“I said whose is it?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizqBCDJ8dE
“We don’t know yet Luna. Alex is tracking through the back now to see if there are any clues,” said the Warrior.
Ivy was unable to move her feet and her head swirled again which made her eyes flicker with dizziness.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hUB2zWSg6
“Ivy, perhaps come and sit outside,” suggested Emerson.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5pzbgccnU
He tried to gently pull her arm in the direction of the door. Ivy yanked it away and managed to get down on all fours and smelt the floor. She recognised Rowan’s scent through the blood and knew that some of it was his and her heart sank. It was mixed with scents of others too and prayed that it wasn’t Rowan’s father’s or Adrian. Ivy sat back on her heels and felt a small tear fall from her cheek.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aOgjVRyGO
Where the hell was Olcan? Why couldn’t he shift? Why Rowan? Thoughts circled through her mind, none of which she found answers for. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD9njYakhe
“Is she in here?” Ivy heard Alex murmur to another Warrior outside the door. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJDOACHgWn
He saw her kneeling in the pool of blood and placed his hands on her shoulders. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63QXFEwubX
“He was here Alex. This is him."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fcrcnplub
“I know Ivy. We will find whoever did this too him.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uxoT9w7wz
“He isn’t dead Alex. I would have felt our bond break and I haven’t,” she whispered, trying to hold her emotions in check. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0HaAufxKX
“Well, that’s a start.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvuXpyIxQr
“Who the hell would want to take him?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoBY1S3trb
“I don’t have the answers right now. Maybe we should go get you changed and meet in the morning to figure this out.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3IzNildNu
“Please don’t tell the pack anything tonight. They have been through enough and we’ll tell them when we know more,” Ivy decided.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIE4gb5sjd
“Yes, Luna,” he confirmed.
Emerson walked in front of Ivy and urged her to stand up. She followed his gesture and slowly retreated to the house without another word. Ivy bid the men farewell as they stayed gathered at the bottom of the stairs and discussed her mental wellbeing. Once in her room, Ivy walked to the bathroom and took off her damp clothes. They slapped the ground when they fell from being soaked with blood. Rowan’s blood. She turned the shower on and decided to clean herself. The water burnt her skin and she winced in pain; her skin shifted from white to red as she scrubbed herself clean from the blood that had dried. It felt therapeutic as the water burnt the body part she’d scrubbed and scratched. With one last ditch effort, Ivy used the remainder of her energy to send a probe out to Rowan, but it failed. She was exhausted emotionally and mentally. That day she lost her mate and who she was. She had no idea how to move forward and hoped that Emerson held true to his word to guide her. The only thing that remained on Ivy’s mind was to save Rowan, the ultimate sacrifice for her village, people, and her community. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0kzMb7ciM
It’s dark, damp, and cold. I shiver as a soft breeze trails my skin. My eyes start adjusting to the darkness around me. Looking down at my hands and body, they are bloody, but I realise that I am naked. Trying to mind link to anyone around me, I get blocked time and time again. I try to move my feet forward to head towards the breeze, it must be a way out, but I am knocked back on my ass followed with the rattle of chains. Where am I? My ankles are hurting bad and when I rub the tender flesh, I can feel the thick, cold cuffs locked tight. The chains lead to a stone wall towards the back of what feels like a cave. I can hear running water in the distance and smell a fire burning. I am not in anyone’s territory. I want to be home, warm, and snuggled with my mate. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mvMjpuMFi
Ivy’s body jarred itself awake as the water hits her mouth. She jerked her body upright to avoid drowning and rubbed her eyes. It took some time for her to realise where she was, still in the shower. Ivy passed out with her vision and was crumpled on the shower tiles.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OfP90ybKS
“What the hell was that?” she muttered. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wKuPoSUhk
A dream? A vision? Rowan? 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rmjWR4PL8
She felt an urgency to wake Emerson. If the last few weeks taught her anything it was that her and Rowan had a deep connection, much deeper than most. She wouldn’t sound entirely crazy at the thought they’d be connected through visions too. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ6EufnvMQ
Once dressed, she ran into Alex’s room, where Emerson resided temporarily. Ivy barged through the door without knocking, hoping he’d still be awake. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr8Z4AR7Ef
“Emerson, wake up!” she yelled. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfASLijk69
Ivy threw back the covers and to her surprise, Emerson was missing. She listened for sounds coming from the bathroom and there was nothing to hear. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIb2YLwN0H
“Emerson?” she called again. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHxZQQfRxR
No answer.
Ivy decided to walk back to her room and as she passed the staircase, from the corner of her eye, she saw the foyer light was lit downstairs. She crept down the flight of stairs, until she heard muffled voices coming from the office. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9skgnGW8O
“This is dangerous, we have no idea where he could be. We can’t leave Ivy here on her own and the pack un-guarded,” said a voice.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbriCedX2q
“We have no choice; our Alpha is out there!” came another. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl6QEF90yT
“Emerson, what do you reckon?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxVNz6NFLZ
“I think Ivy should be here and not have secret meetings at night. She would be great help.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtell4N26qg
As Ivy listened closer and snuck closer to the door, she tried to keep her breathing light and deep. If Alex was in the room, he’d be able to hear her increased heartrate, the moment it began to beat faster. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYpG2EbOMG
“I think he’s right aye,” said Angus. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJLJZZf6XW
“We will tell Ivy when we have a plan. She needs rest. Some of us will head out now, myself included.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12xoV5vwnj
“You are not going anywhere without me,” Ivy growled. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfl34HBzxK
She couldn’t let the conversation continue without her presence. Ivy stood in the doorway of the office and eyed each person that was in the room. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXMnNdmF7m
“Ivy!” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AN1mg4tiz
Alex looked surprised. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52JKcb7olI
“What are you all doing here?” she asked.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM2vFEbc32
“We were thinking of ways to find Rowan,” replied Alex.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtitCCXnRe
“Without me?” her voice rose. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qjWyMJX0T
“Well, no, I just wanted to have a game plan to present to you, then tell you.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgwpWraEsj
“So, without me?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQCiLf8T1M
“Ivy, it isn’t like that,” soothed Emerson and tried to calm her down. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBwe6R7GGL
He noticed the veins in her forehead began to bulge whilst she stared down Alex. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx2LIA6RmM
“What’s it like then Emerson? You are supposed to be here to help me, not plot against me.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyyGqCT0Ez
The minute that Ivy ceased eye contact with Alex to respond to Emerson, he sighed in the corner of the room.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27qeK3EWTG
“You,” she turned back to Alex.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm6mt06quz
“You should know most of all that I will want to come too.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6UH2qE3cY
“You, Ivy, should know most of all that if Rowan knew we brought you along and you weren’t safe and in danger, then he’d kill me.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ518JV0zYd1
“Fine, but do not come back crying when you cannot find him, because if you fail me Alex, I will kill you myself.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNY208WqQM
Ivy held her posture straight and commanded Emerson to meet her in the kitchen. She slammed the door as she left and heard Emerson shuffle out behind her. Once Ivy was confident the two were alone in the kitchen, she jerked her body around.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDbnIdxjQm
“What the hell is going on?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr9K22FhbY
“I’m sorry Ivy, I only went to that meeting to convince Alex to let us bring you.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5TFLgeSVl
“US! So, you are going too?” she shouted.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhKMlKBguK
Emerson begged her to keep her voice down.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoc7nS8Ev5
“I told James and Angus that we have to stay here with you, to help you. We won’t be going anywhere.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4QNA4ZZen
His words seemed to calm down the Luna and he watched her breath slower.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2Tbg0vb25
“Emerson, I came to find you. I need to talk about some things.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hha0ZVCEH
He raised his eyes in suspicion, but Ivy didn’t let him answer.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAH3hbS8Ey
“I need to know where I came from and where I’m supposed to belong.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiTbJOjUBK
“I think you are too tired for this conversation. You’ve had a huge day and I think you need rest.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8JbdQu0mf
“I cannot think of anything worse,” Ivy rolled her eyes. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPazGnIFUF
“You were born in Lycan country. The most beautiful and green of all. We have all sorts of different communities in one great big village. The Lycan’s despite the stories, are a welcoming group, we just do things differently.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBHQ9GESEx
“How?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV08mtZardl
“There is a spiritual belief system and most of the day-to-day business is run through prophecies and what’s to come. There are some Lycan’s, like where I come from that can speak to Ancestors through meditation.”
Emerson lit up whilst he spoke about his home, and Ivy could tell that he missed it. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozPLcyspvP
“What do the Royals do?” asked Ivy.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqhlPtXhVI
“The Royals tend to our needs, they make sure that everything runs smoothly and are constantly being advised by the Ancient Speakers of big events,” he sighed. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkv4zRTRFH
“So, they would know about me?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtF5PwohUg
“Yes. They knew about you when you were born.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKjx37S2zj
“Who took me?” she pushed.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf6YCjxgjo
“Ivy, do you really want to get into this now?” Emerson yawned.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcww3tGZeu4
“I need to know Emerson, who took me?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8yX8zR0YI
“The person that you know as ‘Dad’,” he stated. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGNRhRunJH
Ivy gasped in astonishment. Somewhere in the back of her mind the thought that perhaps her parents found her dumped, in the forest somewhere, and that they were innocent. She thought that maybe they just took in a small, orphaned child and didn’t think anything of it. Emerson grew concerned about Ivy’s silence. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYSKakRZnR
“Ivy?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefwkHh9uWH
“How do you know this?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw2MAxUHhC
“Our community knows this. The King and Queen were most upset and still are. They have not feared your safety because they knew who you were destined to become. In fact, their advisors always keep them up to date with what’s going on.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc1gAQxCQH
“They watch me?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hm2yliGck
“From afar but never too close,” confirmed Emerson.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRgxlvl9wV
“So, what happened?”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhbzDaPf4F
“Alan came to the Lycan territory and requested funds for a war against another territory in the South. He promised many things like Lycan expansion into the South and free passage for trade. The King denied his request. They did not want to be involved in such things at the time and Alan used his mate to affiliate herself within the castle, as if she were part of the kitchen staff. When she had her chance to take you, she did.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ9f0kZWDC
“It’s hard to imagine Dad asking for any help,” Ivy murmured. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjPbX0tveF
“The war ultimately came to him. Lycan’s uprooted everything in Alan’s territory looking f or you, with no luck. It turned out they had you squirreled away in a cave somewhere in the forest. When they got to the South, Alan had already run with our most prized possession. He contacted Harold and his army and then they attacked the Lycan’s from behind.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ676iEw1qri
As Emerson continued his story, Ivy reached for the chair. The information became too much to handle. The past few weeks were a whirlwind for her and yet somehow, her own father was always behind it. She’d learnt mate ship, friendship, leadership, lies and deceit in quick succession.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyERLy1Wij8
“They always kept a close eye on you through communication with the Ancients. They were told them that you’d return, which has kept hope alive in the community. I was born and when they realised what and who I was, they made sure I had the best training and schooling. I stayed in the castle, hidden from the world so I could bring you home.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLix4KyfN8
“Wait, you want to take me back?” asked Ivy, shocked. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9etqNc1i10
“Not now Ivy, and not to live. Maybe someday I can guide you back to where you belong, but you are needed here for now.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjfT5jTkoT
“What do you mean ‘for now’ Emerson? I am Luna to this pack; my place is here forever.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vzubLRvS6
Ivy started to panic and knew that Rowan would kill her Companion for suggesting such a thing. Emerson stared at her like he tried searching her soul, searching for answers. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldSvXa45Te
“We will talk about that later; you need at least a few hours sleep. You will tell the pack what is going on at breakfast. They will help you and then we will decide what we are going to do.”
