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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0bFSoj9f6
“Why is no one taking me seriously?” Ivy thought out loud. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dGCAoW9Ji
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl38BQsH1l
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX1CiHw4wJ
“Are you awake Ivy?” 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNtUHN1Msf
A small voice infiltrated her head and she realised it was Alex.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoeDnhuAFW
“Yes, yes I’m awake!” she shouted back through the link. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4VNFNug2a
Ivy knew he was further away from the house because the connection was weak.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LgJFLjRIZ
“Is Emerson with you?” he asked.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBk0TldJoV
“No, he’s in bed. Why?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoWEdyf5CR
“Get dressed and meet us at the Elder Hall.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBoJ1GWn5D
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssCH3ORJwA
“Get up! Wake up! Hurry up!” she urged. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOFwHmKvpp
“What in heavens,” he mumbled and then realised that it was Ivy standing over him.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCcV6MYVW8
“Are you okay? What is going on?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi7U9iJPbY
“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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF1fcloC3j
“It’s not like I haven’t seen a naked body before Emerson,” Ivy teased.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYKWwEQ2tp
“Well, you haven’t seen mine,” he called as he walked out from the bathroom fully dressed. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrY2qTUqfD
Emerson struggled to keep up with Ivy’s pace as she quickly walked down the hall and stairs to James and Angus’ quarters. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSgg4c99SL
“You don’t need to bother,” panted Emerson.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3REpm6VWE
“Why?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fzZhbYxBG
“They went with Alex.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIxi2kilgu
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMmnrk7ei5
“Okay Alex, we’re coming,” Ivy reached out. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYvOEuhZgk
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B29Z3mMfB
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnRhJ2oHIx
“Where is Alex?” she asked the group.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG0MZIYNkn
“Luna, Alex is tracking and should be returning at any moment,” a Warrior answered, with his head lowered. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok1MIB955c
“What’s going on here?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisR2wH9adW
“We think you should wait for Alex to explain.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrsVpsExka
“I think you ought to tell me now Warrior. Alex didn’t drag me out for nothing,” snapped Ivy.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIuby5xXsy
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwVJnBO7OG
“Where is he?” she growled. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJFxk7qx5V
“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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj7phkwVfx
“Give me the goddamn lantern,” she huffed. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgnMTDEM9H
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUh8dEzRAF
“Oh, my dear Moon Priest, have mercy,” he whispered. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWavFEaii6
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfAi6qWZIg
“Whose is this?” she asked whoever listened.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2W6rPgOT7
“I’m sure that it isn’t -,” Angus tried to say.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3eM272KGb
“I said whose is it?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9cUQnQ4K3
“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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI8n0MHqVC
“Ivy, perhaps come and sit outside,” suggested Emerson.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtOu910h0Z
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjCldYYATD
Where the hell was Olcan? Why couldn’t he shift? Why Rowan? Thoughts circled through her mind, none of which she found answers for. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQlEjh4Mbv
“Is she in here?” Ivy heard Alex murmur to another Warrior outside the door. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqLujJNT2Z
He saw her kneeling in the pool of blood and placed his hands on her shoulders. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ3XJfnv8Q
“He was here Alex. This is him."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLcu86u96D
“I know Ivy. We will find whoever did this too him.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU62Ofi7rgj
“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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iu37Z87Ou
“Well, that’s a start.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnIRoQvFSm
“Who the hell would want to take him?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qL89WeaOw
“I don’t have the answers right now. Maybe we should go get you changed and meet in the morning to figure this out.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jakdbPXsV
“Please don’t tell the pack anything tonight. They have been through enough and we’ll tell them when we know more,” Ivy decided.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF258XQEhQA
“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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p7iznES7r
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZlXenRBdF
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EKo3kB6yK
“What the hell was that?” she muttered. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlhdxrYaJj
A dream? A vision? Rowan? 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT6gtTRbSx
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7oEKSRWi7
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyp8b5JJkZ
“Emerson, wake up!” she yelled. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IFncTh3nD
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UofKR4cgf
“Emerson?” she called again. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzr7LORb55
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhAePABVP7
“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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlO8UtWJR7
“We have no choice; our Alpha is out there!” came another. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEokG5tpvw
“Emerson, what do you reckon?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdcKc5gRls
“I think Ivy should be here and not have secret meetings at night. She would be great help.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWJ9I1GmqD
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfnnEQKYh1
“I think he’s right aye,” said Angus. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkpcVzIg1f
“We will tell Ivy when we have a plan. She needs rest. Some of us will head out now, myself included.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9avPLjAekq
“You are not going anywhere without me,” Ivy growled. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQlynTs7yb
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMDpKcHPGV
“Ivy!” 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSZ7Z8ndtv
Alex looked surprised. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lWGYkIpzq
“What are you all doing here?” she asked.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CmGbRO249
“We were thinking of ways to find Rowan,” replied Alex.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWOdUT2yLs
“Without me?” her voice rose. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bug9Q7HTE
“Well, no, I just wanted to have a game plan to present to you, then tell you.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRSjLUJJZT
“So, without me?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe9q63buUb
“Ivy, it isn’t like that,” soothed Emerson and tried to calm her down. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUWGMLiR1Q
He noticed the veins in her forehead began to bulge whilst she stared down Alex. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOo9vls5KM
“What’s it like then Emerson? You are supposed to be here to help me, not plot against me.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikdb15rXRp
The minute that Ivy ceased eye contact with Alex to respond to Emerson, he sighed in the corner of the room.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5XxrhdnkQ
“You,” she turned back to Alex.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ246I6aYwGl
“You should know most of all that I will want to come too.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB7CmCKi72
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLKwDQO74T
“Fine, but do not come back crying when you cannot find him, because if you fail me Alex, I will kill you myself.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqv6UndWrd
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE9oGMW00E
“What the hell is going on?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd59XF64jLy
“I’m sorry Ivy, I only went to that meeting to convince Alex to let us bring you.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOAXCeAyjg
“US! So, you are going too?” she shouted.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aMOTrCWEa
Emerson begged her to keep her voice down.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgD1cLTjye
“I told James and Angus that we have to stay here with you, to help you. We won’t be going anywhere.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcamqbANScQ
His words seemed to calm down the Luna and he watched her breath slower.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkBpCOryBo
“Emerson, I came to find you. I need to talk about some things.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDqNaVLUQC
He raised his eyes in suspicion, but Ivy didn’t let him answer.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vJxmHb6LB
“I need to know where I came from and where I’m supposed to belong.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZFEQK2dLP
“I think you are too tired for this conversation. You’ve had a huge day and I think you need rest.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQnvBj7fXq
“I cannot think of anything worse,” Ivy rolled her eyes. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep9yZMe9w0
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzELVDBTBbF
“How?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEzK3dWRi2
“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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8HVaUos0n
“What do the Royals do?” asked Ivy.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cOMKuC27j
“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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KxUpbSCeJ
“So, they would know about me?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfbF23707N
“Yes. They knew about you when you were born.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAPKsxJfYl
“Who took me?” she pushed.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0chq3YZjI
“Ivy, do you really want to get into this now?” Emerson yawned.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcWwQ7ixWT
“I need to know Emerson, who took me?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWPXlwnymA
“The person that you know as ‘Dad’,” he stated. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknRsLK72jU
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhjOn21Dy5
“Ivy?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVbQfIkmWV
“How do you know this?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl42arTFwg
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h63hj6N1K
“They watch me?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOuOwE1aJu
“From afar but never too close,” confirmed Emerson.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrvgyOSahn
“So, what happened?”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuJTgELgE2
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxXt8Pp21u
“It’s hard to imagine Dad asking for any help,” Ivy murmured. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLaBNx88xu
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbYQmaTkMM
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.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DqKx6zJsO
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwXgrLxKnB
“Wait, you want to take me back?” asked Ivy, shocked. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ5pfVEmrw
“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.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspCXst2SaE
“What do you mean ‘for now’ Emerson? I am Luna to this pack; my place is here forever.”87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwAGaAPXLe
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. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjyIFKL3V9
“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.”
