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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyS7NV9tvo
“Why is no one taking me seriously?” Ivy thought out loud. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkEl8XDBIY
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnNO6Xmgn5
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor4hj7dLze
“Are you awake Ivy?” 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOXRz1AIVC
A small voice infiltrated her head and she realised it was Alex.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJWY9G34ba
“Yes, yes I’m awake!” she shouted back through the link. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa6xoue0Ne
Ivy knew he was further away from the house because the connection was weak.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NVQVXTGrb
“Is Emerson with you?” he asked.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa5faojvqf
“No, he’s in bed. Why?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuHfddkJFg
“Get dressed and meet us at the Elder Hall.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNANIO8gwz
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLgR0yOyp6
“Get up! Wake up! Hurry up!” she urged. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGVFjsXEj1
“What in heavens,” he mumbled and then realised that it was Ivy standing over him.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnWG6A4Qcs
“Are you okay? What is going on?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2CYSwnRhb
“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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPWt6nIb6d
“It’s not like I haven’t seen a naked body before Emerson,” Ivy teased.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrIiIdKud8
“Well, you haven’t seen mine,” he called as he walked out from the bathroom fully dressed. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgsfZCbHRD
Emerson struggled to keep up with Ivy’s pace as she quickly walked down the hall and stairs to James and Angus’ quarters. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7YJr9TeV6
“You don’t need to bother,” panted Emerson.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT1uXYCd9x
“Why?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwwHL410cv
“They went with Alex.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPzcbP2eyG
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRhnaLTSaY
“Okay Alex, we’re coming,” Ivy reached out. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwIF0ni87k
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjZHBKN9HO
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIgV8lO78Z
“Where is Alex?” she asked the group.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2MFWuj51p
“Luna, Alex is tracking and should be returning at any moment,” a Warrior answered, with his head lowered. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tdNWXEYUk
“What’s going on here?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87Dg6PB4Rb
“We think you should wait for Alex to explain.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOT6WXWocC
“I think you ought to tell me now Warrior. Alex didn’t drag me out for nothing,” snapped Ivy.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIDQwPxLLv
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ7ZJVk6oN
“Where is he?” she growled. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitTNmyxKvt
“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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqwc9GMnHt
“Give me the goddamn lantern,” she huffed. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND0UgMlNJO
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuvIMALnBB
“Oh, my dear Moon Priest, have mercy,” he whispered. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDbWUDqugZ
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtaksBT9i7
“Whose is this?” she asked whoever listened.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjHrUnU1X3
“I’m sure that it isn’t -,” Angus tried to say.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD50snxgpqf
“I said whose is it?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqB6UBczlW
“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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRm7sJfNOU
“Ivy, perhaps come and sit outside,” suggested Emerson.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTOakrszLH
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qQvTLlQEe
Where the hell was Olcan? Why couldn’t he shift? Why Rowan? Thoughts circled through her mind, none of which she found answers for. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynEzwZ4H38
“Is she in here?” Ivy heard Alex murmur to another Warrior outside the door. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuOtJLprMB
He saw her kneeling in the pool of blood and placed his hands on her shoulders. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VSGX5q0ij
“He was here Alex. This is him."91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMtif6I2TE
“I know Ivy. We will find whoever did this too him.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnBIJLpRMG
“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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ0G0HK0wy
“Well, that’s a start.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF11UJ0xlOG
“Who the hell would want to take him?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0A78fILEX2
“I don’t have the answers right now. Maybe we should go get you changed and meet in the morning to figure this out.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP4AjN4ZR0
“Please don’t tell the pack anything tonight. They have been through enough and we’ll tell them when we know more,” Ivy decided.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyJ4F6hvyg
“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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzmDIZ9k5L
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEm4zQCZvT
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsDG7acUKR
“What the hell was that?” she muttered. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysRxmoF040
A dream? A vision? Rowan? 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Uza5YNTwj
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdUy5VpqW1
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCMZBVYTgs
“Emerson, wake up!” she yelled. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6HPpFla8s
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEDByVxKij
“Emerson?” she called again. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbusEOzLJKP
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6FWxnTI8L
“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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCknmb8f8Qz
“We have no choice; our Alpha is out there!” came another. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUU85dNukm
“Emerson, what do you reckon?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdMWaLYBp2
“I think Ivy should be here and not have secret meetings at night. She would be great help.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubiLJQiONB
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrl1pFOKR9
“I think he’s right aye,” said Angus. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPGUEnmOpY
“We will tell Ivy when we have a plan. She needs rest. Some of us will head out now, myself included.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVSeY6IpLv
“You are not going anywhere without me,” Ivy growled. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b8NzAEacx
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsMOBZP4qJ
“Ivy!” 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8pqGErqUM
Alex looked surprised. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeX0J3M8Jf
“What are you all doing here?” she asked.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2W38uW8IV
“We were thinking of ways to find Rowan,” replied Alex.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE5M0CSiYu
“Without me?” her voice rose. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W6kmM52MQ
“Well, no, I just wanted to have a game plan to present to you, then tell you.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TA3Q59kLW
“So, without me?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz88KeTDcW
“Ivy, it isn’t like that,” soothed Emerson and tried to calm her down. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0dzV4pZkM
He noticed the veins in her forehead began to bulge whilst she stared down Alex. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlrsTv0w30
“What’s it like then Emerson? You are supposed to be here to help me, not plot against me.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaM8a4aJ3y
The minute that Ivy ceased eye contact with Alex to respond to Emerson, he sighed in the corner of the room.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMFpBrLpM2
“You,” she turned back to Alex.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyyCLtTP3R
“You should know most of all that I will want to come too.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jLWwgMs0n
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSVaWUIP69
“Fine, but do not come back crying when you cannot find him, because if you fail me Alex, I will kill you myself.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzApOq4vLWm
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2A9qfXcNz
“What the hell is going on?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALSjC5QjbT
“I’m sorry Ivy, I only went to that meeting to convince Alex to let us bring you.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLoCIe4lHb
“US! So, you are going too?” she shouted.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmrPzAVRsx
Emerson begged her to keep her voice down.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy2CdABAGf
“I told James and Angus that we have to stay here with you, to help you. We won’t be going anywhere.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5oYNxR29R
His words seemed to calm down the Luna and he watched her breath slower.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUqsUmAZLB
“Emerson, I came to find you. I need to talk about some things.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd25lfdfAl3
He raised his eyes in suspicion, but Ivy didn’t let him answer.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxazcjZKz8
“I need to know where I came from and where I’m supposed to belong.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iUKWzgayT
“I think you are too tired for this conversation. You’ve had a huge day and I think you need rest.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLBGHBabYx
“I cannot think of anything worse,” Ivy rolled her eyes. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy1KVrLqlJ
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCU2ptuaES
“How?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcd74MGtmp
“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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNOFrKDUop
“What do the Royals do?” asked Ivy.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01SJViPtBr
“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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ6WgxQV23
“So, they would know about me?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyXk9miro1
“Yes. They knew about you when you were born.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigT8vqZQrA
“Who took me?” she pushed.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAT5ygRvvK
“Ivy, do you really want to get into this now?” Emerson yawned.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhhrJ8YD9Y
“I need to know Emerson, who took me?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JxINSbpIm
“The person that you know as ‘Dad’,” he stated. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhZmF7bCgN
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMoiJZcUCw
“Ivy?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PzSxK3kuc
“How do you know this?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLrqdsvwIt
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTqgURyRY5
“They watch me?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAjdx6LiDR
“From afar but never too close,” confirmed Emerson.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxTurWFfSn
“So, what happened?”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAAh2spQzV
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSiHh5fDWK
“It’s hard to imagine Dad asking for any help,” Ivy murmured. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTTCRN7ety
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPfbSNiBZe
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.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdUez9ZRth
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpTnq7OuIw
“Wait, you want to take me back?” asked Ivy, shocked. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM29pirxm0v
“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.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHK2IhIlqD
“What do you mean ‘for now’ Emerson? I am Luna to this pack; my place is here forever.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwojPitf53y
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. 91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GXASzLOGv
“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.”
