Blood Moon Rising- Book 3

No Enemy to Blame

Conrad POV

I offer palms of surrender as both wolves tensed at my approach, Kon followed at my heels, he nodded in acknowledgement before settling a few paces behind as I continued. Our relationship was still strained at best.

He had, of course, been forgiven wholey by Ivy, I, on the other hand, had not, but was still paying the price of pride.

Though since our last encounter, I'd been thinking more about my faults and aiming to redeem myself in her eyes.

I kneeled in front of the two wolves in front of me, dropping my head, I waited.

"To what do we owe this interruption?" One of the two asked.

I raised my gaze, finding that Broc's had transformed into his human form, as his wolf remained still as stone.

I met Broc's questioning gaze.

"I am in search of answers that I believe you could give?" I finished tensely as my pride stung, when I still was not motioned to stand as Broc was.

He seemed to weigh something, then rubbed the back of his neck, lifting his chin in Kon's direction behind me.

I heard him express a deep sigh, then rustling as he got up, coming to my side, he sat, then Broc looked at me and nodded for me to stand.

"Well, go ahead. Ask." He said with a clipped voice, cold and uninterested, sending a trill of fear through me, remembering the night I'd first encountered him.

"Where's Ivy?" I heard myself say, my voice distant, surprising myself.

"She's no longer..the Ivy you know." Was Broc's reply, something wary and old in his tone.

I blinked before pressing.

"Is she..Ok?" I continued, he gave a tight nod. "What happened?" I asked, before he cut me off.

"How about you asked the other question, the unrelated one, and then I won't have to answer that one." He voiced sharply as if I'd stuck a nerve.

I nod, then look at Kon for a second, but he doesn't meet my eyes.

"What has changed? Who is the Dark queen that's returned?" I asked Brennus and Broc, who seemed to flinch, but quickly recovered.

"Akal." Brennus answered, causing a growl from Broc.

"Who's Akal?" I asked them both.

"Ivy" they both answered, only causing more confusion.

"Ivy is Akal. Akal was Ivy. Both are her and the lost dark Queen." Broc answers, I think for a moment before a thought pulls at my mind.

"Ha..ha..ha f**k sake!" I cursed as my heart prickled at the cruelty of my conclusion. "She was never mine at all! She was always to be yours! What an ironic joke the "Dark Queen" and the "Fobidden King" huh?" I snarl in hurt and frustration, but, neither Wolf rises to my insult.

"No, She was Queen before the thought of either of us existed, I have no part of this and the goddess was but a childish part, for Akal.." Broc pauses on the name for a moment. "Was the first." He finishes. I tilt my head my mood cooling but no closer to understanding.

"So where do you fit in?" I asked, Broc shrugged.

"Depends on Ivy and Akal's balance, within." he answered.

My heart thuds wildly, taking it all in, I didn't understand at all.

"Go for now and think..I'm no longer in the mood to entertain you." Says Broc flippantly before turning and sulking off his head dropped.

I can only watch with Brennus and Kon as he seemed to shrink in size, he hulking form somewhat fragile looking as he disappeared from view as he left the dreamscape.

Akal/Ivy POV

I'd decided that I was no closer to finding my purpose or a balance within staying here.

I needed to go back to the real world to find the next step, Aiser sorry father had agreed begrudingly.

I'd acquired some more causal clothes since the night of the dinner and had packed the ceremonial clothing and cloak back into the trunk in my room.

Clad in jeans, a white button-down blouse with a collar and black pull on heeled boots.

I had barely made it to the door when it swung inward.

"Hey Dad, what do you need?" I asked, my impatience showing.

He raised a brow then threw a jacket at me and swiveled on a heel.

"Be safe, and don't lose that." Was all he offered over his shoulder.

I looked down at the jacket, it was black, seemingly unremarkable, but familiar in the sense of similarity.

I put it on, looking to my full length mirrot I immediately recognised that it resembled my cloak, though thankfully it didn't clasp as that one had, instead had an offside zip and a couple of buckles.

The shoulders were layered in leather scales with silver tips, the chest felt stiff and thick as the back, snakes coiled down the sleeves in an impressive emroidery and, finally upon turning, two wolves gazed at moon on the back, both with colourless eyes.

My mind flashed to a memory that seemed forever ago now. I stood at the foot of the steps of Conrads packhouse, those large wolves gazed at a bloodred moon on stained glass above the doorway.

I shook my head, what was the significance of this design? and why on this jacket of all things?

I already knew that snakes were part of family importance somewhere and I suppose the werewolves would have something to do with this design.

But more than that, I didn't know?

I shook my head, making a note to ask dad when I returned. Till then, I had other things to deal with first.

I couldn't help but smirk as I made my way down the stairwell, to the main door, finally I could meet Broc once more.

Broc POV

Meeting that dumb Alpha had soured my mood, and I found myself awake in the middle of the night staring at the ceiling of my room.

I heaved a heavy sigh, and got out of bed. I suddenly missed my cabin as I left my room into the pack house hallway, its many occupied rooms, increasing the chance of a social encounter I did not want.

Despite the darkness of the unilluminated rooms and hallways, I could see clearly as I descended the stairs and made my way to the kitchen, only to be pulled up short as a smell of caramel and vanilla filled my nose. Though it smelt off, I found myself picking up pace and grinning as I entered the kitchen barreling into another wolf.

I stumbled but managed to embrace them in protection as we both hit the tiles with a thud, the impact cracking a coupleof tiles.

I blinked, the smell was stronger filling my nose, though a snarl still rose in my throat, it was Ivy's scent, but this was not Ivy.

I met a piercing brown-eyed gaze, a petite girl remained frozen in my embrace, her body trembled with fear that rolled off her in waves.

I released her, my temper not cooling a second, I stood, running a hand threw my hair, I began pacing as she gathered herself.

I glimpsed a sight of her exposed clevage.

"Who are you?" I managed to finally ground out.

"Sofie...Sofia" She managed, she seemed about Ivy's age, but now my mind was clear her personal scent was more of chocolate and hazelnut, though the caramel and vanilla was still faint on her.

I sniffed the air, I was sure of it.

I stopped pacing, and moved towards her.

She backed up against the counter, I could hear her heartbeat speed up, but didn't stop.

I leaned in.

Sniffing her, It was definitely there somewhere, suddenly the scent of arousal hit my nostrils.

I took a step back, as her eyes sparkled up at me, a blush on her cheeks, she fluttered her eyelashes, causing me to frown.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"Where'd you get that robe?" I asked, my voice husky and cold, still Sofia seemed entranced, no longer trembling.

"I picked it up from the laundry. I needed one till mine arrived in the post and it wasn't being used." she finished, as relization gripped me.

"Where?" I asked again.

"The laundry?" She replied again more hesitantly.

"Who's laundry?" I pressed.

"Oh um, Meredith's laundry, I asked if I could borrow it and she said only for a little while." Sofia replied, and my restraint failed. I grabbed for the robe belt, a snarl ripping from my throat.

Before pushing Sofia against the kitchen counter, she oblidged as I pushed it from her shoulders, revealing her low cut nighty.

But it wasn't what had my attention. As I peeled the robe from her, she stood looking up at me, my attention was on the robe as I lifted it to my nose drinking in the last traces of Ivy's intoxicating scent.

I gazed at Sofia. The most dangerous mistake for her turned out to be the most rewarding for me.

"Ahh Alpha.." I snapped my eyes too hers as she spoke.

"Do you want to.." She began, a blush flushing her cheeks again, as she raised her nightgown higher.

I blinked, returning to reality.

"No." I replied coldly, before turning on my heels. "I'm taking this." I said over my shoulder as I left.

Ivy/Akal POV

My heart pounded as I watched in confusion as Broc pushed the robe from the she-wolfs shoulders, he'd only had her pinned to the ground in his embrace a moment before and I hoped I'd misunderstood.

I had to of, but watching this as he drank in her scent, I found myself grabbing at my neck, as my heart pounded, as pain torn me up inside.

"Ivy you're back.." came a voice behind me, trailing off as they too took in the scene before us.

I blinked back tears, as the fury and betrayal welled up inside. Shaking my head, I turned around catching Cade's gaze of pain and confusion that mirrored my own.

"It's a misunderstanding, Ivy I mean Akal.." He tried. I let out a humorless laugh, meeting his gaze.

"Ivy is fine Cade, and so was my impression of Broc according to this.. It's so cliche?" I finished, tears began to spike again, shoving my hands in my pockets, I began to walk away, Cade at my heels.

"Ivy come on, you haven't even come to see your mum!" He tries. I looked over at him.

"She's here?" I ask. Cade nods.

"My Mate." He grins, I smile.

"I'm so happy for you and kinda weirded out too?" I offer, he chuckles but shrugs.

"So?" He presses, my heart squeezes and I stop myself from agreeing, finally shaking my head.

"I need to think first." My mind flashed with what I'd just seen, emotions of Conrad's betrayal though diffent came bubbling up too.

Finally I sigh.

"I'll be back ..soon." I replied, refusing to meet Cade's eyes.

Then closing my own, I picture Freestone and teleport, no longer being restrained by distance or my wolf form to do so.

Broc's POV

The door slammed open as I began to climb the stairs. I swiveled, relaxing when Cade entered.

Only to meet his snarling glare, his teeth bared, he swiftly reached me, grabbing my throat.

I tensed, returning his threatening expression in confusion as it hit me.

"Ivy."

Not faint but fresh, real and untainted.

Her scent.

"Where is she?!" I screamed as my gaze now looked past Cade, to the doorway behind him that remained open, but empty.

"What the Hell Broc?!" He snarled, pulling my attention.

"What?" I replied, tensely.

"What were you doing?" He snarled again. Seeing my confusion, he clenched tighter on my throat.

"She saw you." He ground out.

"Saw me?" I asked, as Cade eyes remained frosty.

It hit me. The Girl. The Kitchen. The Robe.

"Nothing happened, I can explain!" I tried, but he shook his head, finally releasing his grip and dropping his hand.

"She's already gone." He replied in disgust, stepping aside.

I didn't wait, but barreled out into the night air, the robe, long forgotten, tossed on the steps inside.

The night was black, but I followed her scent to where she had stood not 100m from the kitchen window.

How had I not sensed her?

The Partols not notified either?

I followed her scent, now mixed with Cade's to the treeline where it abruptly ended like she's walked into thin air.

"She teleported." Cade's voice broke my thoughts as I stood lost in my thoughts.

I merely nodded and remained standing there long after the sun rose again.