Substitute Luna, Runaway With His Quadruplets

8. Ice Moon Pack

Ivy’s POV

I run and run as if I could run forever. I love this new wolf body!

I soon leave the forest and I come out on a deserted lumber road. I know I must get further away from the mental hospital. Who knows who might be following me? Soon enough Theodore will be notified about my escape and he can send out an entire search party to look for me. I need to get far away.

I’m not sure which direction to go. I look one way and then the other. When I look back, in the distance I see a big 4 x 4 vehicle coming toward me. I rush into the trees and I shift back to human.

The vehicle stops right in front of my hiding place. I young man leaves the car. He says, “Ivy Carter, we know that you’re in there. We’re here to rescue you.”

I look out carefully so that they can’t see me but I can see them. Are they from the mental hospital? And why do they call me Ivy Carter? I have no family name. Who is Ivy Carter?

A much older man comes out of the car followed by a group of others. The older man speaks.

“Ivy Carter, you are my granddaughter. We have been looking for you for many years. I am Dawson Carter and you are the heiress of the Ice Moon Pack. We have come to take you home.”

Can this be true? I’m so confused. What is going on?

Dawson lifts up his shirt. On his chest is a birthmark: a half moon with a full moon next to it. I gasp. It’s exactly like my birthmark.

“Everyone in the Alpha family of the Ice Moon Pack is tattooed with this symbol at birth. If you have it, you will know that what I’m saying is the truth. I have been looking for you for so many years.”

I slowly leave the trees. When I do, all of the people from the vehicle, they are five in all, bow to the ground except Dawson. He holds his arms out to me.

“Ivy, my granddaughter, let us finally take you home.”

I go to him and my new life, my real life begins.

***

Five Years Later

I go through the last pages of the financial statements for the Ice Moon Pack’s business empire. The entire north belongs to the pack and the business interests are many. We are the most powerful wolf pack in the country.

I finish the statements and set them to the side.

“And? How’s everything?” Dawson asks.

I smile because I know he’s already gone through the statements. “It’s looking good.”

“It’s looking fantastic! Ivy, you have a real knack for business. You’ve increased the pack’s assets many times over. I’m seriously impressed. You’re a supreme leader. The pack is blessed to have you.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.” Impressing Dawson is not easy and getting a compliment from him even harder. I must remember this moment.

I’ve only known him for five years but I love him as if he’s been in my life the entire time. In some ways I guess he has, in my flesh and me in his.

I sometimes become bitter about the years I lost, away from him and my wolf pack, the years spent with Silver Claw. All of the terrible things that took place there. Then I remember to be grateful that he finally found me and that I am here now.

Dylan, my brother, adopted by my parents before they died, bursts in shouting. “Ivy, I want to know…” He stops in his tracks when he sees Dawson.

“Grandfather, I didn’t see you. How are you this morning?” he says in a much softer tone.

Dawson smiles. He knows the battles that Dylan and I fight. He thinks it’s healthy, to a point. It keeps us on our toes.

“I’ll leave you to talk to your sister. I hear the urgency of your words.” He leaves.

Dylan turns to me his anger back on show. “Listen Ivy, I’m tired of you going over my head and making decisions without me! We are co-leaders of this pack until Dawson chooses who will be Alpha. Until then, you need to learn to keep me in the loop!”

I’m so tired of his nonsense. I am the blood heir, he knows this. I will lead Ice Moon Pack. I leave him to pretend he has a chance, but my patience is wearing thin.

“What do you think I’ve done now, Dylan?”

“You cancelled the Apex Building project without discussing it with me. Why would you do that? That’s a massive project that could earn the pack a lot of money!”

“Yes. I cancelled it. I went though the business plan and it made no financial sense. I will not invest the pack’s money on risky gambles.”

“You’ve infuriated Montague. He’d already invested a lot in the project. He’s an ally, we need him.”

Montague, a business man specialising in building and real estate, was my ally. Then I caught him going behind my back, joining sides with Dylan. I will not tolerate disloyalty.

“Montague can throw all of his toys out of his cot, but I will not be budging on this issue. He’s not my ally. And in any case that’s not how I do business. He’s your big friend, you fund Apex.”

Dylan’s eyes glow green, I hear a low growl. He stares at me in anger. He knows better than to confront me in that way. I’ve shown him in the past the power of my wolf. He knows not to step there again.

He storms out just as my bodyguard, personal assistant, and my most loyal friend, Ryder arrives. I exhale, happy to see him.

“What’s up with him today?” Ryder asks.

“The Apex project I canned. Trying to bully me into giving his friend Montague a break.”

“Montague is beginning to be a serious problem. I hope you told him to go to Hell.”

I laugh. “I did just that, if slightly more diplomatic.”

Ryder hands me a letter. “There’s another one. I think you should give this more thought.”

I see the crest before opening the letter and I know it’s from the Alpha of Silver Claw Pack, Theodore. This is the third letter we’ve received from him.

He wants to set up a business partnership with the Ice Moon Pack. Silver Claw is very strong in the South, not as strong at Ice Moon in the north though. A partnership could be beneficial to both packs.

Theodore has no idea that I’m is the leader of the Ice Moon Pack. Once he discovers that, if they decide on the meeting, it will be problematic.

“No. We’re not doing this. It’s too dangerous for me. I don’t want to go back to all that I ran away from. It’s just not worth it.”

“Ivy, I get that, I really do. But you won’t be going back the way that you were. They can’t do anything to you now. The Ice Moon pack controls the entire north. We’re the most powerful pack in the land and you are our leader. They need us, not the other way around.”

“We’re fine. Our business interests are good, they’re growing. We don’t need to do this. It could backfire. Even Dawson is happy with how things are going.”

I like my life, I don’t want to have to deal with Theodore ever again. The danger such a meeting poses for me is too much.

Ryder sits down across from me. “It’s not Dawson we need to worry about. Dylan is making moves, big moves. Montague knows many powerful people. We need to position you so that Dylan has no chance of success.”

“I’m not sure he has the power you think he does. Dawson will choose me. Blood is thicker than water.” I hate to pull that card, but if I need to I will.

“You’re right. Dylan doesn’t have the power—yet. I can smell danger around Montague. Montague’s greed for money and Dylan’s greed for power are a deadly combination. They might make moves without Dawson’s approval.”

“Do you really think so? Would Dylan do that to the man who raised him? I thought he loved Dawson.” This is troubling to hear.

“Maybe he does, but he wants to lead Ice Moon Pack. Before you arrived he always knew that it was his destiny. He doesn’t like the complications that you’ve caused in his life.”

“I know that. Still I don’t think he’d usurp Dawson’s leadership.”

“Let’s just meet these Silver Claw people. A meeting only. Hear what they have to say. We keep it quiet. If it seems feasible, we get it done. You’ll be untouchable after that.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Alright. Tomorrow we decide. Trust me. You are the princess of the Ice Moon pack. Let this Theodore see you and your power. I will never let anyone harm you. You have nothing to fear.”

I look at this giant beautiful man, beautiful inside and out. “I know, Ryder. I just need some time.”

He leaves and I look again at the letter. Does Ryder really know what price I will have to pay to see Theodore again? The danger those I love may be in if I do? The danger I’ll be in?

Could it ever be worth it?