The Ivy's Blood

CHAPTER 5

Lyra – POV

The marble in the east hallway was difficult to clean even on the best days, its veined brown tiles concealed smudges in deceptive swirls, making perfection nearly impossible. Today, under Kaelen’s orders, I was expected to make the entire corridor spotless. Not a speck of dirt, he had said, or I would face the consequences.

So I scrubbed. On my knees. My arms ached. My palms were raw. And still, I cleaned. I had learned to work in silence. To shrink myself. To be invisible. But that was never enough.

A pair of laughing voices echoed down the hall. I looked up without raising my head too far.

Estelle, radiant and smug, entered with her arm linked through that of an older man, Alpha Deron. Her father.

Alpha of the Silver Hollow Pack.

A high-ranking businessman. Political ally. Influencer. Now future father-in-law to the mate he believed his daughter had been destined for.

“I’m so proud of you, my princess,” Deron said, smiling. “Finally, you’ll be with the Alpha you deserve.”

Estelle giggled and leaned into his side. “You’re just impatient to walk me down the aisle.”

“And why shouldn’t I be?” he said proudly. “Your match with Kaelen is powerful, an alliance like this will echo through generations.”

Their laughter grew louder until it clashed awkwardly with the sight of me on the floor.

I kept scrubbing. Pretended not to notice.

“Is that the... former Luna?” Deron muttered, voice low but not quiet enough.

“Yes,” Estelle whispered, amused. “Still hanging around like a lost dog. She begged Kaelen for a few months. Said something about honoring his father’s dying wish.”

“She’s working as a maid?” he asked, almost delighted.

Estelle nodded with an exaggerated pout. “She’s stubborn. I’d have sent her away weeks ago.”

They laughed together, careless and cruel. But I heard every word.

Bane stirred. “They mock you because they’re afraid of what you haven’t yet become.”

I gripped the mop harder, breathing slow and steady. Not yet, I told her. Not yet.

---

“Welcome!” Kaelen’s voice rang from the grand entrance.

I didn’t need to look up to know his smirk was already plastered across his face.

“Alpha Deron,” Kaelen greeted with performative warmth, shaking the man’s hand. “You honor me.”

“Soon-to-be son-in-law,” Deron beamed. “The pleasure is mine.”

Kaelen turned slightly, his eyes flicking to me. “Still here?” he said under his breath, just loud enough for his guests to hear. “You’d better be gone when I return. Unless you’d prefer to scrub the walls with your tongue.”

Estelle laughed a little too loudly.

I said nothing. I wasn’t supposed to.

Kaelen led his guests away, but not before issuing another order: “Bring refreshments. Quickly.”

---

When I entered the main sitting room with a silver tray balanced in my hands, they were talking wedding details between bursts of ego.

“I just hope Estelle can keep modeling,” Deron said between sips of wine. “Her fans adore her.”

“Of course,” Kaelen replied. “She’s a star. I wouldn’t dare stand in her way.”

Estelle nestled into her father’s side, eyes gleaming. “I’ve already booked a post-wedding shoot in Crescent Bay.”

“Two packs. One legacy,” Deron added, lifting his glass. “An unstoppable force.”

I approached quietly, ready to serve the drinks.

But just as I neared Alpha Deron, my foot snagged. Time slowed and the tray tilted. The glasses toppled. Juice spilled across Alpha Deron’s expensive coat in a sticky, glistening mess.

The room went still.

Deron sprang to his feet, roaring. “Are you blind?! What kind of imbecile—!”

“I—I didn’t—” I stammered, looking down to see what had tripped me.

Estelle’s foot slid back into place beneath her gown. She had done it, she set me up.

But she was already in character. “Father!” she gasped with perfect distress.

“Alpha Deron, please!” Kaelen rushed forward, arms extended.

But the old man slapped his hands away. “Look at me! Soaked! Ruined!”

“I am so sorry,” Kaelen said again, but Deron wouldn’t hear it.

“I don’t know why this woman is still under your roof! You promised she’d be gone!”

I opened my mouth. “It wasn’t my fault—”

“Silence!” Deron snapped. “You’ve embarrassed me! You think I’ll trust my daughter’s happiness with this… this stray?”

“Alpha Deron—”

But he was already storming toward the door. Estelle followed him, fake tears in her eyes.

“Please, Father, don’t leave!”

Kaelen tried to salvage the moment, but they were gone.

And then he turned. His steps were slow and dangerous.

I backed up, hands shaking. “Kaelen, I didn’t—”

The slap came without warning. Pain exploded across my cheek, and I fell to the floor, breath knocked from my lungs.

For a moment, everything tilted.

And then I saw them.

My fingers, trembling on the tile, elongating. Nails sharpening and skin vibrating.

My wolf was fighting.

“Is this why you stayed?” Kaelen shouted. “To sabotage me?! To ruin my wedding before it even happens?”

I clutched my stomach, trying to breathe.

Inside me, Bane howled. “Let me out.”

“No,” I whispered through gritted teeth.

“Let me OUT, Lyra. I will tear him apart.”

“I can’t,” I gasped. “Not yet—”

Kaelen kicked the table over. “GUARDS!”

Two large enforcers appeared at the doorway.

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Take her to the servant quarters. Lock her in. No food. No water. Let her rot until she remembers her place.”

The guards moved toward me. I didn’t resist. But as they dragged me down the corridor, I didn’t cry. I didn’t plead. I listened.

“You are holding a forest fire inside your bones,” Bane whispered in my ear. “When you let it burn, they will beg for smoke.”