The Ivy's Blood

Lyra – POV My heart skipped a beat the second I saw Kaelen embracing Estelle, his lips closer to hers, his fingers wrapped in her hair. I remained frozen at the entrance, my heart splitting in half. I had imagined in my head numerous ways this day would unfold. None of them included finding my husband, the Alpha of Ironshade, proposing to another woman in our bed. “I’ll marry you,” Estelle whispered, her voice dripping with delight. “I am prepared to be your real mate.” And instead of standing, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him with a kiss which I could never match. This was to be our anniversary and the first as married people. I stood holding a present, a crumbled-up report of the hospital, shaking in my hands. I’m carrying his child. His heir. But Kaelen had never looked at me with love. Not once since his father forced our mating. I was chosen, not cherished. The only night he ever touched me, the night he made me his in name and in body, left behind this fragile spark of hope growing inside me. I thought maybe... just maybe, if he knew about the baby, something would change. But indeed I was mistaken. Estelle exhaled deeply and lifted her hand, where a silver ring shimmered in the dim glow of the bedroom. “I am yours, Kaelen. No more secrets. No more hiding.” “You’re the only person I've ever desired,” Kaelen whispered, placing kisses on her neck. “You’re my true Luna.” The sobbing clawed its way up my throat, that I swallowed it in. I stepped back against the wall next to the doorway. I white-knuckled the report in my hand. Tears silently trickled down out of my eyes. “Where do I stand, Moon Goddess?” I whispered. “Was I ever more than a pawn?” A sudden voice cut through the fog of heartbreak. “What are you doing here?!” I flinched. Kaelen and Estelle stood at the doorway now, both staring at me like I was dirt beneath their feet. Estelle's voice curled with venom. “Were you spying, you shameless little leech?” She stormed toward me, hand raised, but Kaelen caught her wrist mid-air and pulled her back into his arms, soothing her with a brush through her hair. “Easy, love. She isn’t worth your energy,” he murmured, eyes never leaving mine. “She won’t be around much longer.” Estelle scoffed. “You said you were getting rid of her. Why is she still breathing in our home?” Our home. As if I were already gone. Kaelen turned his gaze on me, cold as winter. “I told you not to come near my quarters.” My voice trembled, but I spoke. “It’s... our anniversary.” For a heartbeat, silence. And then they laughed. Together. A cruel, unified sound that cracked something inside me. “Anniversary?” Estelle mocked, lifting her hand again to flash the ring. “Kaelen, tell her.” He stepped forward, his smirk twisted with contempt. “You were never my mate. You were a duty. A burden. A wolfless orphan my father took pity on.” Estelle's smile widened. “You hear that? He was never yours.” Kaelen placed his hand over his heart and said, “I, Alpha Kaelen of Ironshade, reject you, Lyra.” Pain surged through my chest. It seemed as though my spirit had been torn away. I stumbled back, grasping my chest, attempting to inhale amid the pain. They observed and remained unaffected. My knees gave way, but I grasped the wall, finding my balance. Estelle's gaze then tightened. “What’s that?” I looked down. The report was still in my hand. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, hiding it behind me. Too late. Estelle lunged, snatching the paper from my grip. “No!” I cried, but Kaelen blocked my way. He stood upright, his golden eyes shimmering softly. Estelle's expression changed from arrogant to astonished. "Are you expecting a baby?" Kaelen grabbed the report from her and read it. His jaw tightened. ““You intended to keep this from me?” he inquired, his voice dropping to a low, inscrutable tone. He moved closer to me, but I retreated. His hand lifted, gently stroking my cheek. I halted and for a moment, I noticed something in his gaze, either warmth or amazement. Hope ignited within me. But then his fingers tangled in my hair, pulling my head back. His other hand wrapped around my throat. I gasped, clawing at his wrist. “Kaelen...” “You think I’ll let you trap me with a child?” he growled. “You filthy liar.” I thrashed, trying to break free. And then, I did. Just barely. I stumbled out of his grasp and ran down the hallway, toward the stairs. My vision blurred. Footsteps thundered behind me. I reached the top of the stairs, heart racing. There was a push, hard and fast. I fell. The world turned upside down. Pain cracked through my bones as I hit the floor at the bottom. Darkness threatened. Above me, I saw Kaelen and Estelle at the top of the stairs. Their faces are unreadable. Cold. A scream tore through the air. “Help! Someone help! She’s bleeding!” And then everything faded to black.