Bound to the Alpha King

26 - Desperation and Sadness vs. Happiness

Ivy's POV

"Wolfsbane?" Tobias asks quietly, and Nathaniel nods. Tobias, Kane, and Genevieve have now joined Nathaniel and I back in his wing in the main living area. Nathaniel is pacing back and forth in the open space between the couch and wall-mounted TV, Evie is sitting beside me on the couch and Kane and Tobias are opposite of us on the other couch. Nathaniel had mind-linked Tobias and asked him to grab Kane and Evie to let them know too. The anxiousness and concern filling the room is maddening, but soon the silence is broken.

"You know it's completely possible that a certain someone did this." Kane states plainly and I sigh.

"You think Cole did it." I say, and Kane nods briefly before going into his reasoning. "Ivy, he's been going after you for years. You coming here away from his abuse and mistreatment? I wouldn't put it past him to make this kind of move as punishment."

"There's no way to prove it. There are at least 150 wolves here from three different packs." Evie says and I sigh again, feeling defeated.

"The perfect cover." Nathaniel states and we all turn to look at him as he stops pacing.

"Think about it. There are so many wolves, scents and the whole distraction of wolves finding their mates and doing their mating pairs, no one would really pay much attention to someone going backstage." He pauses. "But Genevieve is right. There's no way to prove it right now."

"So, what should I do? I've known for years that Cole has had it in for me, and honestly it doesn't surprise me that this has happened and could be him, but you all know the moment I go back to Red Moon, it's going to just continue as usual."

"You're not going back. Not yet at least." Kane says and I look at him, confused.

"The mating ball retreat." Evie says quietly and my eyes widen, and I turn to Nathaniel, draping my arm over the back of the couch, pulling myself up slightly. "I thought it was cancelled indefinitely?" Nathaniel raises his gaze to me and shakes his head. "We're still holding it this year."

"Since you're not mated, you can go." Tobias says and I whip my head back to face him. "I've already been away from the pack for over a week, you guys really think Cole is going to have that. Away for longer?" I question, desperation creeping up in my voice.

When no one answers me, I sigh loudly and stand up, my gown moving with me and sliding off the couch to the floor. "Look, I appreciate all that you have done. Every single one of you, but I can't keep living in a pretend fairy-tale land and not realize or recognize the reality of what I'm going back home to."

"You should have the ability to make decisions for yourself. Cole is not your keeper." Evie says and I shake my head. "You know I understand that. But after years of pushing and fighting, I don't have much left in me to keep going. I'm embarrassed to even say it, here in front of my two closest friends and the Alpha King and his Beta, but I cannot keep this up. My resolve is gone."

I feel tears pricking my eyes and I shut them to try and keep them at bay, but I feel myself failing and with a long exhale, I walk away to my room, closing the door behind me. The tears start to fall as soon as the door clicks shut, and I let them, small sobs racking my body as I try to not cry loudly since the others are still close by.

I know I need to keep pushing. I know. It's just the hardest thing I've had to do, and I'm doing it alone.

Seles was always part of my strength and confidence, helping me push past the boundaries I had set for myself. Making me the best version of myself. Without her, I'm lost, and everything is just taking too much of a toll. I can smile and just fake some type of happiness, but I know I can't live like that long term.