Chapter 21

[ 1,264 words ]

Ivy’s Point of View

“Please don’t worry about me,” I said, squeezing my mother’s hands. “I promise I’m doing well. Alpha Alaric and Luna Helena have both been kind to me. They’ve accepted me as family.”

My mother wiped her eyes. “Truly?”

“Truly.” I smiled. “Luna Helena even stood up for me against Lady Margot. They’re looking out for me.”

Some of the tension eased from my parents’ shoulders. But I could tell they weren’t entirely convinced. How could they be? Their daughter had been swapped on her wedding night and married off to a dying man.

I took a deep breath. It was time to tell them the truth.

“There’s something else you should know.” I looked at each of them in turn. “What happened that night wasn’t an accident.”

My father frowned. “What do you mean?”

“The marriage swap. Seraphina ending up with Bastian while I was dumped in Dominic’s bed.” My voice hardened. “It was planned. All of it.”

Silence.

“Seraphina had me drugged,” I continued. “Someone knocked me unconscious and hid me under Bastian’s bed while they consummated their marriage. Then they dragged me to Dominic’s room and left me there like garbage.”

My mother’s face went white.

“Uncle Roland and Aunt Camilla knew about it,” I added. “They had to. There’s no way Seraphina could have pulled this off without their help. The maids. The timing. The cover-up afterward. It was all coordinated.”

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then my mother exploded.

“Those monsters!” She shot to her feet, her whole body shaking with rage. “How dare they! How dare they do this to my daughter!”

“Mother—”

“I’m going to find Roland right now!” She was already moving toward the door. “I’m going to drag him in front of the elders and demand justice! They can’t get away with this!”

Finn and I lunged at the same time. We caught her arms before she could make it three steps.

“Mother, stop!” I pulled her back. “You can’t!”

“Why not? They deserve to be exposed! They deserve to be punished!”

“And who will believe us?” I kept my voice steady. “Uncle Roland is the Alpha. Aunt Camilla is the Luna. Seraphina is their precious daughter. We have no proof. No witnesses. Just my word against theirs.”

“But—”

“If you go in there making accusations, they’ll twist it around. They’ll say I’m bitter about losing Bastian. That I’m jealous of Seraphina. That I’m causing trouble because I can’t accept my fate.” I guided her back to her chair. “You’ll only make things worse for all of us.”

My mother sank down, tears streaming freely now. “So they just get away with it? After everything they did?”

“For now.” My jaw tightened. “But not forever.”

My father had been silent through all of this. He sat in his chair, staring at the floor, his shoulders slumped.

“This is my fault,” he said quietly.

“Father, no—”

“It is.” He looked up, and I saw something broken in his eyes. “If I had more power, more status, they never would have dared to target you. But I’m just the Beta with no real authority. A title without teeth.”

He laughed bitterly.

“My father was the old Alpha. But my mother was just a concubine. So even though I carry the bloodline, I’ve always been treated as lesser.” His hands clenched on his knees. “Roland has spent his entire life making sure I stay beneath him. Taking credit for my ideas. Blocking my advancement. Keeping me invisible.”

“That’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” He met my eyes. “I should have fought harder. Should have stood up for myself. For our family. Instead, I just… accepted it. Kept my head down. Hoped things would get better on their own.”

“Father, please don’t blame yourself.” I knelt before him, taking his weathered hands in mine. “You did what you had to do to survive. To keep us safe. There’s no shame in that.”

He didn’t respond. Just sat there, looking defeated.

I glanced at my mother, at Finn. Both of them watching with worried eyes.

It was time.

“Father,” I said carefully. “What if I told you there was a way out?”

He blinked. “What?”

“A way to escape Uncle Roland’s control. To leave the Crescent Moon Pack entirely.”

My mother leaned forward. “Ivy, what are you talking about?”

“The kingdom holds examinations every year.” I kept my focus on my father. “Selections to find talented individuals from the packs and bring them to serve in the royal court. Administrators. Strategists. Advisors.”

Father frowned. “I know about the examinations. Roland has forbidden anyone from our family to participate.”

“Because he knows you would succeed.” I squeezed his hands. “You’re brilliant, Father. Everyone knows it. You managed our pack’s finances for years. You negotiated trade agreements that doubled our wealth. You solved disputes that no one else could figure out.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“The skills don’t disappear.” I pressed on. “If you took the examination and passed, you would be offered a position at the royal court. You wouldn’t need Uncle Roland’s permission. You wouldn’t be under his authority anymore. You could take Mother and Finn and start a new life.”

My father stared at me like I had grown a second head.

“Ivy, it’s not that simple. Roland would never allow me to even register for the examination. He has spies everywhere. The moment I tried, he would find out and stop me.”

“He doesn’t have spies in the Silvermoon Pack.”

The words hung in the air.

My father’s eyes widened.

“I have connections now,” I continued. “Luna Helena trusts me. Alpha Alaric has given me resources. I could arrange for you to register through Silvermoon territory. Uncle Roland would never know until it was too late.”

“You would do that?”

“Of course I would. You’re my father.” I smiled. “But it won’t be easy. If Uncle Roland finds out what we’re planning before the examination, he’ll try to stop us. He might even try to hurt you. Or Mother. Or Finn.”

My mother reached over and took my father’s arm. “Edwin, maybe we should consider this.”

“It’s dangerous,” Father said slowly.

“Living under Roland’s thumb is also dangerous,” Mother countered. “Look what he allowed to happen to Ivy. What’s stopping him from doing something worse to Finn? To us?”

Finn spoke up from his corner. “I want to leave too. I hate it here. Everyone looks at us like we’re dirt.”

My father was silent for a long moment. I could see him thinking. Weighing the risks. Considering the possibilities.

Finally, he spoke.

“I need time to think about this.”

“Of course.” I stood and brushed off my skirts. “I’m not asking you to decide right now. Just think about it. And when you’re ready, send word to me at the Silvermoon Pack.”

I pulled a small token from my pocket. One of the guard insignias that Ash had given me. “Show this to any Silvermoon messenger. They’ll make sure your letter reaches me safely.”

Father took the token and studied it. His fingers trembled slightly.

“You’ve changed, Ivy.” He looked up at me with something new in his eyes. Respect. Maybe even pride. “You’re not the same girl who left here.”

“I’m still me.” I leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I’m just done being pushed around.”

My mother pulled me into another tight hug. “Be careful, my darling. These games you’re playing are dangerous.”

“I know.” I hugged her back. “But I’m not playing alone anymore.”

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