Chapter 3

IVY POV

I didn’t expect to sleep that deeply.

Not here. Not in his territory. Not in a place that should have felt like a trap.

But when I opened my eyes, sunlight had already slipped past the heavy curtains, painting the room in soft gold. For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Then the scent hit me.

Dark. Warm. Commanding.

Him.

Liam.

Even though he wasn’t here, his presence lingered everywhere in the sheets, in the air, in the quiet authority of the room itself.

I pushed myself up slowly, wincing slightly as a dull ache spread through my lower abdomen. My body was still weak. The doctor’s words echoed faintly in my mind.

Rest. Recovery. Don’t push yourself.

I almost laughed.

Rest had never been an option for me. Not before. Not now.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, steadying myself before standing. The room was too perfect too carefully arranged. Fresh flowers sat by the window, their scent light and expensive. The wardrobe doors were slightly open, revealing rows of clothing I knew I had never owned.

No clothing chosen for me.

Prepared.

Expected.

My fingers brushed against one of the fabrics. Silk. Soft. New. Untouched.

It felt strange.

For years, everything I had was either earned through exhaustion or given with conditions. Even the smallest things always came with a reminder.

You owe this to the pack.

You owe this to Noah.

You owe this because we took you in.

But this…

This felt different.

And that was exactly why I didn’t trust it.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

The butler stepped in quietly, bowing slightly. “Good morning, Miss Ivy. I hope you rested well.”

“I did.” My voice came out calmer than I felt. “Any news?”

“The Alpha is still away, but he has sent instructions.”

Of course he had.

The butler stepped forward and handed me a neatly sealed envelope. “For you.”

I hesitated for a second before taking it. The paper felt thick, expensive. Inside.

A black card.

Several signed checks.

And a short note.

No unnecessary words. Just one line.

Use what you need.

I stared at it longer than I should have.

No conditions. No demands. No reminders.

Just… that.

My grip tightened slightly before I closed the envelope.

“I’ll return it if I don’t use it,” I said.

The butler smiled politely. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It is to me.”

He didn’t argue further.

Smart.

“Also,” he continued, “the Alpha has already arranged a wedding team. They will contact you soon regarding the ceremony.”

Wedding.

The word felt distant. Unreal.

A few months ago, I had been planning my wedding to Noah. Every detail. Every flower. Every piece of fabric chosen carefully.

I remembered staying up late, reviewing designs, arguing with vendors, making sure everything would be perfect.

I wanted it to be perfect.

Because I thought it meant something.

And then….

One sentence from Amy.

And everything was gone.

Just like that.

“Miss Ivy?”

I blinked, forcing myself back to the present. “I understand.”

“Would you like to try the dresses today?”

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

“I have something else to do first.”

The butler nodded. “As you wish.”

Of course I wasn’t going to sit here playing bride.

Not yet.

Not until I finished what I started.

The hotel was exactly how I remembered.

Cold. Professional. Neutral.

Perfect for business.

I adjusted my coat slightly as I stepped out of the elevator, ignoring the faint dizziness that came with the movement. My body still wasn’t fully recovered, but that didn’t matter.

Today wasn’t about my health.

It was about closing a chapter.

The private room door stood just ahead.

For a second, my hand hovered over the handle.

Months of work.

Late nights. Endless negotiations. Carefully built trust.

This deal was supposed to be mine.

My final contribution.

My last act as Luna.

I pushed the door open.

And froze.

Noah was there.

And so was Amy.

She sat comfortably in my seat.

My seat.

The pen in her hand moved gracefully as she signed the document in front of her.

My document.

“Oh,” she said lightly, looking up at me with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re here.”

My chest tightened.

Too late.

The partner sitting across from them looked between us, confused.

“What’s going on?”

Amy placed the pen down slowly, deliberately. “Nothing important. Just a small change.” She tilted her head slightly. “Noah thought the company needed someone more… capable. So I’ll be handling this project now.”

Each word was soft. Polite.

And meant to cut.

I looked at Noah.

He didn’t avoid my gaze.

Didn’t look guilty.

Didn’t look apologetic.

Just… indifferent.

“I followed this project for months,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm building inside me. “I handled every negotiation. Every detail. You just hand it to her like that?”

His expression darkened slightly.

“Ivy,” he said, his tone already carrying impatience, “we can talk about this later.”

“No.”

I took a step forward.

“We talk about it now.”

Amy let out a soft, almost amused breath.

“Ivy, don’t make this awkward,” she said gently. “You’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe it’s better if you rest.”

Rest.

That word again.

I almost laughed.

Before I could respond, Noah stood and grabbed my arm, pulling me aside.

His grip was firm. Controlling.

“What are you doing?” he said under his breath. “Causing a scene in front of partners?”

I yanked my arm slightly, but he didn’t let go.

“What am I doing?” I repeated quietly. “You gave away my work.”

“You’re not in a condition to handle it.”

“And she is?”

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation.

That hurt more than I expected.

My chest tightened, but I forced my expression to stay calm.

“I didn’t even rest during pregnancy for this deal,” I said. “Do you remember that?”

Something flickered in his eyes.

But it disappeared just as quickly.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said. “This is just a temporary arrangement.”

Temporary.

Just like everything else he took from me.

My gaze dropped to his hand.

And then I saw it.

The ring.

My ring.

“How did you get that?” I asked.

His grip tightened slightly before he pulled it out, holding it between us.

“You sold it.”

Not a question.

An accusation.

“Yes.”

His jaw clenched.

“This is just a warning,” he said, pushing the ring back into my hand. “Don’t do things like this again.”

I stared at it in my palm.

Cold.

Heavy.

Meaningless.

“You will always be my Luna,” he continued. “And the company’s manager. Don’t be jealous of Amy. She’s just a patient.”

Patient.

Dying.

Fragile.

Always more important than me.

I closed my fingers around the ring slowly.

For a moment, I thought I might say something.

Argue. Fight. Demand.

But suddenly…

I didn’t feel like it anymore.

I was tired.

Not physically.

But deeply, completely tired.

“Fine,” I said quietly.

He seemed surprised by how easily I gave in.

Good.

Let him be.

I turned and walked back into the room.

The partner looked uneasy.

“Ivy, about the formula we discussed”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted calmly. “I’m about to leave the company.”

Silence fell instantly.

“I won’t be able to provide it.”

The partner’s expression changed immediately.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

I smiled faintly.

“You’ll have to ask them.”

I didn’t wait for a response.

Didn’t look at Noah.

Didn’t look at Amy.

I just walked out.

Behind me, voices rose.

Angry. Chaotic.

The sound of something hitting the table.

But I didn’t stop.

Not this time.

On the way back, I leaned my head against the taxi window, watching the city blur past.

My phone buzzed once.

Then again.

Noah.

I didn’t answer.

Didn’t even look.

Instead, I opened my contacts and scrolled to a number without a name.

My thumb hovered over it for a second.

Then pressed call.

The line connected almost immediately.

Silence.

Then.

A voice.

Low. Familiar.

Dangerous.

“I was wondering when you’d call.”

My fingers tightened slightly around the phone.

I stared out the window, my reflection faint against the glass.

“I’m ready,” I said quietly.

A pause.

Short.

Measured.

“For what?” he asked.

I exhaled slowly.

“To leave everything behind.”

This time, the silence lingered longer.

He was thinking.

Calculating.

Just like always.

“Good,” he said finally.

One word.

But it felt like a door opening.

Or closing.

I wasn’t sure which yet.

“Then don’t hesitate again,” he added.

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone slowly.

Outside, the road stretched forward.

Long.

Unfamiliar.

Uncertain.

But for the first time in a long time

It felt like it was mine.