52

Nathaniel’s POV
I watch in admiration of Ivy as she trains drills with Kane, connecting every hit with ease. I see her smirk and chuckle lowly as Kane directs her, her eyes filled with passionate emotion. Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, some of it falling out in her face as she exerts herself. There’s something about watching her that brings such pride to me. We’ve all been training together for a few weeks now that things have settled down. There hasn’t been anymore attacks or surprise visits from those who we obviously don’t want to see, and Ivy, Kane and Genevieve have settled in well here at Crystal Moon.
There have been some problems with the rogue wolves from what Kaiden had told me, but he didn’t know much else. He said he just wanted to bring it to my attention and would let me know if anything else suspicious occurred. I haven’t heard a thing, so it’s fine for now, I guess. I do suspect that a lot of things are connected, but there’s a lot of speculation and no proof.
It’s irritating, but hopefully something will pop up.
“She really knows what she’s doing. I’m surprised that even without Seles she’s managed to keep her technique up.” I say to Evie as she stands beside me.
“Kane kept on her to maintain it. He hoped it would distract her from things and give her confidence without her wolf.”
“Well, it was sure successful.”
“Now it is. Back at Red Moon she picked her battles. Over time Cole and Alarik wore her down and she stopped fighting. It’s nice to see that desire in her eyes again. I missed it, and her.” Evie says, her voice full of emotion as she watches her friend in admiration.
A moment later, Ivy connects a hit with Kane, and he skids backwards.
“What the?” Ivy says as she looks at her hands. “I shouldn’t have been able to do that.” Evie and I look at each other and then make our way over to her and Kane.
“Did I hurt you?” She says as she looks at Kane with pain in her facial features, worried she did something to him. He shakes his head. “No, I’m not hurt but sure as hell surprised. You hit me with the force you used to, back when you had Seles.”
“I wonder if she’s starting to resurface a little bit.” I state and Ivy sighs. “Maybe, I don’t know for sure. I haven’t heard her since the cuffs were taken off.”
“Althea said it would take time. This could be the start of things.”
“I hope so.” Ivy states with a twinge of sadness in her voice.
Damn how I wish I could bring Seles back to her.
— –
Ivy’s POV
I pluck out notes on the piano in the music room as I sing, feeling the music flow through me, relaxing me. I’ve settled in well, but there is still so much unanswered and it’s irritating me to say the least.
Nathaniel is meeting with the other reigns and his parents again today to discuss the overall state of things and to begin plans for his coronation. They’ve all met quite a few times now since I was revealed and announced as his mate, and I’ve kept myself away from most of the discussions, only because I haven’t felt comfortable.
I know I’ll have to start attending, but my nerves have gotten the better of me. Nate has tried to reassure me that I can join in when I’m ready, but I know it must look odd to not have me there. I’m the queen for fuck’s sake. I’ve done everything else with ease. Visiting packs, meeting wolves and the like, but actually getting involved in major discussions for the entire race? Nope.
I sigh loudly, my irritation getting the better of me as I close the lid on the piano keys with a soft thud.
I think part of it is that even after my cuffs being off for well over a month now, Seles still hasn’t resurfaced and I’m losing hope. I know she’s still there, but I have no idea how to help her come forward again. I don’t even know if my body is even capable of doing so anymore, but it’s not like I can test that theory either.
How the fuck am I supposed to be the Luna Queen with no wolf?
I get up abruptly and walk out of the music room and go outside to get some fresh air. The seasons have changed again and it’s getting even colder, but the cool air does wonders as I inhale and exhale deeply, controlling the timing of my breathing to try to calm myself down. I close my eyes and continue before they shoot open gain when I hear Nate call me.
“Songbird.”
I look at him with a small smile as he approaches me and engulfs me in a hug, resting his chin atop my head, his warmth radiating through me.
“You okay?” He asks and I nod. “Yeah. Just working through it. I’m feeling really frustrated.”
“Because of the meetings? Or because of Seles?”
“Both, I think.”
“Let go do something to take your mind off it for awhile. How about we go out for dinner?”
I look up at him and wrap my arms around his neck. He leans in and kisses me softly and I smile in the kiss. “Sure. Where do you want to go?”
“How about we go to the same restaurant we did before?” I chuckle. “The one where I almost fell flat on my face after dinner, and you caught me?” He smiles widely. “That same one.”
I shrug my shoulders and laugh. “Okay. Sounds like a date.”
— –
Dinner was delightful and exactly what I needed.
I laugh loudly as Nate and I walk out of the restaurant towards the car and I pretend to trip and fall. Nate shoots forward and snakes his hands around my waist in a panic and I start laughing. It’s short lived and I shriek as he pulls me up over his shoulder.
“Don’t think for one second that you’re getting away with that.” I playfully hit his back as he carries me back to the car like a little brat, and I can’t help but feel turned on as he fully palms my ass as he holds me up with one hand, while opening the car door with the other. “Nathaniel! I have a dress on, put me down!”
I listen to him inhale deeply and growl low as he smells my arousal, putting me down in front of him and smacking my ass as I climb into the back of the limo. He climbs in behind me and I go to sit, but I don’t get there as Nate quickly sits and pulls me into his lap, making me straddle him, his obvious erection pushing against me as he lifts the bottom of my dress so that it’s no longer caught between us. He pulls my underwear to the side as he undoes his pants, pushing them down slightly and slides into me easily.
I groan and lean into his shoulder as he nips my neck, eliciting a moan from me and he chuckles.
“You’re going to sit here like this for the entire ride home.” He whispers into my ear, and I shudder as the car starts.
Fuck.
“Oh, and you need to be quiet. Don’t need the driver hearing what I do to you.”
I gasp quietly as the car starts to move, making me move slightly with him inside me and I bite my lip.
“Damn you, Alpha.” I say, trying to keep myself focused on being as quiet as possible as every bump and turn of the car threatens to make a sound come from my lips.
— –
I fix my hair as Nate and I walk back into the packhouse, him having told the driver to leave us in the car where he deliciously fucked me senseless. He laughs as he tries to help me, and together we manage to make it look like he didn’t just grab and tug my hair excessively for the past 20 minutes.
I take my shoes off and he does the same and as we go to head up to our room, we’re stopped by Tobias.
“I really hate to do this.” He says solemnly and I look to Nate and then back to him.
“What is it?” I say with concern. Nate walks up beside me and Tobias hands out a envelope. Nate takes it gently from his hand and opens it, unfolding the letter neatly and skimming it before a deep, angry growl comes from his throat.
“What the actual fuck? I just spoke to all the Reigns today and this wasn’t even mentioned.”
“I guess they had to wait until the letter was delivered.” Tobias says and I look between them, my temper getting the better of me.
“What the fuck is happening?”
Nate looks at me sadly and hands me the letter.
I read it out loud.
“This letter is to inform that Ivy Pierce of Crystal Moon is being summoned to attend the High Reign Council for the charges laid against her for her part in the murder of the previous Alpha and Luna of the Red Moon pack. If she doesn’t attend, this will be considered as an admission of guilt, and she will be sentenced to the fullest extent of werewolf law.”
No fucking way.