IVY’S POV
I walked through the palace corridors trying to keep my head high like the maids had taught me. But it was hard when I could hear the whispers following me everywhere I went.
"There she goes again," one servant said behind me.
"Acting like she belongs here," another replied with a laugh.
"Did you see how she held her fork at dinner last night? Like she'd never used proper silverware before."
"Because she probably hasn't," the first voice said. "Slaves don't eat with silver forks."
I kept walking, pretending I couldn't hear them. But each word felt like a knife in my back.
"I heard she used to scrub floors," another voice joined in.
"And clean chamber pots," someone else added.
"Now she thinks she's going to be our queen. Can you imagine?"
"The nerve of some people."
I finally reached my chambers and rushed inside, closing the door behind me. I leaned against it and let out a heavy sigh.
"This is impossible," I whispered to myself.
I walked over to the beautiful chair by the window and sat down heavily. Everything about this place was overwhelming. The fancy clothes, the proper manners, the way people expected me to act like I was born to be royalty.
But the worst part was the constant reminders of what I used to be.
"She was a slave for years," I had heard a kitchen maid saying earlier. "From her old pack. She's not fit to be here, next to the Fenrir Prince."
"It's disgraceful," another had replied. "What was Prince Kade thinking?"
"Maybe he felt sorry for her," the first one suggested. "Like taking in a stray dog."
I shook my head, trying to push the memories away. I needed to focus on something else. Something that would keep my mind busy.
I looked down at my hands. Maybe I could practice my healing powers. At least that was something I could control.
I still couldn't believe I had healing abilities. I didn't even know I had them until I mistakenly healed Darius back at the Northern Pack. The whole thing had been an accident.
"How did I do it?" I wondered aloud.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember exactly what had happened. Darius had been bleeding from the sword cut on his neck. I rushed to help him without thinking. When I touched his wound, something warm had flowed through my hands.
Maybe if I could understand how it worked, I could learn to hide it when I needed to. The last thing I wanted was for people to think I was even more strange than they already did.
I took a deep breath and held my hands in front of me. I tried to feel that same warmth I had felt before.
Nothing happened.
"Come on," I muttered. "There has to be something."
I concentrated harder, focusing on the memory of healing Darius. The way the energy had flowed from me into him. The way his wound had closed up like it had never been there.
Still nothing.
"Maybe I need to be touching someone who's actually hurt," I said to myself.
I looked around the room for something I could use to practice. There was a small letter opener on the desk. Maybe if I gave myself a tiny cut...
"No," I said quickly. "That's a terrible idea."
What if I couldn't heal myself? What if my powers only worked on other people? I could end up bleeding all over my beautiful new dress.
I was still trying to figure out how to practice when there was a knock at my door.
"Come in," I called out.
One of the palace guards stepped inside. He was a tall man with graying hair and a serious expression.
"Miss Ivy," he said with a polite bow. "The King has requested to see you."
My heart jumped into my throat. "The King? Now?"
"Yes, miss. He's waiting for you in his private study."
"Did he say what he wanted?" I asked nervously.
"No, miss. Just that it was important."
I stood up from my chair, smoothing down my dress. "Okay. I'll come with you."
We walked through the palace corridors in silence. I tried to think of reasons why the King might want to see me. Had I done something wrong? Had someone complained about my behavior?
The guard led me to a smaller room than the throne room. It was still impressive, with tall bookshelves and expensive furniture, but it felt more personal.
King Aldric of Fenrir was sitting behind a large wooden desk. He looked up when I entered.
"Ivy," he said, gesturing to a chair across from him. "Please, sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said, trying to remember the proper way to curtsy.
"How are you settling in?" he asked.
"Fine, Your Majesty," I lied. "Everyone has been very... kind."
He studied my face for a moment. "Have they?"
I didn't know how to answer that, so I just nodded.
"I wanted to talk to you about something important," the King continued. "Do you know the real reason why Kade brought you here?"
I blinked in surprise. "I... what do you mean?"
"When he asked you to be his mate, did he explain why he chose you specifically?"
"He said he wanted to protect me," I replied honestly.
"That's part of it," the King agreed. "But there's more."
"More what?" I asked, feeling confused.
King Aldric leaned forward in his chair. "Tell me, Ivy, did you notice anything unusual about my son when you first met him?"
I thought back to that day at the Northern Pack. "He seemed... calm," I said slowly.
The King was quiet for a long moment, like he was deciding how much to tell me.
"My son has a condition," he finally said. "A curse that has been passed down through our bloodline for generations."
"A curse?" I whispered.
"Every full moon, he transforms," the King continued. "But not into his normal wolf form. Into something else. Something monstrous."
I stared at him, not sure I had heard correctly.
"He becomes violent, uncontrollable," the King went on. "He has to lock himself away so he doesn't hurt anyone. The pain is excruciating, and there's nothing anyone can do to help him."
"That's terrible," I said softly.
"Yes, it is," the King agreed. "But when you're around, something changes. Your presence calms him in a way nothing else ever has."
"My presence?" I asked in confusion.
"That's why he brought you here, Ivy," the King said gently. "You may be the key to controlling his curse."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "I don't understand. How could I help with something like that?"
"We're not entirely sure yet," the King admitted. "But the fact remains that Kade has a monster in him."
I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. "A monster?"
“Yes, and you have to help him.”