KADE'S POV
"NO!" Darius screams, and I turn back to see him staring at Ivy with wild, desperate eyes.
There's something in his expression that makes my wolf snarl. Something possessive and dangerous.
I drop my sword and raise my hand, signaling my soldiers to halt. They stop fighting immediately, though they remain ready for battle. All of Darius's soldiers are either defeated or surrendering.
The pack grounds fall silent except for heavy breathing and the sound of wounded men groaning.
"Will you be my mate, Ivy Thomas?" I ask, extending my hand toward her.
She gasps, staring at my outstretched hand like it might bite her. "I... what?"
"You heard me," I say softly. "Will you be my mate? My equal? My partner?"
The crowd is completely silent now, waiting for her answer.
Before she can respond, Darius suddenly roars with fury. "I'll kill you before I let that happen!"
He's not as wounded as I thought. He springs to his feet, grabbing a fallen dagger from the ground.
"Darius, don't!" I shout, but he's already charging.
This time, his attack is brutal and desperate. He comes at me with everything he has, the dagger slashing wildly. I barely dodge the first strike.
"You destroyed everything!" he screams, swinging again. You won't take her too!"
His blade catches my arm, drawing blood. The pain sharpens my focus.
"She was never yours to take," I snarl back, grabbing his wrist.
We struggle for control of the weapon. Darius is stronger than I expected, fueled by rage and desperation.
"I should have killed you the moment you arrived," he hisses in my ear.
"Yes," I agree. "You should have."
I twist his wrist hard. The dagger falls. Before he can react, I drive my fist into his stomach. He doubles over, gasping.
But he's not done. With a final surge of fury, he tackles me to the ground. We roll in the dirt, trading blows.
Then I hear him coughing, and he's spitting up blood.
"Silas!" Darius calls out weakly. "Silas, help me!"
His advisor rushes over, fear written across his face. "Alpha! You're bleeding internally!"
I let go of Darius and step back. He's lying on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His face is pale and his breathing is labored.
"He's... healer..." Darius gasps, pointing at Ivy with a shaking hand.
Silas's eyes dart to Ivy, then back to his dying Alpha. "The girl! She can heal him!"
"We need her!" Silas pleads, looking at me desperately. "Please! She's the only one who can save him!"
I remember what Ivy told me about Darius wanting to use her healing powers for his soldiers. If she truly can heal, then maybe...
"Ivy," I say, turning to her. "Can you help him?"
She looks at Darius, then at me. "Do you want me to?"
"That's your choice. I won't force you to heal someone who hurt you."
"But if I don't, he'll die."
"Yes."
She's quiet for a long moment, staring at the man who enslaved her, tortured her, treated her like property.
"I'll do it," she says finally. "Not for him. But because it's right."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
She walks over to where Darius lies gasping. Kneeling beside him, she places her hands on his chest and closes her eyes.
A warm golden light begins to emanate from her palms. The crowd gasps in amazement as they witness her power for the first time.
Darius's breathing steadies. The color returns to his face. Within minutes, he's sitting up, completely healed.
"Incredible," one of the guards whispers.
"She really is a healer," another says in awe.
"A powerful one," Silas adds, helping Darius to his feet.
Darius stares at Ivy with new respect and renewed possessiveness. "You see? She belongs to me. Her power, her gift, everything about her is mine."
My wolf snarls at his words. "She doesn't belong to anyone."
"She's my slave," Darius insists. "My property. You have no right to her."
"That's where you're wrong," I say, stepping closer to Ivy.
I turn to face her, my heart pounding. This is it. The moment that will change everything.
"Ivy," I say, my voice carrying clearly across the silent grounds. "I'm asking you again. Will you follow me to the Fenrir Kingdom? Will you become my mate and my queen?"
"She can't!" Darius shouts. "I haven't given my permission! She's still my slave!"
I turn to face him, my eyes blazing with anger. "If she accepts to be my queen right now, she no longer belongs to you. She will become the future Fenrir Queen, and no one - not you, not anyone - will have power over her ever again."
Darius's jaw drops. He stares at me in shock, realizing what I'm offering.
I turn back to Ivy, my heart in my throat. Everything depends on her answer.
"What do you say?" I ask, stretching my hand toward her. "Take my hand if you accept to be my queen."
The entire crowd holds its breath. Ivy stares at my outstretched hand, then looks at Darius, then back at me.
"If I take your hand," she says quietly, "I'll never be a slave again?"
"Never. You'll be free. You'll be royalty. You'll be my equal in all things."
"And if I don't?"
"Then you go back to that cell. Back to the chains. Back to being treated like property."
She looks at Darius one more time. He's watching her with desperate hope, believing she'll choose the familiar hell over the unknown future.
After what feels like an eternity, Ivy slowly reaches out and takes my hand.
The moment our skin touches, electricity shoots through both of us. The mate bond flares to life, stronger than ever before.
"I accept," she says, her voice clear and strong. "I accept to be your queen, Kade Fenrir."
My soldiers erupt in cheers. "Long live the future Queen!" they shout. "Long live Queen Ivy!"
The roar of celebration echoes across the pack grounds. My men are laughing and embracing each other, overjoyed by this turn of events.
My eyes are still fixed on Ivy’s.
Her lips tremble and she says. "What if I mess up? What if I embarrass you? What if—"
I stop her words by leaning down and kissing her gently. Her lips are soft and warm and taste like hope.
When we break apart, she's breathless and I turn to the crowd.
"Let it be known that Ivy Thomas is no longer a slave! She is my mate, my future queen, and anyone who harms her will answer to me!"
More cheers erupt from my soldiers.