Chapter 1: Ivy

Chapter

One

IVY

" W raith."

His name escapes my lips in a breathless whisper, barely audible over the gentle lapping of water against stone. For a moment, we're frozen in time. The world narrows down to just us, suspended in this tiny air pocket. His arms still bracket me, keeping us both afloat. The heat of his skin burns against mine, chasing away the chill of the water.

Then his eyes drop, breaking our connection. He tries to turn away, but there's nowhere to go in this confined space. A low, pained growl vibrates through his chest.

I reach up without thinking, my fingers brushing his scarred cheek. He flinches at the contact, jerking back as far as he can. Which isn't far at all.

"Wraith," I say again, stronger this time. "Look at me."

He shakes his head. His hair hangs in wet tangles, obscuring most of his face. But I can still see the mangled scars where his lips and cheeks should be, the sharp teeth permanently bared in a rictus grin, illuminated by the glimmering light from the algae and mushrooms reflected on the water's surface.

My heart hurts. How long has it been since anyone's seen him without his mask? How long has he hidden himself away, ashamed of what was done to him?

"Please," I whisper.

Slowly, so slowly, he raises his eyes to meet mine again. The raw fear and resignation in his eyes breaks my heart. Like he's waiting for me to recoil in horror. To reject him.

Fat chance of that happening.

I cup his face in both hands, ignoring his sharp intake of breath. My thumbs trace the raised edges of his scars, mapping out the damage done to him. He trembles under my touch, a fine shiver running through his massive frame.

"You saved me," I murmur.

He shakes his head again, more forcefully this time. A series of growls and snarls escape him—the only sounds he can make with his ruined throat. But I understand the meaning well enough without him having to sign them. I know what he's saying .

Monster.

Freak.

Dangerous.

"Bullshit," I say fiercely. "I'm not afraid of you. I love you, Wraith. All of you."

The words spill out before I even know what I'm saying. It's the first time I've said out loud I love anyone in so many years, it aches to remember. Anyone, let alone an alpha.

But it's true.

I do love him, alpha or not.

His eyes widen and his brow furrows, confusion and disbelief warring in his gaze. As if he can't believe what I'm saying, as if he thinks my own bewilderment at my words has anything to do with him at all. I can see the moment he decides to pull away, to put distance between us. To protect me from himself.

I don't give him the chance.

Before he can retreat, I surge forward, closing the already minuscule gap between us. My lips press against his ruined mouth, catching on the jagged edges of his teeth. The kiss is clumsy, awkward. There are no soft lips to mold against mine, no give and take. Just the hard press of teeth and scarred flesh.

For a heartbeat, Wraith goes utterly still. Then a shudder runs through him, so violent it sends ripples through the water around us. His arms tighten around me, crushing me against his broad chest. A sound somewhere between a growl and a groan vibrates through him, and I feel it in my bones.

I don't pull away. Instead, I press closer, deepening the kiss. My tongue darts out, tracing the sharp points of his teeth. The taste of copper blooms in my mouth. My own blood from where his teeth have nicked me.

But I don't care.

All I care about is this moment, this connection.

Wraith's massive hands span my waist, his grip almost painfully tight. Like he's afraid I'll disappear if he loosens his hold even a fraction. A low rumble builds in his chest, vibrating through me.

I break the kiss, gasping for air. Wraith's eyes are wild, pupils blown wide with a mix of desire and disbelief. His chest heaves, each breath coming out in a ragged pant.

"I'm not going anywhere," I whisper, resting my forehead against his. I hold his gaze even though he flinches like it physically hurts when I look at him, even though he's barely making eye contact right now, glancing at me and then away, then back at me, then away.

I hold him tighter, willing him to believe me.

To trust me.

Slowly, so slowly, he nods. The tension drains from his massive frame, and he sags against me. I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him close as he buries his face in the crook of my neck, being so careful not to cut my throat.

For a long moment, we float there in silence, clinging to each other. The gentle lapping of water against stone is the only sound. I run my fingers through Wraith's tangled hair, instinctively working out the knots as best I can. An omega grooming her alpha.

Imagine that.

But we can't stay here forever.

Reality starts to creep back in, reminding me of our precarious situation. We're still trapped in an underground cavern, with who knows how many people hunting for us. That's if anyone's even still alive up there. The debris has stopped splashing into the water, but the rumbles are still ongoing, even though there are periods between them now where everything is silent.

"We need to move," I murmur reluctantly.

Wraith nods against my neck. He pulls back, his eyes now clear and focused. Whatever vulnerability he allowed himself to show is tucked away again, replaced by that fierce protectiveness I'm more familiar with.

He gestures toward one of the dark tunnels branching off from our little alcove, then points to his nose, signaling he can smell a way out. I nod, understanding, caught up in the moment. I find myself admiring his nose. It's a nice nose, strong and straight, and I'm seeing it for the first time. In spite of how damaged his lower face is, he's still so beautiful to me.

Then he catches me looking at him and his hand flies up to shield some of his mouth from view. Staring at me like this, his blue eyes wide with fear, he looks like a gigantic half-shark wolf puppy I just kicked square in the ribs.

"No, wait, it's not that," I promise him quickly, clinging tighter to him. "I just… I like your nose."

More staring. Then he signs, Why?

"It's a nice nose," I say, giving the tip of his nose a gentle kiss. He flinches again. "And I've never seen it before."

He makes a growling noise that sounds suspiciously like, You're fucking crazy, and wraps a strong arm around my waist. I take a deep breath and brace myself for another swim, nodding to let him know I'm ready.

He dives down, pulling me beneath the surface with him. The water is so dark, I can barely see my hand in front of my face. But Wraith moves with purpose, guiding us unerringly through the twisting passages. I focus on holding my breath, trying to ignore the burning in my lungs as we swim deeper and deeper. I have to trust he knows I don't have his lung capacity. Have to trust he won't let me drown.

And I do.

Because I am fucking crazy, apparently.

Just when I think I can't hold on any longer, we break the surface. I gasp, sucking in huge lungfuls of air. We're in another cavern now, this one much larger than the last. A narrow strip of rocky shore stretches out before us.

Wraith hauls us both out of the water with ease. My legs shake as I try to stand, muscles weak from the long swim and lingering effects of whatever they drugged me with. But Wraith scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing, cradling me against his chest as he strides forward.

I guess compared to him, I don't.

The phosphorescent glow is fainter here, casting everything in deep shadows. But Wraith seems to have no trouble navigating the uneven ground. His footsteps are sure and steady as he picks his way through the cavern.

I should probably insist on walking on my own. But the warmth of his skin is too tempting after the icy water, and my body aches all over. So I let myself relax into his hold, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Do you know where we are?" I ask softly.

Wraith shakes his head. His chest rumbles as he lets out a series of growls and snarls. I frown, concentrating on deciphering his meaning.

"Underground... facility?" I guess. "You think this is part of some bigger complex?"

He nods, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. He looks happy, almost impressed. He doesn't need to be able to actually smile to communicate that. A small surge of pride warms me. I'm getting better at understanding him.

"Any idea how far down we are? Or how to get out?"

Another shake of his head. But he taps his nose again, then points ahead.

Following the scent trail, then.

It's not much of a plan, but it's all we've got.

We continue on in silence for what feels like hours. The caverns seem endless, twisting and turning in a dizzying labyrinth. Sometimes we have to backtrack when a passage dead-ends or becomes too narrow for Wraith's bulk to fit through.

My stomach growls loudly, reminding me that I have no idea how long it's been since I last ate. Wraith's stride falters for a moment, and he looks down at me, his brow furrowing in concern.

"I'm okay," I assure him. "Just hungry. And tired. And sore. But okay."

He doesn't look convinced. His pace quickens, eating up ground with long strides. I want to tell him to slow down, to conserve his energy. But the determined glint in his eyes tells me it would be useless.

Of course he's worried about me being hungry.

So instead, I focus on staying alert, scanning our surroundings for any sign of danger—or escape. But there's nothing. Just endless rock and shadow, broken occasionally by clusters of glowing fungi.

Until suddenly, there is something.

"Wait," I say, tapping Wraith's chest. "Do you hear that?"

He stops, cocking his head to the side. A faint rumbling reaches us, barely audible over the sound of dripping water. It's rhythmic, almost like...

"Machinery," I breathe. "There's something mechanical nearby."

Wraith nods, his expression grim. He sets me down gently, then crouches beside me. His hands move in a flurry of signs.

Danger. Trap? Escape? Choose.

I bite my lip, weighing our options. It could lead us straight into the hands of our captors. But it could also be our best chance at finding a way out. If there's machinery, there have to be people operating it.

And where there are people, there are exits.

"We have to risk it," I say finally. "We can't wander down here forever."

Wraith nods, though the exposed sinew and muscle of his jaw clenches with tension. He stands, offering me his hand, still trying to keep his head turned so I can't fully see his face. It's strangely endearing for such a huge, powerful alpha to be so shy. I take his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. My legs are steadier now, the rest having done me good.

I lean up and kiss the side of his jaw. "Thank you."

He rumbles in confusion, giving me wary side-eye.

Fuck, how is this huge, terrifying alpha cute ?

I really have lost my mind.

We move forward cautiously, following the sound. It grows louder with each step, until it's a steady thrum vibrating through the stone beneath our feet. The passage we're in starts to widen, the rough-hewn walls giving way to smoother surfaces.

We skirt the edge of the passage, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure someone will hear it. But it seems like we're the only ones down here, and we make it to the other side without incident.

Above us, the rumbling continues, off and on. It's clear the chaos has died down somewhat, but whatever Wraith did to this damn building affected its structural integrity.

I catch myself wondering if the Ghosts are okay. I know they're here. It goes beyond just knowing they would move heaven and earth to get to me.

I can feel them here.

Sense their proximity in my very bones.

Maybe it's because I'm their omega. The thought is so strange. I never could have foreseen I would see a pack of alphas as my pack. But in spite of everything that's happened… I don't regret the choice Valek gave me.

That's something I'll have to wrestle with later.

A set of heavy metal doors blocks our path. Next to them is another control panel, this one with a keypad. I bite back a curse. We've come so far, only to be stopped by a locked door.

Wraith studies the panel for a moment, then raises his fist. Before I can stop him, he brings it down with crushing force. The metal crumples like paper beneath the blow. Sparks fly as wires tear free.

An alarm blares, so loud it makes me stagger. Red warning lights flash, bathing everything in a hellish glow. Not that it matters when there are no guards. They must be busy with the carnage above us. The doors slide open with a hiss of hydraulics.

"Subtle," I mutter.

Then he's scooping me up again, and we're racing through the open doorway. We emerge into a sterile white hallway that stretches in both directions. Signs on the wall point toward various labs and testing areas. But the one that catches my eye reads "EXIT" with an arrow pointing left.

In three long strides, he reaches the exit. Another door. He holds me in one arm while his free fist slams into it with earth-shattering force and we burst through the door and into blessed sunlight.

The biting cold hits me like a slap to the face. I blink rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness after so long in the dim underground. Wraith's arms tighten around me, his skin burning hot against mine despite the frigid snowy air.

Freedom stretches out before us. A loading dock at the foot of a towering cliff, machinery abandoned in the chaos, and a winding mountain road disappearing into swirling snow. So close. So tantalizingly close after everything we've been through.

But we can't leave. Not yet.

"Wait," I say, squirming out of Wraith's arms. The snow is painfully cold against my bare feet, and I have to fight to suppress a shiver. Wraith starts trying to pick me up again, but I place my palms on his chest, stopping him. "We can't go."

He freezes, looking down at me with confusion in his bright blue eyes. A low, questioning growl rumbles through his chest.

"The others," I explain. "I know they came for me."

Wraith's eyes narrow. He shakes his head vehemently, gesturing toward the beckoning mountain road with sharp, urgent movements.

"I know," I say gently. "But we can't just leave them." I hesitate. "And... and we can't leave Valek, either. I promise I'll explain later, but he wasn't trying to hurt me. Just… trust me. It's complicated."

Like everything else.

Now he's really looking at me like I've lost my fucking mind. Then he shakes his head again, more forcefully this time. His hands fly in a flurry of signs, too fast for me to catch. But the meaning is clear enough in his wild eyes, in the way he keeps gesturing toward the road.

Get out. Now.

"We can't," I insist, even as another explosion rocks the facility behind us. The ground trembles beneath our feet, and a plume of black smoke billows into the sky. "What if they're trapped? What if they need help?"

Wraith growls, low and frustrated. He taps his temple, then points at me. Think. His hands move again, slower this time so I can follow.

You don't know they're here.

"They are," I reply with conviction.

He groans, signing again, each movement of his hands pointed and firm. Even if they are here, they would want you safe.

I sigh. "Even if that's true, there's someone else, too."

Wraith's brow furrows. He cocks his head to the side, questioning.

"The Knight," I explain.

Who ? he signs, frowning even more.

"He was the prisoner in the cell across from mine," I reply. I don't tell him the Knight reminded me of him. Massive, mute, misunderstood. "I promised I'd help him. I can't break that promise."

For a long moment, Wraith just stares at me. His scarred face twists in an expression I can't quite read—disbelief? Anger? Fear? Maybe all three at once. He shakes his head again, more emphatically this time. His hands move in sharp, urgent gestures.

Dangerous. Crazy. We go. Now.

"I have to try," I say, stepping back toward the door we just escaped through. "It's our pack, Wraith."

I take one step. Two. My hand reaches for the door handle.

A massive arm wraps around my waist, yanking me back. I yelp in surprise as Wraith spins me around to face him. His eyes blaze with a mix of fury and fear as he glares down at me. A growl rumbles through his chest, vibrating against my skin.

"I have to," I say again, softer this time. I reach up, cupping his ravaged cheek in my palm. "You understand, don't you?"

Wraith's eyes close. He leans into my touch, just for a moment. When he looks at me again, there's resignation there.

And respect for my choice.

He nods once, sharply. Then he crouches down, gesturing for me to climb onto his back. I scramble up without hesitation, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. His skin burns hot against mine, chasing away the bite of the winter air.

"Thank you," I whisper, pressing a kiss to his temple.

He huffs out an exasperated breath. Then he straightens, squaring his massive shoulders. And with one last glance at the beckoning freedom of the mountain road, we go back in.