Ivy’s Dilemma

Ivy lay in her bed, staring at the intricate carvings on the ceiling above her. The soft flicker of candlelight sent shadows dancing across the room, but the warmth of the fire did little to thaw the icy weight in her chest.

Gabriel's confession repeated in her mind like a haunting refrain: Anytime I get aroused… I become something else. A beast.

She turned onto her side, pulling the blankets closer as if they could shield her from the storm of emotions swirling within. Could she handle this? Could she accept not only the man but the monster he claimed to be?

Her fingers trailed over the edge of the blanket, her thoughts drifting back to the moments they'd shared—the intensity in his golden eyes, the way his voice softened when he spoke her name, the fleeting touches that sent shivers down her spine. She wanted him. She wanted him in a way she'd never wanted anyone before, but the reality of his curse loomed over her desire like a shadow.

What would it mean to be with him, to give herself to him completely? Could she face the beast he so desperately tried to hide?

She closed her eyes, imagining the transformation he had described. Her mind conjured images of claws and fangs, of a creature born of nightmares. But even as the thought sent a chill down her spine, she couldn't ignore the ache in her chest. Gabriel wasn't a monster. He was a man—a man burdened by a curse he hadn't asked for, a man who had suffered alone for far too long.

Ivy sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The cool floor beneath her feet grounded her as she took a deep breath. She couldn't ignore the weight of what he had told her, nor could she ignore the feelings she had for him. But love wasn't just about desire or passion—it was about trust, about accepting someone for all that they were, even the parts that scared you.

Her gaze drifted to the window, where the moonlight streamed in, silver and serene. She wondered what it would feel like to truly let herself fall for Gabriel, to embrace the man and the beast. Could she find it within herself to see beauty in the darkness he carried?

The idea of intimacy with him brought a flush to her cheeks, but it wasn't embarrassment that burned beneath her skin—it was the thought of stepping into the unknown, of surrendering to something she didn't fully understand. What if she wasn't strong enough? What if her fear drove a wedge between them?

Ivy stood and began to pace the room, her bare feet silent against the polished wood. She thought of the way Gabriel had looked at her earlier, the torment in his eyes as he tried to push her away. He was trying to protect her, but she wasn't sure if she wanted protection. She wanted him.

But wanting him meant wanting all of him, and that realization made her pause. Could she truly accept him for who he was, curse and all?

Her heart told her yes. The man she had come to know—the man who carried the weight of Thornhaven on his shoulders, who had saved her life more than once, who looked at her like she was the only light in his dark world—he was worth fighting for.

But her mind reminded her of the risks. Love wasn't a fairytale, and passion couldn't erase the reality of his curse. What if she failed him? What if she couldn't handle the beast he became?

Ivy leaned against the window frame, staring out at the vast expanse of Thornhaven's grounds. The moon hung low in the sky, its light casting an ethereal glow over the world below.

She thought of Gabriel, alone in his room, likely tormenting himself for letting her get too close. He was so used to pushing people away, to hiding his pain behind cold words and distant gazes. But she had seen the man beneath the mask, the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide.

And she couldn't walk away.

Ivy pressed her hand against the glass, her reflection staring back at her, a mixture of determination and doubt in her eyes. If she chose to stay, if she chose to fight for him, it would mean facing her own fears. It would mean opening herself up to a love that was as raw and untamed as the man who held her heart.

She returned to her bed and sank onto the edge, her thoughts a tangle of emotions. The decision wasn't one she could make lightly, but one thing was certain: Gabriel was worth the risk.

As she lay back down, pulling the blankets around her, Ivy whispered to the empty room, "I just need to know if I'm strong enough."

And as the moonlight continued to pour through the window, she resolved to find that strength. She needed him and she knew he needed her.