Chapter Five – Bound in Blood

The Alpha of the shadow went into the cabin and appeared under the frame below its weight. Eyes closed on ivy. Gold. hungry. human.

It smiled.

The expression made the face into something scary. The lips were torn and black. The broken fangs light up under the meat. It didn't seem like it wanted to kill her.

It seemed that it wanted to understand her.

Thorne shoved ivy behind him, shoulder squared despite blood soaking on his shirt.

"I told you," he growled, voice low and dangerous. "She's not yours."

The creature bent its head. "And yet ... she bleeds like one of us."

Ivy's heart skipped. Her skin pierced with heat. "What does that mean?"

"Don't listen to it," Thorne said.

But the Alpha smiled broadly. "You haven't told her, have you?"

"Told me what?" Ivy demanded.

Thorne didn't answer.

Alpha's body shifted, bones cracking as soon as he went into the room. The silver ring above the door flared again, but the beast did not even slide.

"Your small little wards only sting," it said. "They don't stop what's already inside."

It lifted a claw hand and pressed it against the chest.

"Your blood sings, girl. You hear it, don't you ? That thunder. That ache."

Ivy's vision pulsed. Her ears rang. A distant, howling , slow and rhythmic, repeated as a heartbeat in her mind.

"No," she whispered. "It is not"

"Lie to yourself if you must. But you were marked long before you met him."

She looked at Thorne.

His silence said a lot.

"You knew," she breathed. "You knew something was wrong with me."

"It's not wrong," he said softly. "This is buried."

Ivy's breast tightened. "What the hell am I?"

The Alpha laughed, deep and cruel.

"Mine," it said.

Before she could move, Thorne lunged.

He collided with the animal, knocking it back to the doorframe. Both crashed in snow outside, a place with claws and naps.

"Thorne!" Ivy shouted, reaching for her bow.

But Alpha moved fast. it swiped Thorne over the chest, sprayed blood on the ice. Thorne hit the ground sharply and moaned.

Ivy didn't think. She moved forward, drew the silver-shared arrow and fired.

The shot was buried deep in Alpha's thighs.

It roar, staggering back.

Smoke rose from the wound.

Thorne rolled upright and tackled it again, driving the beast toward the tree line. "run!" He barked.

But Ivy didn't take a step.

She watched frozen, while Thorne slipped on the chest of Alpha. The creature retaliated, grabbed his arm and twisted .

It was a sick crack.

Thorne screamed .

"No!" Ivy raced toward them, another arrow ready.

But then—just as the Alpha raised its claws to strike—an earsplitting howl echoed through the woods.

Another second shape burst from trees. Smaller and faster.

It narrowed into the alpha, knocked it off Thorne.

The new wolf was silver gray, the eyes shone blue.

Ivy staggered to a halt..

"What-?"

Thorne coughed from the snow. "This is impossible."

The silver wolf snarled at the alpha, and the big animal actually went back, limping from the silver still buried in the leg.

Then, with a last growl , it turned and disappeared into the shade.

Ivy ran to Thorne and fell next to him. "Hey. Stay with me."

He grunted . "That thing will come back."

"What was that wolf? The Silver one?"

But before he could answer, The Gray Wolf went closer and shifted.

At the same time, in the moonlight, the coat was folded into the flesh, the organs were again shaped, the bones were back in place. It was painful to see this.

Then the wolf was gone.

And a boy was no more than fifteen stood there, naked and painted.

Ivy gasped. "Ethan?"

Her brother.

Alive.

He fell on his knees. "Ivy ..."

She pulled him in her arms, shaking. "How are you - how did you -"

"I didn't know. I woke up in the woods. Everything hurt. I could hear things. Then I knew you were in danger."

Thorne leaned against a tree, the blood still dripping . "He moved to save you."

"But he's not - he's not like you."

"No," Thorne said quietly. "He's strong."

Ethan looked at his hands. "I don't understand."

Ivy turned to Thorne . "What does this mean?"

Thorne wiped his mouth. "This means someone cursed your bloodline."

The wind howled again.

The trees whispered something she couldn't hear.

Ethan stood slowly, eyes troubled. "There's something else."

Ivy stiffened. "What?"

"I wasn't alone in the woods."

Thorne's gaze sharpened. "Who else was?"

Ethan's eyes met his. "Another girl. She said she was waiting for you."

Ivy frozed.

"For me?" Thorne asked.

Ethan nodded his head. "She said your past is not buried. It's growing roots."

Thorne swore under its breath. "This is bad."

"A shadow worse than alpha?" Ivy asked.

He looked at her seriously. "nasty."

Ethan held Ivy's hand. "She has an eye like yours. Green. Light. She said you were her mirror."

"I don't have a twin."

"She said you don't know yet," Ethan whispered.

Ivy's mind reeled again. "Who is she?"

Ethan shook his head. "She said she's the most feared by the hollow."

"And his name?" Thorne asked.

Ethan looked up, his voice shaking. "Thalia."

Thorn paled.

"She's not supposed to be alive."

"Who is she?" Ivy asked.

Thorne didn't answer.

Because in the next breath the sky was open with lightning.

And a voice - not loud, but ancient .

"Ivy Blackthorn ... the thorns are waking."