My Enemy,.My Betrothed Mate

Ivy's Pov.

"Today, we gather to offer our final allegiance to the Night Walker pack for the continuity of peace and love," the eldest pack elder intoned, his voice a gravelly mix of reverence and finality. Around him, the crowd roared their agreement, their shouts ringing in my ears like a death knell.

I didn't join in. Instead, my eyes darted over the sea of faces, searching for Aiden. Dreading the possibility he'd come, yet selfishly hoping for one last glimpse of him.

The news of my betrothal had hit like a dagger to the chest, but how could I tell him? How could I face the boy who owned every inch of my heart and tell him it was over-not because I wanted it to be, but because I had no choice? My throat constricted at the thought of his shattered expression.

Don't look for him, Ivy. He deserves better than you.

I turned to the man I was to marry, his imposing figure all sharp edges and grim authority. His face was a mask of indifference, but I swore I could feel the disdain rolling off him. My stomach churned. The ache in my head from hours of crying hadn't lessened, and my swollen eyes burned with fresh tears threatening to spill.

This wasn't how my life was supposed to be. Forced into a union I didn't want, all for the sake of the pack's safety. My father's dream, my mother's insistence, the council's demands-it all merged into this moment. A moment I wanted no part of.

The Alpha called his second-in-command, his low voice barely audible over the buzz of the crowd. The beta, lean and efficient, disappeared and returned moments later carrying a calabash and a gleaming boline knife.

The elders from both packs assembled, ready to bind this union in blood.

I didn't flinch as the blade bit into my palm, warm blood pooling into the calabash. When it was the Alpha's turn, he extended his hand without hesitation, his stoic expression unchanging as the knife pierced his skin.

Of course, he didn't flinch. Brave, just like Mother said. Brave enough to ruin lives for the good of his pack.

Our palms met, blood mixing between us. His grip was firm, commanding-just like every other part of him. It sent a shiver down my spine, though not the good kind. The rest of the ritual passed in a blur, the chanting of the elders melding with the roaring in my ears.

It was done.

The Alpha's people divided the blood, sharing it between packs, sealing the alliance that would cost me everything. My home. My freedom. My love.

The crowd erupted in cheers, but I barely heard them. My gaze fell on my mother and sister, standing behind me with faces streaked in tears. They were mirrors of my own grief, yet their expressions were expectant as if I were supposed to march into this new life with grace and duty.

Instead, I crumbled.

"Mother," I choked, throwing myself into her arms. She caught me tightly, her embrace a fragile island of comfort amidst a storm of despair.

"My Princess," she murmured, her voice breaking. "Go and make your father proud. Show them he lives in you."

Proud? My stomach turned over. She'd known. She'd known all along that this was coming, yet she'd let me fall in love. Let me fall into bed with Aiden, spinning dreams of a future we'd never have.

The cruelest lie of all.

Tears blurred my vision as I whispered, "He wouldn't be proud of this." My voice was thick with rebellion, but I knew it didn't matter. Nothing I said would undo what had been done.

I clung to my sister, Elena, who kissed my forehead but said nothing. Her silence hurt worse than words.

"Ivy." A voice, deep and authoritative, called my name. One of the elders.

It was time.

I forced myself to let go, tearing away from my family like it might physically kill me. Every step toward the Alpha felt like a step toward my own execution.

When I reached him, he grasped my hand firmly, his touch impersonal and unyielding. His gaze flicked to the car parked nearby. "Get in," he ordered, voice clipped and businesslike. No warmth. No welcome.

The ride was worse.

The moment I slid into the car, his scent filled the space, sharp and earthy like sandalwood and oud. It suffocated me, clawing at my throat. His presence was a heavy, oppressive thing, and I couldn't stop the nausea rolling through me.

Beside me, he was silent, his face turned toward the window as the forest blurred past. Until his hand brushed mine.

A jolt of electricity shot through me. I jerked away, but he caught my hand in his, his grip unrelenting. Heat coursed up my arm, mingling with dread. He looked at me then, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"So, Ivy," he said, his tone unnervingly polite. "Tell me about yourself."

I swallowed hard, my voice faltering. "I... I like reading. And walks in the woods."

He hummed, low and thoughtful. "I prefer hunting. There's something about the chase. The thrill of catching your prey."

The implication wasn't lost on me, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The silence stretched after that, heavy and charged. But something shifted when I caught a scent-musky and earthy, but not his. It was sharper, laced with decay. Wrong.

My senses prickled, and I sat up straighter, eyes scanning the darkening woods. My ears picked up a distant rustle, the soft crunch of paws on the undergrowth.

"Alpha," the driver muttered, his voice tight with unease. "We're not alone."

The car slowed, and I spotted them-shadows moving between the trees, glowing eyes watching us from every angle. Wolves. Dozens of them.

My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage like a war drum. The driver gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles white. "We're surrounded."

I turned to the Alpha, panic clawing at my throat, but I remembered who I was and the panic was replaced with a feeling of relief.

I glanced at the Alpha; his expression was calm and calculating, like he'd been expecting this.

"Stay close," he commanded.