Chapter 6 The Rejected Mate's Reckoning

Ivy’s POV The damp chill of the cell seeped into my bones, making it impossible to get comfortable. I had lost track of time—days, maybe even weeks had passed since I was thrown in here. The silence, broken only by the occasional scrape of a food tray being shoved under the door, was suffocating. I wasn’t sure what was worse—the isolation or the anticipation of whatever the triplets had planned for me. Selene’s last words still echoed in my mind. "The triplets aren’t going to let you go." Why? They had rejected me, humiliated me, made it clear that I was nothing to them. If they truly wanted me gone, they could have exiled me or killed me. But instead, they had locked me away. And for what? The sound of heavy boots approaching snapped me out of my thoughts. My body tensed. I knew who it was before the cell door creaked open. Ronan. He stepped inside, his tall frame casting a long shadow against the dim torchlight. His golden eyes glowed in the darkness, unreadable as they swept over me. I forced myself to meet his gaze, even though my heart pounded in my chest. "You’re still here," he said, voice low and controlled. I scoffed. "Not by choice." His jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t respond to the jab. Instead, he crouched in front of me, resting his elbows on his knees. "You’re going to tell me the truth now." I frowned. "What truth?" Ronan’s gaze sharpened. "Why did you try to leave?" I let out a dry laugh. "Is that a real question? You rejected me. The whole pack treats me like garbage. Did you really think I would stay and endure it forever?" His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "And where would you have gone?" "Anywhere," I whispered. Ronan exhaled through his nose, his frustration evident. "You’re part of this pack, Ivy." I stiffened. "No, I’m not. You made sure of that." His golden eyes darkened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he studied me for a long moment before leaning in slightly. "You’re not leaving," he said, his voice firm, unwavering. A cold dread settled in my stomach. "Why?" I whispered. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small key, unlocking the chain attached to my ankle. I barely had time to register what was happening before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet. "Come with me." I yanked my arm back. "No." His grip tightened slightly, but he didn’t force me. "You can walk, or I can carry you. Either way, you’re coming with me." I glared at him, but I knew I had no choice. I was exhausted, starving, and weak from being locked up. Reluctantly, I followed him out of the cell. The hallway was dimly lit, cold stone walls stretching endlessly in both directions. As we walked, my mind raced. Where was he taking me? Ronan led me up a flight of stairs, out of the underground cells, and into the main part of the packhouse. The sudden brightness made me squint. Everything felt too big, too overwhelming after being trapped in the darkness for so long. But the moment I stepped into the hallway, I felt it. Two other scents—familiar, intoxicating. Kieran and Elias. They were waiting. Ronan led me to a set of large wooden doors and pushed them open. Inside, Kieran leaned casually against the window, arms crossed over his chest, his icy blue eyes watching me with amusement. Elias stood near the fireplace, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his posture was evident. I hesitated at the doorway. Ronan stepped aside, motioning for me to enter. "Come in, Ivy." I didn’t move. Kieran smirked. "Afraid, little omega?" I clenched my fists. "No." "Then step inside," Elias said quietly. My pulse pounded, but I forced myself forward. The door shut behind me with a heavy thud. Silence stretched between us. I shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny. "Why am I here?" Kieran was the first to move. He pushed off the window and walked toward me, his smirk never wavering. "Let’s get one thing straight, Ivy," he murmured, his voice low, dangerous. "You are ours." A shiver ran down my spine. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "You rejected me." Ronan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "That was a mistake." I blinked, my mind struggling to process his words. "What?" Kieran chuckled darkly. "Let’s just say we had… a change of heart." I stared at them, my chest tightening. "No." Elias finally spoke, his deep voice sending a shiver through me. "No?" I met his piercing gaze. "You don’t get to change your minds now. You rejected me. You made me suffer. And now you think you can just—what? Take it back?" Ronan’s jaw tightened. "We didn’t know—" "You didn’t care," I snapped. "You let me rot in that cell. You let the whole pack treat me like dirt. And now you expect me to just accept this?" Kieran smirked. "Accepting it isn’t really an option, love." Anger flared in my chest. "You can’t force me to stay." Elias stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine. "You’re our mate, Ivy. The bond won’t let you go." Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "You don’t want me," I whispered. "You just don’t want to let me go." Silence. Then, Ronan stepped forward, closing the distance between us. His golden eyes burned into mine. "You belong with us," he said, his voice softer this time. My heart twisted. They weren’t lying. I could feel it in the way the bond pulsed between us, in the way their wolves responded to mine. But that didn’t erase everything they had done. I took a deep breath, forcing steel into my voice. "I don’t forgive you." Ronan flinched, just barely. Kieran’s smirk faltered. Elias’s expression darkened. "Good," Ronan finally said. "Because we’re going to earn it." My breath caught in my throat. This wasn’t over. It was only just beginning.