And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

The next few days went by slowly, and as they did, I slowly followed further and further into the darkness, unable to bring myself up. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with everything going on, but I had, without a doubt, the darkest of feelings. Every day not knowing if Damien was safe was a step putting me one step closer to completely losing myself, and the only thing holding me grounded was the twins silently sleeping upstairs in their crib.

I was an utter mess. A complete disaster.

Making my way downstairs, I tried to push away the darkened thoughts evading my mind. Heading toward the kitchen, the indistinct murmurs of conversation drew me to a complete stop as I turned and watched the many figures through the cracked-open doorway and Damian's office.

What the hell?

"We have to tell her what's going on," James said softly as I watched him gaze towards Hale, whose back was towards me, staring out the window as if in deep thought.

"No," he replied firmly, letting out a heavy breath. "We all saw how she's changing, and you, James, of all people, saw first hand what Damian not being here is doing to her. Since she had the twins, she's completely different."

Hale's response broke my heart just a little. He was never the one to keep information from me, and hearing him tell James not to include me hurt. I didn't find myself to be completely different, and yet he was acting as if I was turning into some kind of monster.

"This isn't right. It was delivered to the border for her. We need to let her see it." Talon all but growled, stepping forward, his fists clenched at his side. He was obviously angry, and I wanted to know more than anything what he was referring to.

What had been delivered at the border they didn't want me made aware of?

"It may have been delivered for her, but the thing is, I am the acting alpha right now, and I do not see it in her best interest to read this shit, Talon. It doesn't matter what they say, we cannot give in to their demands."

Tired of listening to what they were talking about, I pushed back the anger threatening to lash out if they made one more comment about me. Its shadows twisted and rolled through my veins as if seeking an outlet.

Pushing open the doorway, I stood there, watching as their eyes turned to me. Kate's face fell as she seemed to pale. I hadn't even realized she and Angel had made it back from the council land yet, but here she was, standing there with a grim expression on her face that spoke a million words without even saying anything.

"What is going on here?" I asked, narrowing my gaze as I stared at each of them. "We don't hide secrets, so somebody needs to start talking."

"It's nothing, Ivy. Honestly, just some bullshit. Why don't you head back upstairs and get some rest?" Hale replied as he turned to me with a small smile, stuffing whatever paper it was into his back pocket, as if I wouldn't notice.

"Don't talk to me as if I'm a child, Hale. I'm going to ask you one more time to give me whatever you just put into your pocket that was supposedly addressed to me per your conversation. Before things get worse."

My warning was clear. If there was something he was hiding from me, he would face my wrath, mate or not. "Ivy-"

"No," I said firmly, clenching my fists at my side. "Don't you dare act like this towards me after everything we had been through?

Stopping in his tracks, he stood staring at me with a grim expression across his face I had never seen before. "This isn't up for discussion. My word is final."

When the hell did Hale decide he was going to act like this? I knew Damian had made him the acting alpha before he left, but that was no reason for Hale to let this go to his head. "Don't you dare act like that towards me?" I growled.