And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Ivy.

Standing at the back door, looking at the guys by the clubhouse, I found confusion about what was happening. It wasn't like them to ignore me the first time I called, but I knew I wasn't the center of their world. At least, I didn't think I was.

However, what caught my attention the most was how uncomfortable James looked. I had watched them before I came outside, and I saw how James dramatically flailed his arms around as if he was telling them a story. A story I fully knew already. I could tell what happened last night had been on his mind this morning. The link we shared going crazy as he tried to push his thoughts aside and think of baseball, of all things, as I was trying to read him.

It was all too obvious though, and chuckling internally, I found amusement in how the great 'playboy' James was acting right now.

Power surged through me like nothing I had ever felt before, and for once, I was content, determined to get Damian back instead of feeling depressed.

I missed him, but I was taking the initiative instead of whining and crying about something I couldn't change. I was going to fix this.

I was going to get him back one way or another.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?" Hale said with a soft smile as he looked at me.

I could sense the beast lurking beneath his skin. It called out to me. Purring in a sense, but he held him back quite well. The Lycan respected him and chose to stay held back, not that it couldn't break free if it wanted to. Hale and Talon had years of experience, though. Years of practice at control.

James was new to it, and the more he freaked out, the more out of control he would be.

nět

I could almost see the electrifying aura that flowed over their skin. After awakening James last night, something in me changed, and I awoke this morning with a whole new outlook on life. I could see things I had never seen before.

"Yes, of course. Everything's okay," I smiled. "Is James okay? He looks absolutely flustered."

The boys turned back to see James walking up towards us. A forced smile upon his face before he stopped, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at me with a lopsided grin. "Hey Ivy, everything okay?" Taking a moment, I stared at him as the corners of my lips turned up into a small smirk. "I'm great. A better question would be, are you okay?"

The amusement in my tone and the

seduction of the way I asked him seemed to startle him. Both Talon and Hale looked between James and I before he burst out laughing again, shaking his head as he

walked past me back into the house.

My suspicions had been correct. Then James had told them what had happened last night and as I gave Hale a side glance, he hesitated for a moment before nodding and walking inside as well. He knew I needed a moment with James. Yet, as James realized this, his face went pale.

"James, you a little out of sorts after last night? I can see that something's bothering you, and nothing else has happened to you since then that I know of, and considering the fact Talon was just laughing, I can only assume-"

Tilting my head from side to side with a smile, I waited for him to finish the conversation I had started. If he was honestly that worked up about what happened last night, then, of course, I would apologize.

I didn't mean for it to happen-it just did.

"Ivy, about last night. I wasn't going to say anything," he said, trailing off as he swallowed deeply my eyes, watching his Adam's apple move up and down with his hesitation. "I honestly don't even know what to say."

Stepping forward, I kissed his lips,

gently running a finger over the side of his face. There's no need for you to be afraid, James. I'm sorry that things happened the way they did last night. I didn't mean for that to happen, but it was like something else inside me came alive. À name that was there... to fix all our problems."