And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

"Of course, you can."

"Why did you awaken James' Lycan?"

The last thing I expected was for him to bring this up right now, but now that he did, I couldn't help but feel slightly amused. "Because he will be needed."

"What do you mean, needed?"

With a sigh, I turned to face him, raising my brow before reaching over and shutting off the water. "Not really a topic for the shower, is it?"

"Ivy-"

Stepping from the shower, I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my body, and went out into the bedroom. I knew very well he was following right behind me, and the conversation was far from over.

"Will you stop?" He grabbed my arm gently as he turned me around to face him. "What's going on?"

Taking a moment, I stared at him with curiosity. "War is coming, Talon. You, of all people, should be able to feel that."

"War?" He laughed, shaking his head. "We're the strongest pack in North America."

"That's missing its leader."

Shaking my head, I grabbed my dress and pulled it back over my head, ensuring it was in place. Talon didn't understand right now what I was talking about, but in time he would. He would see what was coming.

"You have changed, Ivy." The whispered response stopped me in my tracks as I made my way toward the door. Deep down, I knew what he said was true, but I wanted to pretend it wasn't.

I wanted to pretend I was the same person, but I couldn't keep lying to myself.

I was changing.

"I'm fine, Talon," I replied softly as I glanced over my shoulder at him. "And soon... we all will be in a much better position. Our family will be whole again."

Talon.

As soon as Ivy left the room, I stood clueless in the center, staring at the closed door she exited from. She was acting more bizarre than I had remembered her being, and the way she pulled me from the conversation downstairs still confused me.

I had felt the pull. Felt a swirl of calm and longing tugging at the beast inside me. As soon as I cleared the room, he came forward, pushing me to the back of my mind as he took over and went after Ivy.

Taking her this time was completely different from before.

She was different.

Power coursed through her, and the moment I touched her, I became drunk on the feeling she created. Then when I acted in.... that way... fuck me.

Running a hand over my face, I

groaned before grabbing a pair of shorts from.my dresser and pulling them onДvy's words echoed through my mind, and as my eyes glanced out the window, I couldn't help but wonder if she was tight.

Deep down, I felt like something was coming, but I didn't want to admit it.

"Talon!" Hale said, coming through my bedroom door. "We need to talk."

Turning, I watched Hale stop in his tracks as his eyes slid around the room, taking in a long whiff of the air. "Ivy was just here—"

"Yes, and we fucked. Now, what do you want?" I snapped.

He opened and closed his clenched fists before sneering in my direction, pressing his lips into a fine line. "Lose the attitude." "Well, don't waste my time."

"Waste your time?" Hales scoffed. "Anyway... Derek from the Blue Wolf pack just called and said his scouts got a whiff of council warriors near his land."

"What?" I sneered as I felt the shift burning beneath my skin. "When?"

"This morning. He said they didn't see the rest of them, but guessed two, maybe three. It looks like they are heading this way, but I don't want us to jump to conclusions. Perhaps they are simply heading somewhere." "Without notifying packs?!" I growled. "I doubt that. They're on their way here."

Hale stared at me for a moment before laughter escaped his lips. "Why would they be on their way here? To get Ivy?"

"Are you insane?" I asked him with disgust. "Do you not remember the letter?"

He was quiet for a moment and then sighed. "I know, but come on... do you really think so?"

"Yeah. I do."

Pacing back and forth, I pushed past him into the hallway and stormed down the stairs with Hale on my heel. There was no telling what was going to happen, and if, for some reason, they were on their way here, we needed to be prepared.

'All warriors meet at the pack house.'

I called out through the mind link. We didn't need to procrastinate any longer. Perhaps they weren't on their way here, but we needed to be ready either way. I would not risk the pack being hurt because of my lack of protection.

"Talon, what are you doing?" James called out as he and Hale stood behind me with confusion. "Why are you assembling the warriors?"

"Because..." I said, looking over at him. "We need to be prepared if something is coming. Damian would expect this, and I will not let us be blindsided."

The look on my brother's faces was one of shock but determination. They knew how dangerous our world could be, and the woman and children inside were what we had to protect.

Our pack was something we had to protect, and if we didn't, we would lose everything.