And Then There Were Four
Chapter 42

Ivy POV

Darkness. The sound of escalating battle beginning on the earth above caused turmoil to bubble within my soul. I wasn't sure what the situation was, but I had a feeling that before the night ended, I would become a martyr in battle. "Damn it!" Mandy's voice followed down the stairwell, followed by her footsteps descending the stairs. Cold, dark, swirling eyes greeted me with a malicious smile.

I was in trouble.

"It's time to go." She snarled as she pulled the key from her pocket, snatching at the shackle on my wrist. The movements causing it to dig against my skin in discomfort.

"What are you doing?" I replied, struggling against her as she snatched my arm, trying to drag me across the floor towards the stairs. "Get the fuck off me!"

A blow to the side of my face caused me to reel back to the ground. Mandy stood over me, impatient and unforgiving. "Don't make me kill you, because honestly, I love that idea better."

"Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends."

Laughter escaped her lips as she contemplated what I had said. I should have known from the beginning that this girl wasn't friendly at all. She had always shown such kindness and concern towards me, but it was only after she had seen me with Hale and James in the courtyard.

"I was what I needed to be." She retorted before grabbing my hair and dragging me up the stairs with a force I didn't think a woman of her size had.

Werewolf strength. It was undeniable, and every movement sent sharp pains through my back and side with every step she took.

As the door opened towards the main floor, the roar of wolves grew louder. Even though my connection to Hale, James, and Talon was growing weaker, it was slightly stronger now that they were closer. The drugs that Caleb had given me slowly wore off from my system.

"Let me go!" I yelled as I struggled against Mandy again.

I had to get away from her. The further along she dragged me, the closer to the ravenous wolves I was, and that was a place I didn't want to be. I had seen the guys' wolves up close before, but even then, I was scared.

"It's time they realize who has the upper hand!" Mandy yelled, throwing open the front door and dragging me onto the wooden porch.

She pulled me roughly to my feet. Her claws extended on her hand as she brought my back to her chest and held me by my throat. "Enough!" She roared, causing the wolves to halt in their step.

"What are you doing?" Caleb yelled, quickly shifting back.

The snapping jaws of the black wolf pawing at the earth across from the porch, watching the scene unfold. "I'm done with the childish games of men. The harvest moon is high, and with time still left, I will handle this as it should be." "Please..." I cried out in fear as tears ran down my cheeks, "let me go."

"Ivy!" James and Hale called in unison.

My eyes widened upon seeing James and the others. A rush of relief rolled through me, knowing that they had come. I had wondered if everything I had with them had all been for nothing, but deep down I knew they wouldn't abandon me. "James-" I cried out, only to have her grip tighten on me. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched the wolves stare at the scene in front of them.

"Please don't hurt her..." James begged as his own eyes widened in fear, "she did nothing to you."

"No, she didn't. But Damian did." Mandy retorted with disgust lacing her tone.

I wasn't sure what Damian had done to Mandy, but part of me hoped it was a misunderstanding. Damian may have been a lot of things, but I didn't want to believe he was as bad as they made him out to be.

The breaking of bones echoed in the air as I watched the black wolf shift slowly back into Damian. My heart raced. at the sight, having never witnessed it before. His dark swirling eyes caught my attention though as they met mine, and an unreadable expression crossed his face.

"Your quarrel is with me, Mandy. Ivy isn't mated to me, so there is no way her death will hurt me. Don't do something stupid."

Laughter left Mandy's lips as she shook her head. "you really are daft, aren't you? Do you think it's her life that actually matters to me?"

Damian's brows furrowed in confusion as he listened to her speak. The more I moved, the deeper her claws dug into my skin, causing a wet sensation to drip down my neck. "What did Damian do to you?"

I had to know what hurt Mandy so much. I was desperate to know what he had done that would cost me my life.

"Oh, he didn't tell you." Mandy whispered in my ear, "the wolf who killed herself because of him... she was my sister."

Shock rushed through me. Everything made sense.

Mandy lost her sister that day, and for so long, she planned revenge with Caleb to make Damian suffer. However, what she was doing now conflicted with everything that Caleb had wanted.

"Wait.. Caleb wanted to steal me from Damian so he could take Damian's mate.. But you.."

The idea ran through my head as I tried to understand her reasoning.

She was doing this for blood.. A life for a life.

"No, you can't!" I screamed, trying to get away.

Laughter escaped her though as she held me tight to her, "so you finally understand. At least one of you does." She replied with a smirk.

"What are you talking about?!" Caleb yelled, stepping closer only for Mandy to step back, holding tight to my body.

"Move again and I'll kill her." She snarled, glaring at the men in front of her.

"She is going to kill me to kill Hale, Talon, and," the tightening of her grip cut my words off, digging into my throat.

It was true. She was going to kill me to kill them, and even though I didn't want to die, I couldn't allow my death to affect them. They meant more to me than my own life, and I would do anything for them.

Dark spots formed in my vision, and as I was once told growing up, my life flashed before my eyes.

If this was the end, then so be it, but Moon Goddess, if you are out there... spare them and only take me.

Kate POV

"She is going to kill her to kill your brothers!" I yelled as soon as I shifted.

It made perfect since. A life for a life.

A vendetta to solve all the problems there once had been. Even with Caleb wanting to take Ivy. Mandy was getting one over on him as well. Ivy had become the center of their attention, and with Ivy gone, they would all lose something. But Damian would lose the most.

His brothers and his mate-no wolf could go through that much pain.

It would destroy him.

Before another word could leave my lips, Mandy's attention focused on Damian was lost as Caleb charged her and ripped her from Ivy's body. The sweet petite figure dropped to the floor as the battle between Mandy and Caleb began. Mandy's lifeless body fell to the floor before us.

As if someone clicked the pause button, the rogues Caleb had with him charged us once more, and I shifted back into my wolf. My teeth snapping and grasping at any wolf I could get hold of.

I wasn't the most powerful of wolves, but I couldn't rely on the brothers to protect me.

I wasn't part of their pack.

The only thing I could do was hope that my efforts weren't wasted, and I was able to protect a girl who had become more than just my friend. She had become like a sister to me. And I would be her protector.