And Then There Were Four
Chapter 62

Ivy POV

Two days passed since the incident with Hale, and it had become more than awkward around the house. The guys seemed content with whatever project they were working on, but I had no doubt that it had to deal with Talon.

On more than one occasion, I heard his name mentioned and even heard Damian get angry. Walking down stairs, I made my way towards the living room. My eyes landing on James who sat reclined on the sofa watching T.V. "Hey, you," I smiled, watching him turn to "Hey, did you sleep well?" He asked as I slid in between his legs and got comfortable.

me.

"Yeah," I sighed, "has there been any news on Talon yet?"

A heavy breath left him as he pondered over what I was saying. I knew he didn't want to tell me what was going on, but at the same time, it was time they told me something.

"We still aren't sure"

"Don't give me that," I snapped, as I turned my eyes to his. "Don't lie to me. I know you know something, otherwise Damian wouldn't be as angry as he is."

"It isn't that, Ivy," he said, as he kissed the side of my head. "There are other problems going on, too. Allison is trying everything she can to get you and us removed from our positions. Saying that we are playing with the political aspects of a pack and are no longer capable of leading."

This was something I knew that I hadn't heard before. A few days ago when we arrived back, I was sure that Allison had been cast aside and was going to leave us alone.

But that would have been too easy.

"Why is she doing this?" I asked, but deep down in my ch3st, I knew the answer.

She didn't like me, and I was a problem in her eyes.

"Damian already told you about how she has been towards us growing up, Ivy. Everything is more complicated than you think, and he wants you to stay out of it."

"Of course, he does," I groaned, rolling my eyes. Damian acted like I was a China doll, and didn't want me to be part of anything. He thought he knew best and had since the day I had gotten here. "Can you at least explain to me about Hale?"

James' eyes caught mine again just as footsteps approached the living room. The devil himself appeared and as his eyes caught mine, I could see his hesitation. "What do you want to know?" Hale asks softly.

"The truth that's all I ever want. I don't want you lying to me or hiding things from me anymore. We should be past that type of relationship."

I didn't miss the way Hale and James looked at each other as if in some sort of unspoken language. There was more that they were hiding, but if we could start here, I wouldn't push it further.

Hale moved towards an armchair and took a seat across from us. His demeanor had changed since the first moment I saw him, and now something more sinister seemed to lurk beneath the surface.

"Our mother was a full-blooded wolf shifter. She came from this pack actually, and her family was the original family. Yet, when my mother came of age to replace her mate, she found it in the most unlikely of places." Hale said with a sigh, she found herself mated to darkness."

"Darkness?" I questioned furrowing my brow, "but I thought it was all about the moon and light."

Soft chuckles left the men as Hale shook his head, "no Ivy, but that is the dream, isn't it."

"Ivy, things aren't like the stories others have told the world. Shifters are not light and happiness. We are creatures of darkness.

I was beginning to realize that there was still so much I didn't know, and as I let it process, my eyes met Hale's once more. "You aren't darkness, Hale."

A flicker of light in the depths of his eyes seemed to spark for a moment as the corner of his lips turned up, you always see the light in everything, don't you?"

"Maybe," I smirked, shrugging my shoulders, "continue... I want to hear it all."

Shaking his head, he sighed with a wide grin as he rubbed his hands against the tops of his thighs, "well... My father was the darkness she found. He was mixed between a wolf shifter and something far more ancient-a Lycan. The race of Lycans died or supposedly had died, but yet something happened where the last of them mixed with wolf shifters to preserve the bloodline."

Something deep inside me understood clearly what he was saying, and my mind raced with dreams that I had had once upon a time. Dreams that were more nightmares and haunted me every time I closed my eyes.

"All of you can look like that?" I finally asked after a moment of hesitation. My eyes glossed over the three of them with curiosity.

"No, Ivy." Damian replied, "just the twins. They took after our father more, whereas James and I took more after our mother. It's a simple case of inherited genetics. We are stronger than most wolves, though, and our senses are far more heightened than normal shifters."

The sound of gravel outside distracted me from the conversation, and all of our eyes turned towards the front windows of the house. Kate's elegant form stepped from the car with all her badassery and I couldn't help but smile as I jumped to my feet. "Kate!" | squealed with excitement as I ran towards the front door. The sound of James laughing echoed behind me as I slung open the door and ran to her. "Kate!"

Pulling me into a hug, our laughter mixed as she squeezed me tight, "hey girlie! Oh, my god it's so good to see you again."

"Likewise," I replied, pulling from her. "What the hell are you doing here? I thought you would have gone home."

"Yeah, well, I did. By the way, your mom is looking so much better since the pack doctor has taken her under his wing." She grinned, giving me a knowing look. "My mother?!" I gasped, "and the pack doctor?"

"Uh, huh?" She nodded as we both laughed, turns out that he can't get enough of her and they have been spending a lot of time together. Her treatments are going really well, and she is doing a lot better. Figured I would let you know since I know she doesn't want you to worry."

Nodding, I smiled. "Thanks, Kate. It means a lot."

"So the party is out here, huh?" James laughed as the three men exited the house. Knowing what I did, I couldn't help but wonder if there were others like them out there. So many questions swirled within the depths of my mind, and I wanted answers. However, those answers would have to wait for another day. They said it was a secret, and if Kate didn't know, I wouldn't tell her. After all, it wasn't my secret to tell.

As Kate conversed with James, Hale and I, I couldn't help but notice the other man with her speaking quietly with Damian off to the side. Their hushed words were distractive and yet. I wasn't sure what they were talking about.

Whatever it was, though, Damian's eyes connected with mine for a moment, and the look he gave me was one of worry. His body was rigid, and his hands fidgeting. Something was definitely off, and I didn't like it.

"Care to share the information you're sharing with the rest of us?" I asked, placing a hand on my hip, "no secrets, remember?"

The man speaking with Damian quickly closed his mouth and looked between the two of us.

"I'm sorry. I don't think we have been introduced." He quickly replied, stepping towards me holding at his hand, "My name is Angel. I'm Kate's mate."

"Mate?" I replied, shocked, as my wide eyes looked at a grinning Kate.

"Mhm." She laughed. "We met each other a few weeks ago."

"Oh, my god. I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you." She grinned as he wrapped his arm around her wa!st," we are still trying to figure everything out, but with his job and my newfound talent, we will figure a way." Curiosity piqued my mind as I looked at him with a smile, "oh what do you do for a living?"

"Oh, I'm a tracker-" He said before Kate quickly elbowed him in the stomach.

Shaking my head, I looked at Damian and the others with a smirk. "I knew it."

"Ivy-" Damian called out before I held up my hand to silence him.

"If you will excuse me, I will go get some food ready. Kate, I'm sure you both are starving after your trip."

She looked at me with hesitation before nodding. "Let me help you-"

"No no. No need. You have business to attend to, and afterward, we can catch up on everything else." I replied before turning on my feet and walking back inside the house.

It was obvious that I was the elephant in the room, and with me around, they had to be careful of what they were saying. I didn't understand it though, and something deep in my stomach clenched at the hidden secrets. It had to deal with Talon. There was nothing else that they would need to hide from me.

Something was wrong, and they were afraid to tell me.

Deep down I knew the answer, though-Talon needed me.