And Then There Were Four
Chapter 81

Three months after the claim

Ivy.

Three months. That's all it had been, and yet life couldn't get any better. Sure, things were different now, but that was to be expected, right? Wrong. God, how stupid could I be to think everything was normal?

One moment I'm a normal college student expecting to go to a new place and finish my degree. Next, I'm some fvcking goddess shifter thingy, and my life is being turned upside down by four amazing men who are also very fvcking annoying. "Damn it, James!" I screamed from the kitchen as I stood with the refrigerator door opened, searching for the Snickers I knew I had hidden in there. "Did you eat my fvcking candy bar?"

Laughter erupted from the living room, and I had no doubt it was the twins replaceing my hormonal cravings to be the center of their amusement.

Did I replace it funny, though? Of course, I didn't, and if one of them didn't produce a fvcking Snickers bar in the next five seconds, someone was going to get their ass beat.

"Calm down," James sighed, rushing into the kitchen with a smile on his face. "I just put it in a safe place, so it didn't get lost behind all the groceries I went and got."

Watching, he reached into the fridge and pulled out a small pink container with the words 'Ivy's shit' on top of it. The small sentiment was enough to bring tears to my eyes James quickly hugged me.

"Please don't cry," he whispered, not wanting to get yelled at by Damian again for bringing me to tears.

Since I found out I was pregnant, I had started going through weird changes. One minute I was happy, and the next, I was crying. You would think it was only me that would be going through these changes, right? Wrong again.

It seemed my mates were each having their own version of sympathy pregnancy symptoms, and on more than one occasion, Damian had to feel the wrath of my sadness.

Which in turn made him start crying, and we all know... Damian isn't that kind of man.

"It's just sweet," I said, forcing back the tears as he opened the container and handed me the Snickers. "Just next time, tell me."

"Of course, sweetie. How are you feeling today?" he asked, and a sigh escaped me.

"Like a freakish monster carrying children who could potentially destroy the world."

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head, "I don't know why you keep saying that.".

"Uh- maybe because that's what everyone thinks." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not everyone thinks that," he groaned. "All that was said is we have no idea what traits will be passed down."

"Uh-and that you're worried about what could happen. Come on now, I'm not stupid, and I can read between the lines, James."

He couldn't argue with me there. The more and more they tried to sugarcoat shit with me, the more annoyed i became. I just wanted the truth when it came to shit, and over the past few months, they had gotten better at telling me things. Yet, part of me still couldn't help but wonder if what I was doing was right.

I was the Luna of the pack. The matriarch and mother to all... or so I was told.

Yet, everyone seemed afraid of me in a way, and I couldn't understand why. I had never given them a reason to fear me, and with everything that was going on now with the pregnancy, I didn't want to be looked at differently.

"Look, you just have to give things time. I mean, look at Rosa. At first, she was a little unsure of you, but now you guys are like BFFs," he said, crossing his arms over his ch3st.

"James, she is the midwife. Of course, we fvcking get along." I turned from the kitchen and made my way toward the living room.

I knew he was just trying to be helpful, but in all honesty-he fucking wasn't.

Thad to face facts. I'm a freak with unknown supposed powers, and every day I sit here, I replace myself to the point of losing my mind. "I need a hobby."

"You have one, gorgeous," Hale commented, putting down his book as he made room for me next to him on the sofa.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" I said flatly while stuffing into the delicious chocolate treat I had been craving for the past few days.

"Us, of course."

Smacking him on the leg, he, James, and Talon broke out into a fit of laughter. "Just because my s*x drive is through the roof doesn't mean it's a hobby."

"True, but it's a great way to stay in shape." Talon pointed out as he scrolled through his phone. "I mean, look at me... I haven't been in better shape in a long time."

"I'm being serious, guys," I groaned in frustration. " think I want to start going back to school. I need something to focus on, and I can't just sit around here forever."

All three of them fell silent at my statement. Damian and I had spoken about it before, but he always shot it down every time we did.

Not long after I went to enroll again, people started asking questions about Caleb. The guys had formulated something that made it look like he just moved out of town, but the friends he left behind questioned it all. They were humans, and it wasn't like we could tell them what really happened. Humans weren't supposed to know our kind existed.

"You know what Damian said," Hale sighed, shaking his head. "He isn't going to allow it... at least not right now."

"That isn't fair, Hale. I want something to do, and there is only so much learning I can take with Priscilla. I love her to death, but if I have to sit through one more meditation session with her, I'm going to scream." "What's going to make you scream?" Damian said as his voice drifted in from the front door.

Jumping from my seat, 1 skipped toward him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He had been gone for the past week, and I was glad to see him home.

Business overseas hadn't been going how he liked, and now that the drama was over, he had taken his roll back within the company on a more serious note. "You're back," I smiled, k!ssing him gently. "Welcome home."

He smiled down at me, pulling me into his arms before letting his hand rub against my stomach. Things between Damian and I had improved since my Luna ceremony and replaceing out that I was pregnant.

Instead of the cold, demanding, and as*shole-ish person who he was-he became an Alpha everyone respected.

We had all agreed after the ceremony, he would still be Alpha. With him taking that position, Talon and James took over training and making sure the borders were protected.

Hale, on the other hand, worked more with me. He helped out tremendously in the pack hospital, and on more than one occasion, I told him he should have become a doctor. It just wasn't what he wanted to do, though. Instead, he managed the pack hospital and oversaw the pack school.

There was an intelligence about him that stumped even me, and with everything else going on, I was glad to know I had them close.

"I want to go back to school, Damian," I whispered. "The guys even agree.. don't you?" The glare I gave them had their eyes wide and their mouths parted.

"I mean,"

"Uh-well..."

"I didn't say shit," Talon finally piped up as a gasp left my l!ps.

"Talon, seriously?" I asked in disbelief.

Standing to his feet, he shook his head, "look; honestly, I don't think it's safe. Especially considering you're pregnant. Outside of the pack territory, I can't keep you protected like I can when you're in it. Your pregnancy isn't a secret; everyone knows about what happened at Sanctum. Who knows who wants you..."

I knew he was right, but I couldn't believe he would be so against it. It was like even though my life had become amazing. I was a prisoner.

Fear enveloped those who didn't understand something, and with me, there was so much people didn't understand. Every day, though, I tried to help people see I was normal.

It just wasn't always possible.

"I will be safe," I begged, looking at Damian with the biggest puppy dog eyes I could put on. "Please let me... I mean, technically, I don't have to ask permission, but I'm trying to have you agree and be supportive." "Look," Damian sighed. "I will agree that you can go

back to school, but I would prefer it be after the baby is born. Can you at least agree with that?"

It wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but understanding his concerns, I smiled.

"Okay, deal," I replied, leaning up to kiss him.

In the end, I won the situation somewhat. Now the only thing left to happen was to get through the rest of this pregnancy in one piece and pray nothing crazy happens with my pregnancy.

The last thing I wanted was to turn into a Godzilla wife because, honestly, that would be my luck. I would have something insane happen and then watch... the world would literally depend on something completely bizarre. Like the last piece of pizza that always seemed to disappear when I try to save it.

Life wasn't easy, that was for sure, but as long as I had my guys, anything was possible.

"Ivy!" Priscilla called from the front door as she walked in behind Damian. "Oh, Damian, you're back!"

"Yes, it's lovely to see you again, Priscilla. I hope those classes for Ivy are coming along well?"

"Yes, they are, but she still has a long way to go." She turned her gaze to me and smiled. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, as long as this baby lets me actually get some peace." I giggled, rubbing my hand over my small protruding bump.

"Don't you mean babies?" Priscilla said with a grin, causing my eyes to widen.

"You're fvcking joking..."

"Twins!" Hale laughed. "I fvcking knew it!"

"You don't know shit, Hale." I scolded as I watched - James and Talon fork money from their wallets and hand it to Hale. "I haven't even gotten the ultrasound done yet. Don't count your chickens yet."

I knew what Priscilla said was true. Over the past month, I wondered if it was two, and something inside me told me it was. I just had been avoiding the ultrasound for this particular reason.

How the hell was I going to deal with Twins?

Oh, wait. I have two grown-a's ones standing in the living room. Goddess, help me.