And Then There Were Four
Chapter 91

Talon.

I had always been unsure about Ivy being pregnant, but the moment Hale told us that Ivy was having twins through the link, I couldn't be happier. It was a moment I had known was coming, but now that it was here, I was more than nervous. Was going to be a good dad? Would they end up liking me? "It's good news, brother," Damian said, slapping me on the shoulder with a smile. "Yeah, it is," I replied hesitantly. "Damian, can I ask you something?" "What's that?" He said as he moved around the nursery, checking everything the contractors were doing.

"Do you remember that old story that mother used to tell us about the great Bjorn?"

Damian stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder at me with a smile. "Yeah, what about it? Have old fairy tales been crossing your mind lately?"

"Shut up," I groaned, rolling my eyes. "I'm being serious." "So was I. I thought James was the sentimental one, and Hale was the nerdy one."

Damian's laughter and comment caught me off guard, but as I narrowed my gaze, he knew I was being serious. I didn't bring things up unless it was important, and right now, I needed him to focus.

"What about it, Talon?" he finally sighed as he returned to what he was doing.

"What if the story was more than a story? What if it was real history?" I asked, trying to remember the details of the story and how our mother used to tell it.

"Don't be ridiculous, Talon. It's a kids' story. Now focus, we have to get some of this s**t done," he replied, completely brushing off what I was telling him.

Go figure, after all, Damian was a logical man, and if there wasn't proof to back something up, he didn't pay it attention. I wouldn't consider that entirely good for an Alpha to think that way, but he had his brothers to help him. We were stronger because of our unique unity. "Fair enough. I'll go down and see if the b***h has left yet."

Nodding his head at me, he kept himself preoccupied as I made my way down the stairs only to come face to face with James, Hale, and Ivy walking through the front door.

Quickly, I rushed her and swept her off her feet, twirling her around in my arms while she laughed. "A boy and a girl."

"Yes, yes," she laughed. "Put me down, Talon, or you're going to make me sick."

"Sorry," I said as I placed her on her feet and pulled her in, crashing my lips against hers. "I can't help it. Seeing you pregnant is so damn tempting."

"Yeah, well, that will have to wait, brother," Hale cut in, causing me to look at him.

"Why? Are you still on that kick? I know what you said before, but come on now. Isn't it supposed to help with easing labor or something like that?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Hale groaned. "Yes, but she isn't in labor. However, she could have the baby within the next four to six weeks."

"Oh," I knew we had just talked about this, but having the doctor confirm it made it all that much more real. "Well, hopefully, one of our problems will be gone soon."

"She is still here?" Ivy snapped. "Why?"

"She said that she had to pack and then argued with Damian, who told her fine but to hurry and leave."

The look that passed through Ivy's eyes was one of displeasure. She wanted the woman gone now, and she wasn't going to be told that she had to wait. Pushing past us all, she stormed her way towards the back door. And that only meant one thing. Ivy was going to go into turbo mode on this woman.

"Ivy... Ivy, no," James said, putting himself quickly in between her and the door. "I will go tell her for you. You remember what the doctor said. No stress."

"Move, James," she snarled at him as her eyes changed. "No. Now, as your mate, I demand you go upstairs and take a nap now."

Never once in my life had I heard James use an almost decent Alpha tone, and the fact he just used it on Ivy was shocking. Hale and I glanced at each other before looking back at them.

Ivy stood with her fists clenched, and her brows narrowed, but slowly she relaxed and rolled her eyes. "You'll make sure she is gone by the time I wake up?"

"Yes," he squeaked before quickly clearing his throat. "Yes, I will make sure."

With a sly grin, she leaned forward, k!ssing him, and then smiled at Hale and me before she made her way towards the stairs, hoping to take a nap.

"What the f**k was that?" Hale said as we glanced from where Ivy was back to James.

He looked absolutely pale as can be, but swallowing deeply, he straightened himself and ran his hand through his hair. "We pretend I didn't just about s**t myself and that you watched me manly standpoint to her before going to handle a problem." Turning, he didn't wait for us to comment and exited the back door on a mission. It took a moment for Hale and me to let what happened sink in, and as it did, we both burst into laughter.

"I don't think I have ever seen him like that."

Turning to Hale, I shook my head, glancing out the window at James, who was walking towards the cottage, but obviously talking to himself.

"No kidding," Hale replied. "You think he is trying to pump himself up for what he is about to do?" "Oh, no doubt. Fifty says the old broad doesn't go out easily."

"Hell no, I'm not taking that bet. I have faith in James, but the woman is stubborn as hell. Let's just hope he can get rid of her before Ivy gets back up again. I'd hate to see what would happen if she was still here." Hale was right about one thing. It wouldn't be good if the woman was still here when Ivy got up.

Then again, part of me would entirely enjoy watching Ivy completely have a go at this woman. It would make for great entertainment.

If this was how things were going to be from now on, I was looking forward to the future for sure.

*

A few hours later, Ivy was refreshed and wide away with a hungry look in her eye. As she made her way into the kitchen, I looked up from the laptop I was working on and watched her search the fridge for something.

"Were you looking for something?" I asked her as she slammed the fridge door, and turned to me with a pout on her lips that I found incredibly s*xy.

"I'm hungry, and nothing in there looks good." "What kind of hungry?" I asked her hesitantly. "Like you want a snack, or you're hungry-hungry?" With a look of disgust, she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Why do you have to say it like that?"

"Say what, like what?" I asked in confusion. "I'm just trying to figure out what kind of hungry you are, so I know what you want to eat."

"I know. I'm sorry." Sitting down on the bar stool, she folded her arms on the counter and rested her chin on it. "I'm grumpy when I'm hungry."

"Oh, I can see that," I replied with soft laughter. "Let's see what I can replace for you."

Before I could even get up from where I was sitting, commotion from outside drew our attention to the front door. The sun was slowly setting off in the distance, and whoever it did not sound happy.

Jumping to our feet, lvy and I made our way towards the door, opening it quickly. Out front stood James and the Elder arguing, and to top it off, Ivy's mother had arrived with none other than the infamous Kate.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Kate yelled at the woman. "Don't you dare fvcking speak to him like that? If he told you to go, you need to pack your st and get one. It shouldn't take this long for you to grasp the understanding of your assignment." "My assignment?" Elder Harrison scoffed. "What pack are you with-"

"Hey? What the hell is going on?" Ivy yelled, catching everyone's attention. "I thought you were supposed to be gone?"

The elder sneered at lvy, shaking her head. "And I thought you were supposed to be a Luna. I guess we both thought wrong."

A growl ripped through my throat at the woman's words. However, I didn't have a chance to do anything before Ivy's mother had raised her hand and slapped the woman in her face, stunning us all." Who the hell do you think you are talking to my daughter like that?!"

Oh, s**t. I see where Ivy gets her attitude. "I will have you arrested by the council for what you just did!" The elder yelled. "This is treason!"

"Treason?" Ivy said, stepping forth, her eyes shifting to their celestial blue. "If you haven't noticed, but I don't answer to the laws of your world."

"Whoa, Ivy... let's calm down just-"

I tried to calm her, but her eyes snapped to me, and I knew what that meant. She was about to lose her s**t, and she was hungry. This wasn't going to be good.

'Damian, we have a serious problem, where the f**k are you.' I said through our mind link. The last thing I was aware of was that he had gone to the next town over for a meeting, and he didn't exactly let anyone know when he would be back.

'I'm on my way back. Why?' he replied as I watched the tension grow as the women yelled at each other. All that was but Ivy.

'The elder is about to lose her life because she won't listen. 'What are you talking about?' he growled. 'She left earlier.' 'Well, I take it she came back, and she has pissed Ivy off!

Cutting off the link, I grabbed Ivy's arm before she could step closer. The rage of emotions flowing from her through the link was like nothing that I had ever felt before.

"Please just f*g leave, now!"I roared at the elder, who stood quietly for a moment. "This isn't over. If she can't be controlled, then neither can her children."

That was the wrong thing to say, and as I held Ivy back, I watched the woman climb into her car and leave. Ivy fighting against me was hard to control, but James tried everything he could to calm her.

"Ivy-" her mother said cautiously as my eyes snapped to her.

"Not right now. Kate, take her mother into the house, and we will figure the arrangements out after we calm her down. Go... now."

Kate didn't hesitate to do as I told her. She ushered Ivy's mother into the house, and as she did Ivy slipped from my grasp and tossed James aside like it was nothing.

This was a new side to her that none of us had ever seen, and as her eyes met mine, she growled." She's mine."