Chapter 7

The drive back felt as long as the drive out.

Kade did not say much. Kade drove fast both hands on the wheel jaw tight the way. Ivy watched the dark trees blur past the window. Tried not to think about the word stable and how much it could mean or not mean depending on who was saying it.

"She is going to be okay " Kade said, somewhere past the halfway point.

"You do not know that."

"No " Kade admitted. "I do not. I just needed to say it loud."

Ivy almost reached for Kades hand. Ivy stopped herself. Too much had happened today to sort out what Ivy wanted from what Ivy needed in the moment.

They reached the hospital a little after ten. Kade parked, came around to open Ivys door before Ivy could do it herself and did not let go of Ivys hand once they were both out of the car. Ivy let Kade keep it. Ivy did not have the energy to fight that battle tonight.

Carla met them at the desk, tired eyes, kind face. "She is in room 214. They ran tests. The doctors with her now."

"Can I see her?" "Soon as the doctors done." Carla glanced at Kade, a question in Carlas face she did not ask out loud. Ivy did not explain. There was not time. There was not a version of the truth that would fit into a hospital hallway anyway.

They waited on plastic chairs. Ivys leg bounced. Kade sat close not touching Ivy, there a steady weight beside Ivy that Ivy was surprised to find Ivy needed.

The doctor came out twenty minutes later. Older man, eyes of his own. "Ms. Marsh?"

"That is me."

"Your mother had an afternoon but she is stable now. We adjusted her medication. I would like to keep her for observation just to be safe." He glanced at his chart. "She is asking for you. She is tired. She is herself. You can go in."

Ivys knees nearly gave out with relief. Kade caught Ivys elbow steady. Did not say anything about it.

"Go " Kade said. "I will wait here."

"You do not have to."

"I know." Kade nodded toward the door. "Go see your mom."

Margaret looked small in the hospital bed than Ivy remembered, tubes and wires making her look more fragile than Ivy had looked even at home.. Her eyes were sharp when Ivy walked in, sharp and awake and unmistakably Margaret.

"There she is " Margaret said, voice thin but steady. "You did not have to rush for this sweetheart. I am fine."

"You are not fine Mom. You scared me half to death."

"I scared myself a little too if we are being honest." A small smile. "Sit. Tell me about the job. The mystery one."

"Not now."

"Now is the time. I am bored. I am stuck in this bed. Distract me." Margarets eyes moved past Ivy toward the door toward the hallway where Kade was pretending hard not to be visible through the little window. "Who is that?"

"Nobody. Someone from work."

"Ivy Marie Marsh. That is not a nobody face."

Ivy felt her cheeks go warm despite everything. "It is complicated Mom."

"It usually is, with the ones." Margarets hand found Ivys, warm. "Whatever this job really is. Whatever Ivy is not telling me. I trust Ivy. I need Ivy to trust herself the way."

Ivy squeezed Margarets hand. Did not trust Ivys own voice enough to answer that.

Ivy stepped out into the hallway twenty minutes later to find Kade on his phone voice low and clipped the kind of tone that meant something was wrong before Ivy even heard the words.

"—no. No I do not care what he called it. Nobody makes decisions about pack business while I am off the property that was never the arrangement." A pause. "How many showed up?"

Ivys stomach dropped for the time that night.

Kade caught Ivys eye held up one finger finished the call fast. "Handle it until I am back. Do not let him put anything to a vote."

Kade put the phone away. Turned to Ivy and whatever calm Kade had been holding onto in the waiting room was gone from Kades face entirely.

"What happened " Ivy said.

"Damon called an emergency council meeting the second we left the property." Kades voice was flat controlled in the way that told Ivy it was costing Kade something to keep it that way. "Called it over succession concerns. Said an alpha who leaves pack territory during a bonding window cannot be trusted to lead it."

"He is trying to use tonight against Ivy."

"He is trying to use tonight against both Ivy and Kade."

Kade looked back, toward Margarets door at Ivy torn in a way Ivy had not seen on Kade before. "I am not leaving until your mothers stable. You are ready. I meant that.. I need you to know whats waiting for us when we go back."

"How bad."

Kade did not answer away which told Ivy everything the words had not yet.

"Bad enough that Elena warned you before we walked out the door " Kade said. ". Elena does not scare easy."