Chapter 5

Aurora POV

It is Jackson, of all people, that keeps me from being sliced open by Ivy’s claws.

Jackson rushes over, wraps his arms around Ivy, and lifts her off my body. I watch as he runs a soothing hand over her hair, whispering into her ear to calm her down. In return, Ivy’s fiery gaze softens, and her claws retract.

The anger is still there, but she’s no longer paying attention to me. Her focus is fully on Jackson, giving me a chance to catch my breath, but I can’t get away. Jackson’s sister grabs my arm again, stopping me from running.

“Don’t even think about it,” she hisses, baring her teeth at me.

“Let go,” I order, my shaky voice not fooling anyone.

When none of them listen to me, my fear melts a bit and anger rises.

“She’s here to steal you away,” Ivy whines, leaning further into Jackson’s arms. Jackson coddles her. Everything that’s happened here is his fault. The way I was hurt and treated was all because of him.

“I’m not here to steal him away,” I bark, fighting back the disgust for the two of them. “If anything, you’re the one taking him from me. I am… was his mate. If he treated me like this, then how do you think he’ll treat you when he’s done with you?”

“I only came here to get my money back,” I tell her, hoping she’ll just leave it be. Only, my words seem to fuel her on, making her angrier.

“Your money?” She screeches. “I see you’re exactly what Jackson said you were: a money hungry gold-digger who needs to be punished for her lies.”

“Puni-What?” I stare at her, not understanding. If they would just give me my money, I’d be gone, and they would never have to see me again. I look at Jackson, who immediately turns his head away from me.

The bastard knows exactly what he’s doing and doesn’t feel one hint of remorse.

How did I not see this before now?

Biting back the tears, I turn to the three people in front of me and grit my teeth, “You have no evidence to use against me.”

Ivy scoffs, then laughs arrogantly, “My older brother is an Alpha. Who dares to stop me?”

“Alpha Thorne is your stepbrother,” I say, “And from what I hear, your relationship isn’t that great. Is it? Does he really spoil you to the point that you feel like you can do whatever you want with no consequences? Maybe someone should teach you how not to abuse power when you have it.”

I must have struck a nerve in Ivy because she lunges at me again, and this time, Jackson doesn’t hold her back. She grabs me by the shoulders and growls in my face, digging her nails into my skin.

Pain ignites like a fire where her claws sink into me, and I have to bite my tongue not to cry out.

“You better watch your words, human slut,” Ivy threatens, shoving me back. I stumble, but luckily, I don’t fall this time. “I’ll throw you into jail to prove to you I have more power than you can ever imagine.”

There’s no one here to help me, not that they would even if they were. Humans aren’t treated well by werewolves, and with Alpha Thorne being her family, no one would stand up to Ivy.

Not for me.

“What’s going on here?” A deep, powerful voice rumbles, making everyone turn.

The man I slept with steps out of the shadows. He looks just as handsome as he did last night and just a little bit ago when I saw him, and now that I truly look at him, I can see just how well dressed he is.

I glance down at myself and my plain dress, trying to ignore the embarrassment that burns my cheeks. No wonder he offered me money with the excuse of purchasing better clothes. I must look like a bum to him.

His eyes scan the people present, and then his eyes fall on Ivy. She immediately changes, her icy look turning to one of adoration as she turns docile and sweet.

“Big brother!” She rushes to his side, clinging to his arm like a child clings to their mother for protection. Her actions surprise me but not as much as her words. This man, the one who expressed a bit of concern for my bruises, and the one who I… we… last night…

Oh, my god. This is Alpha Thorne?

I slept with Alpha Thorne?

I can’t move as he looks down at Ivy. I’m stunned. I could tell he’s a high-ranking wolf, but for him to be the infamous Alpha Thorne is insane. And I’m insane. I was so incredibly rude both times I walked away from him. Not to mention the fact that I argued with him.

No one would dare be so disrespectful to Alpha Thorne, yet I was. A chill runs down my spine, and I take a few steps back. Only, I can’t get away because Jackson’s sister grabs me again. I glare at her, but shrink back when she shoves me back toward the group.

Ivy takes the chance to thrust an accusing finger at me, “This disrespectful human dares to claim that she’s Jackson’s mate! It’s absurd. She’s just a human slut who is trying to take his money.”

Ivy continues moving forward, her eyes falling on my neck, “And look! Aurora really is a slut. She must have found someone else to sleep with when Jackson turned her away.” I try to move away, but she’s fast and grabs me by the shoulder, dragging me in front of Alpha Thorne and yanking my head back.

“This hickey is proof,” the awful girl growls.

I don’t want to look up at him, but when Ivy forces my head back, my eyes connect with Alpha Thorne’s.

The heated eyes from last night are nowhere to be seen. Now, all I see are eyes that are serious and inspecting. Not even he will help me, I bet.

What happened last night probably didn’t mean anything to him. The thought and this awful situation has my eyes filling with tears. Even then, pain sparks when Ivy tilts my head more to the side and points at my neck, while hissing, “Big brother, let’s lock her up. She must have found a sugar daddy in the pack who she can leach off of now that she doesn’t have Jackson.”

“I didn’t–”

Ivy tightens her grip, silencing me.

“A woman like her shouldn’t be allowed in the pack,” Ivy says, looking up at her brother. A woman like me? What does she know about me?

I want to scream the words but it will only do me more harm.

Something wet rolls down my cheek, and Alpha Thorne looks down at me. His eyes follow the tear down my cheek as another follows it.

“I wasn’t here to do anything with Jackson,” I say, wanting to be done with this. “I already told you–”

“Shut up. I trust Jackson and he said you’re here to steal him away from me,” Ivy hisses. “Did you think I would run and let you take him back?”

I whimper at the pain growing in my head from her grip.

“Ivy, release her,” Alpha Thorne says calmly.

“Why? So she can run back to her new sugar daddy?” She asks with a laugh.

“A new sugar daddy?” Alpha Thorne questions, turning to his sister. “You mean me?”