~Enzo POV~I scowl at Ivy’s bedroom window from the cover of the bushes, hating that I can’t be up there. The only thing I hate more right now is that I let her kiss me for as long as I did two days ago. My pathetic, weak heart didn’t need a reminder of how perfect she felt against me and now here I am waiting out her window for her to give me something. It’s been complete radio silence since she walked in that front door. Two days of not seeing or hearing from her. If I didn’t think she could handle herself, I’d be more worried. Instead, I will sit out here and wait for the moment she faces me and that kiss she started. It has been haunting me for too long. I know she was drunk on whatever werewolf-proof wine she had at dinner that night, but she wouldn’t have kissed me unless she wanted to. Unless she thought I was James, maybe? But if she did, that just proves she is in over her head. I know she is deviating from the plan. She is developing feelings for our target’s son. All the

~Ivy POV~Okay, now that I am back on the pack grounds and I have two very pissed-off men stalking toward me, I am realizing maybe taking off was a terrible idea. It is a little empowering to know that I can get them so worried, though. Well, Enzo is always worried, but James… Maybe he really is my mate? Why would he lie about that if he has nothing to gain from it?“Hey,” I say in as cherry of a voice as I can muster, hoping to hide the iota of fear that’s settling in my sternum.“Hey? That’s what you want to say right now?” James raises a brow as he practically plows me over, wrapping me in his arms and raising me up. I let out a surprised squeal and wrap my arm around his neck, holding him tight.“I’m sorry! I wanted to surprise you by trying to get my initiation jobs in so I can join the pack sooner. My birthday isn’t too far away.” I grin at him, but I can feel the cool gaze of Enzo’s eyes, tracing my every move. I make the terrible mistake of quickly glancing in his direction an

“Ok, so what does that mean, then?” I ask, turning my back on him as I walk to the side of the bed. “It means Johnathon is still the real alpha.”“But we already knew that Enzo.” I frown at him over my shoulder as I pull back the comforter to climb into my bed.“We didn’t know to what extent. The pack’s security is absolute shit. Only a small portion of the pack actually respects James as their alpha. It’s because Johnathon hasn’t handed the full title over yet. And the only reason for that is because James isn’t a suitable replacement.” My mouth sours and the thought of James being as bad as an alpha as Enzo says just doesn’t sit right with me. James is sexy and kind to me, but most of all, I like him. I genuinely enjoy his company and his hugs. I’ve never been the girl who wants someone to have a position of power, and I’m still not. It’s the thought that James is failing so terribly that is weirdly turning me off? It’s a feeling that is hard to describe. “James is not a terrible

“You did?” Sarah asks. Her eyes find the tea on the bedside table and she moves for it, wrapping her hands around the steaming cup and taking a sip. “Yeah. My mom, dad, and my brother.” I murmur. I’ve never talked about this out loud before. I never had to with Enzo. He just knew he understood because he was there. He may not have witnessed the death of my parents, but he witnessed his parents’ death. Enzo and I are one and the same, broken but functioning. “What was your brother’s name?” Sarah asks, getting more snuggled into the bed. “Caleb,” I whisper. “He was my older brother, and he was always looking out for me when he wasn’t picking on me.” “Chloe was my baby sister.” Sarah frowns, her eyes glittering with tears. “Alpha Jonathon is so evil.” “Did James really just watch?” I ask, my chest aching. The thought of him being less than what I have built him up in my head to be is scary. Is it so easy for a woman to fool herself with emotions? “He wanted to help. But the more

~Ivy POV~ Orange and yellow hues are just peeking over the horizon, filtering through the kitchen windows as I reach into the cupboard to pull out the coffee container. By the time I made it back here last night, Sarah had been passed out in her room. I wanted to wake her up and tell her she would be safe soon. That I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her anymore, but what she needs more than anything is sleep. And I need to press her a little for information on where she meets the dickface who hurts her. I have no doubt that he meets her in different places. One thing Alpha Jonathon is not is stupid. I wish I could say he is a burly, brainless man with a knack for killing, but it would be a lie. He is annoyingly smart and knows most want him dead. It’s no wonder his daughter betrayed him and the pack. Ok, so I don’t know the details that lead to her betrayal or what she even did. But if she acted against her father, then she must be freaking awesome. The wooden floorboards creak behind me