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Axel looked thoughtful. “That could work.”
Trace grabbed an iPad and pulled up an overview of the packhouse and surrounding lands. Devon and the others gathered around while Luca sat staring at me.
I can’t do this right now, Luca. I need to have my head in the game.
Fine. But we will talk before everyone arrives in the morning.
Maybe. I found avoidance to be an excellent tool for putting things behind me.
“I’m going to make some more wooden stakes and hide them everywhere.”
“Like the one behind the neighbor’s plant?” Devon asked, smiling, even if it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Precisely.”
Two hours later I carried an armful of stakes into the woods. I wanted to place them about fifteen feet apart just inside the tree line that formed a semicircle around the sides and back of the property. I would also put some around the house as well.
Crickets and tree frogs sang; the wind wrestled with the trees. The cloudless sky twinkled with stars. This was much better than living in an apartment.
I knew I needed to talk to Luca. I wanted to. For the first time, I reached for the bond and felt him inside the house. My heart ached when I felt his heart hurting too. I felt his guilt, pain, and sadness, and it made me feel guilty for not talking with him earlier.I should do that right now, I thought.
My phone rang, and when I checked, Kelly’s face flashed across the screen.
“Hey Kelly,” I answered.
“What’s wrong?” she asked immediately. She always had this uncanny way of knowing that something was wrong. Sometimes it freaked me out.
“I had a fight with Luca.”
“Uh oh. What happened?”
I told her the story about my wolf mating with Luca. Violet sticking her ass up for him and Luca asking me not to kill her, essentially taking her side over mine.
“Oh, Ivy. I wish I was there so I could kick Luca in the balls for you.” I laughed even though the tears glistened my eyes again. “Do you think maybe he had a reason?”
“Like what? Do you think Luca could walk away if some wolf did that to me? He heard Rage say that if Luca hadn’t mated me, he would’ve, and you could smell the jealously wafting from Luca. And that’s his fucking friend.”
“With Brian, I can feel his emotions. I also know that he loves me and would never do anything to hurt me. At least not intentionally. You work at The Agency. What would have happened if you had killed Violet?”
“Dammit, Kelly. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side. Think, Ivy. What would happen?”
“They could possibly arrest me because I didn’t officially challenge her.” This law had been put in place to keep wolves from killing alphas and their families by sneak attack. Before a fight could ensue, an official challenge had to be made. There was no timeframe specified on the waiting period, so the contest could commence immediately if there was another alpha to oversee the fight.
“Exactly! Now, tell me what’s happening. Brian is sending a few enforcers to help, but he won’t let me anywhere near there. I’ve begged him to let me come and help you, but he won’t hear of it.”
“He’s right. If you show up here, I’ll just haul your ass back to bear territory. Besides, I think we have it covered.” I hoped we did. “We have shifters and other agents to put us on equal footing. I’m actually hiding stakes in the woods right now.”
Kelly laughed, but I ignored her, slowly lowering the phone to my side. The hair on my arms stood at attention, and anxiety seeped into my soul as I noticed the lack of noise around me. The crickets and frogs were silent. Not a sound could be heard except for the rustle of the wind and the thump of my heartbeat.
I focused on the bond and my breath caught.
Adrenaline and determination, mixed with a hefty dose of fear slammed into me. Not mine, but Luca’s.
“Ivy. Ivy, are you there?”
I dropped the phone and transformed into my wolf mid-sprint, racing toward the house. Dread circled my heart and I almost tripped once. Luca slammed up a barrier and blocked his feelings from me.Damn alpha!
