Chapter Thirteen

Ivory's POV

I sat there, shocked by what just played out in front of me. I let it all run through again in my head. I was so happy to see Jackson at the door but then… Something just changed. Sitting there biting my cheek to keep from letting a cry of pain slip, he just kept rotating it. Why? We were supposed to be friends... His words keep playing in my head. "You didn't do as you were told… I believe in you." He just smiled as if nothing had happened. I rush back to my room, locking the door quickly behind me. I can't help but break down and cry. Why… Why… Why… My entire life, I have been hurt. Jackson, my only friend... He knew... He… He knew He played me. There is nowhere safe for me. He will always send someone after me. I can't do this… Just as I'm about to lose it, "R...Roxie, what are you…?" "No...no.. no... What is going on, Ivory? First Rebecca, and then that guy Marcus. Yes, I overheard my brother talking with Emery. But now, my supposed mate was seen with Rebecca earlier… like they knew each other, and then I caught his scent outside your room. Ivory, you have to tell me what's going on here. I want to protect you and I can't if you won't let me in."

Roxie has my back up against a wall here. There is no way that I can lie this one away. Fuck... There is no way around this one. I sigh and give up. I'm not staying anyways, so what's the point now. I reach into my pocket, pull the vial out, and set it on the table. I can't bring myself to look Roxie in the eyes. "I'm supposed to give this to your brother. I'm supposed to weaken him. Marcus is who "owns" me. He gave me orders to slip a bit of silver into his food to help weaken him. I don't want to..." I say so softly that you'd miss it if you weren't listening.

Roxie looks at me and nods. "Ok… So.. Marcus owns you... How? I need a bit more context, love. I want you to be honest. I want to help. Please let me." "It's as it sounds. Marcus owns me to do as he wishes; my father made that choice for me years ago. And with that saying no isn't a thing.." Roxie nods and sits on the ground. "So, let me get this straight, your father, the Alpha, assigned you a mate, his daughter. But you're not his daughter. You're an omega with no choices or rights… Correct?" She sounded confused.

"Correct, my father had long disowned me for years." I mess with my hands as I continue to have this talk with Roxie. "So… you were supposed to poison my brother, and then what? James swoops in and takes over? And what part do Rebecca and the guy who left your room have to do with it?" She still sounds angry. "Rebecca is mated to Marcus; she's been watching me and doing whatever needs to happen in Marcus' absence. And for the guy that just left…." I trail off, still trying to figure out what Jackson's play is. That was Jackson. He was my one, and only friend, or at least I thought we were friends. It seems he played me too. I'm still not sure what the deal is yet." Roxie stares at me for a moment before getting up. "Well, thanks for being honest with me. Now we need to talk to Hunter. It's our best bet of keeping all of them away from you." I can't face him… I need to leave, and it needs to be now, but how do I get rid of Roxie so that I can. "Give me a moment." I walk to the bedroom, closing the door. Now or never, I hop out the window, shift before hitting the ground and take off.

Roxie POV

I could have sworn I just…

"They're gone, go!" Claire yells at me. I bust through the bedroom door and see the open window. Without even thinking, I jump out the window, shift mid-air into Claire and give her control. "Find Ivory; I need to link Hunter." "I got this…." I closed the link to Claire and opened the link to Hunter. "Brother… Ivory's gone. I'm tracking her right now... But we have to find her. We have to." "Roxie, look!" Before I can get a response from Hunter, I see Jackson in the distance. Claire roars, hoping to get Ivory's attention, but suddenly something hits her. She looks around, trying to figure out what it is, but I already know. "Claire, we don't have much time. We have to…." "I can hear her, Claire. She's yelling at me to wake up, but I can't…." The last thing I see is Jackson standing over Ivory, and then everything goes black.

Ivory's POV

My lungs are burning as I keep running, but I need to stop. My arm is killing me… This bracelet is killing me. I need to get it off at some point. I got far enough away from the packhouse, so I decided to stop and take a breather. I lean up against a tree and close my eyes as I try to keep my breath, but something catches my attention. I listen closer, and it's footsteps; as I open my eyes and turn to start running, I slam into something hard enough to knock me down. When I look up, I see Jackson standing there with that smile again. It paralyzes me in place. I'm terrified, and he knows it too. I hear a howl off behind me, but I can't seem to tear my eyes away from Jackson's. I try to move back a bit to get away, hopefully, but something hits me hard. I didn't even notice that I was on my back, and I saw that the darkness was creeping in. Jackson stands above me, still smiling, the last thing I know before I let the darkness consume me.