Ivory's POV
The morning light starts to fill the room, and I wake up in a panic for a moment, like how I did when I was back home, but I don't hear things being thrown around or yelling yet. As I started to wake up fully, I noticed I was in bed. The last thing that I remember was watching TV with Hunter on the couch. Did he put me in bed? I found some clothes, a pair of skinny jeans and another t-shirt that smells wonderful. I head to the bathroom; I get in the shower and clean up, letting the warm water run over me for a few moments. I brush my teeth and hair and then put it up into a loose ponytail as I head out to explore the house and grounds a bit, but something caught my eye on the counter. It's a note.
Ivory,
You fell asleep on the couch, so I laid you in bed; I cleaned the dishes, so don't worry about them. I might not be up or around when you wake, but please explore the grounds. ANd stop by Jasmine in the kitchen and have her make you something to eat. I will find you when I have some free time, but you are open to the link with the pack, so if you get lost or need anything, please call Emery or Shayne, or even Lily, and they will be there for you. Have a good morning, and I will find you later.
- Hunter JR.
Guess it is off to the kitchen, then. I smile as I tuck the note into one of the pockets of the jeans and head out the door, but just as soon as I step out, I run into someone and land on my ass. "S...sorry I didn't..mean to run into you.." I trip over my words as I start to get a bit scared. I should have been watching where I was going. I look up at this bottleneck blonde girl, and she doesn't look happy to see me. "Watch where you're going, omega; why are you even in that room? Do you know that room is off-limits to everyone? You know that the omegas have their areas on the lower floor and aren't allowed on the top floors." She says to me.
I kneel there and take the verbal abuse as I hear another set of footsteps come up to us. "Rebecca leaves her alone. She is a visiting guest to our pack, and our Alpha has chosen to give that room to her. Now show her some respect and apologize to her," I hear Gamma Shayne's voice, and it relaxes me just for a little bit. "Fuck that, Shayne; she's just another omega trying to get a higher standing in a pack by getting close with our Alpha." The next thing I hear is a low growl which sends me into complete terror. I don't move a muscle, but I hear a scuff, and the blonde, which I guess is Rebecca walks away.
"Hey there, Ivory, it's okay. I apologize on Rebecca's behalf and mine as well. I shouldn't have growled around you, but she wasn't leaving me many choices," he says as he holds his hand out to help me off the floor. "I... it's okay, Ga...Gamma Shayne, it was m...my fault." I stutter as I take his hand and get up. "Where are you off to this morning?" Shayne asks me as we head down the hallway to the stairs. "Kitchen, Alpha Hunter left me a note and said I should see Jasmine," I respond quickly. "Okay, well, have fun and have a good day. I have to go handle some business so that I will catch you later then," Shayne says his goodbyes and heads toward two big wooden oak doors at the other end of the hallway, guessing that is where Hunter's office is. I go downstairs and head to the kitchen, where I find Jasmine. She tells me that she has already set a seat at the table for me with breakfast. I thank her and head to the dining hall and find my spot, the same spot I sat at yesterday. I pick my plate up, move down a few seats, and eat the fruit on the plate and some of the eggs.
As I sit there eating when Rebecca walks by and stops by me. "Who are you?" She asks with a smudged tone in her voice. "Um… I'm I...Ivory Sterling from the Opal Moon pack." I respond with my hand in my lap as I sit there, not looking at her. "Look at me when I speak to you bitch," She yells as she pushes the chair I was in over, throwing me to the ground. "You don't belong here, or around Hunter, so you better leave and go back to wherever you come from." I stayed quiet as I went to pick myself and the chair up, but I was soon kicked in my ribs hard. I fall to the floor again, trying to catch my breath. "You hear me bitch." This time, Rebecca yells at me as she continues to kick me repeatedly in my abdomen. "Y...yes, ma'am.." It is all that I can get out before someone pulls her off me and growls, standing in front of me. I can hardly breathe, so I don't move to see who is standing now between Rebecca and me. "Hey, slut, why don't you get the hell out of here before I call my brother to deal with your skanky ass, or would you rather test your luck with me."
I hear this female voice talk to Rebecca. "Whatever, your brother can come to deal with me whenever he pleases," Rebecca replies. After a few moments, I hear her walk away as a set of hands touch me helping me up, for now, for the second time this morning. "Hey, sorry, Rebecca kicked you; she's a total bitch and thinks Hunter belongs with her. Are you okay? Do you need me to go get Lily so she can check you out?" When I finally look up at who is talking to me, I see that it is Roxie Hunter's younger sister, "no, I'm okay. I've felt worse things than her kicks. Is she Hunter's mate?" I don't want to hear that answer to the question I just asked. "Oh no, Rebecca is the pack slut. She has a mate, but it seems that one is just not enough Hunter's mate got sick and passed away a few years ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for pulling her off," I thank him as I sit back down after fixing the chair that Rebecca pushed over. "No problem, anytime you need help with her, call me, but I have to go. I have a class to lead in a few minutes. I will catch you later." Roxie runs off out of the packhouse, leaving me alone again. It feels bizarre not to have to do anything, so I bring my dishes back to Jasmine, who takes them and sends me off on my way. I thank her for the food, say goodbye, and start roaming the ground for a few hours. It's nice here. Everyone is amicable; everyone but Rebecca reminds me of Marcus. I shake at his thought and remind myself that he is not here and that I am safe from him and everyone else who has hurt me in the past. After a few hours of walking around, I decided to go back to my room and watch a movie. I sit on the couch, turn the tv on, and find a cute film to watch; after a few minutes, there is a knock on my door. I get up and answer the door, and it is Hunter standing there; he doesn't look pleased. I bow my head and greet him. "Good day Alpha Hunter. How can I help you today?" Hunter gestures for us to go in. I step off to the side to let him in and close the door. But as soon as I close the door, Hunter has me pinned against the door and is lifting my shirt up.
My shirt lowered, and he stepped back with pain in his eyes. "Anything happened this morning that you want to tell me about?" He asks as he stands in front of me, looking down into my eyes. "No, Sir, nothing. I saw Jasmine and walked the grounds a bit. That is all. I was watching a movie before you arrived." I answer, knowing that I am lying to him as I know there is already some bruising on my ribcage that he just saw. "I heard Roxie had to pull Rebecca off you this morning; she kicked you. What happened?" he asks, but I know he's not happy for me lying to him this time. I can hear it in his voice. "Yes...She did; it was just a misunderstanding, Alpha. I am okay," I shake but try hard not to show it to Hunter. I don't want to show any more weakness to him.
He surprises me when he pulls me into a hug wrapping his arms around me tight. I, for some reason, just relaxed into him and let his scent take over me for just a moment. "You are worth so much better. Always know that and stand up for yourself and tell them no. Show them your real strength and power that you hold." Hunter tells me as" he continues to hold me. All I could do was nod my head into his chest and close my eyes. After we finished talking, we went and sat down and finished watching the movie that I had on. I started to feel so tired as I sat there with him again. I slowly let my eyes close-lying there with him. Again why is it that I think this way with him? What is going on? I can not explain this feeling.
Do I love him?