A week had passed since the gathering and Ivy's life had been pretty much filled with boredom. Her brothers acted like bodyguards and they saw to her daily activities which had been restricted to be between the house, her school and the Mason Manor.
She was tired of it all. She knew they were trying to keep her safe but at the same time she couldn't forget the thrill she felt when she engaged the vampire in a fight. There was something strange about it that she couldn't get out of head. She had always wondered why her brothers liked to rough house and have little brawls. It was interesting and she wanted to experience it, with the exception of the whole life on the line debacle.
Her mind was made up. She would go against her pack's wishes, the wishes of her family. She wanted to act selfish especially seeing how the event that started it all was also selfish towards her. It was a Sunday so she didn't have much leeway so it would be on Monday after her school hours. Her plan was to seek out Charles.
With her plan made up, she fell back on her bed only to be disturbed by the insistent trilling of her phone. She fumbled for it and smiled as she saw the caller ID. It was a call from her best friend Emma.
"Emma?"
"Ivy!" came the enthusiastic reply from the other side. "Guess who's back in blighty?"
"You're kidding! When did you get back?"
"A short while ago. Look out your window."
"No way." As Ivy said this, she rushed to her window to see a bubbly blonde standing outside her house and waving at her.
"I couldn't wait to come and see you."
"Then what are you waiting for, come on up. I have got something big to tell you."
Ivy dropped the call as she waited for the arrival of her best friend, a knot of nervous excitement whirling within her stomach. Emma was a confidante and she couldn't wait to share everything that had happened.
She jumped up as soon as the door burst open and ran to hug her friend, both of them cheering as she did so.
"Alright Ivy, spill the werewolf beans. What happened while I was away?"
"Okay," Ivy said as they sat on her bed, "but you have to promise that you won't freak out."
"Please, the weirdest thing I saw during the holidays was a guy walking his pet alligator in Florida. Hit me with your best shot."
Ivy took a deep breath and as she released it, she recounted the events of the mate selection ritual and the crushing disappointment that the one she wanted wasn't meant for her. She told her about the fall that sent her entire world spinning, only to be rescued by the mystery man who turned out to be an omega by the name of Charles. She described how she chased Charles only for him to save her from a sudden fall and Emma could make out her trembling voice as she spoke of the encounter with the vampire victim and how it broke further when she explained her personal encounter with the vampire by the name of Michael.
Her voice changed as she spoke of how Charles came to her rescue and the brutal beatdown he gave the vampire and also his encounter with the pack for her sake, going as far as using her as a shield so that he could escape and even showing her the note he dropped in her hands before he left.
"Is this an address?"
"Yes. It seems he wants me to meet him sometime."
Emma listened intently before she voiced her concern. "So wait," she began with a hushed voice, "you've been hanging out with a rogue werewolf who can apparently scale buildings faster than your average werewolf, almost on the level of some alphas if your stories are anything to go by. Sounds to me like you're falling for him."
Ivy blushed instantly. "It's not like that! We just… connected, you know? I think he understands him."
"Yeah right. And you think the pack would be happy about your little werewolf Romeo and Juliet situation?"
Ivy snorted at that. "Happy? They pretty much put me on probation because of the entire werewolf debacle and the entire issue with vampires isn't making things better. They seem to think he might be in cahoots with the vampires to get on my good graces and clearly they're the ones who are in the wrong."
The anger that she had been holding back gradually started breaking free. "It's not fair. It's obvious that he is one of the good ones. He's saved my life three times now and for some reason they are convinced that he is not to be trusted because of some ancient omega beliefs and all that. They can't even explain it to me, keeping secrets and treating me like a child!"
Emma reached out and held Ivy's hand, gently squeezing it. "Alright, alright, I get it. But what are you going to do? Are you really going to meet up with this Charles guy? You're on probation, remember."
"I really don't know," Ivy said as she chewed on her bottom lip. "A part of me wants to find him and probe him for answers but another part of me has doubts. It isn't very loud but it is there."
Emma seemed to fight with her thoughts for some time but she voiced them loud and clear. "I can't believe I am saying this but what doubts are you having? I mean the guy has saved you three times already." Her voice held a sharp edge to it.
"I know," Ivy said, still chewing on her bottom lip, "but the pack seems to think he is dangerous. They think omegas are dangerous and besides the fact that he may hurt me, which I doubt, what if the pack finds out and they have him killed?"
There was a thoughtful silence between them.
"What does your gut say?" Emma asked, seeing it as a way to break the silence.
Ivy closed her eyes. "My gut says there's more to him than everyone seems to be letting on."
"That's what you should be focused on and whatever your decision, I am here for you, even if it means sneaking you off in the dead of the night to go meet him." There was a hint of mischief in her eyes, something that Ivy was all too eager to put out.
"You do remember what happened the last time you tried sneaking something into this house right?"
It was Emma's turn to blush albeit embarrassingly.
"Thanks Em."
Emma smiled at her. "Since we're on the issue…," she began, trailing off dramatically.
"What is it now?" Ivy asked, almost regretting why she did that.
"This Charles character, tell me more about him. Is he… cute?"
She stifled a laugh as her friend blushed once again. "Well, I… he's not bad looking I guess. Tall, very dark hair and blue eyes that are kind of warm…"
"Warm eyes, huh?" she interrupted her with a playful smile on her face. "Is that the ever so tiny hint of someone showing interest in the mystery werewolf?"
"I don't. It's not like that." The reply came almost immediately causing Emma to laugh at her friends protest.
"Sure, whatever you say. Promise me one thing though. That if you decide to visit him, you will be careful."
"I promise. I just need to get to the bottom of all these and more importantly, I need to ask him why he used me as a shield."
"Whatever it is, I'll be with you every step of the way. Someone needs to keep this lovesick werewolf in check."
The corner of Ivy's lip quirked up, The rest of the afternoon flew by in a flurry of whispered plans and brainstorming session until Emma's stomach growled.
"I think that's my signal to start heading home. Supper's around the corner."
Ivy stood up to give her a tight hug and watched her disappear down the hall, feeling a surge of gratitude that she had such a friend.
Alone once again she stared at the crumpled piece of paper and took a deep breath before shredding it. Her mind was made up.