My heart hammered.
I stood like a mannequin, frozen in place, and the look in Ivy's eyes could make me pee my pants. She had forgotten about Caden—for a moment, though, and now her attention was fully shifted to me.
I didn't know what to do, I didn't know whether to run back up into my room or to say something but then my lips felt tight as if glued together. I swallowed.
Caden looked from me to Ivy and then back to me; his face was unreadable, but I guessed he felt my showing up wasn't part of the plan. Ivy, on the other hand, didn't hold back her anger, and as expected, she lashed it out on me like a thorny whip.
"I wouldn't want to believe you're deaf, "She said, her voice razor sharp, and it bit into my skin, so raw. The way she stood, the way she looked at me, it felt as if I were some demon let loose from an ancient cave, and she couldn't wait to cast me out.
"I'm ...my name is Em—emerald" I stammered, my voice failing me as I spoke. I bet I looked timid as usual but her fury was enough to make even the boldest timid.
Ivy smirked and she crossed her arm across her chest so tight I wondered if her heart wouldn't hurt.
"Emerald, huh? What, like the Stone?"She mocked, her eyes moving up and down my frame and her eyes narrowed, "I see you were trying to feed your ears, right? What are you doing here because I haven't seen you here before?"
"I—" I was beginning to say, not like I had anything to say.
"Oh, just shut it."She sneered and her eyes darkened, "Whatever it was you heard, let me rephrase it all. Caden Is mine, you understand? And soon I'd be the Luna of this pack and girls like you will be nothing but my slaves..."And then her eyes darkened even more, and she turned her attention back to him."...Or is she your new catch? You, too, are having an affair. Is she the reason you have been avoiding me?"
Her words struck me so hard, and my heart skipped a beat; the accusation was rather sudden, and it felt like suffocating me. I wanted to speak but the words refused to go past my throat.
Ivy's eyes snapped back to me and I could see the anger in them," Who the hell are you? You think you can take him away from me after all these years?"
I said nothing, and then she walked towards me; I wasn't expecting her to do I stood glaring at her. The next thing was her hand shooting out and for a split second, I knew she was going to hit me.
Her slap was coming so fast, and I flinched, ready for the pain, and I turned my face away, my eyes drifting close, but then her slap never came.
When my eyes fluttered open, I looked up only to see Caden beside Ivy, his arms shot out and grabbing Ivy's wrist in mid-air. She stared at him in surprise and he yanked her hand away with so much force that made her stagger.
The shock on her face could make a comical meme; her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open as she stared up at him.
"Stop this nonsense at once!"Caden ordered, filled with an edge of warning and he gave out his Alpha energy for the first time since I had left my room," This nonsense is enough, Ivy"
Go Alpha! Go Alpha!
Ivy stood there, breathing heavily, looking as surprised as anything I could describe and her face turning tomato red as she looked from him to me and then back to him. She stood silently, the shock of what had just happened freezing her.
"Ca—caden?"She whispered, shocked, "Did you—did you just…?"
Caden stared at her, his expression raw and commanding a shiver from anyone. His eyes were cold and emotionless as he stared down at her. I wondered what would have happened if he hadn't stopped her from hitting me.
"Don't make a scene, Ivy. Don't," He said, his voice hoarse, "I told you before, and I will tell you again; I need some time to myself, I need space to think. Not everything is about you and our damned joining"
A gasp escaped her lips as he said something sacrilege and her mouth dropped open. Her face turned pale, and she seemed to move back a little.
"So this is about her, right?"She asked, tears tugging at her words, "You don't care about me anymore because of this...this thing?"
She turned to look at me and then back at him; I could see the mixture of anger and vulnerability in her eyes when she looked at me, and I knew I was going to be in trouble in this pack.
"I didn't say that, Ivy."He told her, his voice coming to a more gentle tone, "She's not your problem so don't try to pick a fight with her. I won't have you disrespect her not in my presence, Ivy. I have other things to worry about and this shouldn't be one of them"
Ivy was still in shock because she didn't utter a word. I felt like a problem now and very much like an intruder, but there was nothing I could do at that moment.
I watched as Caden took a step toward me, his steps relaxed, daring and deliberate. His gaze softened as he stared down at me and I held my breath.
Without saying any more words, he reached out, and my body stiffened as his fingers wrapped around my wrist he took my hand, his touch sending shivers up my spine. He stared down at me, and I stared up at him, surprised at his sudden action.
"Let's go," He said in a whisper that made my heart flutter.