Chapter 50 – See You At Sundown, Alpha (Damian’s POV)

Chapter 50 – See You At Sundown, Alpha (Damian’s POV)
Even before Sierra finished, I was moving, more panicked than I had ever been for anyone. “Lock the west gate. Double the south wall. No one goes in or out of the mansion and unleash the men to keep an eye.”

“On it,” he said, and hung up.

I was already on the stairs. Elias intercepted me at the landing, ledger in the crook of his arm like a shield. “What’s happened?”

“Company,” I said, not slowing.

“Human?”

“For now.”

He dipped his chin. “Do you need me to—”

“Hold the house,” I said. “I’ve given instructions to Sierra to get Ivy into the house at once. I think it may be beyond just any human hanging around us. I think its Matteo because I got some piss off texts as well. Still, I can’t take chances. And if Ivy tries to be brave, lie to her and tell her bravery is out of fashion.”

He almost smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

The yard spread below in a grid of movement I knew like my own pulse. The men who had been training for the day repositioned and the security cameras pivoted. The west gate motor hummed to a close with a satisfying thunk. I scanned the cypress line where Sierra had marked the scent and saw nothing but green.

I hit the grass and Sierra peeled from the hedges to meet me, eyes already drawing a map. He offered me Ivy’s phone. The photo glowed on the screen—grainy, yes, but close enough to smell her sweat if you’d been there.

“Angle?” I asked.

“Over the wall or the sycamore on county land,” he said. “Or a ladder, two minutes up, two minutes down.”

“Neighbors?” It was funny how I’d lived in this mansion all my life and for some reason, I had no idea of the people around because, obviously, there was meant to be no one around. We were miles away on the countryside, shrouded by the forest, alone.

“If the nearest person that’s three hours drive away is a neighbour… oh well…” Sierra replied. “We’ve not seen signs of humans recently though.”

Then the thought came to my head. “Ethan?” I asked.

“Too tidy,” Sierra said. “He’s got cop stink. This is—” He sniffed, literally and metaphorically. “—somebody who sells information. Not the first buyer.”

“Bounty,” I said, and felt my lip curl.

The balcony door opened as if the cue had been written. Ivy stepped out in my black hoodie, hair damp, face set. I guess she had just freshened up from the day.

“I’m not going to hide,” she said as soon as she reached us. “Before you say it. I won’t.”

“Good,” I said.

That startled her long enough for me to keep going. “You’ll train with Sierra in the yard in plain sight. We’ll let the camera have a show. That’s it – I think I’ve not been doing it quite right. We should let the guards all play normal and open up the mansion and when the spy comes closer again, we’ll be waiting.”

A smile playing on Sierra’s lips already showed he loved the idea.

Ivy’s mouth twitched. “Do you practice being insufferable or is it natural?”

“Family trait,” I said. “Sierra.”

He handed her back the phone. “Next time, you hold it like a mirror,” he said, level. “He’ll take a better photo when he thinks you’re vain.”

She looked from him to me, a slight disgust on her face. “You two are terrifying.”

I scoffed as Sierra shrugged. From the house, Elias had surfaced, joining us shortly.

“Elias, I want you on the east windows.” I said. “He doesn’t cross county line again without our eyes on him.”

Elias gave a brief nod; already getting a full picture of the plan and then, he returned to the building.

Ivy slid her hands into the hoodie pocket, watched the cypress, then looked back at me. The air between us tightened, and not from threat. Morning light made a low ember of her eyes.

“You came to my room last night,” she said. Not a question.

Fuck.

I realized I and Ivy didn’t sleep together the night before. She didn’t come to my room and I… Yeah, I tried not to go to hers either, but the force kept pulling me till I found myself at the slightly open door, watching her sleep for a short while.

“I didn’t come in,” I said.

“I know,” she said. “I was asleep. I heard you leave.”

I had nothing to say to that. Not in front of Sierra.

“After we handle our admirer,” I said, “we’ll talk about… other things.”

“You mean you’ll talk and I’ll pretend I’m not planning my escape,” she said, chin up.

“Probably,” I said. “And then you’ll kiss me anyway.”

Sierra coughed violently. Ivy’s cheeks flushed. He backed off, a sarcastic excitement in his eyes complimented with a wry grin. We stood in the spin he left. I let a breath out slow.

“I don’t want to be a poster,” she said suddenly. “For your pack. For your rules. For whatever you think you’re making out of me.”

“You’re not,” I said, rather too abruptly. “I mean, that was… the plan… but…” I couldn’t believe I wanted to say this.

For a heartbeat, everything went quiet except the part of us that lit up when we were too close. She stepped forward, small, decisive. Her hand found my scar, thumb ghosting over it.

“You heal fast,” she whispered. My insides trembled. When the fuck did physical touch become a thing for my arousal? I could already feel a gentle tug between my legs.

“Not from everything,” I said.

“Then don’t get hurt,” she said, and kissed me like she might die if she didn’t.

It was quick, fierce, unsanctioned by sense. When she pulled back, her eyes flashed challenge again.

“Train me,” she whispered. What? “And don’t go easy.”

“What do you want, Ivy?” I moaned quietly, dizzy and hazy with my orgy.

She bit her lower lip and teasingly, she replied. “See you at sundown, Alpha.”

She made her way in.