Chapter Fifty-Six

Kerry

Kerry's wolf skimmed the surface, begging to be let free from his chains at the sight of them. The tension that formed in the air crawled over his skin. As if his wolf needed another reason to hate Ike, he eyed Demetria like he'd missed her.

It sent anger up his spine and into his throat like fire.

His wolf growled lowly, howling in the midst of him, making Kerry's body shake with a need to shift. Demetria reached over and grabbed Kerry's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

It wasn't just the siblings that had his wolf on edge, it was the hellhounds crouched and ready to fight beside them. Then the creature lurking in the back. His coat was so black that it nearly blended into the darkness around them. His ghoulish red eyes were vibrant and shifty. Kerry couldn’t be sure, but he thought the creature smiled. He'd never seen anything like it before. He stood nearly eight feet tall, burly like a bear but cunning like a person. He looked plucked from Hell, right along with the hellhounds.

Alpha Davers took a step from the midst of the group of wolves. He seemed calm outwardly, but Kerry felt his anger building inwardly. He was angry and nervous and ready to fight. "We've been expecting you," he said, his voice booming. "Nice of you to show up on time."

Ike's light gaze shifted around the yard, taking in the wolves and two witches. "I see you found another witch dumb enough to try and help you," he chuckled, shifting his weight. Ike tucked a piece of blond hair back into its place.

Kerry couldn't wait to mess up his face and rip some of that hair from his scalp with his teeth.

"No one is going to try and do anything but you and your little group of rejects," Alpha Davers said. "And... whatever that is behind you."

The creature growled, obviously understanding English.

"We're not stopping until you're sent back to Hell where you belong. You have no right to come in and take one of our mates."

Ivory chuckled, and in her singsong voice said, "He's my little friend. He has a special mission today." Her gaze shifted over to Kerry.

Demetria tightened her hand around Kerry's out of fear. She stepped forward, and even though Kerry tried to pull her back, she stood beside Alpha Davers. "Ike," she said, pulling the diary from the back of her jeans where Kerry didn't realize she'd hidden it, "I understand your mission. I do. I have a mate now, a love, and I understand your determination. But you have to understand that I can't die for Sabrina."

Ike rolled his eyes. "I don't want to hear your lecture about doing the right thing, Demetria. Don't you realize that guilt, my conscience, is long gone by now?"

She nodded. "I'm sure being blindsided by your sister really chilled your heart."

Ivory stalled beside him, and the realization of what Demetria planned to do weighed in her eyes.

"Is this a ploy to get me to turn on my family?" he chuckled. "Pathetic."

"It's not," she said, taking another step forward and bringing the diary around in front of her.

Ivory stepped in front of Ike and put her palms on his shoulders. "Brother, you know this game she's playing. Don't be fooled."

Ike pointed over Ivory's shoulder at the diary. "What is that and why does it smell of Sabrina?"

Demetria took another step forward, but Alpha Davers stepped with her. "Because it's Sabrina's diary, Ike. You need to know that Ivory killed her."

Ike stopped, ignoring his sister's uncontrollable rambling in front of him. "You're lying," he whispered.

Demetria shook her head. "Ivory loves you, Ike, more than she should."

Ivory twirled around, leaves and debris from the yard forming a funnel around her. The red glint of her eyes sent panic down Kerry's spine. He stepped closer to Demetria, not chancing it.

"You stupid little witch. You made that up," she said, turning to face Ike. "She made that up. I do love you, but I would never kill Sabrina."

Ike sliced his hand through the air, stopping the tornado forming around his sister. "Stop talking!" he boomed. "How do you know that she killed Sabrina?"

Demetria swallowed. "My cat, Kitty, told me. He's Ivory's mate."

Ike turned on his heel. "You told me Roan died, Ivory. You turned him into a cat!"

Ivory swallowed. "What does it matter? I was sick of seeing his face."

Ike turned around again, this time walking toward Demetria. He snatched the book, his bottom lip trembling, and stroked the diary as if it was precious to him. "Where is Roan?" he asked quietly.

Kerry cleared his throat. "I can smell him in that tree. He's watching."

Kerry could smell a cat within a mile. Ivory nervously looked up at the tree while Ike stalked toward him. "Get down here, Roan."

Lazily, as if he wasn't worried about them being there, he jumped from the lowest branch. Ike stared down at him, and easily waved his hand, bringing the stupid cat to his human form.

Roan was a tall man, burly like Kerry figured an alpha would be, and naked as the day he was born. "Ike," he said, his voice deep. "I'd say it was nice to see you again, but I'd be lying." His dark gaze flickered to Ivory, who snarled at him. "Look who it is. The little cunt who turned me into a cat. How's your conscience doing today, Ivory? Has it grown back yet?"

"You wish," she spit.

"Did you tell Demetria that Ivory killed Sabrina?"

Roan glanced over at Demetria and gave her a finger wave. Kerry felt Demetria's body grow warm at a naked man waving at her. "I didn't like you before, and I really don't like you now," he growled.

Roan chuckled. "Yeah, I told her that. Ivory asked me to kill Sabrina, and when I refused, she turned me into a cat and did it herself."

With Ike's back facing them, Kerry could physically see his back stiffen, and his head turn toward Ivory. She shook her head. "No, Ike. He's lying—"

In a simple gesture, he waved his hand, and Ivory curled into a quivering ball on the ground. "If I could kill you, I would, you pathetic waste of space," he whispered, though it sent goosebumps down Kerry's arms. Ike turned back to look at them. "I wish this changed things, but it doesn't. It just proves I can't trust my sister." He looked at the hellhounds and the creature. "Kill them."