There’s a knock on my door. I gasp and then my hand claps over my mouth.
I can’t deal with anybody right now.
I just can’t.
There’s another knock.
“Ivy?”
Whose voice is that?
I get to my feet and use the sleeves of my sister’s hoodie to wipe my eyes, then I look out the peep hole.
Ben.
Shit.
Shit.
I hold my breath and remain frozen.
“I heard you in there, Ivy. Can I please talk to you for a minute?”
Damn it.
I open the door just a little.
“It’s not a good time, Ben.”
“I heard you crying. Are you okay?”
“I’m...” Not okay. Not even remotely okay. I’m so not okay that I’m not sure if okay is even on the horizon. “Fine. Just having a moment. But it’s really not a good time for a visit.”
“I heard you were hurt and I…” He thrusts his hand through his dirty blonde hair. I used to find his polished and clean-cut look appealing. Now he looks too… refined to me. Almost feminine in contrast to Ty. Ben isn’t feminine. He’s fit but just so metrosexual. So coiffed. I can’t imagine he even knows how to growl.
“I’m okay,” I interrupt.
“I realized how I felt, Ivy. I know things with us were fairly casual, but I… was catching feelings. I’d like to explore things further. See if we’re ready for things to… deepen.” He motions to move closer and not only do I back up, I feel almost queasy at the thought of his hands on me.
“I’m sorry, but it’s not a good time for me for anything, Ben. Not even a conversation. And thanks, that’s um-sweet, but I don’t think I want anything deeper. I don’t–”
I stop talking because my thoughts are cut off with the sight of headlights pointing at us in the doorway.
My and Tamara’s apartment is the bottom of a triplex and our door is at the very bottom of the deeply sloped driveway. A truck has pulled in behind my car and the door on the driver’s side of a pickup truck flies open and here he comes. Oh fuck. It’s Tyson.
I quickly spin Ben around and stand in front of him.
Shit. Shit!
“What are you doing?’ Ben asks.
Protecting you from the big bad wolf.
Tyson is closing the distance between us and I’m blocking Ben.
I point at Tyson, my eyes blinded by the headlights pointing at my face, but still making out that his chest rises and falls with intensity as he prowls toward us, I know this means bad things. Very bad things.
“Do not come any closer!” I shout.
I hear another slam. And then another.
Two of the alphas from Arcana Falls are here, too.
“If you lay one hand on him, Ty… I will make. You. Sorry.” Pain shoots through me.
“Who is this, Ivy?” Ben asks from behind me and tries to step around me. I physically back up so he’s squished against the bricks beside my apartment door.
“Riley!” I shout. “Don’t let Ty put his hands on him!”
Riley’s in front of us quickly. “I got him, Ivy. Follow me, man.”
“What? What’s happening here?” Ben protests. “Ivy?”
Instead of marching Ty away, Riley has grabbed Ben by the elbow and he’s marching him away.
“Has he touched you?” Ty demands, towering over me suddenly, his chest still rising and falling fast. Thank God he has clothes on. He’s wearing that white and blue soft flannel I’ve slept in. He’s in jeans and his hiking boots. The scent of him assaults my senses. I can’t hack this. I’m about to crumble again.
He takes my face into both hands.
“Ivy, look at me,” Ty’s voice has gone soft.
I refuse to look up. I look down at my feet instead.
“Not that I have to answer to you,” I say. “But he heard I was back and came to see me, to check to make sure I’m all right since I got bit by a snake, and no he hasn’t touched me. Though it’s not your business who touches me.”
“Wanna bet?” Ty growls. “She’s mine now, fucker. Go home while you still have legs.”
“Yours?” Ben asks, sounding stunned. He’s trying to shrug Riley off, his head turned back toward us.
“Yes. She’s mine,” Tyson growls.
“Buddy…” Ben says. “You wanna quit the Neanderthal behavior for a sec and---"
“Leave!” I demand at Ty. “Ben, please go. I’m fine here. I’ll call you later.” No way do I want Ben trying to be a hero.
“She won’t be fucking calling you, asshole,” Ty snarls. “Look at me, Ivy.”
“No. Leave!” I point at the headlights that are still pointed at me.
“Ivy, what’s happening here? Should I call the cops? Is this clown harassing you?” Ben asks ignoring my efforts to protect him.
I step in front of him again.
Tyson grabs my hand and pulls me closer.
“Don’t touch me!” I snap. “Touch me and I will fucking scream my head off.”
Tyson lets go and holds his hands up.