The quadruplets
19: 19.
The quadruplets Ivy’s POV
I wake up in the hotel after a great night’s sleep.
Surprisingly I feel recovered from the night before.
How crazy was all that?
The phone rings and it’s Nicole.
“Good morning,” I say.
“You sound significantly better. Are you still here?” Nicole asks.
“Yes, we have a meeting with Theodore at his house this morning and then we’re heading home this afternoon.”
I remember the offer I made to Nicole the night before.
“So have you thought further about coming with us?”
“There’s little I’ve thought of except that.
I’ll pass by the Alpha’s house so we can have a talk before you leave.”
“That sounds hopeful.” I decide then I’ll not keep the secret any longer.
“Nicole, that secret, the one you asked about last night.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I want to tell you, you’ll realise as soon as I do that this is top secret. No one else must know.” I’m positive I can trust Nicole.
“I understand.”
“The quadruplets didn’t die in the car crash, Nicole.
I have four beautiful five year olds waiting for me at home.”
“What?” Nicole was not ready for this.
“Oh Ivy!
What a wonderful thing to hear!
I can’t wait to meet them!”
“Theodore can never know about them.
You understand this, right?”
“Of course!
I remember the shocking ,despicable way he treated you when he found out you were pregnant.
He is not father material.
I’ll tell no one.”
“I knew you’d understand.
I’ll see you late then?”
“Yes.
Oh Ivy, I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Nicole.
You’re a good friend.”
I hang up and quickly get ready.
I can hear the room service bringing in breakfast to the penthouse dining room.
Ryder is talking to them, so he’s already up and ready to go.
I hurry up.
“Good morning, Ryder.” I’m showered and dressed in my power suit ready to finish up all the business with Theodore today.
“Good morning, Ivy.
I had the messenger collect the divorce papers from the lawyer.
You need to sign them.
We can drop them on the way to the meeting.”
“Thanks, that sounds like a perfect plan.” I sip my coffee and to my surprise I feel sad.
“Is it all okay?” Ryder says.
“Do you want to slow the process down?
You only just saw your husband again after five years apart.
Maybe wait a bit for the divorce.”
“No, it’s best to get it done.” I decide I need to confide in someone and Ryder is the best person.
He always gives me good advice.
“The only thing is…Theodore and I… are fated mates.”
Ryder considers this.
“Hmmm…that’s unfortunate.
How can that be?
It’s clear to me that you can never be happy together.”
“But if we’re fated we can never be happy apart.
At least that’s what we’re told.”
“Yes.
It seems that you and Thomas are happy together though.
“Did you tell Thomas that you and Theodore are fated?”
“No.
I’ve told no one except you right now.
It will make everything complicated.
I wish I didn’t know!”
“If you think the divorce is the right thing to do, I think you should go ahead with it.
Everything else can be dealt with as we go forward.” He sips his coffee.
“I also think you should tell Thomas.
It’s only fair.”
“I always know you’ll give me good advice, Ryder.
Thank you.”
My phone rings.
It’s a video call from Thomas.
“Hi babe.”
“You look gorgeous. Did you sleep well?” he says.
“I did.
It helped talking to you and the kids last night.
Again, thanks so much for taking care of them.”
“Like I said last night, it’s my pleasure.” He hesitates a moment.
“Listen, I didn’t say anything last night because the kids were around, but you told me you loved me for the first time last night. I just wanted to check, is it still true this morning? Or was it all of the emotions around being back with the Silver Claw Pack that had you overly emotional last night?”
One of my favourite things about Thomas is he plays no games with me.
He wants our relationship to be based only on trust and openness.
I know he wants the truth only, no matter if it’s hard to hear.
“I still love you this morning, Thomas. I think that’s the status quo now,” I say.
“That’s good to hear.” He’s smiling but there is a question mark in that smile.
“There’s something else. Tell me, Ivy. I’m a big boy.”
How can he sense this through the phone?
“There is something else.”
I move back to my bedroom.
Though Ryder knows, I feel I need privacy to tell Thomas.
“I found out something last night when I saw my husband again.”
“What?”
“Thomas, you know the terrible things Theodore did to me.
You know how he treated me.
I still stand firm that I hate him.
He hasn’t changed at all.
And my feeling about him haven’t changed either.”
“I understand.
Tell me what you’ve found out.”
“Theodore and I are fated mates, just as Grandma Susan had long predicted.”
I can see my words have hurt him.
“So what does it mean for us?”
“I love you.
I can never be with Theodore again, even if we are fated.
He is evil and cruel.
You’re lovely and kind and loving and loyal.
This is why I realised I love you.
I love only you, Thomas.”
“I’m happy to hear that.
But fated means that you are meant to be with Theodore, the Moon Goddess has destined that.”
“She must be wrong this time.
And anyway, many people never meet their fated partner and still live happy lives.
I will too.
We will.” I’m determined on this fact.
“This morning I’m dropping the divorce papers at the lawyer.
I’ll soon be free and then you and me and the kids can be a family.
They love you and I love you too.”
“Thank you for telling me.
It changes nothing for me.
But Ivy, please, you must always tell me how you are.
If you decide one day that fighting against your fate is too hard, I will understand.
All I want is for you to be happy.”
“Do you know how wonderful you are?” How lucky am I?
“I promise I’ll keep you posted. But I’m certain Theodore is nowhere in my future, only you.”
***
“Ryder, you can wait here. I’ll be only a second,” I tell him.
“Nope. I’m coming. We’re in Silver Claw territory and I trust no one.”
He parks the car and we go into the office.
A receptionist is at the desk.
“Good morning,” I say.
“I’m here to see Marcel.
I need to drop off these papers.
Is he in?”
“Good morning, Ms Carter.
Yes Marcel is in.
Let me take you to him,” she says smiling.
She must be new here, I’ve never seen her before.
I must tell Marcel he’s hired a friendly receptionist for once.
He usual has older stern faced women at his front desk.
The receptionist stands to walk me into the office which I find odd.
She could have just said go in.
That’s what usually happens.
Ryder follows us, but before the receptionist opens the door she turns back to him.
“I’m sorry, the meeting is only with the client. You can wait in reception. Get some coffee from the machine in the corner. It’s very good.”
Ryder hesitates.
“It’s fine,” I say, “It won’t take a minute. I’m just dropping the forms.”
Ryder reluctantly sits back down in the waiting room.
Me and the receptionist go inside the office.
I’m surprised to see it’s empty.
At first I think Marcel might be in the small bathroom to the side, but the door is open and I see it’s empty.
“Where’s Marcel? We’re in a bit of a hurry, we have a meeting,” I tell the receptionist.
“Yes, I know.”
She’s changed; something is happening.
Just then two men are there.
I hadn’t seen them before.
Their faces are covered.
“What’s going on here? Where’s Marcel?”
The receptionist smiles in an evil way.
“Marcel is not coming, Princess.”
The two men rush forward and grab me and before I can shift to my wolf and fight them back, the receptionist injects me with something.
I become immediately groggy and then everything goes black.
***
Ryder doesn’t like being out of sight of Ivy.
This place is dangerous; there are too many members of the pack loyal to the Luna and her family.
He tells himself that this is her lawyers’ office, it’s safe.
He sits back and reads one of the magazines from the table.
He checks his watch.
How long can it take to drop off the signed divorce papers?
And what happened to the receptionist?
Then he tells himself not to worry needlessly.
They’re probably talking a bit of strategy going forward since she’s divorcing the Alpha of Silver Claw.
The receptionist is taking notes.
Then the office door at the front opens and it’s Marcel, the lawyer.
“Good morning, Ryder,” he says.
“You’re here early.”
“Oh no!” Ryder replies and jumps to his feet and bursts into the office.
It’s empty.
Ivy is gone!