His lying mistress
9: 9.
His lying mistress Ivy’s POV
I can think of nothing else except seeing Theodore again.
Through dinner I think about every angle of the deal and the meeting and what might happen.
The pros and cons.
I haven’t seen Theodore for five years.
I’m a completely different person.
Is he too?
I’m mulling over whether I should meet Theodore about the partnership too.
I know it could be good for Ice Moon Pack.
Ryder is adamant that it’s a good idea and I trust his judgement.
I know Dylan is a problem, but is he really as dangerous as Ryder thinks?
Will this deal once and for all put him in his place?
My indecision is based on fear, I know this.
It angers me that I can still be so emotionally manipulated by Theodore.
I am the heiress of the Ice Moon pack for goddess’ sake!
I should fear no one.
He should fear me!
I doubt I’ll sleep tonight my head full of all of it.
I just hope I can make the right decision in the end.
Thomas calls me just after dinner.
He wants to come over.
I’m so distracted by everything I immediately think it’s a terrible idea.
“I miss you darling. We haven’t been together for three days because of those damn financial statements you’ve been working on. A little bird told me you’re finished now and I ache for you. Please I want to see you.”
Thomas is my boyfriend.
We’ve been together for the last four years.
He’s handsome and charming, a fantastic lover and very respectful.
I like him a lot.
Dawson would like us to marry since Thomas comes from a rich and powerful family in the Ice Moon Pack.
He seems to discount my marriage to Theodore as unimportant.
I don’t.
At the very least it taught me that I should never marry any one again.
At first I tell Thomas no, and then I decide otherwise.
I could use the distraction.
“Okay, yes, come.
It will be good to see you.”
***
“Hello, Beautiful,” Thomas says when I open the front door.
He pulls me to him and kisses me passionately.
“Ooo yummy! I’ve missed you, you sexy woman.”
He picks me up, kicking the front door closed.
His scent brings my wolf to the front.
He carries me to my bed and I feel my body tense with anticipation.
“You’re wild this evening,” I say, glad to see him like this.
He howls into the darkness.
In moments, we’re naked.
He lifts me onto his lap and slides into me.
I feel my lock holding him as I rock gently with him.
He leans forward and kisses my neck.
I groan with pleasure.
Then I feel him reveal his teeth, attempting to mark me.
I push him back.
“No!”
“Why? I want you to be mine.” He’s hurt but he knows my position.
I’ve told him many times before.
“Maybe we’re fated.”
“We’re not. We would know it. I’ve told you before about my history. Please, my love, don’t ruin what we have.”
He falls against me disappointed but soon he’s pushing deeply into me again.
He howls as he reaches climax, as I do.
We hold each other until the lock is released.
“I love you, Ivy.” We lie side by side, I’m holding him in my arms.
“I know, my darling. You’re wonderful and I care about you very much. Thank you for coming tonight. I needed this.” I did.
Something about our mating has opened my mind, made me see the new reality.
“I’m happy to have been of service.” He’s speaking with a tinge of sarcasm.
I know I’ve hurt his feelings by stopping him from marking me; he was wrong to have tried.
“Don’t be like that. It doesn’t suit you. You know full well you could have any woman in the pack. If I reject you, before the night is over, you’ll have climbed into another beautiful woman’s bed.”
He laughs.
“This is true. I am quite charming.”
I laugh.
“You are. And humble too.”
We both laugh and the bad mood disappears.
He really is lovely.
I rub his back and kiss the top of his head.
“I’ll be going away for a few days.”
“Where?” he asks.
“I can’t give you any details, it’s a business meeting.
Ryder is coming with me so I’ll be safe.
No need to worry about me.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“I doubt it but thank you for lying.”
He climbs on top of me and kisses me deeply.
“You don’t take me seriously at all,” he says.
“What fun would that be?” He smiles and kisses me again.
I feel he is readying for round two.
The sex has cleared up my head.
I’ve made up my mind—I’m going to meet my husband, Theodore.
***
It takes most of the morning to drive to the place where Theodore will meet us.
It’s a secluded hotel and conference centre away from the town where Theodore lives.
“This Alpha is very confident we’ll agree to the partnership. He’s even made a posh reception party for tomorrow evening,” Ryder says, reading the invitation card that came with the letter about the meeting place and time.
“I’m not sure we need to go to that.” It will be bad enough seeing Theodore, I certainly don’t need to see the entire Silver Claw elites.
We pull into the empty parking lot.
“He must have bought up the entire place for the day,” Ryder says.
“Good. Let’s meet him, listen to what he has to say, and head back home,” I say as I get out of the car.
Inside the receptionist at the desk of the empty hotel leads us to a meeting room.
“The other party will be here in a moment. Make yourselves comfortable.”
I take a cup of coffee from the coffee machine in the corner and sit and wait.
I’m surprisingly calm.
Ryder sits next to me.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“Yes, I think I am.
Ice Moon is the most powerful wolf pack.
When I become the Alpha everyone will know me.”
“True.
I know you’re strong enough for anything that happens here.”
After a few moments, the door opens.
It is not Theodore — it’s Tiffany.
Behind her are her entourage: Bryna, Clarissa, and my old ex-friend, Alicia.
Tiffany looks older.
The stress of being Luna, of stealing that position must be weighing on her.
“Where did you come from Ivy?” Alicia says.
When we were girls she used to be friends with me and Nicole.
Once Tiffany arrived, she switched sides.
An opportunist like so many.
“We thought the bears in the forest ate you.”
“What the hell is this?” Tiffany says.
“Ivy?
Why are you here?”
“The more important question is why are you here Tiffany?
I have a meeting with Theodore, not his lying mistress.”
Tiffany looks back at her girls.
“Listen to this piece of shit! A meeting with the Alpha? Have you not recovered yet from you mental illness? Why would the Alpha meet a common piece of trash like you?”
Ryder growls and makes to go for Tiffany.
I hold him back.
“It’s fine, Ryder.”
“Who’s this bullock?” Tiffany says.
“Is this the man who broke you out of the loony bin?”
I ignore her.
“Where’s Theodore?”
“That’s none of your business, Bitch. Now I think you and your toy boy here need to clear out because we have a meeting in this room.” Tiffany says.
Alicia laughs.
“Look at her Tiff! I think she doesn’t have any money. She’s probably been digging in the dustbin outside with her boyfriend there trying to put together some lunch.”
The four women laugh.
I breathe calmly and hold Ryder’s arm.
He is seconds from beating the shit out of all of them.
Tiffany takes a step forward.
“Listen, Ivy, let me help you out.”
She takes a stack of bills from her purse and holds them out to me.
I ignore here.
She throws the money on the ground.
“Pick it up, Bitch. Pick it up and be on your way!” Tiffany and her friends laugh.
“Where is Theodore?” I say.
Ignoring her nonsense.
“I have no time for bullshit games from a weak, fake Luna like you. Now get Theodore.”
Tiffany’s anger flares.
“Who do you think you are, Ivy? I’m the Luna now, not you! You should bow before me you lying whore!”
She flies at me, her hand in the air ready to slap my face.
I sit without moving.
Ryder grabs her thin wrist with his massive hand.
“One more word and I’ll snap this like a twig,” he says.
Tiffany’s eyes fill with fear.
She’s pushed Ryder too far and she can see it now.
“Please, don’t.”
Ryder throws her arm away as if it’s a dirty piece of rubbish.
We stand up and go, leaving them where they are.
In the parking lot, I look at Ryder.
“Theodore has made a terrible miscalculation.”
Ryder has barely levelled his anger.
“Yes, he has.”