Page 100 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
“A guard found this on a bench outside one of the side exits of the hotel,” he said. “It’s a letter addressed to you and Ivy.”
Ivy and I locked eyes.
“Does the bench face away from the woods behind the hotel?” I asked as my heart slammed against my rib cage.
Flynn nodded.
I growled in rage. That had been the place where Ivy was attacked. Did that mean that the wolf who attacked her was in on this?
“I checked the security footage already,” Flynn added. “A masked figure ran out of the woods, placed this on the bench, then sprinted back into the woods. I have warriors searching for him.”
Ivy rushed over to my side as I opened up the folded letter. My eyebrows rose when I saw that the kidnapper had used letters cut up from a magazine instead of a pen or pencil.
“My mother always did have the flair for the dramatic,” Ivy muttered.
The letter was short, instructing us to go to a location just outside of Sun Fire’s territory in an hour’s time. The last sentence made my blood run cold.
Come unarmed and alone, or the boy dies.
Ivy snarled, and her body tensed.
But when our gazes met, a vindictive smile crossed her face.
“We won’t actually be alone,” she said and glanced over at Damian.
My heart pounded as I realized what she was implying.
“You’re right,” I breathed out. “That could definitely work.”
Chapter 38
Stage Left
Ivy
“And now we wait,” I said in a shaking voice as Asher and I stepped into an empty clearing just outside his territory.
We scanned the quiet woods, shielding our eyes from the early afternoon sun. Asher's body was tense, and his nostrils flared as he searched our surroundings.
“Do you sense anyone?” I murmured, sniffed the air, and listened closely.
“No,” Asher whispered, her gaze roaming over the woods, looking like a lion about to attack. “I don’t smell or hear anyone.”
My stomach sank with dread. “What if this is all a distraction?” I asked. “What if my mom did this all to get you away from Sun Fire? What if Adrian is already…”
But I couldn’t even finish my sentence. My throat closed around the word, and I swallowed around it, wishing I’d never had that thought in the first place.
Asher whipped his head toward me, grabbing my hands. The warmth of his body managed to calm me slightly.
“Don’t think like that, baby,” he said fiercely, staring deep into myeyes. “Your mom won’t hurt Adrian. I think she wants something from us, and she’s going to use him,” a muscle ticced in his jaw, “ as a bargaining chip.” He snarled the last few words.
My shoulders relaxed slightly. As long as my mother didn’t hurt my son, I’d give her whatever she wanted.
Asher squeezed my hands. “Ivy, if your mom wants one of us to…sacrifice ourselves, you have to let it be me,” he said. “Adrian needs you. He loves you so much, and you’re such a good mom.”
I took a slight step back but held onto his hands. At this point, his steady grip was the only thing keeping me upright.
“No…Asher, stop,” I said as my skin tingled with fear. In the back of my mind, I thought I heard a twig snap, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from his. “Our son needs you, too. He loves you. You're such a great father. He can't lose you right after he just—”
