IVY'S POV

By the time I got out of bed, freshened up and went downstairs, Mom had my breakfast laid out and was already out to her office or attending to things around the pack. I’d barely downed half of my toast when Troy descended from the stairs, not sparing me a glance.

It's been two days since he'd taken sides with those jerks over me. Troy has been avoiding me, even worse he's been flanking around the Triplets.

“Troy!” I called out when he was almost out the door. He turned to look at me, his face was torn between anger and nerves. Silence crackled the air between us. It's only been two days, still he didn't look like the brother I used to know.

“Be fast about it, I have basketball practice before class.” he drawled through clenched teeth.

I swallowed. True to their words, Troy had joined their team. Words even had it that Troy was their new best friend.

“I didn't do anything to Mila, she hit me first.”

He groaned, rubbing his fingers across his forehead, “Enough Ivy. How low can you go? I saw what happened, everyone saw what happened—”

“She lied. Mila was only pretending to get the triplets on their sides.”

He flinched. And for a quick moment, I almost thought I had my brother back on my side. Well, till his face crumpled into a wave of anger. “Are you trying to say the triplets were wrong for punishing you? When you were clearly at fault?”

My lips pressed together in a defiant line. “I didn't say that.”

Troy scoffed. “Thought as much,” he looked around the house, “Now that mom and Dad are out, it's best we go over the new rules.”

I blinked. New rules? “What are you talking about? What new rules?” My voice dripped with a mixture of confusion and anxiety. I'd never seen Troy this cold, speaking to me with contempt.

He cleared his throat, not batting a single eyelid. “Go about your business in school, don't ever act like you know me. Don't bother to cheer my wolf when he's sparring with the others, sad to say my wolf is embarrassed to have you as a sister—”

Troy's words hit me like metallic bullets scattered through the delicate parts of my body. Mom and Dad were barely around. They were always either in the office, or away in another province on pack duties.

We grew up together. He made me feel safe. Even though he hated it, he read me bedtime stories when I was younger and always looked out for me.

Why the sudden change? And for what? Friendship with the triplets. I nodded my head frantically, in a bid to suppress the pain of his declaration. The tasty honey filled toast suddenly tasted like ash in my mouth.

Troy continued, “Also, I don't want to see you anywhere close to me or the basketball court, during or after the games today. I won't ever give you a ride in my car anymore, so don't even bother to show up at the park.”

He finished his statement with a cocky snort. “Lest I forget, try not to appear in front of the Triplets, they loathe the very sight of you.” Tory pushed the door and closed it with a loud bang, that resonated through my core.

For a split second, I couldn't think of what to do. My appetite fizzled into thin air, I grabbed my bag, slipped into my jacket. We were in the winter season, the frost was starting to gather slowly. I trudged to the train station and took the train to school.

Thirty minutes, and having to deal with cramped leg muscles, I got off the train. “Hey Ivy!” A familiar voice beckoned from behind. I abruptly stopped in my tracks, and spun my head to the direction of the voice.

A grinning Maya quickened her steps to catch up with me. “Good morning,”

I managed a small smile. “Good morning…” I said. Maya indulged me in small fun talks, till we got to the entrance of the school. Much to my relief, she didn't bring up the incident with Mila. “So would you be watching the games today?” She switched conversations.

My mouth fell apart, when Troy's words resonated in my head. I don't want to see you anywhere close to me or the basketball court during or after the games today.

I shook my head, “I have a class project to attend to.”

Maya arched a brow at me, “What class project did I miss?” Shoot! I almost forgot we were in the same class.

A lump gathered around my throat. I ran my fingers over the back of my neck, “Ermm. It's a personal project I came up with.”

She nodded her head, “Oh I see. It would’ve been delightful to watch the games with you,” She combed her hands through her hair, “Heard a ton of cute guys from another pack would be coming. Who knows, you could meet your mate?” Maya's tone was so delicate I almost missed the truth in it.

I was going to meet my mate one day. And it would be the best thing that has ever happened to me. The attraction, the charm, the desires. I yearned to share a bond that was stronger than what my parents had. I was going to desire him just as he would, and mark him.

Mom said it's a feeling that couldn't be explained. One had to feel it.

It was a few minutes shy of three noon. Only twenty minutes to the game. I grabbed my bag, and snapped my head to face Maya. “See you later Maya!” I squealed, and headed out of the classroom.

I was a few feet away from the library, when a saucy laugh pierced through my ears. “Isn’t that Troy's sister?” A masculine voice slowed me to a stop.

I swallowed past the dread that gathered around my chest and turned to face them. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach, when I came face to face with the triplets.

Oh God! It took every bit of willpower to hold myself together. The first person I noticed was Kieran. His sensual charms dripped from every pore in him. He had a lethal charisma that added an irresistible allure to him.

Kieran never spoke, until when it was absolutely necessary. “Ugh. I bet she doesn't know I hate repeating myself.”

“That Ivy, my sister.”

He tipped his head sideways, “I didn't ask you, let the girl speak for herself.”

“Yes.”

Mila hissed. “The clumsy little liar!” She sidestepped Troy, and rested her hand against Kieran's shoulders. “How dare you appear in front of us?”

My anger simmered to the brim. I made to fire back at her. Then, my eyes locked with Troy, who communicated with his eyes. I pressed my lips together, and remained silent.

“We should make her suffer for being an asshole.” Another spat from behind.

Mila's eyes narrowed with contempt. “Yes, we should totally make her suffer for even existing.”

Hell no! Not this time, I wasn't about to suffer, just because the Triplets saw me as a freaking prey. I curled my hands into a fist.

Mila snorted, “I guess little birdie is growing wings yeah?” She gestured with her head, and two hefty looking students held my hands in place. I turned to face Troy. The minute our eyes turned four, he looked away. Another sting of betrayal hit me.

I was left to my fate.

“Leave her alone!” Maya's voice broke through the cloud of tension.

Mila spun around to face her, “Stay out of this.”

“No, I won't!” Maya fired back.

“Take her away!” August instructed. Another guy walked out of the small crowd, lifted Maya off the floor, splayed her on his shoulders and walked away, amidst her protest.

“Leave me alone, I didn't do anything to you freaks!”

Jason snarled. “Your audacity makes me sick to my stomach,” A beat passed, then he said, “Mila, have fun doing whatever you want with her.”

“No!” I protested. I tried wriggling out of their grip, but it proved futile. I watched as the other players walked out on me. Troy spare me a single glance, and walked out with the rest.

“Oh she's such a crybaby,” Mila teased. She dragged me by the hair and pulled me to the basketball court. “We still have a few minutes before the game starts right, why don't you play with me Ivy?” her voice dripped with poisonous honey.

I shook my head. She groaned, cutting me off, “Good thing I don't need your opinion to do whatever I please with you, right Troy?”

“Do whatever you want with her.” Troy's tone dripped with derision. When did Troy even start loathing me so much?

Mila stretched her arms out, when nothing happened, her face turned the colour of parchment paper. “Get me a damn ball!”

“Gatchu!” One of the boys groaned and trudged towards the sidelines, when he came back he was holding a ball. He handed it to her, stared at me and I saw a flicker of pity cross his eyes.

Dread tightened my chest and blossomed to the pit of my stomach. I didn't know what Mila had in mind. Still, the fierce look on her face was all the answers I needed.

“Catch the ball!” Mila said and threw the ball hard against my face. I made to deck, but was too slow. The ball crashed against my face and I fell back.

The boys jeered. “Go Mila!” Mila snarled, ‘Freaking pathetic!’ she mouthed.

My head spun. A liquid trickled down my aching nose. I swiped my fingers against the spot and my fingers were stained in blood. I bit down on my lower lips to push back the tears that threatened to spill.

Blood pounded in my ears. When I finally get my wolf at eighteen, I'd have my revenge on everyone who hurt me. Every one of them, I wasn't going to spare a single one.