His Abandoned Luna, Her Disabled Alpha

CHAPTER 6

The morning sun rose quietly over the silver moon sky. The surroundings were quiet. Too quiet. The pack house was still fast asleep when Ivy dragged her sore body out of bed.

Her body refused to rest for long hours on a stretch. Something that was forced on her had turned into a habit without realising.

Ivy had a simple morning routine; brush, shower and leave. Anything more was a luxury in the palace. She continued with the same routine here as well.

She took a quick shower, wore the same dress and slipped out of the room. The empty hallways made it easier for Ivy to leave without getting caught.

Yesterday was practically a disaster. Ivy wasn't able to see Grandma, almost got into an argument with Luke and as the night grew deep, her body reminded her of the fact that she hadn't eaten all day.

The person who brought her food must have assumed Ivy was sleeping when in reality she had passed out from hunger.

Anyway....

Hunger didn't affect Ivy as much. Life in the palace taught her many things, not letting hunger get in the way of life was one of them.

With nobody else around, Ivy decided to take a longer route to grandma's wing. It passed through a garden of roses. Luna Doris took care of them thoroughly and the air smelled of fresh roses.

Walking through the same garden didn't feel the same anymore. The roses were gone. The earth was ploughed evenly to make space for hydrangeas. The purple flowers looked beautiful, but Ivy did not stop to look at them.

They weren't roses.

The plants are gone. Maybe it's time for her to let go of those memories as well.

Grandma's wing was the quietest place in the entire pack house. Grandma didn't like having many people around. All she had was one maid who took care of all her daily necessities.

The maid's name was Brenda. She was about the same age as Grandma Norma so they got along well from the get go. Ivy knocked on the heavy wooden door.

Brenda opened the back door grumpily. She was ready to kick out anyone who dared to visit so early. Her madam was still sleeping. Besides, nobody used the back door anymore and it was too much for her old bones to make a trip to the back.

However, when she opened the door, the one standing before her wasn't the girl Emma who always showed up without notice. It was Ivy, the girl who had not come to see them for three years.

"Hello, Brenda. How've you been?" Ivy smiled at her.

Brenda squinted at the sun rising at the back. Or maybe it was the smile she did not get to see for three years that nearly blinded her eyes. Either way, they teared up.

"Ivy..." Brenda sniffed. "What took you so long, child?"

"Commitments." Ivy bent her knees and hugged the shaking old lady. "Where is Grandma?"

"Madam is resting in her room. Come in. It's cold outside. What are you wearing? Why don't you have socks on?" Brenda started fuzzing over her. She made sure Ivy had a pair of socks on before seeing her Grandma.

Ivy saw the concern overflowing from her eyes. Brenda was very close to her grandma and in turn close to Ivy as well.

Ivy was well aware how much she had changed in these three years. Not all of them were good changes. Naturally, she had her own curiosity.

Yet, Brenda refrained from asking too many questions as they made their way to the bedroom. They reached the door. Brenda knocked on it and instructed Ivy on a few things.

"Madam needs to have breakfast on set times everyday. There is still an hour, so you bring her downstairs on time." She twisted the knob slightly to show it was open, turned around and left.

Ivy took a deep breath. She steadied her emotions and practiced a perfect smile before pushing the door open.

With that first step, Ivy was hit by the scent of fresh roses. She paused at the door and breathed in that scent. It felt nostalgic. It smelled like home. Finally,

Grandma Norma sat on a cushioned chair facing the sun, knitting something with slow and precise movements. Her silver hair was loosely braided over one shoulder. The morning sunlight washed gently across her wrinkled face.

The old lady didn't look up, focusing on her yarn as she muttered, "I told them I don't want visitors this early. What time is it?"

"Not even me, Grandma?"

Grandma paused, then slowly lifted her head. Her old eyes simply stared at Ivy, as if struggling to believe what they saw.

The ball of pale yellow yarn rolled down her lap as grandma rose to her feet.

"Ivy?" Her voice trembled. She called to confirm whether it was real.

Ivy wanted to respond but the words were stuck in her throat. So, she raised her hands and rushed towards Grandma like she always did. She buried herself in a rose scented embrace.

When it came to hugs, Ivy preferred her grandma over others. She gave the best hugs ever. Luna Doris used to joke that Grandma's hugs must have magic in them. They seem to always heal Ivy's wounds, whether physical or emotional.

The magic spread from the skin to her heart. In that brief moment, Ivy was able to forget every single bad memory.

"When did you come back?"

"Yesterday." Ivy mumbled against her shoulder. "I missed you so much."

"Silly girl, why didn't you come to see me yesterday?" She lightly hit her back.

"It was late and I didn't want to disturb your rest." She lied.

"You can be less considerate about this old soul." Grandma pulled back slightly and studied her face.

Ivy let the old lady trace over her sunken cheeks, dull eyes and rough lips without complaint. She didn't flinch, nor was it repulsive when grandma touched her. It was just...warm and comforting.

She'd been deprived of it for so long the touch felt new.

"You've gotten thinner." Grandma stated. "And paler too. Were you not eating well there?"

"I'm still alive, grandma. That should be enough, right?"

"It's not funny." Ivy received a light slap on the arm for making that joke.

Grandma dragged Ivy to the couch and forced her to sit. "Sit down properly. Let me have a good look at you."

Ivy did as she was told. While Grandma looked at her, she also got a good look at Grandma.

Grandma was pushing into her late 70's. Minor health problems were common at this age. Ivy didn't see any new servants in the wing or any doctors on standby when she came over yesterday.

Grandma also didn't show any signs of illness. It could be an internal illness. Ivy didn't want to guess but also didn't have the heart to ask at this moment. It got tossed to the back of her mind for later.

Grandma Norma was unusually chatty today. She asked many questions; about the palace, the long journey back, about the people Ivy had met or the friends Ivy made while away from home.

Ivy answered everything she could and avoided whatever she didn't want to talk about. For a while, Ivy thought she went back in time three years ago.

However, an illusion was just that.

Grandma eventually sighed and gripped her hand tightly. "You should stay here. No matter what, you are a Reed. This is your home, my child. You are one of us."

"Grandma..." Ivy shifted her gaze, ashamed to meet her expectant eyes.

The old lady frowned in displeasure. Her tone hardened. "You're not gonna argue with me over this, are you? Just listen to grandma."

"That's not it Grandma. Three years ago, father changed my last name. I'm not a Reed anymore." Ivy said.

"What do you mean?" Grandma blinked.

"The process was done before I went to the palace." Ivy bit her lips hard. "All the paperwork is officially done. I'm not Ivy Reed anymore."