His Abandoned Luna, Her Disabled Alpha

CHAPTER 19

I have to see Grandma. I need to see her, Ivy thought.

Without a word, she brushed past The maid and hurried down the corridor. Her pace quickened with each step, breath uneven, heart pounding against her chest.

The corridor to the side wing felt longer than ever. Ivy's steps echoed unevenly against the floor.

The shallow bursts of breath stabbed her lungs each time. Hot tears gathered in her eyes but she wiped them away, refusing to let them fall. She didn't believe it.

Grandma was weak but she has been there yesterday. Ivy had tricked her into eating a few more bites of the porridge Brenda made. It was bland, so tasteless she gagged, but swallowed them regardless.

They had shared smiles during sunset. The orange hue of the setting sun put a healthy glow on her grandma's aging face. In that moment, Ivy remembered thinking her Grandma would live forever.

How could it all end like this?

Ivy slowed down at the entrance of the side wing. The sight of a crowd outside grandma's room felt unsettling.

The usual silence of the side wing was taken over by low sobs and whispers of comfort.

Ivy pushed past the crowd, stopping at the door. The scent of death lingered heavily in the air. Luna Doris and Emma were leaning against each other as they cried softly. Luke stood solemnly, silent for once as he stared at Grandma's peaceful sleeping face.

Except she wasn't sleeping. The heartbeat that she had heard so clearly when grandma hugged her close to her chest yesterday, has gone completely silent.

It had ended. Just like that.

The funeral took place the day after the pack house made the official announcement.

The Silver mane pack seemed to have been shaken at it's core by the news of the old Luna's departure and the amount of guests who showed up at the ceremony were no less than a few hundred.

Ivy stood at the forefront with the rest of the Reed family, holding a basket of white carnations. One by one she handed out a flower to the guests who came, her ears already numb to the repetitive words of consolation.

Grandma Norma was fond of flowers her entire life. She grew a garden full of them where she lived and looked after it for as long as she could.

Ivy foolishly expected roses at the funeral, assuming her son would at least know her preferences.

However, the white flowers were all she saw as far as her bloodshot eyes could see.

'Grandma wouldn't like it. It's colourless.' Ivy thought, staring blankly at the flower in her hand.

"My condolences." A slender hand reached for the flower. "She has gone to a better place."

Ivy nodded indifferently. She reached for another flower for the next guest. Her movements were stiff and mechanical.

The stranger didn't leave. Her black, knee length dress swayed as she took a step forward. She quietly added, "Ivy, how have you been?"

Ivy froze as the voice unlocked a long forgotten memory from her teenage days. She looked up abruptly and since her grandma died, the first emotion, surprise, flickered in her dull eyes.

"Gigi?"

Gigi smiled stiffly. She was exactly the way Ivy remembered. Back in school, Gigi used to be one of the few friends whose company Ivy enjoyed the most.

Highschool had turned into a nightmare after Emma entered the picture. Her friends were quick to turn their backs on Ivy; they spread rumours around the school, made insulting jokes, used her locker as a chalkboard to write things she didn't want to remember.

Beyond the stench of trash placed in her memory, Gigi was like a small bud who made that year tolerable. They weren't best of friends. In fact they never talked about anything deep enough to build a bond.

On the days when Ivy had too much, she would run to the staircase in the back building and sit there for hours. Gigi would quietly follow her, sitting just two steps above her. The window at the back would cast a long shadow, letting her know that she was there.

Ivy never talked, nor did Gigi. They shared the silence until Ivy mustered enough courage to return to class.

Their friendship built on that silence. It was like a thread tied loosely to their fingers. Although Ivy forgot those days, there were times when she desperately craved that silence again.

That specific silence that wasn't lonely. Because she knew that shadow was there and if she needed a shoulder, she could simply turn around and ask for it. Someone would be there to fulfil her wish.

"It's been a long time." Gigi said, bringing Ivy back from those memories.

Nostalgia hit Ivy in her sore, grieving heart. Her eyes well up once again, this time out of mild relief. Her shadow was back.

"Too long." Ivy said, struggling to maintain that smile. "How is life treating you?"

"I'm a teaching assistant at our school." Gigi answered. "It's boring and I want to quit everyday."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Gigi cast a hesitant glance at the rest of the Reed family. Ivy followed her gaze and saw that the rest of their friend group had arrived as well.

Ivy couldn't remember their names. They were just bad memories within the sea of bad memories Ivy collected over the years.

She watched with indifference as they surrounded a crying Emma, looking so heartbroken that if she asked, they would even cut off their shoulders for her to cry on.

"Um, I am off on Friday next week. Would you like to get some coffee with me?"

Gigi's question made Ivy snap back. She nodded lightly, "Yes. I would like that. Thank you for showing up. I really appreciate it."

Gigi's eyes brightened. She reached for Ivy's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "I will give you my number before leaving. Make sure to call me. Don't forget."

Ivy nodded, "Hm."