CHAPTER 15
1042 Words
Ivy tried to sound normal. As if the pain of that loss wasn't still alive and digging into her soul like a dagger. Her heart stilled as she recalled that day as if it was yesterday. The silence of her wolf, the only companion she had in that hell, hit harder than any whip could. It broke her in ways that she didn't think was possible.
Her voice came out cold and bare of it's emotions, just like her heart felt in that moment.
She blinked hard, forcing back the tears before they had the chance to gather and fall.
Her words left the room in a stunned silence. No one knew how to respond, not even Emma. She couldn't even maintain the facade of concern anymore, shock written all over her face.
Losing ones wolf was unthinkable to most. It was rare, something that only happened under extreme conditions; the ones most victimized by it being rogues in captivity.
Those who lost it, rarely remained whole. More often than not, they lost their sanity along with it.
And yet, here stood Ivy.
Standing as if she hadn't lost a part of her soul. Fighting for herself as if her spirit hadn't been torn apart and shredded beyond repair.
The dispair, although not their own, was felt by every single person in the room as they stared at her face, expecting her to break down.
But she didn't. Ivy stared back blankly as if the thing she had lost wasn't her wolf but a measly little button on her shirt, something she'd never have the time to care about.
That empty stare hurt more. Why won't she cry or complaint about it? Didn't she ask if she was allowed to complain? Luke wanted to tell her now, that she was. But the weight on his chest took away his ability to speak.
Luke's hand pressed against his chest as if the pain had lodged itself in there. His eyes burned with hot, unshed tears. He wanted to say something, maybe comfort her or apologise, but the words refused to land on his tongue.
His lips pressed together in defeat. What could be possibly say? Were there even enough words in the world to make up for something like this?
He couldn't think of a single one. It was not just Luke who felt that way and it was clearly displayed on their faces.
Seeing their faces brimming with pity, expecting her to break down, made something bitter stir within her. It was almost laughable.
Ivy didn't need their sympathy.
Her wolf was dormant. There was nothing anyone could do to change that. And she refused to cling to something broken when she already knew it couldn't be fixed.
"That's why my injury hasn't healed yet." She said calmly. "I am not better than an ordinary human."
Her voice was steady, her heart already settled after that brief surge of emotions.
Her nonchalance unsettled Luke even more. Could something like that truly be accepted so easily?
When he pictured her wolf, the image that came to mind was the same as always. A pristine, white, mischievous little thing that used to follow him and Jaxon around to cause trouble. The memory made his chest ache.
But while his heart was made of flesh and blood, capable of breaking, he forgot that his father's was forged from stone and ice.
Alpha Victor cut through the heavy, mournful silence with a dismissive scoff.
"I see what you're trying to do here, Ivy." He said coldly. "Don't think that lying down your some sob stories will overshadow the problems you've caused."
His gaze on Ivy was like a strange. More specifically, a stranger on the street who bumped into him and dirtied his clothes.
An inconvenience he didn't want to bear but was forced to endure.
"Ever since your returned, you've done nothing useful but caused trouble for us at every turn. You're living under our roof for the sake of our last affection, but don't take it as free reign. Stay within your limits. This is my first and last warning. You don't want to find out what happens if you cross the line."
The intention behind his words was simple; to show Ivy her place. That she was beneath them. However, his words landed less like authority and more like an insult. And the one who felt it most wasn't Ivy, it was Luke.
He was yet to settle the score with him for changing her surname from Reed to Greenwood, which was already hard to swallow and now his father was openly threatening her?
Luke's anger flared like wildfire, burning away his ability to reason.
"That's enough, dad." He snapped. "This is Ivy's home. No one is doing her a favour by letting her stay. She can live here for as long as she wants and no one has the right to tell her otherwise."
He ignored his father's warning glare as he turned to face Ivy again. Though his face was stern, his tone sorted slightly.
"Ivy, go back to your room and rest. I'll send a doctor to check on you." He said.
Ivy's first thought was to refuse. Words of refusal rose to her lips but the pain in her ankle reminded her otherwise. After a brief hesitation, she gave a small nod and turned to leave.
Her back was slightly hunched, still aching from where she had struck the railing earlier.
She tried to walk normal just to prove that she wasn't weak, but the sharp pain in her ankle betrayed her. She gave up after two steps. Sweat dotted her face as she limped towards the door.
Behind her, several pairs of eyes were glued to her retreating figure, each with a different thought.
Ivy too, was consumed by a single thought as she made her way back. She hadn't expected Luke to defend her like that. It caught her off hard, but she quickly pushed it aside.
She decided not to rely on anyone's support. Not today, not tomorrow.
Especially not someone who once took it away from her, like the land beneath her feet, and left her suspended over the edge of hell for three years.
- Writer
