Chapter four

Ivy let out a deep breath - and then froze. The sounds of steady, deliberate footsteps echoed down the hallway. Those footsteps could not be mistaken. That rhythm. They were Zeke's. 

Her pulse jumped. 

She turned abruptly towards the door and there he was. Leaning against the doorway, hands tucked into his pockets, that unreadable expression on his face. His eyes, though calm seemed to pierce straight through her. 

“Hey, missed me already” She cleaned her hands against the brown apron and walked over to him, a smile on her face. 

“Doing checks” He replied curtly and she smiled. 

“Liar” 

“Had to make sure you're not burning the greenhouse down” He said. 

“Rest assured, Alpha. I would try my best not to do that” Ivy smiled. She looked around and stretched her hands out, plucking out a single rose. 

“Here” She stretched it out to Zeke. 

“Giving me flowers?” He tilted his head, a rare spark glinting in his eyes. 

“Just take it” Ivy said and made to place it in his hands but he pulled his hand back. 

“Hey, you need the whole bunch or something?” She raised an eyebrow “Alright, provided Mika won't chop my head off” She sighed and unconsciously plucked off a whole bunch. 

It happened fast. The roses glowed - that same sharp, blinding light from earlier - only brighter this time. A radiant pulse that spread through the air like heartbeat. 

Ivy gasped, stumbling slightly as pain shot through her hand. A thorn had sliced into her skin. “Ow…”

Her vision blurred for a moment and when she blinked, Zeke was right there - too close, his shadow falling over hers. 

“You okay?” Zeke's voice has dropped low, rougher than usual, his gaze darted to her bleeding finger before flicking back to her face. 

“I'm… I'm… I’m fine “She stuttered, for the first time, heat rushing up her cheeks - from pain or something else she couldn't say. 

Zeke let out a cough and stepped back hurriedly. “You should be more careful” He coughed again. 

His eyes found the still glowing roses and looked back at her. 

“That's not my doing” Her voice came out breathless. “It happened earlier today, my guess is that the plants love me, you know recognize my positive energy” She chuckled. 

“There's nothing positive about you” Zeke spat out and walked away. 

“What do you mean by that?” She shot at him but he was gone. 

She ran her fingers over her hair and let out a shaky breath. “Prick” She muttered, though her voice trembled slightly. 

***

“Darius sent you a letter” Lucas said later that night, lounging across the couch opposite Zeke. 

“What did it say?” Zeke asked, twirling the cigarette between his fingers and taking a puff. Smoke curled lazily into the air

“Basically” Lucas slumped into the couch - the same couch Ivy had sat on earlier. “About your mate and whatsoever, stupid things” 

“You basically said nothing” Zeke said. 

“I know, you don't need to know about it” Lucas replied. 

“Just give me the letter” Zeke stretched his hand open and Lucas sighed before reluctantly placing the letter into his palm. 

Zeke opened the letter slowly and his eyebrows slowly furrowed into a frown. 

“I get it” He whispered to himself. 

“So what are you going to do now?” Lucas asked, eyeing him curiously. 

“Make her accept the rejection” He replied, voice firm. Laughter echoed across the room. 

“Something funny?” Zeke raised his eyebrow. 

“You should start thinking of something else, you know she won't agree” He chuckled. 

Zeke rolled his eyes at him and took a drag from the cigarette. “No ideas?” He asked. 

“Hey, I'm not some sought of a thinking machine right?” Lucas grinned. 

“Then leave” Zeke waved him off. 

“What?” 

“I said leave” 

“Alright, alright” He stood up, threw his hands up into the air, chuckling as he closed the door behind him. 

***

Ivy stood staring into the night sky. Her hands curled round her bandaged finger, throbbing lightly against the cool night air. 

Her mind still dwelt on their corner at the greenhouse. Just them alone. 

The way he had rushed over to her. Why did she think there was something more to the rejection than just his ego? What's that? 

She let out a sigh “Direct me, Goddess” 

“She would, child” She heard a calm voice behind her and turned to see Mika walking out of the greenhouse. They had just locked up for the day and Mika had gone round to do her habitual check as she called it. 

***

Next morning. 

Zeke's back was turned to Lucas, a glass of wine swirling between his fingers. 

“Wow, you don't mean it” Lucas exclaimed. 

“I saw it with my own eyes yesterday” Zeke turned to him. 

“Now, that's bad” Lucas looked away. “Your uncle can't  know about this” He muttered. 

Zeke jaw tensed. “So you've got any ideas?” Zeke asked and Lucas shot his head up at him immediately. 

“Don't chase me, I'll think” Lucas replied almost immediately. 

“Better” Zeke replied. “Uncle is not paying much attention to her but we can't hide this for long” 

“She needs to accept the rejection” Lucas stated and Zeke nodded slightly, expression unreadable. 

The door flung open. Ivy stepped in, her energy filling the room like sunlight. 

“Morning Stoneheart” Her bright voice cut through the tension “And a good morning to you Lucas” She smiled. 

“Morning Luna” The words spilled out of his mouth. Lucas froze,his hands slapping over his mouth “Oh shit” 

“What did you just say?” Zeke growled, looking at him with an expression that promises to kill. 

“Luna” Ivy repeated with a little smirk. The word rolled naturally out of her tongue and for a split second, something in Zeke's chest flickered - something he quickly buried. 

“I like that” She commented. 

“You've been reassigned” Zeke said abruptly, tearing his gaze from Lucas. His voice clipped and commanding. 

“What? What about the greenhouse?” She asked. 

“Not like you care though but someone's been reassigned there” He replied. 

“So where am I going?” She demanded, hands on hips. 

“Laundry house” The words dropped like stones. 

“What?” Ivy's shriek almost tore down the house. 

“Your laundry” She scoffed. 

“You would prefer the soldiers'?” Zeke asked. 

“You can't do that! What do you think people would say if they see your mate doing laundry?”

“Rejected mate” He replied, not missing a beat. 

“You would love to walk around naked, then?” Her fine sharpened, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. 

“You won't dare” Zeke said through clenched teeth. 

A loud laugh broke through the air. Two heads turned towards the sound. Lucas. 

“Lucas” They said in unison. 

He wheezed with laughter. “Oh, come on! You two are so in sync”

Zeke and Ivy's eyes connected once again. The air between them tightened. 

“To the laundry house” He ordered. 

“You don't mean it” 

“I do” 

She stared at him and for a brief second, his lips twitched, almost into a smile before he turned away. 

“Fine” Ivy said, folding her arms. “But if your shirts start disappearing, don't say I didn't warn you”