Unraveling the Alpha's Secret

Ivonne's POV

Gradually, my heart heavy, I turned around and made my way toward the door. Many scenarios ran through my mind as I strolled backward, however one huge question hung over my head. 'Where is my mother?'

"What are you doing there?" I heard a female voice ask as I approached Lora whose back was to me and who probably had no idea what had gone wrong.

"I'm here with the Luna to visit her mother," Lora replied as I arrived the door and spotted a female pack nurse.

 "Luna," the blonde haired nurse bowed in respect as she caught sight of me behind Lora.

"Luna," Lora turned around as the nurse showed respect, her brows squeezing in a frown. Her gaze shifted from my face to the things in my hand and back to my face again. "What happened?"

"Sorry Luna but your mother is no longer in the room," the nurse explained before any of us could ask.

"Why?" I implored in a hollow tone, fear gripping me at what her answer could mean.

"The director instructed the doctor we move her body a few hours ago," the nurse elaborated.

"What do you mean by move her body?" I raised a question. "Is my mother dead?"

"No she isn't Luna," she rushed to say and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. "We just moved her to a totally different room."

"Can you please take me to her?" I inquired, fully stepping out of the room to stand beside Lora. "Sure Luna," she answered, not staring me in the face.

"Shall we?" I suggested as she remained unmoving after some seconds.

"Yes Luna," she bobbed her head hastily and trudged ahead, Lora and I walking after her.

We strolled down the hallway and reached an intersection, she connered toward the left and we followed her lead. As we went further, I took note of the fact we were moving to a totally different part of the establishment.

My heart broke as I took note of the stained walls and foul scent in the air. At that point I preferred the stench of bleach to whatever it was I was perceiving.

"Here," the nurse indicated at a door and knocked. "You can go in."

"Thank you," I murmured in gratitude as she pulled the door ajar for me to step in.

Trudging inward, I caught sight of the bed, a frail figure which I recognized as my mother lying on top of it. Fixing a smile which didn't reach my eyes.

I covered the distance between us, flowers and cards still in my hold. When I was a few feet away and sure she could see me, I whirled around on my heel which was something which had always made her smile and flopped in the space beside her.

 The rod holding the bed in place shook at my unexpected weight and that grabbed her attention as her eyes narrowed in my path and a ghost of a smile tilted her lips.

She lifted a hand slowly to reach my cheek and I didn't hesitate in grabbing it, brining it to my face, tears welling in my eyes at how thing her arm was and the lack of warmth on her skin.

"Hey Mom," I greeted as she rubbed my cheek with her thumb. "I brought your favorite flowers."

"Mmm?" Was the only sound she could utter in response and shifted a bit, her nose in the direction of where scent of the rose bouquet was coming from.

"Here mom," I plucked out one and handed it to her. Her palm on my cheek dropped to collect the rose from me and shifting it to her nose to sniff it. "You've always loved roses didn't you?"

She bobbed her head in response and I grinned happy I was able to boost her mood a bit. Not wasting time I placed the packet of crackers on the side of her pillow.

"You love that too," I mumbled as she angled her head to decipher what it was. "Your favorite crackers."

She beamed at me and returned the flower which I took and joined it with the rest of the bundle and place on the table at the head of the hospital bed.

"So tell me, how have you been?" I inquired, striving to come off as unbothered of her current state as possible. Hence I already knew it'd only make her state worse if she ever noticed my sadness.

She blinked in response, unable to form words or lacking energy to do so. Merely gawking at her told me she needed medical attention and she needed it fast else things might get out of hand.

"Mom, can I speak with the doctor?" I asked for her permission thus I had to plead with him if he could go on giving my mother the care required while I searched around for a way to settle the bills and hopefully all would be right with the world.

My hand I had forgotten she was holding got dragged toward her the moment I made a move to stand. Worried I asked, "what is it mother?"

She tapped the space I had just gotten up from and blinked. Getting her message, I nodded and returned to seating in the space. Nonetheless I didn't stop at sitting but lay beside her on the mattress.

^^^^^^

 "Please," I murmured pleasingly to the doctor who sat across from me on the desk in his office. "Can you retain my mother for a week? I promise to get the funds ready by then."

"I wish I could Luna," he said in a sigh, avoiding my eyes. "However there's nothing I can do." "There's something you can do," I said in a sad tone. "You are the lead doctor here, so please."

"I'm the lead doctor as you said but the director and management is above me and their decision overules mine," he aimed to explain it better to me.

"Can't you plead with them?" I suggested. "If you want, I can go with you to do that. The Alpha is my husband after all."

"You don't get it Luna," he murmured in an exhale, trying not to sound rude. "Yes this hospital is on your pack grounds but it is not under your husband's management."

"What do you mean?" I interrogated, confusion setting in.

"This hospital was sold by your husband a month ago to a new management," he elaborated.

"How? Why?" I quizzed, trying to grasp the reason.

"I have no idea Luna," he shook his brown hair that sat atop his slightly wrinkly face and grey eyes. "I suggest you ask the Alpha, your husband to find out."

"Okay," I nodded. "But tell me, who is the new management? Maybe he would be kind enough to listen."

"I don't think he will," the doctor looked defeated. "Also the part of the hospital your mother is presently in will be renovated by the new management, starting Monday next week. Which is why her bills need to be paid and she moved back to the main functioning ward before that happens."

"Alright, I'll try to see what I can do today and tomorrow before she is sent away," I breathed heavily, my shoulders slumping at the hopelessness of it all.

"If you still want to know who the management is?" He said in more of a question than a statement.

"Yes please," I murmured hastily. "I'd like to know."

"The new management is chaired by Alpha Tobias," he declared and every nerve in my system stopped working as I recalled our encounter the previous night. "Your husband's uncle."