Chapter 28

Esther’s POV

The fluorescent lights of the hospital flickered overhead, casting cold, harsh shadows across Carl’s small form. The beeping machines, the whir of ventilators, and the sharp scent of antiseptic pressed down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake.

Every breath he took was a battle. Every movement of his tiny, trembling body made my chest tighten with terror.

I clutched his hand, fingers barely reaching around his delicate wrist, my thumb brushing against the fine line of his veins.

The feral fit had nearly taken him, and the doctors were clear: another one, even a minor episode, could kill him.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I had spent years hiding, running, and surviving, but this was different.

This was not about me. Not about Nicholas, not about Kevin, not about secrets or shadows. This was about my son. My little boy, fragile and fierce, who carried the weight of Nicholas’s blood and the curse that came with it.

The monitor beside his bed beeped a warning, and my heart leapt into my throat. Carl’s chest heaved, eyes fluttering beneath closed lids as his body convulsed. The nurses rushed in, but I stayed at his side, hand pressed to his arm, whispering soft encouragement that I hoped he could hear.

“Shh… I’m here, my wolf, my heart… you’ll be okay. You’ll survive this, I promise.” My voice trembled, low and urgent.

The lead doctor approached, face drawn tight with concern. “Dr. Arden… his condition is deteriorating rapidly. We need to transfer him to an advanced facility immediately. The treatment required is highly specialized. It’s the only chance he has of surviving the next phase.”

I swallowed hard, shaking my head even before he finished.

“How much?” I asked, voice trembling.

The doctor hesitated. “It’s… substantial. The facility is private, state-of-the-art. The cost is—” He trailed off, almost unwilling to say the number.

I knew, in that moment, that the cost would be more than I had, more than I could ever hope to scrape together. But looking at Carl—at the fragile rise and fall of his chest, at the tiny fist curling around my finger—I knew there was no hesitation. There was only one choice.

I dug into my savings, emptying every account I had, tallying bills, counting coins, transferring funds. The total climbed higher and higher, but it was still not enough.

I shook my head, stomach twisting, chest tight.

“Not enough… never enough,” I whispered. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I could not fail him. I would not fail him.

Kevin appeared in the doorway, eyes dark and stormy, wolf bristling with silent fury.

“Esther,” he said, voice low, controlled but intense. “I can cover it. I’ll handle the cost. You don’t need to—”

“No!” I snapped, turning to face him, heart hammering. “I can’t, Kevin. You don’t understand… if people find out… the gossip, the whispers… it’ll ruin you, ruin your reputation. I can’t let anyone use Carl’s condition to attack you or the pack.”

He stared at me, jaw tight, eyes flashing with frustration. “Do you really think your debt or secrecy matters compared to his life?”

“Yes!” I yelled, and my voice cracked. “Yes! It matters because every decision I make here could destroy more than me. I can’t drag anyone else into this, no matter what!”

Kevin’s wolf growled, low and dangerous, echoing the tension that pulsed between us. He stepped closer, hands hovering but not touching, giving me the space to retain control while radiating his protective energy.

“Esther, listen to me,” he said, voice low, steady, uncompromising. “You’re not alone in this. I will not let Carl die because you refuse help out of fear of gossip. That is not your choice to make alone.”

I shook my head, tears spilling freely down my cheeks. “I don’t care about anything but him!” I whispered. “I’ll sell everything I own—do whatever it takes—but he has to survive. I won’t… I can’t… I can’t ask anyone else to risk their life or reputation for him.”

Kevin’s hands fell to my shoulders, firm and grounding. “You’re not asking. You’re not alone. Let me carry some of this weight.”

I looked into his eyes, saw the intensity, the truth, the unwavering support. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to let go completely. My pride, my fear of gossip, my need to protect him and myself—all of it kept me stubbornly clinging to control.

I pressed my hands against Carl’s tiny body, whispering to him softly, letting my wolf speak through me in silent prayers.

“You’ll live, my wolf. You’ll survive. I’ll do anything for you. You’ll be okay. I swear it, my heart. I’ll carry the cost, I’ll fight the world, I’ll burn everything down if I have to, as long as you live.”

The nurse returned, checking his vitals, her expression grave but calm. “Dr. Arden, if we don’t transfer him now, there’s a significant risk of permanent damage or death. We need your authorization for the advanced care.”

I swallowed hard, knuckles white as I gripped the edge of the bed.

“I authorize it,” I said finally, voice trembling but firm. “Do whatever it takes. Whatever it costs, whatever it requires. Just… save him.”

The nurses nodded, beginning the process of arranging transport, intravenous lines, and the delicate logistics of transferring a child whose body teetered on the edge of stability. I followed every instruction, every command, my hands hovering over Carl’s small body, whispering encouragement, murmuring prayers to the silent wolf within me.

Kevin remained close, watching me, guiding me, offering support without imposing, letting me retain a measure of control even as the situation spiraled.

“Esther,” he said quietly, “you’ve done all you can. Let them handle the rest. He’s in good hands.”

I nodded, tears streaking my face, and pressed my forehead against Carl’s arm. “I’ll pay for everything. I’ll give up everything… just as long as he survives. I’ll do it all. I’ll endure anything. Just keep him alive.”

The doctor approached again, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Dr. Arden, Carl is stable for transfer. The advanced facility can begin treatment immediately, and the specialists there have experience managing cases like his. He has a fighting chance—better than he’s ever had before. You did the right thing.”

I closed my eyes, letting the tension finally drain slightly, my body shaking with exhaustion.

Kevin stayed with me, hand pressed lightly against mine, eyes vigilant. “You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever known, Esther Arden,” he said softly. “But even strength has limits. You’re allowed to accept help, especially when it’s life—or death.”

I shook my head, a small, bitter laugh escaping me. “This isn’t about me. This is about Carl. And if I have to go into debt, if I have to work until I collapse, if I have to give up everything… it doesn’t matter. Because he’s my son. And I will survive anything for him.”

The ambulance arrived shortly after, a blur of white lights and hushed urgency. The nurses carefully transferred Carl to the stretcher, his tiny body swaddled, monitors attached, delicate as porcelain. I walked beside him, refusing to let go, murmuring soft encouragement, praying to the wolf I had never spoken to aloud.

“Stay strong, my heart. Stay with me. I’ll carry you through this. I’ll endure anything, face anything, as long as you live.”

Kevin followed closely, steady and protective, warding off any prying eyes, any intrusion, any whisper that might unravel the fragile bubble of hope I clung to.

As the ambulance doors closed and the vehicle pulled away, I pressed my face to Carl’s empty space in the stretcher and whispered.

“I’ll do anything for him. Anything.”