Chapter 47
Cara’s POV
My brothers are all a bit surprised by my choice.
"Are you still thinking about Alaric?"
"Is it because of that last date?"
I answer them, “No. I just want to get settled with the new job and make sure Mia is doing well before I start any new adventures.”
Eamon sighs and pats my shoulder. "I'm sorry that BloodyMoon's hospital couldn't help."
"A Better treatment..." Colin pondered, "It would be great if Richard could come back with a better medical plan."
Mentioning Richard, everyone falls silent.
I sigh inwardly.
Hope everything will get better...
A FEW DAYS LATER
Fortunately, the doctor from DarkWood brought good news: "You can take her home now."
Mia is finally back home!
The doctors managed to get her to shift back into human form, but they worry it may only be temporary.
“She could shift back into wolf form if she encounters anything too stressful or difficult. Let her take it easy, but bring her back immediately if she shifts.” The doctors had warned me as I prepared to take her home.
“We’ll be careful.” I assured them as I pushed Mia’s wheelchair.
“You’ll need to return for weekly treatments until we can find an actual cure,” The doctors reminded me.
“Yes, of course.” I told them. Who knows how long that will take? How much longer will Mia have to suffer with this perception, the fear that she may shift into a wolf at any moment?
And if she does shift into a wolf, the doctors say she may not be able to shift back. She may become feral.
I push the thought from my mind as I push Mia’s chair through the door to our little private cottage on the edge of the Alpha villa estate. The doctors told me that Mia would likely need the wheelchair for the foreseeable future, so I coordinated with the pack’s carpentry team to make adjustments to the house.
They added a ramp to the front porch and widened the doorways inside to make room for the wheelchair.
It wasn’t too long ago now that I myself was bedridden after the car accident. For five long years, I laid in a hospital bed inside the Alpha villa. I did what I could to contribute, but it was so tough thinking of all the things that I wanted to do, but my body was unable to do.
It was a different kind of pain, a visceral and unnerving sensation, to watch my children play and not be able to run after them.
If I can, I’ll do anything in my power to ensure that Mia doesn’t feel that pain. That she never feels left out or not good enough just because her body isn’t cooperating right now.
I know I can’t protect her from everything bad in this world, but I want to do what I can to make my child feel her best.
“Mia!” Ethan’s little voice screeches. “I made something for you!!”
The black-haired boy excitedly runs to his bedroom, leaving his sister to sit in anticipation. “He made me something?!” She asks me.
I nod, smiling at the memory of Ethan sitting with random metal scraps and supplies, constructing a tool for his sister. He was so insistent that the gift be ready by the time Mia got home. He worked tirelessly to make sure it turned out absolutely perfectly.
Ethan runs back into the room and hands Mia a long metal tube. At the end of the tube are several metal finger-like projections. The opposite end of the tube has a squeezable trigger.
“It’s a grabber!” Ethan yells happily. “So if you drop something, you just squeeze here” he demonstrates by squeezing the trigger, causing the ‘fingers’ to close “and then you can grab it without getting out of your chair!”
“I love it!” Mia says. “It’s perfect! Thank you, Ethan!!”
Ethan’s smile beams from ear to ear, and I feel the moisture of tears hit my eyes. I can feel the love that my twins have for each other.
Ethan has always been so clever, so good with math and science that it’s impressive for his young age of just six years old. That he would use his academic gifts to help his sister is so moving that I’m filled with motherly pride.
He’s so smart. Sometimes I think it won’t be long before he’s even smarter than I am. But I suppose that’s what all parents wish for their children at some point.
“That was very kind, Ethan. I’m very proud of you.” I hug my son, relishing in the feeling of his little body in my arms.
“Breaking news tonight, the new Beta for Pack BloodyMoon has just been announced,” The announcer’s voice coming from the TV in the corner of the room breaks our sweet family moment.
“Your announcement, Mommy!” Mia yells excitedly.
“ It’s so cool you’re going to be our Beta!” Ethan adds.
The kids were both so excited when Eamon and I told them about my promotion. They gave me the warmest of hugs and told me they were proud of me. As a mother, there’s no greater honor than the pride of my children.
“The new Beta will be… Aylon Auburn!” The TV announcer says dramatically.
“Yay Mommy!”
“Mommy’s work name!” Ethan laughs.
The kids were a little confused at first, but after I explained about me needing to use a work name now, they decided it was a funny concept to have two names. They joked that they were both going to come up with their own work names now.
The news report ends and the announcer starts discussing a different topic.
“Awe, they didn’t even show your picture!” Mia says disappointedly.
“That’s okay. Sometimes it’s better to let some things stay hidden.” I say to her.
“ Yeah, Mommy’re really good at keeping things hidden…” Ethan says.
In that moment, his voice sounded a lot like Alaric's... very deep. But when I turn around, I still see my little angel, Ethan, though he looks really upset.
I’m unsure of what he could be referring to. “What do you mean, Ethan?”
“How long have you known that big man from Pack DarkWood? Alaric?” Ethan’s eyes are laser-focused on my face, like he’s trying to read your expression.
“Alaric?! Why would you ask about him?” I’m stunned that Ethan would ask about him. That Ethan even knows who he is.
Of course there are lots of other things I’ve been forced to keep hidden from the children over the years, but I don’t expect Ethan to be aware of that. I don’t expect Ethan to even know Alaric’s name.
Not yet, at least.
He’s only six years old.
But Ethan is too clever... Just like everyone has praised him, he's a genius.
I didn't know how much he knew, so I cautiously said, "Hey, my little boy, are you asking this because...?"
Ethan interrupted me, "It's okay, Mom. I just wanted to confirm if he's the bad guy that the uncles mentioned— the one who bullied you."
"Who are you talking about?" Mia confuses, then she happily speaks to Ethan, “Want to play in our room?”
“Sure,” Ethan says to his sister. Then he gives me a smile, just like any normal child would.
I’m still thinking about Ethan’s odd question later that afternoon when I’m doing some works in home.
I’m organizing towels in our linen closet when I hear my phone buzz. I must have left the phone on the couch, it’s not in my pocket like it normally is.
When I walk into the room looking for my phone, I don’t see my phone anywhere, but I do see a flash of black hair dart across the room.
“Ethan?” I ask as the little boy races back into the bedroom.
He doesn’t answer me.
“Ethan, have you seen my phone?” I call behind him. I peek my head into their room and see the two children playing peacefully on Mia’s bed. Both look calm and happy.
“ No, Mommy. I haven’t seen it.” Ethan says happily.
“Okay. Thanks anyway,” I say before looking back behind me at the couch.
My phone sits there plainly on the couch cushion. I thought I had checked that spot just a moment ago, but it was empty.
I pick up my phone and unlock the screen. I check the device.
No new messages. No missed calls.
That’s odd. I could have sworn I had heard it buzz…
