Life’s Continuation–2
“Dad, where’s Mom? I asked Jaxon why he came to pick me up instead of Mom, but he said you’d explain everything,” Leo said, his face full of concern.
Shit, this was harder than I’d imagined. I had no fucking idea how to explain something
like this to a child.
“Is Mom having the baby? Is that why we’re at the hospital?” he asked hopefully.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, then started the hardest conversation of my life: “Leo, Mom got hurt. Some bad people hurt her. The physicians are doing everything they can to help her.”
Watching tears well up in his eyes, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by claws. He shouldn’t have to go through this, shouldn’t have to worry about losing his mother at such a young age.
“What… what about the baby?” he asked, his voice trembling.
I tried to smile. “You’ve got a sister, little man, just like you wanted. The physicians say she’s strong, but she’s resting in a special bed right now.”
His eyes lit up, surprise momentarily overshadowing his worry. “Really? Can I see her?”
“Not yet. The physicians need to make sure she’s okay. She was born earlier than expected, so she needs extra special care.”
His smile quickly faded, replaced by silent tears sliding down his small face. My heart was breaking.
“Is Mom going to leave us like Grandpa Sterling did?” he whispered, his voice choked with fear, eyes filled with terror. “I can’t be without Mom…”
I pulled him tightly against my chest, struggling to contain my own emotions. “No, she won’t. Your mom is the strongest she–wolf I’ve ever known. She’ll fight with everything she has for you and your sister.”
I knew such promises might be futile, but I needed him to have hope, needed to have hope myself.
1/3
Life’s Continuation–2
No matter who had done this to Thea, I swore they would pay dearly. They’d fucked with the wrong person. For the pain they’d caused, they would feel it returned tenfold.
We stayed like that for a while, then he loosened his grip, climbed onto my lap, and rested his head against my chest, holding me tight. Leo was a strong pup, and this behavior showed just how vulnerable he was.
We continued waiting. I stood up, paced back and forth, then sat down again and again. Leo never left my side. With every minute that passed without news, a piece of me died inside. I worried the delay meant things weren’t going as expected.
Hours after Thea had been taken for surgery, Maximus and Seraphina finally arrived, looking like they’d been through hell.
“Where is my daughter?” Seraphina burst in, her eyes bloodshot and swollen, hair disheveled, looking nothing like the typically poised and elegant Kincaid Luna.
I knew they’d lost over twenty years with Thea, and now faced the threat of losing her forever–a pain that could break anyone.
Before anyone could answer, the door opened, and the chief physician walked out, his expression so grave that my blood instantly froze.
I turned to my mother: “Could you take Leo and Wyatt to get some snacks? I’m sure
they’re hungry.”
She nodded and called the boys to follow her. Leo gave me a look, but I assured him
everything would be fine.
I knew I was fucking lying, but I couldn’t let him be here if the physician brought terrible
news.
“Alpha Ashworth…” he began, then stopped.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to make my mouth work.
“Just fucking say it,” I growled, my Alpha command and my wolf emerging simultaneously.
“She’s alive, but she’s fallen into a coma,” he said, giving us a brief moment of hope before delivering a blow none of us had anticipated.
