Page 16

Aurora

The cold tip of the gun presses against my forehead, causing shivers of fear to lick down my spine.

"So, this is where we part ways, beautiful." A voice says, his face shrouded by the darkness. There's a hint of a smile on his face, one that makes my insides churn in disgust.I swallow back a few cuss words, cautious not to annoy my abductors. I think about Ronan then, wondering if I'd ever get to see him again. My eyes pressed shut, steeling myself for the outcome despite my trembling exterior. I mutter a prayer but don't get to the end of my request.Just then, the loud jolting sound of a gun forces my eyes open and out of my dream. I bolt upright, my body dripping with sweat as I struggle to make sense of my surroundings. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, my brain a fog of incoherent thoughts.

I place a hand over my chest as I whisper soothing words to myself, "It's alright. We're safe now."

These dreams have been a constant reminder of that day, my mind not giving me a chance to forget the encounter. I sigh, sitting upright as I head towards the bathroom.

Pausing before the sink, I let the cold water from the tap soak my hands. Then, I lean closer to wash the beads of perspiration off my face. The coolness of the water is soothing, calming me and grounding me in the present.The last couple of days have gone by in a blur of moments. Most of them consisting of Ronan and I having long silly talks and playing board games. It's been us doing the things I would've missed if Damon didn't show up in time to save me.I return to sit at the edge of my bed, the soreness in my muscles weighing me down. My hand goes up to my head, and my fingers brush lightly over the spot the butt end of the gun had collided with my skull. The pain, now a distant memory, had been excruciating. Thankfully, I am healed now, although physically.

The ache in my heart is persistent still, just like my nightmares, reminding me of the possible dangers lurking just outside my door. I put in for a few weeks off work and asked for Ronan to be absent from school for a while.

I didn't do it because he was hurt. I just feel the need to have him close to me so I can make sure he's safe.

I think about Lucien, my heart heavy with rage once more as the memories of his action floods my mind. Once again, he put his pack before me, and this time, the stakes were higher.As much as I want to understand how torn he must've been, I cannot get myself to forgive or excuse it, especially because this is not his first rodeo.

The thought of letting my son grow up around a man whose priority isn't family does not sit right with me, and it never will. But despite myself, I feel a mix of relief and disappointment at the fact that I haven't seen him since the attack.With everything I said the last time, I wonder if he's ever going to come around. The thought of him going away, never wanting anything to do with me, terrifies me for some reason.

I stare at my phone, wondering if I will come off as desperate if I call him now, just to hear the sound of his voice and maybe ask why.I quickly tuck the thought away. I already disappointed myself enough by flying back into his arms and having sex with him on the rooftop while another man was waiting for me. I refuse to keep putting him before everything else while he keeps showing time and again how little of a priority I am to him.

I stretch lightly, tucking my feet into comfortable shoes as I exit my room and head to wake Ronan.I push his door open lightly, walking straight towards the windows and parting them to allow the sunlight to filter into the room. A few toys from last night are scattered on the ground, and I pick them up, tossing each one of them into a box.

"Ronan?" I call, almost absently, as I shuffle about the room, placing everything where it ought to be.From the corner of my eye, I notice him stir, but he says nothing. "It's time to get up, little man," I joke, with a playful seriousness in my tone.

He lets out a low grunt, still not making any attempt to move. I feel a weight of concern settle in my stomach, forming a small knot, the kind that makes my senses alert.

"Darling?" I call with my eyes on him this time. When no reply comes again, I freeze, letting everything in my hand drop to the floor as I bolt toward him, sinking into the space beside him and hurriedly gathering him into my arms, my heart thundering loudly against my rib cage.

I gather his small frame into my arms, shifting locks of hair aside to expose his face.His temperature is high. I can feel his skin burning against mine. "Ronan? What's wrong?" I ask, fear evident in my tone."What happened?" I ask again with a sense of urgency this time, my fingers running through his tangled hair.

He mumbles something, though his words are unclear, and I reach out, forcing his eye open. I mutter an inaudible prayer to the Goddess, not wanting my fears to come to pass. I lean in, my breath on his face as I look closely. My chest tightens as I spot it, the faint glint of yellow in his eyes.

"Dear goddess." I whisper-pray, realization dawning on me. He's been away from his pack for so long, away from his kin.

Wolves, young ones, most especially, belong together. The bond of their kin is what builds them into what they become as men. I denied him that the day I decided to leave. A small sob threatens to escape, but I place my hand over my mouth to stifle it.Whatever is happening now is just a tip of what's to come. I have heard of it, but never thought it would happen to my own son, not after all these years away.My breathing gets heavier as I realize just how much danger my little angel may be in.It takes all I have in me not to break down into tears right here, right now, my baby boy in my arms. This is all my fault. I should never have taken him away. But this is not the time to cry, not with him like this.I need to pull my thoughts together and come up with a plan. That's not going to be too difficult because there's only one solution for the illness that plagues him. I need to take him home and back to the pack he belongs to. Only then will he be alright.

I lower my gaze, watching him intently, my eyes blur with unshed tears. "You'll be alright, love. I'll make sure of that."I rock him slowly, my eyes never leaving him, and I wonder how I managed not to see this coming from a mile away. I'm a mother. I ought to know these things.A single tear makes its way just then, dropping onto Ronan's cheek as my fingers trace lightly over it. I'm trying so desperately not to cry. I feel myself shaking from the effort.

He shifts a bit, and I nuzzle him closer to myself. My heart flutters, unable to resist the urge to kiss his forehead.I lean in just then, planting a kiss on his forehead before placing him back in the bed and retreating to get my car keys.I'm not exactly alien to this illness. I watched it play out a few years ago in Blackwood, and I know how severe it can get without a proper healer.

Wolves are pack creatures, and community is important to us. With age, you can decide to go off and become your own person, but while still tender, the bond from the community is required to strengthen the connection between the human and the wolf spirit. Otherwise, the human body gets too weak to house the spirit and begins to wane.

I shoot Lucien a quick text to let him know I'm on my way, but I get no response. By the time I return to Ronan's room, he's almost as pale as a sheet, and the yellow glow in his eyes has intensified. It is his immature wolf spirit's way of crying for help.I quickly pull Ronan into my arms and rush to the car, wasting no time revving the engine and directing the map to Blackwood. I can't lose my baby.