“Are you sure you don’t need us to stay longer?” My mom asked.
“You’re welcome to if you want, but you don’t have to. Emmett is fine now,”
Fine, I kept repeating that word. Fine. It seemed to have completely lost its meaning.
“We’re going to be back in a few weeks for his birthday anyway,” My mom nodded to herself, “But if you need us sooner, let us know.”
“We’re a phone call away,” My dad added, wrapping his arm around my mom, “We can be here in an hour, possibly less in the future,” He winked at me, and I looked between him and my mom.
“We have a lot to discuss, but we’re thinking about it. Or maybe even getting a place here for a while to transition, who knows.”
My lips tugged into a wide smile, “I would love that,” I wrapped my arms around them both.
Emmett’s fever stayed away for a few weeks and then returned with a vengeance. I had to get many of my shifts covered and only went to classes because Caspien insisted. He slept in bed with us, and we took turns trying to get him to drink water and replacing a cool washcloth on his face almost every hour.
We mostly ended up staying at Caspiens to be close to the doctor on call. Nothing he tried even remotely helped, and he had no explanations, nothing he could find either.
Even in his sleep, he looked pained. His cheeks were flushed, and he would kick and whimper. I could barely eat, and even when I did sleep, I was haunted by my nightmares.
“I can’t lose him-” I broke down in tears one afternoon on the floor of Caspien’s bathroom while Emmett was finally in a deep sleep in his own bed.
“We’re not going to. We will figure this out.”
“It’s getting worse,” I sobbed into his bare chest, and he stroked my back.
He didn’t have anything comforting to say, he knew as well as I did that this was bad. His words sounded hollow. Nothing he could say or do would help.
My baby boy was sick, and I couldn’t do anything to help him.
The week before his birthday, his fever ebbed and flowed. His fever didn’t go away completely like it did in the past. Emmett was a shell of what he used to be, and I was worried sick. No one had answers, and I could even see on his parent’s face’s that they didn’t have much hope.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” I sang as I opened the door, trying to muster as much fake happiness as my anxiety let me, “Grandma and grandpa will be here soon.”
I hoped he was feeling a bit better. Last night his fever went down enough for him to get to sleep.
I would be fine canceling the party altogether, but this was his call, and some days when his fever wasn’t as bad, he could get off the couch or out of bed and play and eat. I prayed to The Goddess today was one of those days.
I was exhausted. I could see it on Caspien’s face that he was too.
Emmett didn’t make a noise. Was he still sleeping? Maybe I should let him.
I heard a whimper and laughed, throwing back the blanket, “I found you-“
I screamed, dropping the blanket and taking a step back.
Caspien came running in, almost knocking me over. He looked frantically around the room for the potential threat.
I pointed to the bed where Emmett was sleeping last night, my hand over my mouth as tears started to spill down my face. I choked on a sob.
Caspien’s eyes went wide. I have never seen him scared before, not like this. He looked completely terrified.
(Willa)
“What, where?” My breathing became ragged and I stumbled back hitting the wall.
Where Emmett was when I checked on him only hours before now lay a black ball of fur. “Where is he?” I demanded, finding myself if only for a second.
That’s our pup Iris said, trying to calm me down
“No,” I responded out loud and in my mind.
“I think that might be Emmett,” Caspien said, looking at me and then back at the ball. Let me shift
I didn’t bother removing my clothes; I just went to the back of my mind and let Iris take over. I was looking forward to a brief moment where it wasn’t just my thoughts swirling through my head threatening to suffocate me.
Iris walked up to the bundle of fur and sniffed him, prodding it with her nose. The bundle moved and shifted its head up to look at us. Emmett’s green eyes stared back, and I felt a rush of relief if only short-lived. How the hell? Would he shift back?
Mommy? His eyes searched mine I’m scared
Oh baby, I’m here, we’re here
Iris licked our pup
I’m trapped in here
Iris snorted
This is your wolf, what’s his name? I asked him trying to distract him a bit from the fear I could feel from him.
Apollo
That is a great name, its so nice to meet you, Apollo
His wolf rumbled.
I know this is scary, but you and your wolf are two parts of the same person; he is just in control right now.
What is going on? – Caspien sounded desperate in my mind
I’m not sure yet, I’m speaking to him.
How? Caspien came and sat next to Iris, placing a hand on Apollo’s back.
We shook our head, there was no way he should be able to mindlink anyone, but there was no way he should have changed into a wolf either.
“Emmett?” Caspien said and the little wolf looked up at Caspien, Caspien ran his fingers through his fur and Emmett seemed to relax, “Try to take a few deep breaths, I know this must be scary, but this is an exciting thing,” Caspien smiled. The fevers, I think that it was all coming to this.
I snapped my head to him and then back at Emmett. Warmth flooded through me, if that were true then that meant- that meant that he wasn’t sick at all. That fear and pain and sense of impending loss would eventually dissipate. Is he warm?
Caspien shook his head, smiling, he seemed visibly relieved.
I need to talk to my dad, and talk to our pack council.
What is that?
Similar to our Elders but just for this pack, retired wolfs, a trusted board, I go to them for advice but I don’t technically have to take it – One side of his lips pulled up.
“Emmett, try to push forward to your mind, I know it sounds weird,” Iris laid her head on the bed by our pup’s feet.
“Close your eyes, connect with your wolf, don’t be scared of him, he is another part of you.” Emmett’s eyes closed, “Try to come forward past your wolf, imagine yourself back in your human form, and ask your wolf to help you shift back.” After a few long moments, Emmett started to shake a little, faster than I thought possible he was back in his human form, blinking down at his skin.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.