Chapter 58

~Eliana~

I watched as Ian picked on his biscuits, and I stroked his hair gently. Thankfully, someone had called the ambulance and Audrey was rushed to the hospital. Even though her mother told us she'd be okay and we could leave, we had insisted on waiting in the lobby of the hospital till the treatment was done and we could see her. I explained to her that Ian wasn’t going to concentrate in school if he didn’t see her and that since we kind of caused the accident, we had an obligation to stay till she was in a stable condition.

She let us stay, and made me promise to wait till she came back from picking up a change of clothes for Audrey at home. I had agreed after calling my boss and informing him of what had happened. He hadn’t hesitate in giving me the day off, but I was really worried about my son after seeing what had happened clearly today, even though no one else had noticed it as they were all focused on Audrey.

“Are you okay?” I asked Ian.

“Yeah, it’s not me you should be asking that question. Audrey’s the one who got into an accident,” He said.

“Well, you’re the one who fainted..., or whatever that was,” I said, with a small smile.

“I don’t know either, mum. I just felt really weak and tired all of a sudden, but I’m fine now, I promise. You don’t need to worry about me,” He said.

“I’m not going to worry about you, Ian. I just need to know how you felt before then. Was it like you were taking something into your body?” I inquired.

He nodded. “Sort of. It was like I was being injected with something, only that this time around, the injection contained something heavier, and I felt a little different for a while...um...like...”

“Like possessed?” I asked, swirling his curly hair with my fingers, which I knew he’d one day grow up to apply gel on.

“Yes, it was as if I was possessed with a spirit, but it was a good spirit, not a demon,” He said.

“And have you felt that way since we came to the hospital?” I asked.

He shook his head, in negativity. “No, I haven’t felt that way since when Audrey miraculously opened her eyes. Maybe I felt that way because I was scared of losing her, but the doctors she’d be fine, so, I’m better now, and maybe you should really stop worrying about me like you just said,” Ian said.

I chuckled. “I can’t help worrying about you, Ian. I try not to, but at the end of the day, you’re my son and there’s basically nothing I can do about it,” I said.

“I guess I’m stuck then,” He said.

“Yes, my love. You’re stuck with me and all my worries for all eternity,” I said.

He was probably right. Maybe what had happened was just a one-time thing, and it was because he desperately needed to see his friend’s life, otherwise, neither of us were going to forgive ourselves and it’d always seem like we were to be blamed because Audrey had gotten into the accident while running to meet us.

For Ian's sake, I hoped he never triggered his werewolf abilities again, at least, till he was a teenager and could try to learn control better. All this while, we had lived normally as human beings, and I wanted it to be that way for a few more years. It wasn’t fair if my son just lost the ability to be human at a very young age.

Alistair had narrated his own experience to me, and how it was hard for a seven-year old to control his transformation even though he had lived as a werewolf, with an Alpha as his father. My baby didn’t even think werewolves existed and he had grown like a normal human being in the midst of other humans. How was he going to manage who he truly was when he didn’t even know what he was?

All I could do was pray silently that he never had to go through the same thing his father had experienced. Alistair said that once one’s ability was triggered, there was no going back, but hopefully, he had been wrong about that just as he had been wrong about me cheating on him. I’ll never forget what that bastard did to me, such a loser!

Anyway, that was not the bone of contention right now. I just wanted Ian Venator to be safe and to experience a normal childhood. As a mother, that’s all I could ever hope for. He was such a sweet little boy, and he deserved the best in life, which didn’t include him turning into a full wolf during the fool moon if it turned out that today’s incident was permanent.

“Ma’am? Ma’am?”

“I’m alive,” I said, as I was jolted back to reality by the doctor, whose lab coat seemed to be slightly stained with blood.

“Mum, we’ve been calling you. What were you thinking about?” Ian asked, with concern written on his face.

“Um... stuff,” I replied, sitting upright.

“What stuff?” He inquired.

“Have you ever heard of the saying which states that curiosity kills the cat?” I retorted.

“I’m not a cat though,” Ian argued.

“I thought you were at the top of your class, what did the holiday do to you? I didn’t mean that you’re a cat,” I said.

“Well, I’m taking what you said literally,” He said, with a smirk.

“I’m here. You realise that, right?” The doctor whose presence had been forgotten, asked.

“Yes, sorry. My son and I just tend to do this a lot. It’s annoying, I’m sorry,” I said.

He smiled. “I’m not sorry. It’s not annoying, it’s cute. You’re basically friends with your son, it’s something I could never achieve with my Richie,” He said.

“Oh, I’m so sorry about that. How old is he?” I asked.

“He’s fifteen. Had him at a young age, even before going to medical school. You know what? I could tell you everything over dinner. 6pm, Royalton's, what do you say?” He asked, with a broad smile.

He had perfect dentition, and I really needed to talk to someone other than a six-year old for once in so long. I needed to talk to someone and have a really good laugh, and just let my worries roll off my back. I deserved it.

“She has a husband,” Ian said, before I could make my decision.

“Well, I don’t see any ring on her finger,” The doctor said.

“Going through some minor issues at the moment, but we’ll be fine, I promise,” I said, thinking about the punishment befitting for Ian, having ruined any chance of me going out and being free of him this evening.

“Oh, I didn’t realise. I’m so sorry;” He apologised.

“Apology accepted,” Ian and I said in unison.

“You are not just friends, you’re best friends. I actually came to tell you that I was done with stitching up Audrey Martins, and she’s awake, so, you could go and see her now,” He said.

“Oh, thank you so much,” I said, rising from my seat, with my bag in my hands.

“Ward 37, is it?” Ian asked.

“You’re correct,” The doctor said.

“Thank you,” I told him again.

I shot a small smile at him, as I took Ian’s hand in mine and we both disappeared down the hallway, searching for Ward 37. When I was sure he wasn’t within earshot, I pinched Ian just a little bit on his palm.

“Ouch, mum. What did I do?” He asked, rubbing his palm a little bit.

“You ruined a perfect dinner date, and you’re asking me what you did? Seriously?” I asked.

“It wasn’t my fault that you were going to go out with a man that has a fifteen-year old son. Shouldn’t he be almost fifty? He’s too old for you,” Ian said.

“Well, it wouldn’t be my fault when I punish you for what you did today and every other day. Don’t you want me to be happy?” I inquired, as we got to Ward 37.

“Those men can’t make you happy the way I do. You won’t get a cook because you’re scared of someone else getting too close to me, mum, and I won’t let you go out on a date because I’m also scared...of losing you. I guess that makes us even, then,” He said.

I wanted to be mad, but instead, I felt like laughing, and I only just tried to suppress the laughter. “You wouldn’t be saying that when I punish you,” I told him, finally seeing where Audrey was, as there were three beds in the ward, and two had been occupied by two other kids.

“What’s this your big punishment anyways? Are you going to ground me? I don’t go anywhere in the first place, so...”

“I’m not going to ground you, darling. Instead, you’re going to eat the Mac and Cheese in the fridge, and every other thing I decide to cook this week,” I said.

“OMG, Ms. Venator, that’s torture,” Audrey said, looking disgusted.

“How’s giving my soon food to eat torture?” I asked, with a chuckle.

“Audrey, are you fine?” Ian asked, running over to her side, wearing a broad smile.

She nodded, in the affirmative. “I’m very fine,” She said, managing to sit up.

“Do you feel pain anywhere?” I asked her, touching her forehead to check if she had a fever.

“Not at all,” She said.

“I thought something really bad was going to happen to you. I’m glad you’re fine,” Ian said, squeezing her hands.

“I thought something bad was going to happen to me, too. I couldn’t see anyone, and I felt like...I don’t know...it was as if...”

“You were drowning?” I asked, trying to help her out.

“Yes. Then, somehow, a lifesaver just decided to jump in and save me from drowning. When I’m older, let’s say... like 24, I’ll write about it,” She said, with a really cute smile.

“Just don’t jump into the middle of the road again, so, you’ll be able to live that long,” Ian said.

“Ian!” I exclaimed.

“He’s saying the truth, Ms. Venator. Audrey, I don’t know what you were thinking when you jumped into the middle of the road, but if you want to live long, don’t ever do that again,” Audrey’s mum said, coming into view.

“I won’t ever do that again, I promise,” Audrey said, looking sorry.

Her mother dropped the duffel bag in her hands on the floor, and took her daughter in her arms, embracing her warmly. I watched them sob gently, with a smile plastered on my face. Being a werewolf wasn’t totally bad. If Ian hadn’t been able to do something about the situation, no one would be laughing or shedding tears of joy right now.

“You should say ‘thank you’ to your friend and his mother. They’ve been waiting to see you since, and Ian never let go of your hand when you fell,” Her mum said.

“Thank you, Ms. Venator, Ian. I’m grateful,” Audrey said.

“I’ll do anything for a bubbly little girl with a cute smile,” I told her.

We all chuckled, as her mum left her side, giving room for Ian to have a conversation with Audrey.

The woman who was in her thirties just like me came to meet me, and held my hands in appreciation. “Earlier, you said I was being pessimistic, and I’m so sorry about that. I should have believed that my daughter will be fine like every reasonable mother...”

“No, it’s not your fault. You were scared and it was normal for you to act the way you did,” I said.

“Anyways, I just wanted to tell you I’m grateful that you waited here till she got better. Also, thank you for not giving up on her,” She said.

“You’re welcome,” I said, with a smile.

“Mum, is it okay if I got Ice cream for myself and Audrey? There’s an ice cream shop just right outside the hospital,” Ian said.

“It’s fine. I’ll have to come with you though,” I said.

“I never knew there’s an ice cream shop outside this hospital,” Audrey’s mum said.

“Oh. They just opened last week. Trust me, Ian and I know almost all the ice cream shops in Toronto,” I said.

“Wow. Both of you must really love ice cream, then,” She said.

“Oh. I just know those places because of ice cream. He’s the one who loves ice cream. When I was pregnant with him, I always had this crazy urge to eat vanilla flavoured ice cream. On a normal day, I’m a chocolate person,” I said.

“For Audrey, it was peanut butter. I literally had everything with peanut butter, and when I see her scraping out the last one in the bottle, I’m like yeah,” She said, and we both chuckled.

“I can imagine. Ian loves ice cream more than he loves me,” I said.

“That’s not true,” Ian said, coming to his defence.

“Aww. Such a cute innocent little boy,” Audrey’s mum noted.

Ian blushed at the compliment, wearing a broad smile. I was going to smile back at him when I realised his two front teeth which he had lost, were back. How did that happen when he practically had only gums with no teeth earlier today?

I gasped, as the sudden realisation hit me. He had healed, and that’s why his teeth was back.

What had happened with saving Audrey’s life this morning hadn’t been a one-time thing. Alistair was right. Once you triggered your werewolf abilities, there was no going back. What was worse was the fact that the full moon was in a week from now, and I didn’t know what I was going to do with my son who was going to be bloodthirsty, out of control and without his right senses when that happened.

“Are you okay, mum?” Ian asked.

“Yeah,” I replied, forcing a smile.

My innocent little boy wasn’t that innocent anymore, and I had no idea on how to help him out. I couldn’t fail him, and I needed to do something. Ian deserved so much better, but the universe just always knew how to mess things up for everyone, even for a little boy who never asked to be a werewolf.