Liam

I drift in and out of consciousness.

For the time that I've been at the hospital so far, I've been visited by a lot of people.

My friends from school and those who already graduated came. Some distant relatives of my mom, Emm - though they didn't come alone, for some reason - and even the Alpha of the pack.

Yes, he came too. By now, the entire Crescent Moon pack has heard about my trifle with his son. Even the humans of our school heard about it. I'm famous now. Locally famous.

Alpha Collins talked to my mom and apologized for his son's behavior, assuring her that in the eventuality that I survive he's not gonna pursue me to cause any further harm.

Right. Sure. Whatever you say, Alpha.

I don't dispute that you're an honest and a stand up guy. But you'll forgive me if I don't trust your word on this matter.

Not that I think you're lying. It's just that your son is a fucking psychopath. That's why.

Oh and the police visited me too - not that I can say anything to them at this point.

We live in a (vast majority) human town, so the hospital notified them as soon as I was admitted, per protocol.

Not that it makes any difference to me.

I'm not gonna set them off on Jeb. It's my word against his and he has at least 6 boys who'd bare witness for him.

Anyway, my poor mom is missing work by refusing to leave my side. That's just what we needed, more expenses and even less money.

At this rate, we'll be evicted from our house soon. I wish I didn't have to worry about that, all this adult stuff. But I'm not a kid anymore.

Despite my lack of mate, I'm already 18.

I wonder if I'd heal faster if I had a mate by my side. Or at the very least, someone to share the burden with my mom. I worry about her.

Though at this point, I'm in no shape to worry about anyone but myself. Still, I have nothing but time on my hands.

Considering how happy I was just a few days ago, with a job on the line and a relationship. Now, I have neither of those things.

The only thing I have to look forward now is my sponge bath by the hospital nurse.😂😅

I'm joking, of course. I'm too covered in bandages to be cleaned properly by anyone. I literally have to go to the bathroom via a catheter.

Don't ask. It's better if you don't know. Keeps the mystery alive. And some of my dignity.

The doctor enters my room, examines me and tells my mom that my vitals look good. I'm healing much faster than expected, it's practically a miracle.

Yes, he's human too. Someone please tell him that I'm a werewolf and therefore heal faster?😅

No, I'm not in a good mood but if I don't find humor in my situation I might as well give up now. And that wouldn't be fair to my mom.

I have to find a silver lining somewhere. Anywhere. I can't be the washed up Forsythe, I'm the grandson of an Alpha. Even if it doesn't look that way now, my life has to be more than this.

I can't give in to despair. I won't. I simply refuse.

My mom caresses my forehead. I lost track of time, but I know it's the afternoon because there's still sun shining outside of the hospital window.

"Tonight is the full Moon, Liam. Remember how you loved it as a kid? You used to say it's the time you feel more connected to your dad." - She tells me and a tear escapes my eyes at the thought. I smiled at her, though my jaw is still healing so I can't talk right now. At least, not using my mouth.🧐

"Thank you for everything, mom. I'm sorry I give you so much trouble."

"You don't. You're the best son I could have ever asked for." - She smiled at me, caressing my temple. I wept as she touches me softly.

Legit, I have the best mom. I probably don't deserve her, but I'll take the blessing.🥰

ONE WEEK LATER.

It was touch and go for a while, but I prevailed.

Probably by the sheer will of my mom, I healed and made a full recovery. Though the psychological damage will take much more time to recuperate.

But as the doctors said - more than once - given the extent of my injuries, I'm lucky to be alive.

And though I don't feel particularly lucky right now, I am glad to be still breathing. For better or worse, I have my whole life ahead of me.

With that being said, I'm not looking forward to school tomorrow. I don't know what's gonna be worse: seeing Emm and not being able to be with them or seeing Jeb with them.

Actually, just glancing at Jeb is gonna be the worst, no matter what. I can already predict the PTSD.😱

Anyway, that's tomorrow's problem. Today I get discharged from the hospital. I'm so ready to ditch this place, for the love of Goddess.

Also, I do need a shower. It's been more than a week.😳

Mom got the discharge papers from the hospital, recommendations from the doctor, my medicine and I'm wheels out.

As we walk out of the hospital towards the car, I notice the trunk is filled to the brim. There's stuff practically up the ceiling. Then, it hits me.

"Oh my Goddess, did we get evicted? Mom, I knew you shouldn't have missed all this time at work!" - I cried out, gobsmacked at the situation.

Mom glared at me.

"No, we didn't get evicted! I gave up the house." - She informed me, sounding annoyed.

As if somehow this is normal or expected behavior.

"Why? Because you couldn't pay the rent?" - I asked, slightly concerned.

"No, because we're moving away from here." - She replied and I gagged.

I put my things in the backseat of the car - which is also packed - and we entered it. Then, she starts the car.

"I can't believe we're moving away. How did you get accepted into a new pack this fast?" - I'm genuinely impressed at her, though I probably shouldn't be so surprised.

"I petitioned their Beta in the very night you were attacked. There's no time to waste!" - She replied, looking ahead at the road.

"And how do you know that psycho is not gonna follow me into this new pack and try again?" - I wondered, though I immediately regretted it saying it.

Mom grimaced at me, distracting herself away from the street for a moment.

"First, I didn't tell anyone we're moving away. Second, if he tries anything, I'll kill him myself." - She stated, sounding - and looking - deadly serious.

I gulped.

"Wow! I just can't believe you got our whole life packed into this car." - I admired her resourcefulness, after a minute.

"I can't believe you thought I was gonna wait around for that motherfucker to try again! I packed what I could, everything else is in storage." - She declared, seriously pissed off.

I wish I could fault her reasoning, but if I didn't trust the word of the Alpha I'd be safe. Let alone my mom.

I'm gonna miss my friends. But aside from them, there's nothing for me really in this town. It's best if I stay away from Emm, though it still hurts. And will continue hurting for a long time.

"I'm sorry you had to uproot your whole life for me." - I apologized, though she wouldn't have it.

"Son, I'd move mountains to keep you safe. This is the least I could do. The difficult part was convincing the Beta to plead my case to our new Alpha." - She said in a serious tone.

You'd think moving into a new pack would be as easy as if it were simply a new town, but it isn't. Because though it's a free country, you need permission from the Alpha of the pack you're moving in.

And if by some reason you decide to enter a werewolf territory without permission, that's not gonna end up well for you.

Like I said before, werewolves are extremely territorial. Pack warriors such as my late great dad spend ninety per cent of their time defending the border against other wolves.

Yeah, we take this stuff really seriously. Deadly, even.

"And to which pack are we moving into? Is it the Rutherford Falls pack? Because I think they're natural allies to the Crescent." - I wondered, curiously.

Mom smiled at me.

"Liam, do you think I'm stupid? We're going to the last place on Earth anyone would ever look for us!" - She smirked, confidently.

Yay, mom. I guess she really thought this through. Well, of course she did. Moms rule.

"OK, then. Which one, I'm dying to know." - I'm positively intrigued.

Mom takes a deep breath. She gets serious for a moment. Then says...

"Stonehold pack."

"I think my medication is affecting my hearing. I could've sworn you said we're moving to the Stonehold pack." - I look at her confused as she steers the wheel.

"It's because we are." - She reiterated in a serious tone.

"Is this a joke?" - I'm baffled. Mom glared at me.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" - She deadpans.

"Why are we moving into the pack that killed dad? They hate us!" - I yelled, gobsmacked.

"Because it's the last place anyone would ever think to look for you! And the most respected pack of the entire East Coast!" - Mom explained in a serious tone.

I took several minutes just trying to make sense of this idea.

"How did you even convince them to let us in? Did you lie about my identity? My last name?" - I questioned her, genuinely puzzled. I'm beyond shocked.

"Son, do you seriously think I'm gonna enter the most powerful werewolf pack of the country under false pretenses? Do you seriously think I'd risk your life by lying to their Alpha? What happens when they discover? Or if anyone comes looking for you? I needed to lay all my cards on the table, otherwise I might as well deliver you to Jeb myself!" - Mom ranted, sounding annoyed.

Though I think my mom is crazy, she's not strictly speaking wrong. If we entered that specific pack withholding my name, I might as well sign my own death certificate.

The only way for us to succeed in this is by having them on our side. But how did my mom pull this off?

I have no idea...

"I'm scared to ask if you did any sexual favors to their Beta in order for him to even receive you in their pack." - I joked. Sort of. But mom isn't laughing.

"You're lucky I'm driving or I'd slap your face. No, I didn't prostitute myself. I showed him pictures of the state that psychopath left you in the hospital." - Mom snapped at me, angrily.

I gasped at this. So that's why she took the pictures...

Man, my mom is so smart. Pictures do tell a thousand words. I remained quiet for the rest of the journey.

Though I don't know what kinda reception I can expect over there, I'm pretty sure it can't be worse than how my last pack treated me.🥺

Not unless they actually kill me.😓

After hours on the road, we reached the picturesque town. It has the same small city charm my last one had. But the advantage here is that everyone is a wolf. So, no humans. No hiding.

Since we're directed towards the pack house, my mom kept on driving until we reached a massive walled condominium with a tall gate.

She stopped the car, handed her ID to the gate warriors and they opened it to her. I've never seen such beefed up security before. Our old pack house was always open.

Once we're inside, my mom drove us one more mile until we parked at the pack house garage. It's one of the last houses of the land.

But I'm thoroughly impressed at how large everything here is, especially for a small town.

"Welcome to the Stonehold pack, my name is Antonio Gutierrez and this is my mate Sarah Burke." - The Beta received us next to a brunette lady, who smiled at me.

"Thank you for doing this for us, Beta. I don't know how you pulled it off, but I'll never forget this for as long as I live." - Mom said, looking at him affectionately.

He smiled at us warmly.

"It's my pleasure, but it was more of a group effort. I'm sure you're very tired from the trip, my mate will show you to your rooms shortly. But first, a few house rules." - He replied, still smiling.

"If you're going to skip any meal, you need to give notice to the kitchen ahead. They cook according to a schedule and they get pretty angry if they waste food." - He begin in a serious tone. I never had anyone cook for me before, aside from my mom.

"You're free to explore the house, but the Alpha and Beta's offices are off limits to anyone unless we personally ask you to come inside." - He gave us a knowing glance.

"Last but definitely not least, it's forbidden to bring any guests into your rooms. But in case you want to have friends over, Liam, there's a game room through this corridor. It's available for you to use it at any time." - He winked at me, pointing at one of the halls.

"I don't know anyone here." - I replied, sulking.

"He meant in the future, honey, once you make friends at school." - Mom informed me in a chipper tone.

"Of course, the rule doesn't apply if it's your mate. But that's the only exception." - He continued, looking very uncomfortably at my mom.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Beta." - Mom said with a forced smile.

"Of course, Mrs. Forsythe. My mate will escort you to your rooms now. If you're hungry, there's some leftover lunch at the kitchen." - He replied with an awkward smile.

As we picked up our bags and accompanied his mate to the guest wing, he was just about to leave when he remembered something else.

"By the way, I took the liberty of setting up some job interviews for you, Mrs. Forsythe. I'll pass the information onto you later." - He said with a pleased tone.

"Thank you so much, Beta! Much appreciated." - Mom replied with a radiant smile, before we continue on our way inside.

Wow. What a reception. I can see already that this is such a decent guy. I'm sure helping out a stranger in need is not for everyone, especially one with my last name.

I have no idea what kind of arm twisting it took for him to convince a Stonehold to let me into his pack. I'm not even sure I'd be convinced if I were in his shoes.

But I'll take the blessing, without a shadow of a doubt. We do need a new beginning, desperately.

Yeah, it's not gonna be the same as it was. It's not gonna be just us in a house alone. But my mom won't ever have to worry about me being by myself again. Or if I ate or not. Because apparently even that's mandatory here.😅

She can concentrate on work and other stuff, knowing I'm being taken care of. Plus, I've never played video games before. Can't hardly wait!

https://youtu.be/H5v3kku4y6Q

A|N: Honest to God, I didn't know what to name this chapter until I wrote those three little words almost at the end of the text. And yes, it was a complete coincidence.

In some aspects, this novel is kinda my love letter to my mom. Of sorts. I do relate to Liam a lot, aside from the substance abuse issues.

Love,

Léo.