Page 2 of Destined Bear
She only moved back to Willow Grove territory a few months ago, and she’s already made the house as lived-in as the place we’d shared in Nottery.
“Mom?” I listen for a sharp tone to cut out from the back room, but there’s no response, and my heart drops.
“She’s in her room.” Millie closes the front door and leads the way toward the back as I drop my bag on the ground, following her through the cottage.
“What happened?” I croak, already dreading the answer. “After she moved back, she was healthy. Thriving even. Why do you think she relapsed?”
“I really don’t know,” Millie whispers, likely so she doesn’t disturb my mom. “She was improving, and then three days ago, she got worse.”
I can’t lose Mom. We only have each other. I wouldn’t know what to do without her.
Millie pushes open the door to the bedroom at the very end of the hallway, and I gasp, the machines beeping steadily in connection with my mom’s vital signs. Her face matches the ivory of the sheets around her, almost blending with the snow tone of her hair, where I don’t know where one picks up and the next leaves off. Her frailty steals my breath and renders me speechless. Even in her worst moments in Nottery, I’ve never seen her like this.
“Stop gawking at me, girl.”
My knees buckle with relief. There she is, the tough woman I’ve always known. Circe will always pull through. I feel it in the invisible thread that connects mothers to daughters older than time itself.
I rush to her bedside, sinking onto the mattress to take her weak hand in mine. “Mom, you look like hell.”
“Careful, Viv. You’re going to get old one day, too, and you look just like me.” Her eyelids peel open.
I find myself staring into her rheumy green eyes, my pulse pounding in my ears. Even with Mom speaking as usual, I can’t ignore her terrible pallor. There’s a distinct smell of illness lingering in the air that I haven’t smelled before, and I glance at Millie to see if she can smell it, too, but if she can, she has surely gotten used to it.
I’d gotten used to seeing my mom frail during our time in Nottery, but this is a new nadir of weakness. I want myvivacious, razor-witted mom back, barking out commands and flooding me with exasperation. I want to beg her to shut up again.
I look at Millie, hovering in the doorway. “Get her some water, please.”
Millie appears grateful to have a task and rushes to oblige. The live-in nurse seems to do well with orders, which is probably half the reason Mom tolerates her so well.
Giving orders is Circe’s specialty, after all.
“It’s nice of you to show up,” Mom sputters, coughing slightly in the aftermath. She tries to sit up, and I slide closer to help her.
“Stop talking.” I take the plastic cup from Millie and place the straw at Mom’s lips, allowing her to take a sip.
Eagerly, she drinks the water before flopping her head back on the pillow.
“Don’t tell me what to do in my house.” She eyes me haughtily.
She isn’t nearly as bad as Millie suggested. Or maybe my arrival inspired a burst of energy. Either way, I’ll take the win for now.
“It’sourhouse now, isn’t it?” Setting the cup on the bedside table, I sit back and study her ashen complexion for signs to tell me how to fix her.
Her wise gaze searches my face, too, but I can tell it’s taking everything to keep her lids open. Her face softens at my question, but she doesn’t answer it directly. “Does anyone know you’re back yet?”
I swallow a scoff. “Like who?”
I know exactly who she means. Emeric. I hate that she’s going in for the jugular right away. I don’t know what else I expected. On one hand, I want the old Circe; on the other, I want her to take it easy on me.
“Like Emeric,” she retorts. “You should tell the Alpha when you’re in his territory, you know? Alphas don’t like it when others just show up unannounced.”
My jaw clenches, but I try to relax as soon as I feel the tightness.
But it’s too late. My ever-astute mother picks up on it, and she rolls her eyes at my response.
“He’ll find out soon enough,” I say. “I don’t need to make a big production about my return.”
I don’t add that I’m not exactly an “other,” nor do I want anyone to know I’m back yet. I haven’t given up my position in the pack, not in any official capacity. But I have been gone for five long years, and I’ve felt every minute of it.
