Chapter 3: THE VISIT

They pull up to Damion’s dad’s house. Stephen is a retired Alpha, and he and his Luna, June, moved here years ago when Damion took over the pack. It’s a cute cottage, nestled in a small village in the middle of a forest. They like the privacy and they like being close to nature. It’s peaceful. 

Sera has always enjoyed visiting Stephen and June – they’re both very sweet and have always been kind to her. It will be nice to see them one last time. 

Damion cuts the engine and Sera is just about to get out of the car when he tells her to open the glove compartment. Sera does as she’s asked. There’s a small blue, velvet box inside. 

“It’s my sapphire bracelet,” she says, recognizing the box immediately. “Why is it in the glove box?” 

“It’s the first gift I ever gave you,” Damion says, his green eyes sparkling. “Open it.” Sure enough, the stunning sapphire bracelet is nestled inside. “You never wore it. Why not?” He’s staring at her, his eyes intense. Sera’s confused. Why is he re-giving this to her? She breaks eye contact and shrugs. “It’s a beautiful bracelet, Sera. Here, let me put it on you.”

Put it on her? Why? But before she can respond, he reaches over and pulls out the bracelet. “Give me your wrist,” he says, still smiling. She lifts her wrist for him. He carefully and softly drapes the bracelet over her wrist and then closes the clasp. He runs his finger along the bracelet, giving her goosebumps. The moment feels very intimate; he’s close enough to kiss. Is this all in her head? She can feel the spark between them. Can’t he feel it, too? She wants very badly to kiss him, to feel his lips on hers, but she’s far too shy to initiate a kiss. His hand is still on her wrist, his lips are wet, she can feel his breath on her face. 

She thinks of all the times he’s run his finger over her wrist like that. 

“It’s stunning, just like you,” he says. She looks up at him, confused by this moment. “See? You should wear it.” He looks deeply into her eyes, but then she sees a flicker of confusion on his face, too. He drops her hand. 

The moment is gone. And there’s no point in trying to get it back.  Why make this anymore painful than it has to be?

“Thank you,” she says, closing the box. “But let’s not keep your parents waiting.”

June comes out onto the porch to greet them. Her silver hair shines in the sunlight, and her face is lined with creases. Her eyes are kind and they sparkle happiness while she grabs them both and holds them in a tight embrace. 

“It’s about time you came to visit,” she teases, cupping Damion’s face under the chin. “And it’s about time you gave me some grandchildren.” 

Stephen comes out then. Even though he is old and retired, he is still a strong and regal wolf. He has an air of authority about him. “Stop that,” he says to June. “You’re embarrassing the poor girl.” 

Sure enough, Sera is blushing. Grandchildren? Tough chance since she’s leaving tomorrow. Although, at one point in time, she’d dreamt about having his babies. 

They all sit down on the porch, where a jug of fresh lemonade is waiting. 

“You know,” June says, passing out the glasses, “I still remember the first time I met you, Sera. Do you remember?”

“Of course,” Sera says, nodding while June smiles kindly at her. Then June leans back into her rocking chair. 

“That damned car,” June sighs. “I told him that car would be the death of him.” June shakes her finger at Damion.  

“It was an accident,” Damion says, rolling his eyes. His shoulders hunch forward. 

And it had been. A horrific accident that had almost taken his life. The night had been dark, the turn been sharp, and he had missed it completely. He swerved too late and ran right off the road and into a tree, head on. The accident had been so severe, his wolf had gone wrong and he’d lost all feeling in his legs. They’d been sure he would never walk again, let alone ever get his wolf back.  

“We’d heard of Merdock,” June says, retelling the story for the hundredth time. “The most talented surgeon around. We knew he was Damion’s only hope. And we were right. But what we hadn’t bargained on was you.” June sighs, looking lovingly at Sera. “You were such a bright young thing. Still are. You had so much patience with our Damion. He was an ass.”

“I was not,” Damion says, appalled. 

“Oh yes you were,” June scolds. “You thought you were going to be a cripple! You were convinced of it. And you thought that gave you the right to lash out at whomever you wanted. The temper on you! Sera is a saint for staying with you through it.”

“Was I really that bad?” Damion asks, turning to Sera. 

Yes, you were, she thinks to herself. He was aggressive and belligerent and down right mean at times. But she’d loved him anyway. 

She’d decided to stay with him after the surgery. They’d all assumed she was an intern, there to assist Merdock, and she hadn’t bothered correcting them. It didn’t matter anyway. All that mattered was his recovery. 

“You had….your moments,” Sera confesses. Damion looks down sheepishly. 

“In any case, I don’t think he would have made a full recovery without you,” June says to Sera. “You owe her a lot, Damion.”

“I do,” he acknowledges. 

And he’s paid his debt. To the tune of five million dollars.

They reminisce and talk for a few more hours. The sun begins to set and the shadows grow long. Sera is glad she came, if for no other reason, than to say good-bye to these two lovely people. They share a wonderful dinner together, roast chicken and mashed potatoes, and when it’s time to get going, Sera is sad to leave. 

“We’ll help you clean up then we need to head back,” Damion says. He starts gathering the plates from the table. 

“Head back?” Stephen asks. “I don’t think so. I told you on the phone. Your mother’s not well.”

“Seriously, Stephen. You’re overreacting. I’m fine,” June replies haughtily, waving her hand dismissively. “It was just a cold.”

“You’re NOT,” he says authoritatively. “It was pneumonia and you damn near died.” June snaps her mouth shut. 

Pneumonia? Damion never said anything to me. Is that why they wanted us to visit? “Damion. What’s going on?” Sera asks, looking from Stephen to Damion. They are side-eying each other.

“It’s just a cough. Honestly. It’s nothing,” June repeats. 

“You used to be a nurse,” Stephen says to Sera. His concern is written all over his face. “Please. It gets worse at night. I’ve been looking after her but I’m exhausted. I’m not the young wolf I used to be. Stay with us tonight. Look after her so I can get some rest.”

What? No. We can’t stay here. I have to get home. And Damion’s waiting for….but when Sera sees the look on their faces, she realizes –

They don’t know we’ve broken up.