Chapter 1 Her son is sick

RILEY

“He’s my son!” I shot back at him, unable to hide the tremor in my voice.

His emerald eyes stared down at me, glowing with an inhuman light.

I knew what it meant now.

“He’s also mine,” he growled, pressing closer until I was caged between his arms and the wall. “If you wanted me out of your life, you shouldn’t have come looking for me.”

His breath was warm and sweet as he leaned closer, the scent of him sending a shiver down my spine.

“I’m an Alpha, Riley,” he murmured in my ear. “And no one can stop an Alpha from reclaiming what’s his."

My heart hammered in my chest.

How had things come to this?

Just two weeks ago, I’d been living an ordinary life.

That morning, my son had a sudden fever, and I thought it was nothing more than a stubborn flu.

I had no idea that fever would change everything.

****

Two Weeks Earlier

The hum of the medical equipment filled the room as I watched my four-year-old son Dominic lie in the hospital bed.

He looked so tiny and delicate with a tube attached to his arm.

His fever had seemed to spiral out of control that morning, and even his skin had taken on a sickly gray pallor.

My heart throbbed with worry. I had no idea what was wrong with him.

Just the night before, we'd held a small party for his fourth birthday. I’d let him stay up a little later than usual, and he’d seemed perfectly healthy, running, jumping, and laughing as he played.  

But when I woke him the next morning, he was incredibly weak.

His lips were pale, and he was burning with fever, so I’d rushed him to the hospital.

At first, I’d thought it was the flu. It had been going around these days. But after examining him, the doctor’s expression had turned grave.

“I’d like to keep him overnight for observation,” Dr. Ward had told me. “Just to be safe. We’ll run some more tests and make sure there isn’t anything else wrong with Dominic.”

Anything else.

What did he mean by that?

“Mommy?”

Domi’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He rubbed his eyes and shifted in bed.

“Yes?” I replied immediately.

“I’m thirsty,” he said, trying to sit up. The tube swayed slightly with his movement.

“Careful, sweetheart.” I gently eased him back down, afraid that he might bump into one of the machines surrounding him.

“I’ll get you some water, okay? Just stay put for a moment, and I’ll help you up sit up.”

Domi nodded weakly, and I quickly poured him a small cup of water.

After taking a few sips, he leaned back and fixed his exhausted gaze on me.

“Mommy,” he whispered, a hint of sadness in his voice. “Can we go home? I don’t like it here.”

"We have to wait a little longer, sweetheart."

Dominic pouted, looking dejected.

“Oh,” he murmured quietly.

I brushed back the soft hair matted against his sweat-coated forehead.

“I know it’s scary, Domi. How about we try to think of it as an adventure? Mom and Domi against the world, like always.”

Dominic looked at me.

He was about to say something when his gaze suddenly darted toward the doorway, his tired eyes brightening.  

“Auntie Hannah!”

I followed his gaze and saw my best friend, Hannah Yamamoto, standing in the doorway with a beaming smile.

She was holding a present wrapped in colorful paper.

“Hey, little guy.” She walked straight to Domi and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I’m so sorry I missed your birthday. But I brought a gift to make up for it. Want to open it?”

For the first time since being admitted to the hospital, Domi’s face lit up with joy. He nodded eagerly.

“Hey,” I said to Hannah as Domi happily tore into the wrapping paper. “It’s so good to see you.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Hannah said sincerely, giving me a firm hug. “You’re family, Riley. Family always shows up for family, even if it’s been a little too long.”

Ever since Hannah had been promoted to an associate at the biggest law firm in the city, she’d been incredibly busy. We hadn’t seen each other in nearly a month.

“It’s a woolly mammoth!” Domi squealed with delight. He held up an adorable plushie.

Hannah and I both grinned.

“So, how is he doing?” she asked in a lowered voice while Domi babbled happily to his new friend. “Any news from the doctor?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. I just hope it isn’t pneumonia or something worse.”

As if on cue, a nurse appeared in the doorway.

“Ms. Clarkson?” she said, holding a medical chart. “Dr. Ward would like to speak with you.”

I stood up quickly.

“I’ll stay here with him,” Hannah said, giving me a reassuring smile. “Go on.”

Without another word, I followed the nurse out of the room.

When we reached the room at the end of the hall, Dr. Ward nodded to the nurse, and the door closed behind us.

“Ms. Clarkson, I’d like to discuss Dominic’s blood test results with you.”

He offered me a gentle smile. I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

He took a breath and began. “There’s no easy way to say this, but your son’s blood tests have revealed several abnormalities. The results suggest that he may have acute leukemia.”

What?

I froze.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d heard him correctly. But Dr. Ward pressed his lips together and gave me a nod, shattering the last piece of hope that I might have misunderstood.

The entire room seemed to spin around me.

“To determine the exact subtype and assess the severity of the disease…” the doctor continued.

I could barely hear him. His lips moved, but the words seemed to reach me from a great distance.

Leukemia...

How could Dominic have leukemia?

He had always been a healthy little boy. Before this, he’d hardly even had a cold. How could—

“Ms. Clarkson?” Dr. Ward’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“Y-yes?” I managed.

Dr. Ward gave me a sympathetic look. “I need your consent to perform a bone marrow biopsy. We can do the procedure tomorrow morning, and the results should be available within a few days.”

I stared at the consent form he handed me on a clipboard. My fingers gripped on the edges.

“I…I want to know why.” My voice trembled. “I mean…it’s just unbelievable.”

“I understand how you feel, Ms. Clarkson,” Dr. Ward said with a sigh. “Leukemia is caused by errors that occur when cells replicate. In many cases, there’s no clear cause. Sometimes, it really is just a matter of bad luck.”

I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but it didn’t help. In fact, it seemed as if bad luck had never missed a chance to torment me.

I forced myself to take a breath and sign the form.

“There is another thing,” Dr. Ward said, glancing over the paperwork I’d filled out the day before. “I noticed that you’re listed as Dominic’s sole guardian. Is his biological father still in his life?”

My hand paused halfway through my signature as I stared up blankly at him.

Dr. Ward quickly cleared his throat.

“I have no intention of prying into your private life, Ms. Clarkson. I’m asking because it may be medically relevant.” He explained.

“We’re not in contact,” I answered vaguely. “Is he relevant to Domi’s condition?”

The doctor nodded. “If the genetic testing shows a high-risk mutation, Dominic might need a stem cell transplant. The best match usually comes from an immediate blood relative.”

“C-couldn’t I be the donor?” I asked.

“It’s hard to say. It depends on the test results. Even if you’re a match for Dominic, his father might be a better one. So, if it’s possible, I recommend getting in touch with him.”

I bite my lip. My mind immediately went to the man I’d shared one night with five years ago, the man I’d once tried to contact but…

I had sworn to myself that I’d never see him again.

Dr. Ward seemed to sense my hesitation. He clasped his hands on the table and leaned forward slightly.

“You don’t have to contact him today,” he said. “But I need you to understand, Ms. Clarkson, that preparing for every possibility is crucial.”

His expression grew solemn. “It could even become a matter of life and death for your son.”.