Breaking Point

Olivia’s POV:

I had no idea that the place Derek had sent me to was actually a healing center. My heart was pounding as I followed his psychic link to this place. As I burst through the door, the antiseptic smell of the emergency room hit me, and my instincts as a healer were already on high alert.

"Dr. Winters!" A young nurse recognized me. "They're in Room 204."

I nearly knocked over a medicine cart in my rush to reach the room. The sight that greeted me stopped me cold in the doorway.

Oliver lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his usually energetic face ghostly pale against the stark white sheets. His right leg was heavily bandaged, and multiple monitors created a symphony of beeps around him. An IV drip fed clear fluid into his arm.

"What happened?" I demanded, my eyes scanning the monitors automatically. Heart rate elevated but stable. Blood pressure slightly low. Oxygen levels good.

Derek stepped forward from where he'd been standing by the window. "He fell during rock climbing. The doctors say-"

"Rock climbing?" The words came out as a strangled whisper. "Tell me you didn't take him rock climbing."

Rachel, who I hadn't noticed sitting in the corner, stood up. "It was a supervised activity. All the other pack children were there-"

"Rock climbing?" My voice rose sharply, cutting through her explanation. "Are you both completely insane? You know about his old injury!"

The memory of that terrible day when Oliver was three flashed through my mind. Derek had taken him to an advanced training session meant for older wolf pups, ignoring my protests that Oliver was too young.

"He's fine now," Derek tried to placate me. "That was years ago-"

No problem? I'll close in on him." That injury almost cost him his future ability to shapeshift! Did you know he almost lost his wolf form forever?"

Rachel stepped between us, her face a mask of concern. "The doctors say he'll need surgery. We should focus on that right now-"

"Why were you even there?" I rounded on her. "What gives you the right to make decisions about my son's activities?"

"I care about Oliver," she said, her voice trembling perfectly. "I've been watching him grow stronger every day. He's not that fragile little boy anymore-"

"You don't know anything about him!" The monitors' beeping increased slightly as my voice rose. "I spent months healing that leg. Countless nights channeling my power into those damaged muscles and tendons.A wrong action may completely deprive him of the possibility of future transformation!"

Rachel's eyes filled with tears. "We need to discuss the surgery costs. The specialist is waiting-"

"I had given Oliver a black card," I cut her off, my tone cold." I once gave him a $30,000 card that could be used to pay for medical bills."

The look and tone Rachel gave me was dramatically exaggerated, "How can you be so cold? Your son is lying here injured, and your only concern is money?"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "My son? Now he's my son? Funny how he's suddenly my son when bills need to be paid."

"I've been here for him," Rachel's voice quavered. "I've watched him get hurt while you were too busy with your healing duties. I've been the one-"

The crack of my palm against her cheek echoed through the sterile hospital room like a gunshot.

"Don't you dare," I hissed, my hand stinging. "Don't you dare pretend you know anything about-"

"Mom, stop!"

Oliver's voice, weak but determined, came from the doorway. He stood there in a hospital gown, leaning heavily against the frame. His face was white with pain, but his eyes blazed with anger as he hobbled forward.

"Oliver, get back in bed immediately!" I moved to help him, but he recoiled.

"Don't touch her!" He positioned himself in front of Rachel, swaying slightly. Every movement clearly caused him pain, but he stood his ground. "Leave her alone!"

My heart shattered seeing him struggle to stand, protecting her while clearly in agony. The monitors in the room began beeping more urgently.

"Oliver, please," I reached for him again. "You need to lie down. You'll make the injury worse-"

He flinched away from my touch as if it burned. "Don't!"

"Oliver," my voice broke. "I'm your mother. Your real mother. The one who carried you for nine months. Who nearly died bringing you into this world."

The monitors' rhythm became more erratic as Oliver's heart rate increased.

"Do you remember when you were little?" I pressed on, tears burning my eyes. "How excited you were to show me your first wolf tooth? You couldn't wait for me to come home that day. You met me at the door, jumping up and down..."

"Stop it," Oliver whispered, but I couldn't stop now.

"Remember how you'd climb into my lap after nightmares? How you'd only eat the soup I made when you were sick?" My voice cracked. "Do you know how many nights I stayed awake, watching you breathe when you were ill? How many times I wanted to take your pain into myself when you were hurt?"

"Stop it!" Oliver's voice rose to a shout. "Just stop! Rachel is the one who's always there for me now! She comes to my school events! She helps with my homework! She-"

"Because I let her be!" I whirled on Derek. "How dare you act righteous now? This is your doing! You encouraged this - letting another woman play mother to our son!"

Derek stepped forward, his face thunderous. "Oliver, apologize to your mother right now. This behavior is unacceptable-"

"Don't be a hypocrite!" I spat the words like venom. "I know everything. I found the pictures of you and Rachel. The love letters. I even know about the silk scarf - the free gift from the bags my son bought for your ex-girlfriend with my money!"

The room started spinning. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. The last thing I heard was the monitors' alarmed beeping and multiple voices calling my name.

When I regained consciousness, my eyes were greeted by the clean white ceiling of the treatment center. I sat up, and that's when I realized that Derek was sitting beside me, and next to him in the hospital bed was Oliver. And on the small cabinet in the middle of our beds was a document-the severance of partnership document I'd had Nathan prepare.