Surprise?

The night was exhausting again. But I didn't let it stop me from learning healing by the day.

I got a call on my new phone, a semi-functional hand-me-down of Leah's.

"Hello?" I answered.

"What are you doing right now?" It was Logan. He sounded relaxed, munching on grapes or something.

"I'm working on a few—" He didn't let me complete before cutting me off,

"There's a delivery of roses by the borders. Since human contact is minimized, get them from the south borders." I raised an eyebrow at his request.

"You sound free enough for that. Do it yourself." I said.

"Stop being a rebel and get me that. I have a surprise for you too." My eyebrows were crushed. I sighed at the end of the call and decided to do it anyway.

I collected the roses. It made me sneeze. The pollen doesn't suit me, Logan was well aware of that. Just then, I got a call from Dr Rayleigh.

"Hello, doctor. Any progress on his condition?" I asked.

"Jean is still undergoing testing. There is a possibility of multiple organ failure, Ms Elaine. You should come to visit before it gets too late." He suggested.

"Doctor, given my condition, I can't travel. I love my son dearly, but this is beyond me. Please take care of him. I trust you." I said.

"I understand. The werewolf world seems to be in shambles." I hummed, and he cut the call after saying, "Take care".

While returning to the packhouse with the roses, I came across Leah. She was discussing her pregnancy with someone on the call.

"Wait. Someone's here." She abruptly cut the call to turn to me.

"Look at your face. It's so stupid swollen." She commented.

"These are for me, right?" Leah continued, and I nodded. Suddenly, she plucked the thorny bush for a bouquet and smashed it to the ground.

And then, out of nowhere, she started crying loudly.

"MUMMA! LOGAN! LOOK WHAT SHE DID!' she cried. I raised an eyebrow at her actions.

"What the hell!?" Logan screamed and entered the scene. Olga wasn't far behind. She had a vicious look in her eye.

"How dare you do this..." Logan came forth to hold me by the collar. I was used to the abuse anyway. However, the situation was leveraged by Leah.

She stepped forward and slapped me across the face. While the others watched in silence.

"You're such a selfish bitch!" She screamed and stormed away. Olga ran behind her, cooing and calling Leah an 'angel'. I laughed in my head at the irony.

"You know you shouldn't have done that, right? I know you're jealous of Leah, but still." Logan said his grip on my collar loosening.

"You must be sick in your head to think I'd stoop so low." I retorted.

"So you didn't stomp on these...?" Logan asked innocently. I rolled my eyes.

"Obviously. I didn't. Her shoes have the thorns, not mine. She did it herself." I said. Logan didn't respond and left the scene.

In the evening, I was preparing another inflow of warrior ranks and more who have been fighting at the border.

Healing was distributed between the seven of us. I was the seventh addition.

Before I could address the patient on the bed, Logan pulled me aside.

"Logan, I have work," I said, sounding desperate to leave.

"Listen to me. You and I will go to a nice restaurant soon. I need to talk to you. But remember this. I will always love you." Saying, Logan kissed my forehead and walled away.

Normally, I would have been swayed. But I was done with his toxicity. I brushed it off and got to work.

After the healing was done, it was dawn again. Everyone else was sound asleep in the healers' hut. While I walked around with bedpans and other necessities, trying to keep the wards sanitized.

I wanted to cry at the kind of work I was doing. Sure, it was for my own pack. But I was helping the same people who never supported me through harsh times. Instead, they turned a blind eye and deaf ear, just because their 'alpha and Mother Olga' told them so.

I silently shed tears in agony.

Just then, I got a call from Dr Rayleigh. My heart sank. I dwelled in the corner, holding the phone at an angle that the network worked.

I was losing my mind when I saw it was a video call. Was this a call for Jean's parting...?

"Hello, Ms Elaine." It was Dr Rayleigh's soothing voice.

"W-What's wrong with my son?" I held my face and cried.

"He is fine, Ms Elaine. We had just pumped up all the fluids out of his lungs. He is out of danger." Dr Rayleigh said.

I let out the heaviest sigh of my life.

"Also, he wants to talk to you." I gasped the loudest I could. I looked around and nodded.

"Hello...mumma..."

His voice...

Jean hadn't spoken to me for 3 weeks. His condition worsened way too quickly. I thought I'd never be able to say goodbye or love properly one last time.

I, as the Luna of Waterstone, never had time for him as he was growing up. But my negligence cost him his life.

"I love you, Jean...mumma loves you so much," I said. No other words were crossing my mind.

"I love you too, mumma. I will be fine." I clutched my chest and cried silently as he said. Jean is such a mature child. Way too mature for his age. He makes me a proud mother...

We couldn't talk much since baby Jean fell asleep quickly. Dr Rayleigh said the procedure was only possible since werewolf children had more immunity and resilience than normal human children.

I was more than thankful for Dr Rayleigh.

However, a presence was looming over me. I didn't realize it was Leah as her wide eyes stared at the contact on display.

"Why are you talking to my ex-boyfriend?"