Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

Lumina 

Finally it was the morning of Ollie's birthday.

He'd been home from the hospital for five days, and though still weak, he was so excited that he was bouncing up on the wall despite his weak state. He was unable to stay in one place.

"Is Daddy home?" were his first words when he entered the kitchen, his dinosaur pajamas rumpled from sleep.

I looked up from the birthday pancakes I was making—green with chocolate chip "spots" to look like his favorite dinosaur.

"He had an early meeting, sweetheart, but he promised to be back for your party this afternoon."

The fact I lied to him was making my stomach churn with guilt. Xenois hadn't come home at all last night. His side of the bed remained untouched, his phone going straight to voicemail when I called.

But I couldn't bear to start his birthday with disappointment.

"Can I open one present now?" he asked, as he climbed onto a kitchen stool, his blue eyes- so like his father's -filled with excitement.

"One small one," I agreed, as I gave him a wrapped package across the counter.

"Happy birthday, my brave boy."

He tore into the package with more strength than he'd shown in days, showing a stuffed triceratops.

"Mom! It's just like the one in my book!" He hugged it close, beaming.

"I thought you'd like it." I said as I dropped a plate of dinosaur pancakes in front of him, decorated with a "5" candle.

"Make a wish."

Ollie closed his eyes tightly, thinking hard, then blew out the candle.

"What did you wish for?" I asked, though I could guess what he wanted.

He shook his head slowly as he said. "Can't tell or it won't come true. But I think you know."

I did. He wished for his father to show up for him for once. To be the father he needed. To be present in his life.

After breakfast, we spent the morning preparing the place up and setting decorations for the small party. Just a few pack's children, some of Ollie's school friends.

I'd hired a dinosaur-themed entertainer, ordered his favorite cake, and turned our backyard into a prehistoric wonderland.

By two o'clock, everything was ready except for one thing: Xen was still nowhere to be found.

"He'll be here," I promised Ollie as I helped him wear his special birthday outfit—a button-up shirt with tiny dinosaurs printed on it. "He promised."

The party proceeded without the Alpha's presence. Ollie put on a brave face, laughing with his friends, blowing out candles on his cake, opening presents.

But I caught him looking at the door each time it opened, hope in his eyes only to fall when it wasn't his father.

By five, most guests had left. Ollie sat quietly on the sofa, his new toys untouched beside him, as he held on tight to the stuffed triceratops.

"He's not coming, is he?" he asked as I sat beside him.

I pulled him close, fighting back tears as I shook my head.

"I don't know, baby. He might still make it."

"It's okay." His small voice broke my heart. "Riley's mommy probably needed him more."

He sounded resigned while saying this. I was so furious. No five year old boy should be going through this, accepting he's not important for his own biological father.

"How about we go get ice cream?" I suggested on the spot trying to make him happy.

"Just you and me. We can go to that place by the park with the thirty flavors."

His eyes widened as he looked up at me in surprise and disbelief.

"Really? Even though I had cake?"

"It's your birthday. Double dessert is definitely part of your present."

For the first time all day, he smiled widely as he nodded his head. "Can I bring Tricy?" He held up the stuffed dinosaur.

"Absolutely. Tricy deserves ice cream too."

As we headed out, I left one final voicemail for Xenois: "We waited for you. Ollie held out hope until the end. We're going for ice cream now because I refuse to let your absence ruin his entire day. I don't know where you are or what was more important than your son's fifth birthday, but I hope it was worth breaking his heart."

The ice cream parlor was just a few blocks away, within walking distance of our house. Ollie was getting exhausted as we walked, but his excitement at the promise of ice cream kept him going.

"What flavor are you thinking?" I asked, holding his hand as we waited at a crosswalk.

"Chocolate chip with gummy worms on top," he decided, bouncing on his toes despite his obvious fatigue on his face

The light changed to green and we stepped into the crosswalk. That's when I saw it—the massive electronic billboard across from the park, usually displaying city announcements or advertisements.

Today it showed a smiling Xenois, arm around Sophia, both beaming at a dark-haired boy blowing out birthday candles on an elaborate cake. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY!" the caption read, followed by "From Mayor Blackwood and the city of Silver Creek."

I froze mid-step shocked at what I was seeing, Ollie's hand in mine. He followed my gaze, his small body going still as he recognized his father celebrating another child's birthday—the birthday he'd promised to spend with his own son.

"Mommy?" Ollie's voice was small, sounding confused. "Why is Daddy at Riley's birthday?"

Before I could answer, or pull him away from the billboard, I heard the sound of tires screeching. Everything slowed down for me. I turned to see a car headed toward us, the driver's face filled with panic. We were still in the crosswalk, frozen in shock at Xenois betrayal.

I moved immediately, shoving Ollie forward with all my strength. He stumbled as he got to the curb while the car slammed into me, sending me flying. I felt a lot of pain and then nothing else as my vision became dark

I woke up with Ollie's cries in my ears. He knelt beside me on the pavement, tears running down his pale face. Around us, a crowd had gathered. Someone was calling an ambulance.

"Mommy! Mommy, wake up!"

I tried to move, to reach for him, but my body wouldn't cooperate at all. Something was very wrong with me. I could taste blood.

"Ollie," I managed, sounding hoarse and tired as I scanned him with my eyes. "Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, holding Tricy to his chest with one hand while the other patted my face gently. "The car didn't hit me. You pushed me away."

I felt relief flooding through my body. He was safe. Nothing else mattered.

But then Ollie shook, and stumbled, his face going pale from shock. His eyes rolled back, and he fell beside me on the pavement.

"Ollie!" I screamed, as I felt new pain flooding my body trying to move. "Someone help him! Please!"

A woman from the crowd rushed forward, checking his pulse. "He's breathing, but barely. The ambulance is coming."

I reached for our mate bond, sending a desperate plea to Xenois. Ollie collapsed. We need you. Please.*

For the first time in months, I felt the bond come to life. Xen's shock and fear came flooding back to me. He'd received my message.

As sirens approached, Ollie's eyes opened slowly as he found me, looking at him.

"Mommy," he whispered, his voice sounding weak. "I saw Daddy on the big TV."

"I know, baby. I'm so sorry."

"Tell him..." he paused, trying to breath, "tell him it's okay. He doesn't have to love me best. I understand."

Tears ran down my face. "No, Ollie. He does love you. He does."

But Ollie's eyes had drifted to the billboard again, still displaying the happy scene of the birthday Xenois had chosen to attend instead of his own son's. A single tear slid down his pale cheek.

"I'm really tired, Mommy."

"Stay with me, sweetheart. The doctors are coming. Just hold on."

But I could feel that he was slipping from our bond as it was getting weaker and weaker. The mysterious illness was too much for him to battle.

"I love you, Mommy," he whispered, his small hand holding on tight to mine. "Don't be mad at Daddy. He just loves Riley more."

And then, as the ambulance pulled up and paramedics rushed toward us, Ollie closed his eyes for the last time.

His hand went limp in mine, the stuffed triceratops falling forgotten to the pavement as his heart stopped beating.