Ashes Of The Unwanted.

ERYN

My son was going to die. There was no going around it.

“No, no. If there's even a small chance Niko could survive this, I have to take it. Is there really no other way to get the medicine? Why would the funding suddenly be removed?” I pleaded, voice trembling as the doctor stepped closer.

  “I'm sorry Luna. There's no other way to get it and the suppressant is also in its early development stage. I am so sorry Luna.” 

It was over.

“Torren, please,” I mindlinked him desperately. “I really need your help. The funds for Niko’s medicine were retracted—please, can you do something?”

Silence.

No reply. Not even a flicker of presence.

“Torren. Please.” I tried again, but got no response.

“No, no. This can’t be happening. Can I see him?”  I begged, losing my footing the minute I stood up but thankfully the doctor caught me.

“Of course. I’m so sorry there’s nothing more we can do,” he said quietly, leading me into Niko’s room.

And there he was. On the bed. His wolf lay still—its fur the exact same shade as mine.

He had fully shifted.

““Please. If I go find Torren now, will it still work? He can do something, can’t he?” I begged, clutching the doctor’s arm.

He only rubbed my shoulder gently, “Luna… if the research team already had a stable suppressant, I promise I’d fight for it. But right now, there’s nothing. And even if we had it, the success rate was always uncertain.”

I stared at Niko’s wolf for what felt like forever before pulling out my phone to take a picture. My fingers shook. After taking the picture, I sniffed.

“Please… please, just let me speak to him one last time,” I whispered.

His wolf blinked. And then he shifted back.

“Mommy… don’t cry, okay?”

“Niko,” I gasped, rushing to his side and grabbing his tiny hands.

“Don’t love Daddy again,” he said softly. “Just… be happy.”

His eyes were bloodshot. His face pale. But he still tried to smile for me.

“Niko, please don’t do this. Please,” I cried, holding his fragile body.

“Mom… it hurts.” He coughed into his hands, and my breath hitched when I saw blood.

“Oh goddess,” I whispered, lips trembling. He wiped my tears with the back of his stained hand.

Then the monitor started to beep slowly. His heart rate was dropping.

“Doctor, please—please, just start the treatment,” I cried. “Even without the funding, I’ll pay for it somehow. Anything.”

I pressed him to my chest, holding on to his little fragile body as tightly as I could.

“Don’t cry anymore, Mommy.” He pleaded as his hands dropped to his sides slowly, almost like he was loosing energy. His breathing had gotten too audible like he was struggling to get oxygen in his lungs. 

“Niko… listen to me, nothing’s going to happen to you, okay? You’ll be fine, sweetheart,” I whispered, even as I saw the doctor’s face. He shook his head.

No.

I held him tighter. But his eyes were closing. His body going still in my arms.

Then the monitor screamed. A long, flat tone.

He was gone.

  “Niko!!!” I yelled as it seemed like my breath was getting hitched, for one last time while the doctor and nurses around rushed in to comfort me as I wailed at the top of my voice.

“It’s okay, Luna,” someone said gently as they tried to pull me away.

“Niko, please come back,” I whispered.

This was my fault. Maybe if I hadn’t chased after Torren, Niko would have had a father who truly loved him. Maybe then… he wouldn’t have left this world so soon.

“Niko just passed away,” I mindlinked Torren.

“Don’t do this now, Eryn—”

And then, he cut the link.

Just like that.

“Luna, custom demands Niko be cremated today,” the doctor said quietly. 

I bit down on my lip, hard, until the pain grounded me. My face went blank. So did my heart.

They let me in to see him one last time.

“Would you like a funeral to be arranged for him?” the doctor asked.

 "No, I'm not willing to let go of him yet." I answered straightforwardly.

The doctor nodded in understanding.

I used what was left of me to dress Niko and pack his things.

Tears poured down as I watched them set the stakes alight, and his small body burned.

“Luna… wouldn’t the Alpha want to see his son one last time?” one of the staff asked quietly.

I clenched my jaw, turning toward her.

“He’s not coming.”

That same day, I received Niko’s ashes. I sat in the back of an Uber, the urn clutched in my hands. My face was empty. My soul gone.

Then my phone pinged.

It was a post. The caption read:

Governor Alpha Torren booked out an entire amusement park to celebrate his son’s birthday.

There was a photo attached.

Even though it was taken from behind, I could see Saela and Asher pressed close to him. The perfect little family under glittering lights.

While the son he didn’t want… was gone.

Only ashes remained.

I got out of the car and paid the driver.

Torren. Saela. Asher.

The perfect trio.

They should have died.

Instead, it was my perfect little boy who did.

I pulled out my phone, fingers trembling. Then I hesitated. Just for a second.

I sent Torren a few photos. Niko’s lifeless body and the official death certificate. 

Let’s see how you handle the cold, harsh truth, Alpha Governor Torren.