“What’s his name? Where is he? Why didn’t you bring him with you?”
There are so many more I wanna ask, but I stop myself and only choose what I consider are the most significant ones.
Eloise raises her gaze back to me, then answers, “Maddox. That’s his name.”
I’m waiting for more answers, but she grows silent and dips her head back down.
“I wanna see him,” I say.
Images of the child I never knew flit through my mind like an old, sepia-toned film. I try to imagine a face, a smile, a laughter that bear my reflection. I can’t fathom the love that has grown in my absence, nor the bond I've missed out on. Guilt claws at my conscience, accusing myself of negligence, of having forsaken a life that deservs my presence. More than that, a deep yearning wells up within me, compelling me to seek answers and embrace the newfound responsibility. I have to meet my child, to understand the connection that destiny has forged between us.
Suddenly, tears well in Eloise’s eyes as she speaks the words no parent would ever wanna hear.
“Maddox is sick," she says, her voice breaking. "It's a rare and aggressive illness, and the doctor says there's little hope. He doesn't have much time left, Braxton."
A lump forms in my throat, choking back the emotions that are threatening to consume me. I just found out that I have a son, and now, I have to face the heart-wrenching reality that time is slipping away!
Eloise lowers her gaze once again, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I’m sorry that I only told you about this now. I was the one who left you. So I don’t have any right to disrupt your life. You had moved on, and I didn't want to burden you with my problems."
-”Moved on? Did she really think you did?”-
'Please, Squall. I don’t wanna hear your opinion about this matter!'
-”We’re one and the same. So you will, even if you don’t wanna.”-
Torn between the pain of the past and the overwhelming responsibility of the present, I reach out and place my hand on Eloise’s, a gesture of comfort and support. "Eloise, he's my son too. We should have faced this together."
A mixture of sorrow and relief crosses Eloise’s face as she murmurs, “I know and thank you.”
I nod, a flood of emotions washing over me. I wanna be there for Maddox, to make up for the years I had missed, but the pain of knowing I may lose him before truly knowing him is unbearable.
“Bring me to Maddox," I demand.
“Yes, but don’t bring anyone with you,” Eloise says.
I wanna ask why, but I don’t think it needs as much attention as my son does. So I dismiss my unspoken question and just agree with her request.
She starts telling me all the details surrounding our son’s illness as we descend down to the underground parking space. Hope that there’s still a chance to save my son erupts in my heart. Money isn’t an issue to me. I can spend millions, billions even just to save him and be with him for years and years to come. But the problem lies on whether Eloise or I is a match to conduct a bone marrow transplant for him.
Once we're in the parking space, I tell my Delta not to come with us, and that I'll drive my car myself. With confusion on his face, he just nods and prepares one of my Ferraris. Soon, the rain unexpectedly pours down in torrents, washing away the remnants of a scorching summer day. Almost ten minutes later, the hospital looms ahead, its imposing presence casting a shadow over the emotions that are surging within me. My heart pounds in my chest, my breaths shallow and unsteady. I clutch the steering wheel with white-knuckled determination while stealing glances at Eloise. The small puffiness of skin in her lower lids tells the story of sleepless nights, but the frail hope etched in her laugh lines reveals the depth of her optimism.
After parking my car, we make our way through the automatic sliding doors of the hospital. Even the sterile smell of disinfectant can’t mask the emotions that fill the air.
"He's in Room 317, on the third floor," Eloise says softly.
Together, we ascend via one of the tiny and old-looking elevators. The corridor seems endless, and with each step, the tension in my chest grows palpable. Room 317 looms ahead, the soft hum of medical equipment reminds me of the fragility of life.
Eloise enters the ward first while I stand at the threshold, hesitant to enter, afraid of what I may find. My palms are damp, and I can hardly find the strength to turn the doorknob. The mere thought of seeing my sick child for the first time sends shivers down my spine, and yet, it’s a moment I can’t delay any longer.
As I step into the room, the air thickens, and a heavy weight settles on my shoulders. There, lying in a small bed, is my son, Maddox. Tubes and wires connected him to machines, their soft beeps and whirs filling the room like an eerie lullaby. My eyes well with tears as I approach the bedside, my footsteps heavy and hesitant. Then, my heart breaks when I take in Maddox’s pale face and sunken eyes.
"Hey, buddy," I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.
I reach out to gently nudge his cheek. His eyelids flutter open, revealing gold eyes that hold vulnerability and strength. The corners of his lips lift in a faint, tired smile, a glimmer of happiness crossing his gaze.
"Papa?" His voice is barely audible, but it cuts through the heavy atmosphere.
'Papa? He called me papa? Did he know all along that I’m his father? Or is it just pure instinct?'
My thoughts are probably plastered on my face since Eloise clarifies them.
She says, “I told him that I'll bring his papa once I return. So,...”
I nod, a smile curling my lips. “Yeah, it’s me. I’m here, son. And I’ll always be here from now on.”
Tears threaten to stream down as I lean in to plant a soft kiss on Maddox’s forehead. I try to hide the pain I’m feeling, wanting to be strong for him, but it’s a futile effort. Unregrettably, I allow myself to be vulnerable, to let my son see the depth of my love and concern. Maddox weakly reaches for my hand, and I clasp it gently, afraid that any pressure may hurt him. The three of us sit in silence for a while, emotions filling the room.
“Happy?” Eloise asks with a teasing look in her wet and quite swollen eyes.
Maddox widens his smile more while nodding. Then, he turns his gaze to me and says, “Maddox play with papa outside. Run, hide.”
"I want that too, buddy," I reply. "And you know what? We'll play all day, anytime you want, anywhere you want, once you're feeling better." I pause, before adding, “I love you, buddy.”
“Love, love,” Maddox responds while playfully crossing his arms on his chest.
Pride and pain consumes me. Despite his illness, he displays a strength and maturity beyond his years.
As the hours pass, I stay by his side, telling him stories of my favorite adventures. And as the world outside continues to spin, in this quiet, sacred space, I find strength in my son's courage, and hopefully he can find his in my embrace. As soon as he falls asleep, I veer my focus to Eloise again.
“You’ll meet Dr. Tiu later, she always comes here before 6 in the evening to check on Maddox,” she says.
“Good,” I reply.
That’s one thing I wanna know, but there’s also another thing I’ve been itching to know too. Tension starts to build in the air and both of us sense that. Following that is silence that hangs heavily between us, like a tangible force that refuses to be ignored. Finally, it’s me who breaks the silence coz I’m sure she can’t.
“What happened five years ago?” I ask.
That question draws her shoulders together. Her gaze moves in different directions, but doesn’t stop at mine.
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I've spent those years wondering what went wrong, why you left. We had something special, didn't we? I thought we did."
She looks down, her fingers absently tracing patterns on her skirt. "We did have something special. And I don't regret any of the time we spent together. But life... life took an unexpected turn for me, and I didn't know how to handle it."
I remain silent, waiting for her to continue unearthing what she had gone through five years ago.
Finally, she courageously directs her eyes at me. “I was threatened to be killed by your father and your packmates because they didn’t want a human to become their Luna.”
The clock on the wall ticks relentlessly, its steady rhythm mocking the disbelief that’s squirming in me. Gasp echoes from me. My hands tremble as I replay the words that have just reached my ears. Then, Squall's voice follows suit.
-”Oops! Plot twist! I’m not gonna be surprised that what she’s saying is true, considering how inconsiderate your father is… most of the time.”-
“I stubbornly ignored the threat at first because,...” she pauses to collect herself, before continuing, “... because I loved you and I didn’t wanna be separated from you. But then, they turned their threat into action. I was k.idnapped and almost killed. But thankfully, one of your packmates, who was also one of the k.idnappers, offered me mercy. He helped me escape in exchange for a promise that I won’t ever show myself to you again. I deceptively accepted his deal just to get away. My plan was to come back to you and tell you everything, but I couldn’t find a way to contact you or to get near you. They destroyed my phone, while at your mansion and your workplace, your packmates are scattered everywhere. Apart from those, days after I was set free, I found out that I was pregnant. That was the turning point of it all. I got scared that they might involve my unborn child with their cruelty. So I decided to disappear from your life, even if it almost destroyed my own.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. It’s like a surreal nightmare, a savage twist of fate that has shattered the illusion of the life I thought I knew.
My hands clench into fists, while anger, hurt, and confusion clash within me, intimidating to overwhelm my senses. But then, those emotions are swallowed up effortlessly when Eloise adds,
“Destiny really has its clever way to do things. I left you to protect Maddox from your father and your pack,ates, now I bravely dismissed that and reappeared before you coz you became my only hope to save him.”
Though it’s hard to temporarily set aside what I’ve discovered, I’ve got no choice but to do it. Sometimes I find solace in the art of momentarily setting aside a harsh reality. Like a weary traveler seeking refuge in an oasis, I have to allow myself a brief respite from the burdens of what had been. It’s best if I handle it later once I go home and meet dad. The sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink when a middle-aged woman in a doctor’s white coat enters the room. Her shoulders flinch and so do her eyelids when she angles her sight at me. "Good afternoon!" she greets, her voice teetering between excitement and disbelief. “I’m not expecting that Mr. Braxton Guttierrez would be here!” I open my mouth, but am unable to say anything since Eloise precedes me from replying. She says, “He’s uhm… he’s here to help me finance my son’s surgery.” She pauses, swallows, then glances at me nervously. “I saw on TV earlier today that he’s the founder of the C
ELOISE’S POV: Braxton stands before me, his impeccable look is in contrast to the squalor that surrounds us. His expensive shoes stand out against the mud, and his tailored suit is out of place in this world of destitution. When our eyes meet, an awkward silence settles between us. I feel vulnerable and exposed, like a butterfly pinned to a board, analyzed and pitied, which forces me to lower my gaze, not wanting to bear the load of his judgment. "Eloise," he says softly, his voice emits sadness and guilt. "I never imagined you living like this." "Not all of us are destined for grandeur. Besides, ever since I was young, way before we met the first time, I was already poor. Well, not this poor, but still considered like that,” I reply, my voice betraying a hint of bitterness I’m trying to hide. Braxton takes a step closer, the distance between us closing like the gap between our past and present. His eyes soften, remorse is etching across his handsome features. But before the am
The air is filled with a sense of tranquility as I lay silently, my eyes fixed on the scene before me. The mattress cradles two figures in deep sleep. At one end, is my Maddox with tousled hair and a cherubic face, the embodiment of innocence and wonder. His chest rises and falls with each peaceful breath, and my heart swells with adoration. Next to him, there lay Braxton who’s entirely out of place in this world of faded grandeur. His handsomeness is undeniable, an arresting sight even in the simplicity of his sleep. The moonlight, filtering through the cracked window, plays upon his features like a painter's brush. His strong jawline, sculpted by years of living and experiencing, speaks of resilience and determination. His lips, parted ever so slightly, seem to hold the secrets of a thousand untold stories. Each breath he takes is a gentle whisper, in harmony with the stillness of the night. This is my family. The very ones I wanna spend the rest of my life with. And I won’t let fe
In the elegant walls of the opulent mansion, the morning sun radiates through the massive glass windows, its silken tendrils are at every ornate corner. Crystal chandeliers cast a soft, amber glow over the grandiose space. The air is thick with a sense of formality and exclusivity. As distress trembles through me, I clutch the tiny hand of my wide-eyed Maddox, who gazes curiously at the spectacle around him. At my side stands Braxton, the heir to the immense fortune amassed by the Mystic Shadow Pack. Not only does he look dashing in his tailored suit, but his eyes also showcase assurance as he gently squeezes my hand, seeking to offer comfort in the face of the impending ordeal. A hushed murmur ripples through Braxton's packmates, from the Omegas in uniforms to the Betas in formal attires, as the grand doors swing open. The patriarch of the Mystic Shadow Pack, Trayton Guttierrez, makes his imposing entrance. His silver hair gleams, and the lines etched on his face speak of wisdom a
TRAYTON’S POV: "Curse that fool of a son! How dare he taint our bloodline with a human girl?!" I seethe, my voice laced with fury. Shadow, who's inside me, stirs. His growls echoing in the recesses of my mind. -"He is your flesh and blood, a reflection of your lineage. It’s just right that you deny him the chance to choose a human mate. Braxton’s infatuation with that human is a threat to our pack's traditions and strength."- My eyes flash with anger, my pride clashing with my wolf's fierce loyalty to our kind. My fangs bare in defiance as I sneer. "He must marry a she-wolf, one who can carry on the legacy of our pack." Shadow’s response is equally vehement. -"A human cannot comprehend our world or our ways. They are weak, fleeting creatures whose hearts cannot hold the power of the moon."- I nod, a cruel satisfaction enveloping me. "Precisely. Their puny emotions will only lead my son astray from the path of strength and power." Shadow agrees with a savage eagerness. -
ELOISE’S POV: The grand elevator ascends with a hushed elegance, carrying me and my Maddox to a world I had only glimpsed a few times before. As the polished brass doors slide open with a gentle whisper, we step into a palatial penthouse that belongs to a realm far beyond our humble existence. The surrounding that greets us is overwhelming, a symphony of luxury orchestrated with impeccable taste. Marble floors glisten like shimmering pools beneath our feet, reflecting the golden glow of crystal chandeliers that adorn the soaring ceilings. Expansive windows frame a panoramic view of the city's glittering skyline, a sight that steals my Maddox’s breath away. I steady my own racing heart as we’re greeted by a uniformed woman, her demeanor admirably courteous. "Welcome, Ms. Garcia, Master Maddox," she says with a warm smile. "Alpha Braxton, we’ve been awaiting your arrival." “Thank you,” Braxton responds. With a mixture of excitement and anxiety, I follow the woman and Braxton de
Braxton’s fingers caress my cheek, his touch gentle and reverent. He leans in to capture my lips with his own once again, savoring the sweetness of our kiss. As our mouths move in a very passionate manner, my heart races even faster, my body yearning for more. But amidst the heady rush of emotions, unease gnaws at my mind. I break the kiss, breathless, and look into Braxton’s eyes with a mix of desire and apprehension. "Braxton," I whisper, my voice trembling slightly, "I want this, I truly do. But I'm afraid... afraid of what might happen afterward. I don’t wanna get pregnant again. Our Maddox got his blood disease because of our different DNAs." Braxton’s eyes soften, and he caresses my hair, tucking a loose strand behind my ear. "Eloise, there's no need to be afraid. We can take all the necessary precautions. We can be responsible together." My heart warms at his understanding, but the fear lingers. "I know, but even with precautions, there's still a chance, however small. I don'
BRAXTON’S POV: I stand before Maddox, trying to put on a serious face while concealing a smile that’s threatening to burst forth. My little one, with eyes filled with curiosity and a mischievous spark, looks up at me with innocence and determination. "Papa, don't go!" he protests, holding onto my leg like a barnacle on a ship. I chuckle softly, attempting to free myself from the tiny grip. "Oh, buddy, I must go to work. But don’t worry, I’ll return early." “Let’s play,” he says, displaying his puppy eyes. For the first time, an urge of hesitation to go to work rushes through me, torn between the call of duty and the pull of my heart. My gaze softens as I brush Maddox’s hair off his forehead. "We’ll have more time together when I get home, buddy." His pouted lips make me add, "Oh, but think of all the fun things you can do here while waiting for my return. You can become the mighty ruler of this castle! You can command the things you can see around here, and they shall obey your