Page 39 of Petals & Promises

“Lady Bianca’s son is here to see her,” Perilla explained, switching back to Numolandian.

The nurse looked back into the room as if unsure. “Today hasn’t been a great day, and she just fell asleep.”

“Dina, there are no more good days, and she’s been waiting to see him,” Perilla hissed. “Let him see his mother.”

Cowed by the older woman's order, Dina stepped back and opened the door further, allowing us to see the makeshift hospital room they’d created.

“Hey, man,” Gareth whispered, placing a hand on my shoulder. “If you want us to wait out here to give you a minute alone with your mom, that’s fine. We are here for you, so whatever you need.”

“Thank you,” I said, patting his hand. “I think that might be a good idea. She might not even wake up. However, will you come with me, kitten?” I asked, holding my hand out.

Instantly, she handed Nugget back to Yun, then took my hand and nodded. “Of course I will.”

The nurse tried to close the door on Waffles, but he wasn’t having a bar it and body-checked the door, nearly knocking the woman over. Giving her a disgusted snort, Waffles trotted over to join us without any further incident.

As I came to stand next to the hospital bed, the woman lying there seemed so foreign to me. Gone was the powerful, self-assured woman who always knew what she wanted out of life. Her head was wrapped in a lavish silk scarf covering her hair. There was no sign of makeup on her sunken, pale skin, her fingernails were bare of polish, and she wore loose silk pajamas that didn’t hide how thin she’d become. An IV was connected to the back of her hand, and she wore an oxygen cannula. The monitors around her whirred, tracking everything there was to know about a person.

“Mother,” I said softly, reaching out to place a hand over hers resting on top of five layers of blankets. “Mother, it’s Vili.”

A groan was her only response, turning her head away from me.

Licking my lips, I spoke a little louder this time. “Mother, I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’ve come to see you. It’s your son, Vili.”

This time, she turned her head back, and her eyes cracked open. They were clouded, hiding the fact we had matching caramel eyes. Her hand twitched under mine, so I curled my fingers, holding it since it was clear she couldn’t.

“Vili,” Mother rasped. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, Mother, it’s me,” I assured her. “Jonas said you were asking for me.”

“Water,” she requested, trying to lift her hand.

Bailey-Rose moved to the table near the bed and poured some water into a cup with a straw. I left her to help my mother, knowing she’d be the best to know how to help, having been in need of the same help after surgery. Mother seemed surprised as if she hadn’t noticed Bailey-Rose before. Then again, I don’t know how damaged her sight was—it’s possible she hadn’t seen her. After a few sips, Mother turned her head away, finished with the drink.

“Who is she,” Mother demanded, a frown creasing her brow.

“That is Bailey-Rose, my scent-bonded Omega,” I answered. “Jonas didn’t tell you?”

“No, but that explains why he was so upset,” Mother said, pausing to lick her cracked lips. “When did you find her?”

“About a month and a half ago,” I shared. “But our pack didn’t bond until a week ago.”

“Hmm,” Mother hummed, giving my hand a slight squeeze. “That’s good. Now you will have what I could never give you. It never should have been me to get pregnant. Eden was the one who wanted children.” Tears started to fall down my mother’s cheeks.

Taking my cloth hanky out of my pocket, I dabbed at her face. “Mother, what’s done is done. I grew up and found my place in the world, people to love, and who love me in return. Mistakes were made on both sides, but we made our choices.”

“All I do these days is look over my life and all the things I did wrong. The two biggest regrets I have that haunt me to this day are how our greed and thirst for power as a pack cost us you and Eden. I stole her from you because I couldn’t find the room in my heart to let my Alphas love another woman. They were mine, and she didn’t belong with us… or that’s what I thought.” Mother stopped speaking, falling into a coughing fit that seemed to shatter her whole body.

Bailey-Rose grabbed the water and offered it once more. A few more gulps and Mother relaxed, taking a moment to collect herself. Dina, the nurse, adjusted the bed so Mother sat up a little more and shifted the pillows to offer better support. Mother hissed through her teeth, flicking her fingers in a manner I’d often seen when she was telling off a staff member. This made it clear to me that while my mother was reflecting on her life, it wouldn’t change the woman she was.

Turning her attention back to me, Mother continued with what she had to say, “Vili, I used to hate the fact you kept telling me you wanted to be nothing like us, but I get it. We are awful, selfish people who never think of anyone outside of ourselves. I know it was Eden’s influence in your life that saved you and kept you from becoming like your fathers. They want you to sell your share of the business so they can buy the rights to your designs. Promise me you won’t do it,” Mother begged, gripping my hand as tightly as she could. “Don’t let them steal what is yours. Those designs came from your heart, something they will never be able to do. However, that’s not all I need you to promise me.”

Confused by everything coming out of my mother’s mouth, I simply nodded, curious to see what more she felt I needed to say.

“When you leave here today, don’t ever come back,” Mother ordered. “We will have our goodbyes today, leaving nothing left unsaid and no reason for you to come to the funeral. I’ve adjusted my will to give all that is mine to you. You needed a loving mother, but all you got was a cold statue posing as a mother. I might not have been there for you as a child, but I will protect you now. No matter what happens with your fathers, you will be taken care of with the inheritance I’ve given you. Build a life with that money and raise your children right. I might not be able to atone for what I did to Eden, but I can do something for you, my son.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I bent to kiss her frail hand. “I forgive you, Mother,” I said but continued feeling it was important to be honest. “I might not love you, but I do forgive you so you can be released from that burden in the afterlife. Knowing Eden, she’d tell you the same thing. She wouldn’t want to be responsible for torturing you all these years, so take our forgiveness and be at peace.”

Mother let out a sob as she nodded. “That is far more than I deserve from either of you.”