LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S / KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
"Doctor Lorry," Eden says between bites, "Do we still have a long way to go before we reach your house ? You know my father and the royal warriors are probably tracking us down now," he then adds, his voice tinged with worry.
The external parts of my body freeze at Eden's words while my heart is set ablaze. I lose my self-confidence about the escape and begin to envision how the Alpha King Jason Bentley and his army of devoted warriors find our position and mercilessly beat the hell out of me for "inducting" the Alpha heir of the South pack.
Nonetheless, I manage to stay calm and attempt to dissipate the tension in the air. I glance at Eden as if I was surprised by his statement and that there was normally nothing to be worried about.
"But sweetheart, what makes you think that?" I then ask him while faking disbelief at his concern.
Eden looks up at me with those innocent brown eyes and explains himself: "Daddy always says that if I ever get lost or taken, he'll search the whole South pack land and beyond to find me with the help of the royal warriors and their infatigable dogs."
I swallow hard, realizing I've underestimated how much Eden understands what is actually going on: a kidnapping by his own doctor.
But why is he allowing me to take him away without any resistance or complain? Certainly because just like me, he feels our congenital bond. I'm his mother and he's my son. As simple as that!
I thus take a deep breath, and finally give an answer to the anxious toddler.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. We're going somewhere safe where actually no one can find us. It's still a bit of a journey, but we'll get there very soon," I reassure him while smoothing his hair.
Eden nods, seeming satisfied with my statement. But as he finishes his bread, I notice a slight tremor in his hands.
"Are you feeling alright, Eden?" I ask, my medical instincts kicking in.
He shakes his head, his face becoming suddenly pale.
"My tummy hurts again," he whimpers.
I quickly check his temperature, alarmed to find he's burning up. His symptoms are flaring up again, likely exacerbated by the stress of our escape. I mentally curse myself for not bringing more of his medication.
"It's okay, sweetheart," I soothe, trying to hide my panic.
"I know of some herbs that can help. I just need to find them," I tell him as I stand up to look around me.
I scan the surrounding forest, desperately searching for the medicinal plants I need.
"Eden, I need to look for some special leaves to make you feel better. Can you stay right here and be very quiet for me?" I request.
He nods weakly, curling up on the soft grass. I hate leaving him alone, even for a moment, but given the urgency of the situation, I have no choice. So I move swiftly through the underbrush, gathering the herbs I need.
Out of a sudden, I hear Eden cry out in distress. I race back to the clearing, my heart in my throat. And to my horror, I find the spot where I left the kid empty. My heart pounds as I frantically search the area, calling his name in a hushed voice.
"Eden! Where are you?" I whisper urgently.
A faint whimper catches my ear. I follow the sound to the edge of a small ravine, where I find Eden at the bottom of a shallow cave. He must have wandered off and fallen in.
"Mommy, I'm scared. I can't climb out" he cries, tears streaming down his face.
"What? Did he just call me mommy?" I say inwardly as I'm shaken up by Eden's innocent and spontaneous expression.
My heart bounces at hearing him name me like that for the first time, but I push aside the emotion to focus on the crisis at hand.
"It's okay, sweetheart. I'm here. I'll get you out," I reassure him, frantically looking around for something I can use to pull him up.
As I search for a long branch or vine, a massive black bear out of nowhere emerges in front of us, its beady eyes locked on Eden in the cave below. My blood runs cold as I realize the danger we're in. Even without my wolf, my heightened senses can feel the lethal threat radiating from the enormous and fearsome predator.
Memories flash through my mind of stories I've heard about bear attacks - how it once took several strong werewolves to bring one down. And here I am, alone and without my wolf, facing this monstrous creature with only my fragile human form to protect my unwell six-year-old son.
The bear lets out a terrifying roar and charges towards the cave. In that moment, all rational thought leaves me. Pure maternal instinct takes over as I throw myself down into the cave, shielding Eden with my body just as the bear's massive paw swipes down.
Searing pain rips across my back as the bear's claws tear through my flesh. I cry out in agony but hold firm, keeping Eden pressed against the cave wall behind me. The bear roars again, rearing up on its hind legs to deliver another blow.
I brace myself for the impact, knowing I likely won't survive another hit but determined to protect Eden with my last breath. Just as the bear begins to swing, a blur of gray fur launches from the trees above, slamming into the bear's side.
A massive wolf, larger than any I've ever seen, engages the bear in a vicious battle. Teeth and claws flash as the two beasts grapple, their roars echoing through the forest. I watch in awe as the wolf matches the bear blow for blow, its speed and agility giving it an edge over the larger predator.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the wolf manages to drive the bear away. The massive creature lumbers off into the forest, leaving behind a trail of blood.
As the danger passes, my adrenaline fades and the pain from my injuries hits me full force. I slump against the cave wall, struggling to stay conscious. Eden clings to me, sobbing quietly.
"It's okay, sweetheart," I murmur weakly. "We're safe now."
The wolf approaches the cave entrance, its golden eyes fixed on us. As I watch in amazement, the wolf's form begins to shift and change. Within moments, the Alpha King Jason stands before us, his chest heaving from exertion.
"Doctor Lorry, Eden" he says softly, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and anguish. "I've found you at last," he then declares.
The pain in my back is unbearable, rendering me unable to respond to Jason's call. In a desperate attempt to escape the agony, I focus on my surroundings, watching as Jason frantically searches for a way out of the cave.
And just as he brings a sort of a grappling hook and is about to climb down the cave, I suddenly hear the fierce barking of dogs and the voices of the South pack's royal warriors drawing closer.
My vision begins to blur as the soldiers and their vicious pets approach our hiding spot. My body trembles with fear as I realize that they have caught our scent. The pain and shock of everything that has transpired overwhelm me, threatening to pull me into unconsciousness.
Struggling to stay awake for Eden's sake, I manage to whisper two words: "Your Majesty,"
"Please... protect Eden," I plead with what little strength remains in my voice.
And then darkness claims me.