Chapter 2: Mother In Labor

COLBY’S POV

All the air in the room disappeared when father entered, making it difficult for me to breathe. As fear coursed through my body, I turned my gaze to the floor, unable to meet his eyes.

“I asked you a question, fool.” He growled again, his red eyes flashing with anger. “What are you doing here?” He asked.

My tongue dried up and I couldn't utter a sound. The silence in the room was crushing, like a vice slowly tightening around my chest. I just stood there, motionless and mute, like a store mannequin on display.

Luckily for me, mother came to my rescue.

“Fenris, he is with me.” She stood up.

As her voice filled the room, father's shoulders tensed and his fists clenched at his sides. I could feel the rage radiating from him, but for the moment, it was directed at mother, not at me.

“Of course I can see that Alyssa. I mean, why is he in our room? What is this scum doing here?” He snarled. It was evident that he was already losing it.

“He is our son. YOUR SON!!” She shouted back, stressing her last sentence to make a point.

“This thing can never be my son. You hear me? This good-for-nothing omega can never be my son.” He bellowed.

“Oh, so now his name has changed from Colby, to good-for-nothing omega? Your own seed that was birthed by my womb? Fenris I don't understand you anymore.”

“You don't need to understand me Alyssa. Just understand my rules. My first rule is that this trash should never come close to you, so he will not infect the child in your womb with his omega blood. The second rule is that he should not step inside our room.” He said sternly.

“Why are you treating him like he's got leprosy. Colby is like every other child in this pack. He yearns for his father's love. Can't you see?” Mother stressed with pain in her voice.

Fresh tears cascaded down my cheeks as I watched her defend me.

“Oh spare me your honeyed words, Alyssa.” Father voice thundered through the room, causing mother to flinch in surprise.

She teared up instantly. “Fenris please. You need to stop being this way to him. He's your...”

“Shut your mouth Alyssa and don’t interfere again.” Father interrupted with a harsh reprimanding, directing his dominating aura towards mother. “It's an order from your leader.” He snapped.

Her shoulders dropped and she sank onto the bed, her eyes downcast and her face pale. She looked like a wilted flower, crushed by the force of father's words.

I was barely enduring the heated argument. But when father turned to face me, settling his raging eyes on me, my heartbeat slowed down and life drained speedily from me.

“As usual, you are always depending on people to help you speak. Don't you have a mouth? Or have you suddenly gone mute? Why can't you do something by yourself for once in your fucking life?” Father scowled. He took slow steps forward, advancing towards me without removing his hateful eyes from me.

Sweat seeped from my pores, and I shivered, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I clutched my chest, trying to stave off the feeling of fainting that threatened to overwhelm me. With each step father took towards me, the more quickly I felt myself succumbing to that inevitable darkness.

What was my offence? What had I done to deserve this much hate from father? Why was he treating me like this?

More tears gushed out from my eyes and the words stumbled out of my mouth. “Fat-t-her p-pl-ease...” My voice broke as I tried to speak, and my body racked with sobs.

His glowing red eyes blazed with rage, and his voice shook with anger. “You dare call me father?” He spat out angrily.

He neared me, his raised hand trembling in fury. And before I could say one more word, his huge palm landed on my face with a force that made me stagger and fall to the floor.

“Do you know the disgrace and sorrow that you've caused me by just being alive? Do you know?” His words cut through me like knives.

He made a slight bend towards me, his open palm going up again. My heart pounded erratically in my chest, and I felt a sweat breaking out on my brow.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I focused on breathing, but I couldn't seem to slow the panic that was rising up in my chest. I knew that my life would automatically become zero percent if his rough palm touched my face again.

But just as I braced myself for the second slap, I heard a scream from behind me. Mother's scream.

“FENRIS!!!” She shrieked. Suddenly, she collapsed on the floor, writhing and crying as she held her swollen stomach.

Dread enveloped me as I took in the sight of her. “Mother!” A piercing scream escaped my throat and I crawled weakly on the ground, moving towards her. But pain fired round my body and I halted, leaning back against the wall behind me.

Father rushed to her and cradled her head in his arms. “Alyssa what is wrong?” He asked with worry.

“It’s broken.” She responded, raising her wet hand to father's confused face. Her face was contorted in agony, and her breathing had become strangely uneven as she battled with the pain that was biting her insides.

“What is broken? Alyssa speak to me.” Father urged impatiently.

She gave out a pained hiss.“The baby, Fenris. The baby is coming.” She whispered and father's eyes widened in fear. He scooped her into his arms with care and turned to the door.

Our eyes jammed and his countenance became hardened again. “You devil! You see what you've caused?” He shouted and I closed my eyes in fright, trying not to imagine what would happen to mother if he wasted more seconds in the room.

“Pray nothing happens to her and the baby. Else, I will kill you with my bare hands.” He threatened. And by the time I opened my eyes, he was gone.

Mother had gone into early labour because of me. What will happen to her?

“Dear moon goddess, please keep my mother and her baby safe.” I mumbled a short prayer, but it was not enough for me. I was not convinced because the fear in my chest kept telling me otherwise. I needed something satisfying.

I forced myself to stand, defying the darkness that threatened to overwhelm me. And I left the room, trailing father with the scent of pine that lingered in his wake.

“Mother please don't die. Mother please don't die...” The hurried words rolled off my mouth like a mantra, as I walked. It felt like a prayer, a plea to the moon goddess for help.

My fear had roused Varo my wolf, and he started kicking and struggling, trying to take control. But I shook my head sadly.

“Not now Varo. Not now.” I voiced weakly.