“It’s breast cancer,” she continued. “It’s spread to my lymph nodes.”
Brock looked at her. What was he supposed to say? The world was crumbling and yet everything still looked the same. Four walls stood around the two of them. A machine in the corner beeped. Voices from down the hall floated in underneath the closed door.
Everything was the same and yet it wasn’t. It could never be again.
“What does that mean?” Brock asked. His voice cracked halfway through the sentence.
His mother licked her lips and reached her hand up to his hair. She was trying to soothe him. She was trying to console him when it should have been the other way around. “It means things aren’t looking good, my son.”
14
Are you going to die?
The question weaved it way around in Brock’s head but he couldn’t bring himself to ask. His mother still gazed at him tenderly, almost pitifully, like he was the one who was sick and needing help.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Brock’s heart just about broke in two from the pain. It was just like her to apologize for something like this. It made complete sense that she didn’t tell them until things got this serious.
“Mom,” he stammered. “Don’t be.”
Her mouth drew into a thin line. “I don’t want you and Brianna to be alone.”
“I’m not alone. Don’t talk like that.”
Like you’re going to die.
The words he couldn’t bring himself to say seared across his brain.
“Parents aren’t able to stick around forever.”
“Mom…when are we going to tell Brianna? She needs to know.”
“Today.”
Brianna was strong, but she wouldn’t survive this. Brock bit his tongue, using the pain to keep himself focused. If he didn’t somehow stay physically grounded he would go insane.
“I want you to think about your future, Brock,” she continued. Brock stared at her. What was she getting at? “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“You already said that.”
She patted his hand. “I mean it. You can’t spend your life keeping people at a distance, Brock.”
“I don’t.”
“Not with Brianna or your shifter friends, but face it, you won’t be happy alone.”
Brock’s eyes fell to the floor. There was no use denying her accusation.
“I’m tired. I need to sleep. Come back and visit me later. Bring Brianna. I want to tell her myself, okay?”
“Yes, but I don’t have to leave. I can stay with you right here...”
“No,” she sharply answered. “Go now. I’ll see you soon.”
The other six shifters already knew. Brock could see it on their faces. They stood in a clump in the waiting room, their shoulders sagging.
“It’s terminal, isn’t it?” Toby asked, but didn’t need an answer. “I’m sorry, Brock.”
The rest of them muttered their condolences and offered to help.
“She just needs to rest. I’m going out for a while, and will come back with Brianna.”
He saw the looks his friends exchanged. They had been asking if there was anything they could do for him. He’d brushed the question off because he shouldn’t have to answer it. The alpha of a pack led. He took care of them, not the other way around. Breaking down wasn’t part of the role. Today, they insisted on waiting there until he returned. Even now that he was leaving, they still wanted to be there for him.
Nash had brought Brock’s pickup truck to the hospital after taking Brianna home. For a loose cannon, the man had the presence of mind to do that for him. Leaving the hospital, he got in his truck drove off. Brock wasn’t sure where he was going, but at least the others understood he needed time alone.
He drove aimlessly, not sure what to do next. It was still dark out, but daylight was not far away. The streets were mostly empty, giving the town a ghost like feel. He was still driving when the sun broke across the horizon, filtering through the trees. That’s when he noticed he was closing in on Sky’s house. Again, her car was the only one in the driveway. Brock pulled up to his usual spot and trudged up the stairs. Sky was sure to be asleep this early. She often worked herself off her feet, and loved sleeping in on Sunday mornings. He was ready to turn back and go home, not wanting to wake her, but couldn’t bring himself to get back in the truck and drive away from her house.
Sky was more to him that he’d ever told her. Today he wished he had said something before. The woman could make his worries melt away with just her touch. He needed her then like he never had before. If he could bring himself to knock and wake her, he would tell her. Maybe he would just climb into her bed with her and sleep beside her.