Chapter 26

Sighing nervously, I stood in front of the wooden doors that led to the hospital wing. It had been just over 24 hours since my parents had been rescued and Nick had mind-linked me, asking me to meet with him urgently. After I spoke with James and Julianne, I had gone to bed and crashed. Utterly exhausted, I slept for most of the day. An easy escape away from the hell that had now surrounded me.

As I pushed the doors open, I was met with a flurry of activity. Healers and nurses quickly ran from one room to another to take care of the numerous patients that the hospital wing housed. Estelle, the lead nurse hurried over to me, a clipboard hugged tightly to her chest, as she extended one perfectly manicured hand out to greet me.

"Welcome, Luna,” Estelle smiled warmly. “It is nice to see you again. And you're looking so much better also!”
“Thank you,” I smiled warmly, shaking her hand gently. “Nick has asked me to come see him as a matter of urgency. Do you know where I can find him?”
“Yes, he is in room 5,” Estelle replied, looking somewhat despondent. “I believe that is the room both of your parents are staying in.”
“Is everything okay with them both?” I asked slowly, feeling a concern grow within me at Estelles’s expression. “What is going on, Estelle?”
“I think it's best if the Healer speaks to you,” Estelle whispered apologetically. “He knows more than I do, and he can explain what is going on in more detail. Luna, I’m ever so sorry!”

Hurriedly, I moved past her and made my way down the bustling corridor towards room 5. Just as I extended my hand towards the doorknob, the door swung open, and I was met by a concerned-looking Nick.

“Ahh, Luna. Welcome,” he whispered gently. “Please, do come in!”
“Please, doctor, don't beat around the bush. Tell me what the prognosis is,” I asked sternly, as I glanced across the room warily.

I gasped gently as I saw someone who looked like my mother, sitting cross-legged on the bed, gently rocking back and forwards while muttering to herself. A figure resembling my dad was standing at the window, peering silently out at the view in front of him. My father seemed relatively normal compared to the figure sitting on the bed. But after a closer look, I could soon see that he too, was muttering quietly to himself.

“What is wrong with them doc?” I asked shocked, feeling tears prickle at my eyes. “Are they going to get better?”
“I’m sorry, Luna,” Nick replied softly while sadly glancing over at my mother. “It seems the time that they have spent incarcerated has done them both some major damage. I believe it is also permanent. This is as good as they will both get I'm afraid!”
“What sort of damage? What are we looking at here?”
“Well, as you can tell, your father is slightly better than your mother due to not spending as much time encased in silver and wolfsbane. However, we have conducted multiple tests on both your parents, and it seems that in your mother's case, sadly, her wolf is lost forever. Your dad, however, still has his wolf, but in all sense of the word, his wolf may as well be lost.”
“What do you mean lost?” I asked confused. “They are werewolves. They can't lose their wolves, right?”
“Technically, a werewolf can,” Nick nodded grimly. “Your mother has spent a great deal of time encased in silver and wolfbane. Both of which have weakened her power and her connection to her inner wolf. Due to her connection being effectively cut, her inner wolf has died and passed over to the Moon Goddess. She has her wolf now.”
“Right. And my father's wolf?”
“He is still there, but he is incredibly damaged and weak. Your father's mind has also been frazzled, so any chance of him reconnecting to his wolf may also be lost. Your father has essentially lost his mind and over time, we fear his wolf will also pass.”

I gulped sadly, fighting to keep back the tears that wanted to flow down my cheeks. Julianne had dealt my parents a devastating blow. She had effectively rendered them both useless to the pack, and now they would be seen as burdens, as they could no longer protect themselves. Slowly, I walked over to my mother and gazed at her while I sat down on the bed beside her.

“Mum? It's me. Libby. Do you remember me?”

My mother looked up at me, her face gaunt, covered in a yellow, waxy skin while her lank, thin, dry hair hung limply around her shoulders. Her eyes seemed vacant, their sparkle gone, completely void of any human emotion or memory as she continued to mumble incomprehensible words. Her body trembled ever so slightly as if she had no control over her own movements - a former shadow of who she once was. This woman was once a mighty warrior for her pack, once feared by many and adored by those who followed her. Now, she was just an empty, living and breathing shell.

Sighing, realising that I was going to get nowhere with my mother, I turned my attention back towards my father. His prognosis was slightly better, and I was hoping that I could at least save one of my parents.

“Dad? I'm your daughter? How are you doing?”

My dad turned around and stared at me in confusion as if I had spoken a funny language. His face split into a wide toothy grin, one that resembled nothing like my father's as he clapped and pointed out of the window excitedly.

“Can I go out there? There are birds out there! I want to go in the pool!”
“Yes, there are birds out there,” I nodded, smiling sadly, realising that my dad was also long gone. “Do you like birds? Maybe we can go in the pool after dinner?”
“Yes, I think they are rather interesting. They can fly!” my father replied slowly and nodded enthusiastically. “I want to go in that pool. Can you take me? I want to go outside. I like outside!”
“Maybe in a minute,” I replied taking a step back and gesturing for the nurse to take over. “I just need to speak with the doctor.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked over at Nick and shook my head sadly.

“There's no hope. They are both gone!”
“Indeed. But now we need to decide what to do with them now,” Nick acknowledged while glancing gravely at his clipboard.
“What do you mean, what we should do with them?” I asked incredulously. “What are you trying to say? They can stay here, can't they?”
“We need to think long-term about their care,” Nick said gently. “Without their wolves, they will be considered weak within our pack. They will need our protection more than ever as they will be a target.”
“So, you're saying that they can't stay here,” I gulped sadly, feeling a knot of heartbreak ripping through me. “Where else are they meant to go? I am all they have!”
“They are going to both need around-the-clock care,” Nick explained, handing me a sheet with the results of their tests. “As you can see, they are going to need help with feeding and washing and cooking. Basic survival needs. There’s a nice place out in the human world where they could go. They have trained nurses there who can deal with people who have needs like your parents. They would be well looked after. I promise you. And being wolfless, they would fit in well.”

I nodded sadly. He was right. My parents couldn't stay here. They would have a massive target on their heads if we were ever attacked by rogues. Plus, with their current mental state, they would never cope with a rogue attack. It was kinder for them to live out the remainder of their lives as a human, down in the human world, as much as that was a bitter pill for me to swallow. I looked across at Nick who was watching me intently. I glanced at him sadly and nodded. I knew what I had to do.

“I will help you prepare them for their journey!”