Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

The ride back to Ethan’s territory was tense. I switched between twisting around in my seat to make sure my mother was comfortable, and watching the rear view mirrors to make sure no one was following us. Ethan alternated between driving like a madman to get us out of that territory just a little bit faster, and slowing down to blend into traffic and hopefully lose any pursuit.
I don’t think I took a full breath until we crossed into Ethan’s territory. I know I was only able relax when we saw Ethan’s hospital.
My mother groaned at the sight. I took her hand.
“This is a good place,” I promised.
“You were actually here, very briefly,” Ethan added. “Your daughter started her search here, and followed every lead until she found you.”
“I never gave up on you,” I said.
My mother nodded and patted my hand.
Ethan ran inside and came back out with Dr. Lee and a proper gurney. Between the three of us, we got my mother properly arranged so that she could recline and ride into the hospital in comfort.
Dr. Lee insisted on seeing to my mother’s health herself, and on checking on me before she’d let me try any further healing.
“You did something very dangerous,” Dr. Lee scolded me gently. “I understand why you did it. In your place I’d have made the same choice.”
“But you’re still upset,” I guessed.
“I’m still worried,” Dr. Lee corrected me. “I want to keep your mother at least a couple days, to be sure she’s stable. You can wait that long to try any further healing she needs. Recover your own strength first.”
I agreed, and let Dr. Lee check me over. She determined that I hadn’t done any permanent damage to myself, but she prescribed me a high protein diet and several supplements.
My mother was in surprisingly good health for a woman who’d been in a coma for years, and neglected for most of that time. She would need several healing sessions to undo the damage to her muscles and bones, and her diet would have to be carefully monitored as her body adjusted to solid food again, but Dr. Lee was confident she would make a full recovery.
One of the wolf nurses made a soothing tea for my mother’s throat. After a few tiny sips, Mom was able to speak. Her voice was faint and hoarse, but I could understand her.
She wanted to know everything that had happened after the Rogue attack. I didn’t know where to start. And right as I began to speak, another nurse came to collect me so I could tend to Sable.
Although my pup was rallying, she still wouldn’t eat for anyone but me or Leo. So I had to make an excuse to my mother, that another patient needed me.
“Proud of you,” she said. “Go, I’m fine.”
“I’ll be right back,” I promised. “There is so much I have to tell you.”
The first thing I had to tell her was that she was a grandmother. I could hide Sable’s origins from Leo and Ethan and everyone else, but I could never lie to my mother.
Would she be ashamed of what I’d done? I’d tricked Leo. I’d lied to so many people. I did it all to keep her safe, but would she understand?
I fed Sable and rocked her back to sleep. I didn’t want to put her down. I knew that every day she grew stronger, the time when Leo and Eva would reclaim her came closer.
I could tell the truth, finally. My mother was safe and out of Eva’s reach. And it wasn’t like I could be more banished from my pack.
But what if Ethan rejected me when he learned how I’d tricked his friend? If he kicked me out of his pack, where could I go? Could I make a life in the human territories with my mother? What if she was ashamed of me? What if she rejected me, too?
I didn’t know what to do. I would start by talking to my mother. I wouldn’t lie to her. She was the one person I could give the whole truth to.
I hesitated, but in the end I left Sable sleeping in her bassinet. She needed to be monitored closely, and I didn't want to shock my mother while she was in such delicate health. I'd bring up the subject as gently as possible, and then bring the baby for her to see.
“Is your patient all right?” my mother asked when I returned to her room.
Already, her voice sounded stronger. The hospital bed was set so that she sat upright, and the only thing hooked to her was a heart monitor.
I nodded. “She'll be okay.”
“So, you have time to talk?” she asked.
I took a deep breath, and pulled a chair up by the bed. “Yes, I have time to talk. And I have so much to tell you. I don't know where to start.”
“The beginning is usually a good place.” She shrugged. “Although I would like to know why Arthur showing up was a bad thing. Why were you frightened of your own father?”
I winced. “Alpha Arthur hasn't been the best father,” I said.
Mom's eyes narrowed. “What did he do?”
“Well, it's mostly Eva, and Annette,” I admitted. “He just let them get away with everything.”
“Tell me.”
So I did. I told her everything, from Eva's bullying and the scars she left on my face, to her plans to manipulate Leo and force me to have his baby. I told her about how Eva switched out with me when Leo's wolf rejected her. I told her about the hours in the hidden room. I told her about Sable, and how she was taken from me. I told her about Eva's lies, and the cell.
“That bastard!” Mom snarled. From the growl in her voice you would never know she didn't have a wolf of her own. “I accepted it when he married that shrew of a woman in my place. I accepted being nothing but his 'human lover.' I accepted his excuses, that I wasn't part of the culture. I agreed it was best to keep you with his pack. I should have taken you and run!”
“I don't know,” I said. “I am a wolf. I, um, I shift. I have a wolf, and she's strong. I'm a healer.”
Mom looked at me. “You... you shifted?”
I nodded.
“Can I see? Please, can I see you?” she asked.
I was surprised. Mom wanted to see my wolf? I thought she'd hate it!
I couldn't deny her anything, though. I shifted, and my wolf nuzzled against her hand. Mom halfway dove off the bed to hug me. I ended up curled against her. My wolf was delighted.
“You're beautiful,” she told me. “I knew you would be.”
My wolf rumbled in delight. I shifted back, and settled back in my chair.
Mom leaned back. “So. I'm a grandmother?”
I nodded, worried she'd be angry.
All she said was, “When can I meet my grandbaby?”