The Secrets of the Panther

ALICE

THREE DAYS LATER

I watched her in the chair near my mother’s hospital bed. She woke up a day ago.

My mum wanted to know what happened, and I had to explain everything to her, including my father, which I left till last. Her intense emotions affected my panther and me more; knowing she was suffering made it more challenging as I knew I couldn’t do anything to help her other than sit here with her, holding her hand and telling her I love her.

My mum stares ahead, not looking at me. But the odd tear falls on her face as she just stares. I told Blake she was awake, which he was happy to hear, but she wasn’t in the mood for visitors. So my mother has seen no one except for me. I think seeing Allie will help her, but at the moment, my mum is a shell of the person she was, and I can’t figure out how to get her back.

I look at her face, and she looks so pale. I know she hasn’t been eating as she leaves everything that the nurses bring in for her where they left it.

I look towards the door, and I can sense someone outside. I get up from the chair and walk over to open it.

Standing there was Blake with Allie and Archer. I smile and move away to let them in.

All three walked in, and I closed the door behind them. I walk around them and sit back in the chair, not saying a word to them.

My mum didn’t move from her usual place.

Allie walks over to me and stands by the side. She looked at my mum, and I could tell Peanut was holding a lot of emotions back as my panther could feel something rolling off Allie but couldn’t place what it was.

After a few moments, Allie leaves the side of me, walks over to my mum, and places her hand in my mum’s hand. She brings her hand to her mouth and kisses her knuckles gently. My mum closes her eyes but turns her head and looks back at Allie.

“Auntie Kat,” Allie says in a whisper. “I love you.”

My heart breaks as the four-year-old plays nurse. She has the biggest heart of most people I know.

My mum rubs her eyes and slowly moves up the bed till her head leans back against the metal bar on the bed. She stares at Allie and gives her a small smile. “I have been waiting for my little angel to come and see me,” she says in a raspy voice.

Allie climbs onto the bed and sits on my mother’s lap without hesitation. Allie places her head on my mother’s shoulder and snuggles into her.

My mum closes her eyes and runs her fingers over Allie’s hair. I remember my mum doing that to me when I was young; she would do that when I was upset or needed a cuddle.

After a few moments, my mother’s eyes open again, and look towards Archer, who hasn’t moved from Blake’s side.

I glanced at his face, and he looked at my mum with emotion. It seems like he has the world on his shoulders.

My mum stretched her hand to him, but Archer didn’t move.

Archer shakes his head. “You’re mad at me,” he says with a sob.

My mum looks at him, shocked. “Why would you think that, sweetheart?” she asks, her hand still stretched to him.

Archer sobs.

Blake kneels to Archer’s level and pulls him into a hug.

Archer cries on Blake’s shoulder while Allie, my mum, and I watch.

After a few moments, Archer moves away from Blake and turns to Kat. “I was supposed to protect you and Todd, but I was scared. I wanted to, but…” he says, but he couldn’t carry on as the tears returned.

Blake looks at him with sympathy, but he gently rubs his back as Archer cries again. “Archer,” says my mum; I glance back to notice that Allie is now out of her lap. My mum moves and places her legs over the side of the bed.

I move and help her up; she looks at me and places her hand on my cheek. I can’t help but lean into it and close my eyes.

I open my eyes, and she mouths. “Thank you, and I love you so much, baby girl.”

I nod.

My mum walks over to Blake; she places her hand on his arm and gently squeezes it.

Blake gives her a small smile. I know he’s hurting, as Izzy’s still not awake.

My mum looked at the little boy staring up at her; she smiled at him. She places her hand on his shoulder, “My darling boy, you never should have to protect my mate or me,” she says with a strangled voice at the mention of my father.

I can see she is trying to compose herself for a moment. Once she does, she kneels, comes to Archer’s level, and puts her arms out to Archer for him to go into her arms.

Archer stares at her momentarily, but his arms slowly move away from Blake.

“Archer, you are one sweet boy,” she says. “You protected the one person in our family. That means more to everyone; you helped her escape, and I love you for that.”

Archer leaned over and wrapped his arms around my mother’s neck, and his legs wrapped around her waist as she stood up, holding the boy tightly in her arms; she closed her eyes.

“I’m going to look after you,” she says, making Archer move back and look at her.

My mum opens her eyes as a tear slides down her cheek. “I want to look after you. Would you let me?” she asks him.

I glance at the boy, who has a big smile. He hugs her once more. I can’t help but feel warm.

My mum turns around and looks at me. “Archer will be your baby brother,” she says. I can’t help but grin as I have grown fond of the little guy since the aftermath of this war, and I think he has everyone wrapped in their hearts, just like Allie has.

I smile as I watch my mother and Archer. “I would love to have him as a brother,” I say as Archer moves away from my mother and looks at me.

“You will,” he says, sounding shocked.

I nod. He leans over and climbs into my arms, and he hugs me.

My mum looks back at Allie, who has been staring at us all. Her eyes are full of emotion, but the pain of her mother not being here has taken its toll on her.

“Allie, sweetheart,” says my mum softly.

Allie is on her knees on my mother’s bed. She looks at her, but something is off.

Allie closes her eyes, and when she opens them.

We all gasped in shock; they were gold.

“I want mummy,” she says in a familiar voice.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“Young panther has power, just like her mamma,” says my panther in a small voice as she watches from my eyes.

I watch her.

Blake walks over to the other side of the bed, not taking his eyes off Allie. “I know, angel, but mummy is still sleeping,” he says. “She needs her rest.”

Allie stares at him with her gold eyes. “I want to be with mummy,” she says.

Blake moves towards her, but Allie does something that hurts Blake. She shakes her head and moves away from him.

Blake looks up at me. “I don’t know…” he says, but he can’t finish the words.

This must be hard for him, especially after feeling the rejection from Allie moments ago.

My mum walks back to the bed, never noticing Allie.

“Daddy is only helping Allie,” she says softly.

My mum turns to Blake. “How about Allie and Archer stay in the room with me? We can watch a film,” she says, “While daddy and aunt Alice have a lie-down.”

Allie looks at her and nods, but she says nothing.

Blake looks at Allie but turns to look at my mother. “If you are sure,” he says in a whisper. I could tell it was breaking him.

My mum smiles. “I’m sure,” she says, “Blake, sleep and do whatever you need. You can come and collect her in the morning.”

Blake nods and leans on the bed, and he places a kiss on Allie’s head.

Allie looks up at him and moves quickly, wrapping her little arms around his waist. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Blake closes his eyes but opens them, and he looks at me. “Well, Alice, you coming?” he asks, trying not to sound too hurt or ashamed for leaving the kids with my mother.

I smile and nod. “I am; I have to have a shower,” I say. I would do that anyway, but I was going back home to my mate, and I didn’t want to mention anything about mates in front of my mum.

Poor Paul has been staying and helping Blake with the kids while I sit with my mum. I kiss my mum on the cheek and say goodnight to the kids.

I leave the hospital room, with Blake following right behind me.

Once the door was closed, I glanced at Blake. “You okay?” I ask him, but he says nothing.

We walked through a corridor and turned, but another corridor on the other side led to more rooms. We stopped to look down the hall. I knew that Izzy’s room was down there.

“I’m okay,” he says as he stares at her door. “I need her to wake up. I need her, Alice; Allie needs her.”

I place my hand on his arm and give him a gentle squeeze.

“She will,” I say.

He nods, and we walk again and head out towards the front of the hospital.

“I’m going to the office; I haven’t been able to get much work done because of having the kids with me, even with Paul’s help,” he says.

I nod.

“I’m going home to my mate,” I said.

He smiles, “See you tomorrow,” he says as he turns away.

Blake walks away, and I head toward my home. I need to be with my mate and to be in his arms.