Human Novel 36

hapter 36 Chapter 36
“Growing up happens when you start having things you wish you could go back and change.” (“)
Cassandra Clare | *
Steve had brewed herbal tea for both mom and me, but none of us had taken a sip yet. She stared at
her hands, wringing them together and I watched the steam rise from my tea. I knew she was
gearing up to tell me something big, so I didn’t rush her.
I was still trying to make sense of what she had said about my dad just a couple of minutes ago. He
had stopped her from contacting me ~ could that really be true? I didn’t want to believe it, but I
couldn’t help but think of every time he’d brushed me off when I asked about my mom.
I knew she – and the fact that she’d hidden my existence from him for eleven years was a sore spot
for him. But had he really told her never to contact me?
“[ guess I’ll just start from the beginning,” mom finally spoke, and her eyes were glassy with unshed
tears, “You remember when we were living out of that dingy little motel on Burke Street? When you
were
eleven?” “Oh, definitely,” I smiled, “I remember that old little TV in our room. It only got, like, two
channels and you had to keep the satellite in the perfect position.”
My mom smiled ruefully. “God,” she said, “I can’t believe we really lived there – that I let you live
there for so long.”
“Mom, it’s okay,” I said, “It wasn’t that bad. We had food and electricity
“Oh, Clark,” she cut me off, “It was that bad, honey. You were just a kid, and I was doing my best to
hide it from you, but I was spiraling. My drug addiction was getting worse. I could hardly keep food
on the table for you. My debt was so bad that the only places I could live were off friends’ couches
or dingy motels like that one. And it was only going to get worse from there.”
I sat in silence and let her talk.
“Steve was the one who finally got through to me,” she said and placed her hand over his. They
exchanged smiles. “When I called to borrow money from him for the thousandth time, he finally
gave me a bit of tough love. He told me I couldn’t continue on like this, and if I did, he couldn’t
watch me do it. He told me I needed to get help. Real help ~ rehab.”
“All I knew,” Steve added, “Was that I was watching the woman I loved hit rock bottom and drag
the kid I love down with her.” “Well, you were the first one to get through to me,” she told him and
then turned back to me, “But the only problem with rehab was that I couldn’t take you. Most
programs were six months and that was too long for me to let you stay with a friend I trusted —
even Steve. I needed someone that could be your actual parent, your legal guardian while I was
away. It only left one option.” (7
“Let me guess,” I said, “My biological father.”
“I didn’t want to, Clark,” she said, practically pleading. “You have to know that I never wanted you
to be involved with his world. With
werewolves.”
I looked up at her in shock, glancing at Steve. He looked completely unfazed. I had been pretty sure
my mom knew about the existence of werewolves, but I had no idea that Uncle Steve was also
aware.
“Don’t look so surprised, kid,” Steve said, chuckling, “Your mom has told me everything. I’m well
aware that your biological father shapeshifts into a giant furry dog.” °)
I cracked a smile at that.
“and if you have to know,” my mom continued, “Had I known what your father was going to do, I
wouldn’t have brought you to live with him. I’m not sure what I would have done, but I would’ve
figured something else out. I wouldn’t have just let him take you like that.”
way that couldn’t have been faked. “I don’t unders
It was definitely a question best saved for my dad but I wasn’t here with him. I was here with my
mom.
“Well, you’ve been around wolves,” my mom smiled bitterly, “You know what they’re like.
Possessive and territorial. They want to be in control of everything — including their kids.”
,” I couldn’t help
n years,” she said, “He was incredibly angry with me. I think cutting
A tush of anger flooded through me. “Punish you?” I repeated, “You’re my mom! And it wasn’t just
you he was punishing. Keeping you away punished me too.” |”)
you have no idea how much I wanted to talk to you all these years. How much I just wanted to hear
your voice. I
ran
t? How many times had T been within a few mi
y didn’t you tell him about
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don’t know much about the
I shook my head. “Not really,” I said, “He’s never talked about it, but my brother – Sebastian — he
said it was a one-night stand.”
at this bar in Northern California Your father came in one night, looking like he had the weight of th
I cracked another smile and I saw Steve roll his eyes.
nd he confided in me. He didn’t tell me a lot of specifics at first, but eventually, he opened up.
I raised my eyebrows. “And that didn’t send you running for the hills?”
“It certainly surprised me,” she shrugged, “But I came around to it. I bought into your father’s entire
story — how he was terrified to let his pack down, how much pressure he was under. And I think he
liked talking to me. I had no idea about any of that stuff, so I was just an unbiased third party to hear
his side.”
“A pretty third party,” Steve chimed in.
“That too,” my mom smiled, “Everything started out platonic between us but I did have a little crush
on him. And then one night, he came in and I could tell he’d had a rough day. He drank more than
usual and he started sweet-talking me. One thing led to another and, well…he ended up back at my
hotel room.”
x, but I was also glad to have some answers. The subject had always be
u and you guys had the one- night stand
father told me that werewolves had soulmates but he conveniently left out the par
hat?” My mother took a sip of her tea.
your father’s arms, thinking this was the start of something special. As I said, I had a little crush on
him. But when your dad woke up, he just started freaking out. He began carrying on about how our
one-night stand was a mistake and should’ve never happened…and that’s when he decided to open
up about how he already had a mate, someone he was committed to. I was heartbroken about it, but
I wasn’t going to worm my way into his life if he didn’t want me there.
“Unfortunately,” she continued, “Two months and two missed periods later, I realize I’m pregnant
with you. I knew it was your father’s. I hadn’t been with anyone since…that’s when I decided I was
going to go at this alone. On my own.”
deserved to know about
rankly, I wasn’t thrilled about forcing you into that kind of world. The way he had explained things
to me…I didn’t want that for you. I was also scared that your father would take
ow up in the wolf’s den ei
Mom’s story was a lot to process. I had only ever had bits and pieces of my origin story growing up,
but finally, I had the whole tale. Her logic and her actions weren’t perfect but neither was my dad’s.
They’d both chosen to keep me from the other one, stealing and locking me away like I was a toy.
“But now that I’ve spilled my guts to you,” mom said, looking at me with curious eyes, “I want to
know why you’re here, Clark. Don’t get me wrong – 1am more than overjoyed to see you, but I also
know something must’ve driven you here. Your father would’ve never let you come willingly.”
I sighed. This had been the part I was dreading, but my mom was right. If she could tell the truth
about what happened with my father, I could tell her I was on the run from the most powerful
werewolf in the world.
sked, and she nodded. “How werewolves have their o
one, and suddenly they’ve got a soul mate? That’s all it takes?” He looked incredulo
contact and suddenly you’ve got the person
partner based on eye contact? Is it just me o
ople hype up the sanctity of mates my entire life,
ou know what all the tingles and the
Don’t pretend like you don’t.