Chapter 1: Coma
POV: Emery
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a werewolf survived a fire? I haven’t, until now.
A woman covered in white gauze wrappings lies in a hospital bed in a coma. 75% of her body is covered in burns. Can you believe that six months ago her body was 80% burned?
To answer the question, what happens to a werewolf when they’re burned in a fire, this is what happens. Their wolf forces their body into a coma to preserve energy to heal themselves. It can take years for them to heal.
Until they’re healed, they will be stuck in this bedridden state. You might be wondering who is in the bed. It’s my aunt. Aunt Hayley was injured trying to save a couple of kids whose house caught on fire. She was on duty when she walked by and saw it.
There was no time to wait. She did what she always does: she helps people. Aunt Hayley hasn’t had an easy life, then again, has anyone? Her parents, my grandparents, were sick for many years. She took care of them.
Aunt Hayley is the type of person who puts others before herself. She trained most of her life to be a Zeta, a pack warrior. The rest of my family are all Omegas, including me.
“Miss. Farley?” Dr. Blake comes in. “Yes?” I ask. I normally talk to the nurses. The Doctor doesn’t always come by. My heart pounds in nervousness.
“Can we talk in my office, please?” He asks. “Of course.” This must be serious. I follow Dr. Blake to his office for further discussion about my aunt.
He sits at his desk while I sit in a chair on the opposite side of him. “Miss Farley…”
“Emery, please.” I corrected him. Miss. Farley sounds too formal to me. “Emery, we need to talk about your aunt’s care.” He says. “Ok.” I motion for him to continue.
“A serum has been developed that can speed up her healing ability, however, it does cost a pretty penny. With that being said, her medical bills are piling up, as I am sure you are aware.” He places some papers regarding the information he just said.
I look at the due balance for her care in this facility. Dread fills me. $50,000 overdue in payments. How am I supposed to pay this? “A-and with the serum treatment?” I ask. If I can help her get better faster, then I want to do it, of course.
“The serum will be an extra $10,000. I understand that times may be hard right now, but if you can not pay the balance due, then we will be forced to terminate her care.” Dr. Blake explains.
“Um, how long do I have to pay this?” I ask. I don’t have that kind of money. I’m just an omega. I work in the garden by the pack house. I’m barely getting by as it is.
“Three days and you will have to take her home with you.” Three days. How am I going to get $60,000 in three days? “I understand, thank you.” I leave the nursing facility with my mind racing.
$60,000 is a lot of money. I wish the insurance would pay for it. I spent weeks on the phone with them, only for them to do nothing. I have maybe $500 in the savings and that's it.
Pretty soon that will be gone too. Omegas barely get paid minimum wage despite doing everything for the pack. A pack couldn’t survive without Omegas.
My aunt was always paid a fair wage because she’s a Zeta. It takes years of training to become an official Zeta. From the moment you get your wolf, you are put into a career path. Some choose their paths while others are chosen for them. I never got a choice.
My choices were always up to my parents. They even decided where my money went and still do. I may be 18, but they still run my life.
My mother is a drug addict. My dad is a gambling addict and a drunk. Despite this, I still love them, so I take care of them. I pay my dad’s debts off when I can. I try to keep the drugs and alcohol out of the house, but they always find their way back in.
Aunt Hayley always came around to check on me, knowing how my parents are. She was my rock, and now I have to be hers. She doesn’t have anyone else and nor do I.
She lost her mate in a rogue attack and never had any kids of her own. In many ways, my aunt is like my mother. Sometimes I even wish she were. I wonder what she would do if the roles were reversed now? Would she just take me home and care for me herself?
I don’t know if I can do that. I have so much on my plate. I can’t trust my parents to be alone with her. I have to work. I can’t afford medical care, but I need it. My parents are in no state to care for her.
Would she come up with the money and leave me in the nursing facility? How do I come up with the money? I suppose I could ask for an advance on my paycheck and get another job or two. I’ll have to do this. I have to power through and believe we’ll all make it on the other side of the rainbow.
