Siren mated to the Alpha kings

Chapter 5 Ocean Thoughts

Brielles POV

I didn’t have time for this.

I stood up quickly, grabbing a few essentials and stuffing them into a small bag to keep in my car.

The entire time, my thoughts spiraled around Jason and his beta.

Could Jason actually be my dad?

No. There was no way.

We looked nothing alike.

And what the hell did he mean by I smell like him?

Who even says that?

I slammed my trunk shut and climbed into my car, my mind reeling the entire drive to the hospital.

Where would I even get a DNA test done?

By the time I arrived, my head was pounding.

I checked in at the front desk before making my way back to Mom’s room.

She looked exactly the same as when I left her.

Tubes shoved down her airway.

IVs connected to both arms.

Monitors blinking and beeping around her like cruel reminders that she was barely hanging on.

My chest tightened painfully.

I sat beside her, grabbing her hand for comfort while pulling out my phone.

I started googling places to do this stupid DNA test.

If that was all they wanted, then fine.

I’d prove Jason wasn’t related to me and get them out of my life for good.

After a few minutes of searching, I realized the hospital actually offered DNA testing.

The price made me physically cringe, but at least I wouldn’t have to drive somewhere else.

Besides, I didn’t want to use Jason’s money.

If it turned out he wasn’t related to me, I didn’t want to owe him anything.

Not a single cent.

Exhaustion eventually pulled me under, and I fell asleep slumped over Mom’s bed.

When I woke up, the monitors still looked just as bad.

Maybe worse.

Doctors had come in earlier explaining they were running tests on her brain activity.

She had gone too long without oxygen, and they weren’t sure how much function—if any—was left.

The thought made me sick.

While they continued running tests, I walked downstairs and paid for the DNA test myself.

The nurse swabbed the inside of my cheek while I stared blankly at the wall.

The odds of Jason being my father were slim.

At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

Once the payment went through, I checked my bank account and nearly laughed.

The test had completely drained me.

I’d be broke for the next few days.

But I still had gas in my car, and I could go back and forth between home and the hospital for food.

So… no big deal.

Right?

When I got back upstairs, one of the doctors was waiting outside Mom’s room.

The look on his face made my stomach drop instantly.

“Miss Brielle,” he said softly, motioning me inside.

I sat beside Mom again while he looked down at his clipboard.

“Your mother’s condition is not going to improve,” he explained carefully. “She’s relying completely on the ventilator to breathe. Her heart rate is weak and unable to remain consistent. It keeps dropping dangerously low.”

I felt tears welling instantly.

“And her brain activity…” He hesitated. “There is none.”

The room spun.

“She’s in a vegetative state.”

A broken sound escaped my throat as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Pain flashed across the doctor’s features.

“I’m sorry, Miss Brielle,” he said quietly before walking away.

Nothing more could be done.

Nothing.

I sat there gripping Mom’s hand while tears poured down my face uncontrollably.

This couldn’t be real.

This had to be a nightmare.

A horrible nightmare I was eventually going to wake up from.

Mom was going to open her eyes.

She had to.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

I looked up through blurred vision as a small older woman rolled in a portable computer.

“Hi, honey. My name is Darlene,” she said gently. “I’m just here to get some insurance information.”

I nodded numbly while she asked me question after question.

Then came the part that shattered me even more.

“So unfortunately,” she began softly, “your mother’s insurance will only cover one more week on the ventilator and monitors.”

I froze.

“With the diagnosis submitted by the doctors, we’re unable to continue long-term life support unless a weekly copay of one thousand dollars is made after this week.”

I swallowed hard.

I didn’t even make a thousand dollars a week.

“Are you sure there isn’t another way?” I whispered as tears streamed down my face.

Darlene frowned sympathetically.

“I’m afraid not, sweetheart.”

That was it.

I broke.

A deep, ugly sob ripped from my chest as panic consumed me whole.

How was this happening?

How could life be this cruel?

“I’m so sorry, honey,” Darlene murmured quietly before leaving me alone again.

I looked over at Mom.

I knew I was in denial.

But I couldn’t accept this.

Not yet.

I rushed out of the hospital room, barely able to breathe.

I needed a minute.

A minute to think.

A minute to plan.

A minute to fall apart.

I climbed into my car and drove straight to my thinking spot.

The ocean.

The place that always grounded me.

The second I parked, I practically ran toward the shoreline.

The cold air bit at my skin while violent waves crashed against the rocks like they shared my anger.

My knees slammed into the sand.

“Why?!” I screamed at the ocean.

My voice cracked violently.

“Why does everything have to happen to me?!”

I buried my face into my knees as hot tears soaked through my jeans.

Then suddenly—

A throat cleared behind me.

I looked up quickly.

Titan stood there, his expression unusually uncertain.

I rolled my eyes weakly.

“What do you want now?” I muttered.

Instead of answering right away, he slowly sat down beside me in the sand.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

I laughed bitterly.

What did I even have left to hide anymore?

These people were clearly stalking my every move anyway.

How else would he have known I was here?

“My mom…” My voice cracked instantly. “She’s— she’s basically dead.”

I broke down harder.

Titan’s face softened.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Brielle,” he said sincerely. “I truly am.”

“No, you’re not,” I sniffled angrily. “You couldn’t care less what happens to me. You don’t even know me.”

Without a word, he pulled a handkerchief from inside his suit jacket and handed it to me.

“How can you say that?” he asked quietly. “Of course I care.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t even know me. I’m literally a stranger to you.” I wiped my face roughly. “And just so you can relay this to Jason—”

“Alpha Jason,” he corrected automatically.

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered. “I already did the test.”

Titan shrugged casually.

“I know. I saw.”

My head snapped toward him.

“There’s no way,” I said immediately. “I was alone in that office at the hospital.”

Another shrug.

“I have my ways.”

Creepy.

I frowned at him. “ Why didn’t you just use the check he gave you?” He asked.

I stared out at the waves.

“I don’t want to owe him money.” I admitted quietly

“Alpha wouldn’t do that,” Titan said. “If he gave you the money, it’s yours.”

“Yeah, well…” I scoffed. “I don’t exactly trust random men throwing around thousands of dollars.”

Titan chuckled softly under his breath.

“Yes, but he did give it to you.” He repeated

I rolled my eyes, making him chuckle once more.

Then, just like that, he stood up and brushed the sand off his pants.

“I’ll see you around, Brielle.”

I watched him walk away without another word.

I didn’t even bother looking to see what car he got into.

At this point, it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered anymore