Reclaiming His Abused Mate

A Rough Beginning.

The days fell into a fairly normal routine. I collected a truckload of Ben and Cole's toys and clothes, and made them pretty comfortable in the guest room nearest the kids. Luckily, they got along really well with Gwen and George, though Raine did her best to avoid them all.

by the start of the second week, I was splitting my time between home and the hospital, and my mom had taken up a near permanent residence in the first floor guest room. Meal times were the most hectic, with five kids to feed, my stomach hating nearly anything I tried to put down, compliments of the new little ones growing there. I found myself being very grateful they were all in school, and dwelling on how the pup I was currently cooking would be the baby of all six.

At night, when things finally got quiet, I spent most of my time overthinking. Devin and I had never talked of a future together, of a time when we could actually live as Mates, and have our pups all under the same roof. I had never dared to even day dream of such a thing. What if, when he woke up, he took his boys and left? What if he didn't want to be with me, even now? Duty had always been his main reason before, and I knew that Leah's death would hit him hard, and he would need space to grieve. Just as I knew no matter what happened, I would love him, and this little gift pup growing inside me.

By Day Ten, I called a meeting with Devin's doctor. I was really beginning to worry he might not wake up.

I walked into his office, on the same floor as Devin's hospital room, and sat on my side of his desk. He was on his computer, and didn't look up immediately. Ava was annoyed. This was our mate, and we wanted answers! When would he wake? Why hasn't he? Finally, after what felt like forever, but in reality was just a few moments, He looked up and met my gaze.

"All of Devin's brain scans have come back normal. The levels of poison in his blood are still high, but I don't think they are the reason for his unconscious state. I think he has mentally turned himself off, to process the trauma."

"Is there anything we could do, doctor? To bring him around?" I asked, hating the helpless feeling I couldn't seem to shake.

" There are things you can try, but nothing is guaranteed, and most professionals agree that in cases like Devin's, time is really the only way. He will wake when his mind is ready to deal with reality. While you wait, talk to him, read to him. Play music in his room. Have the kids talk on speakerphone. If Saturday comes, and he hasn't woken, bring his boys in for an hour. that's really all I can tell you right now. I know the waiting and not knowing is hard." He squeezed my hand over the top of his desk, and then I stood to go.

"Thank you Doctor."

After that, I took Ava for a run in the woods. We went to a trial often used by the other wolves in the area, changed in the changing rooms handily built by the parking lot, and we ran. Paws hitting dirt and moss and leaves, nose to the air, and the wind in our fur really helped us to process and ground ourselves when we were stressed.

For myself, I was so unused to the freedoms I had been experiencing the past few weeks. In that area, I was almost giddy with the feel of choice that now filled my life. I picked what I did, where I went, what I cooked. It was so freeing, and so eye opening to realize that nothing had really been left for me, not even the small simple things, like what brand of milk or what flavor cream for the coffee.

It was a heady, but also an overwhelming feeling. So many decisions to make, so many responsibilities I wasn't used to shouldering. And all while I was trying to work through my own trauma and insecurities.

On Day fifteen of Devin's coma, Saturday, I brought Ben and Cole in to visit with their father. On the way there, I let them know that their dad was still not awake, but that he might be able to hear them when they talked to him, and that they should tell him all about their last week, and school and stuff like that.

It was the that Ben spoke up and asked me if their mom was at the hospital too.

Choked up, and with tears threatening to spill down my cheeks, I shook my head no.

"Your mom isn't there, sweetie. Your dad will explain when he wakes up."

Cole spoke quietly once I was silent.

" Our Mom died, didn't she? Like Gwen and George's dad died? " Hurting terribly for them, I looked back at them fro the driver's seat.

"Yes, she died. She died trying to keep you boys and your dad safe. She loved you both so very very much." I told them. They were so silent back there, but I saw the quiet tears sliding down Ben's cheeks, and saw Cole tighten his arm around his brother's shoulder. I didn't think my heart could break for them anymore than it already had.

"Will she have a funeral? I know Gwen's dad didn't get one, because he was a bad guy. But our mom was not a bad guy, so she will have one, right?"

Cole asked, a hint of all the anger and sadness there in his voice. I had already made the arrangements for this, as I took had felt Leah deserved a proper funeral. I had everything set up, and waiting, waiting for Devin to wake up.

I met Cole's eyes.

"Yes Cole, there is going to be a funeral. Only, We are going to wait to have it till your dad wakes up, okay? That way, you can all say goodbye together."

He nodded, accepting that.

They sat there quietly for a while, and I patiently waited, not wanting to rush them through this hard, difficult process.

After a while, Ben spoke up. " Can we go in and see Dad now?" he asked quietly and I opened my door and got out of the truck. "Let's do that." I said, and they followed me into the hospital.