Struggle for Love

Chapter 14 The Boy

Weeks flew by without a word from Sadie, Momma Beth, or Zachariah. I had seen Oliver once since the day I shifted in front of him and Natalia. I was really too busy with my residency to see anyone. Exams were coming up so any spare moment I had was spent studying or sleeping.

Every day brought me closer to my dream. Months whipped by without word from home and my pride wouldn't allow me to make the first move. I just remain focused on my goals. Natalia occasionally attempted to pull me from my work but I couldn't be swayed. I was nearly done and wouldn't be distracted. Oliver made the rare appearance but he seemed to be more understanding of the importance of my career so he didn't push me for my time.

It felt like I blinked, then I was on my last rotation at a pediatric clinic before the USLME exams. I felt lucky because Natalia was with me at the clinic. It had been years since I spoke to anyone back home. I kept telling myself that when this was all over, I'd go home and everything would be fine again.

The peds clinic I was working at was in an impoverished area of Atlanta. Every day seemed harder than the next. Sometimes, I'd come home and just spend an hour crying in the shower. I didn't understand how the world could be so cruel to such innocent creatures.

There were times during this last rotation that I desperately wanted to talk to Momma Beth but my pride always stopped me from making that first move. She would tell me that I was in the home stretch and the sooner I finished this, the sooner I could really make a difference and go home.

The last day of my rotation, a child was brought in to the clinic. I knew before I saw him, this was a rogue werewolf pup. He was no more than five years old with dirty blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. He had been dropped off at the fire station in down town Atlanta. When the paramedics brought him in, we were told he was in bad shape. When I laid eyes on him, I realized what an understatement that was. The small child was covered in bruises all over his face and only Goddess knew where else. My heart broke as I put myself in doctor mode.

"Hi. I'm River. I'm the doctor that is going to take care of you. What's your name?" I said softly to the little boy.

"Are you like me?" He whispered. I smiled kindly at him and nodded. He let out a sigh of relief. "My name is Liam Black." He whispered.

"Well, Liam, I need to check you from head to toe. We need to see if anything is broken. Do you know who did this to you?" His eyes began to fill with tears and I could smell the fear radiating off of him as he nodded.

"Can you tell me who did this?" I tried to contain the rage burning inside me. The little boy's eyes widened and he vehemently shook his head no.

"Hey, hey... its ok Liam. It's ok. Where's your Mom?" His eyes filled with tears but he stayed silent. I took that as a sign that she no where good.

"Momma said I would be safe with the fire truck people." He whispered. I nodded curtly.

"Well, how about your Dad? Hmmm?" Liam looked up with me and the fear that came off of him scorched my nostrils. The child's eyes grew to the size of a half dollar.

"Please, Ms. River... Please don't tell him where I'm at. Please!"

"Liam, it's ok. Hey, hey..." he began shaking in terror. Well I guess we know who did this.

"Hey, look... let's just check you out? Huh? Then we can figure out what to do." He silently nodded his little dirty head. I sighed as I removed all of his clothing except for his little Batman underwear. The sight before me made my blood boil and my stomach churn. Liam was covered in bruises, burn marks, claw marks and only Goddess knew what else made the rest of the scars that littered his little body. It looked like this little boy only knew pain his entire life. The physical scars were evident but who knows what kind of mental and emotional scars lied underneath.

I ordered his entire body to be x-rayed as well as a CAT scan of his abdomen. The x-rays showed evidence of old breaks in his arms, ribs, and left leg. The CAT scan showed no evidence of internal hemmoraging so at least there was that. I asked the nurses to bath him but I was soon called because he panicked and asked that "Ms.River do it". He wouldn't eat or sleep unless I was within his vision.

Pups always flock to wolves they see as powerful. It makes them feel safe so I assumed me being of alpha blood made him feel safe. When my shift was over, my attending took me aside.

"Dr.O'Brian." Said the stern pediatrician, Dr.Michaels.

"Yes?" I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

"Please... the boy only responds to you. He won't let anyone else near him. Please, consider staying. At least until social services arrive." Dr.Michaels always appeared to be a cold woman, like nothing here ever got to her. But the look in her eyes right now, said differently. This little boy, he really got to her. She looked on the verge of tears.

"What happens to Liam when social services arrive?" I asked.

"He will be placed in foster care until they find either a family member or someone to adopt him." My heart began beating erratically in my chest. What would humans do with a werewolf child? How would they handle his first shift?

"River, he's just a pup... an alpha protects the weak..." Blue whispered. I sighed.

"Have you called social services?" I asked her. She looked at me knowingly.

"Not yet... he needs love... and protection... from someone like him..." She said. I just stared at her. Surely, she didn't know what I was.

"I'll take him home with me. No one can know, Dr.Michaels. No one." I said, sternly. She nodded in agreement. We walked to Liam's room together. When we entered, the room was empty but his scent was strong. I immediately looked at the linen closet. I put my hand up so Dr.Michaels knew not to follow. I walked up to the linen closet and knocked softly. I heared a little whimper and knew he was hiding in there.

"Liam, tiny wolf... come out." I said gently. He slowly cracked the door and peaked his tiny head out.

"Ms.River, is it only you?" He whispered.

"Dr.Michaels is just over there. Why are you hiding tiny wolf?" I asked him.

"I heard the mean nurse say, someone was going to come and take me back to my Daddy." My heart jumped into my throat.

"Which mean nurse?" I probed.

"The mean nurse with yellow and pink hair." He whispered. Chelsea.

"Stay here with Dr.Michaels, tiny wolf." I said. He nodded his head and closed the linen closet door. I turned and walked back to speak with my superior.

"Stay with Liam. I'll be back in a minute." She gave a short nod and I turned to walk out the door and to the nurses station where a gaggle of nurse were laughing boisterously. Chelsea was in the thick of it all and I was annoyed that I didn't catch it before.

"Chelsea, can you come help me place a line in room twelve?" I said sweetly.

"Of course, Dr.O'Brian." She waved to her friends as she followed me into the room. As soon as the door closed I grabbed her by her hair and slammed her face into the wall.

"What do you know about that little boy?" I demanded, forcing my alpha aura out. She winced and bared her neck.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" She was lying. I turned her around and wrapped my hand around her throat, squeezing just enough to cut her air supply.

"Now, I'm going to let go, and we're going to try this again. But this time, be honest. Ok?" I let her go and she gasp desperately trying to replace the oxygen she was lacking.

"f**k you! I'm not tellin' you s**t, b***h!" She yelled. I growled menacingly as I punched her hard in the nose, with a loud crack. Yep. It was broke. I grabbed her neck again squeezing hard as my claw began to come out, digging into the delicate skin of her throat.

"I will rip your God damn throat out! Tell me now!" I boomed, crushing her with my alpha voice. I could feel her resolve slip. I loosened my hold just enough for her to talk.

"He's Alpha Black's bastard. His mother was a stupid f*****g omega. Alpha Black tried to get rid of them but Tanya's stupid ass got loose and I guess she dumped the little s**t at the fire station." She squeaked out.

"Where's Tanya?" I barked at her.

"Dead." She gasp. I felt rage building in me as fur started sprouting up on my skin.

"Who killed her?" I growled out at her. She let out a hollow laugh. I slammed her against the wall. "Who?" I seethe.

"Alpha Black paid some f*****g blood sucker." My heart dropped. Oliver. I let her go and she gasp for air.

"You stay the f**k away from that boy! You hear me?" She gave me the most sinister smile.

"f**k you, b***h!" She spat her blood at me, fueling my rage. I kicked her in the face knocking her out before tidying myself and returning to Liam's room.