Welcome Home, Doctor Zack

Chapter 7

Zack

I couldn't ignore Ben's call anymore after one call that I didn't pick. The meeting had just kicked off but I had to get this.I excused myself for a second and called him.

“Hey buddy where are you, hurry. Now. It’s Zim, he’s been asking for you, says he wants to talk to you like right now.”

I felt that familiar surge of adrenaline inside me, the kind that comes with knowing someone needs you urgently. Zim wanted to see me. My son wanted to see me. Not later, not in a few hours, but now. I didn’t stop to finish my meeting, didn’t glance back. My mind was already racing through every possible scenario, trying to prepare for questions I wasn’t entirely ready to answer. Our last conversation went so well and i couldn't expect him to look for me any later. I looked at my phone and sent a quick text before I left.

Ben couldn't have overreacted when he called like this, something was definitely happening. Zim was upset, maybe scared again. Maybe he's experiencing the same things he ws trying to tell me.

By the time I reached the school, my chest was tight and my heart raced. I parked my car, my eyes scanning the school. I quickly sprinted across the playground, scanning every corner until I found him. There he was, small Zim, curled up in the far corner like the world was too much for him. Fear flashed in his eyes the moment he saw me but he tried to hide it. I carefully approached him.

He looked up at me, voice trembling. “So werewolf? That’s… is that… what you meant?”

My stomach dropped. I forced calm into my voice and held his shoulder. “Calm down Zim, don't be afraid, look at me." He raised his head slowly to meet my gaze.

"What happened? You can tell me anything, remember."

He started stammering, words spilling out in a rush. “Bibi, she said things… about werewolves…and..and they run faster than I do, much faster… Am I crazy, or are they crazy?” His voice cracked, and he buried his hands in his hair.

Fuck it, it had to be Ben. I regretted not warning Ben about mentioning anything to her. It complicated everything. I wanted to pull him close, tell him it would be okay, but I had to do it myself because he is my son. There was no need to hide it anymore. It would only get worse.

“Listen Zim, I need to tell you the truth." He was a bit shaky but this was it. "We… we are werewolves. All of us.”

His eyes widened, disbelief washing over him. “All… all of you? But… why? What do you mean? Why me?”

I paused. The truth was heavy, jagged. But he needed it. “Because… you’re one of us. You’ve been… changing. Feeling things you didn’t understand. It’s normal. Part of who you are.”

He blinked rapidly, trying to process. “Changing…? So… all the… stuff… I felt… the running fast… the smells… the… I’m not… I’m not crazy?”

“No you're not crazy Zim,” I said softly. “You’re learning. You’re… special.”

“Why?” His voice was small, breaking. “Why do you know this?”

The answer lodged in my throat for a beat, but there was no other way forward. I had to say it. “Because you’re my son, Zim. And your mother doesn’t know that I know.”

The silence that followed was unbearable. I watched every flicker of shock cross his face—the disbelief, the confusion.

Then, slowly, I saw it land. Understanding. His shoulders lowered slightly as the pieces began to click together. He tried to steady himself, to make sense of the storm inside. His expressions change each second without saying a word.

“So… that’s why… I felt… different. I thought… I was just… weird.”

“Not weird,” I repeated. “Strong. Brave. And… with time, you’ll learn to control it, to understand it, okay?”

“Brave?” His voice was small.

“Yes. Brave.” I let the word hang like a promise. I looked at him as he processed everything.

Slowly, he began to relax, the tension in his shoulders easing, his breathing slowing down.

I hesitated. I wanted him excited, but aware of Amy.

“Werewolves… but there are rules. Things you need to learn first. You can’t just go running off alone.”

Curiosity sparkled in his eyes, bright and mischievous. “Rules… mmmh. I can handle rules. I can… I’ll figure it out.”

And then came the questions, rapid-fire, the kind only a child could ask when discovering something extraordinary.

“Can I run too? Like… faster?”

“Yes,” I said, smiling. “But it takes practice. And patience.”

“I can practice. I want to… I want to see what I can do.” His voice was eager, almost daring. “Can I run fast? Really fast?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “But not alone. Not yet. You’ll need guidance."

He frowned, thinking. “So… I can't run anywhere alone. But… can I see the moon? And… the stars?”

“Yes.” My heart tightened at the wonder in his eyes. “You’ll see things differently. Hear things differently. Smell things… more than you ever thought possible.”

He tilted his head, processing, trying to absorb every word. His small chest rose and fell rapidly. “So… I’m not alone? You… Bibi… all of us… we’re together?”

“Yes.” Relief, pride, something like peace softened my own chest. He was beginning to understand. He was accepting it. Finally.

Zack hesitated, searching his son’s face. He could see the way his eyes looked confused, those eyes were hungry for answers. Zack exhaled slowly, deciding there was no turning back now.

“We’re stronger than humans,” he said softly, “faster, too. Our senses, hearing, smell, sight, they’re sharper. But more than that… we belong to the night. Sometimes, when the moon rises, we run. Not just for speed, but for freedom. The night is ours.”

Something sparked in Zim’s expression. His mouth parted, the fear now completely dissolved into wonder.

“You run? At night?” His voice carried a mix of awe and mischief. “Can I.. can I come with you next time?”

“Mmh,” I nodded, hesitant. My heart tightened. I wanted to say yes, wanted him to experience it, but… Amy. I couldn’t just let him go without her knowing.

He tilted his head, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Can I… join in?”

I froze. I wanted nothing more than to say yes. But getting Amy to agree? That was another matter entirely. My chest tightened with conflict.

Then Zim winked at me, that confident little spark I’d never seen before. “Don’t worry, I have a plan,” he whispered.

I let out a slow breath, a mix of amusement and apprehension. That boy… he was braver than I’d imagined and even wiser.

I watched him take a small step, testing himself, eyes alert to every sound, every movement. “I… I think I can do this,” he whispered, almost to himself.

“Not just think. You will.” I smiled trying to keep my voice light, hiding the storm of emotions inside me.

Amy

I arrived at the school with my usual mixture of worry and impatience, my chest tightening at the sight of him. Zim. But he wasn’t tense today, not my usual Zim. He was relaxed, smiling slightly.His expression softened the moment he saw me. The tension I usually felt melted a little. Beside him stood a girl I hadn’t met before. She waved shyly, and I immediately noticed how comfortable Zim seemed with her.

“Mom! This is Bibi my new friend, she's so cool,” Zim. said, practically bouncing on his feet.

“Hi,” Bibi said softly, smiling. “It’s nice to meet you.”

"She’s coming with me today,” he said, excitement threading his tone. “We’re going to her house tonight."

Zim tilted his head, looking at me with those big, hopeful eyes. “Mom… can I go? Please? I just want to hang out at Bibi’s tonight. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

The request caught me off guard. I glanced at the girl, who gave a polite little wave, then back at Zim. He looked hopeful, the kind of hopeful I hadn’t seen in him since we moved back. I studied him for a moment, seeing the eagerness and excitement on his face. I nodded, my heart lightening in ways I hadn’t expected. After the last few weeks, Zim’s previous school troubles and his odd behavior, the endless worries were fading and I was so grateful to see him smiling, interacting, laughing even. Bibi seemed confident, brave, a perfect little foil to my boy.

“Okay,” I said finally, softening. “But just for tonight. I'll come for you after work, you guys must be careful, watch over him Bibi."

Bibi nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. I promise we’ll be careful.”

Zim’s face lit up, and he grabbed Bibi’s hand. “Thanks, Mom! You won’t regret it!”

I watched them the laughter spilling, the ease between them. He had a friend. A real friend. They walked off together, Zim chatting animatedly beside her, and for once I didn’t feel like I had to watch his every step.“Okay,” I said, voice soft but firm. “Have fun.”

Zim grinned, eyes bright. Bibi waved shyly. I waved back.

When they were out of sight, I checked my watch. Nearly four. Work at the bar waited, as did the lingering worries of life that never seemed to pause. But for a brief moment, I let myself breathe.

My son had a friend, he had laughter, and for the first time in a long time, my boy was safe and happy. For tonight, that was enough.