His wife’s dead body lays before him, covered with a white cloth. He half expects, half hopes to see her chest move and that the hospital had made some sort of terrible mistake.
Of course, they didn’t.
No, his wife’s body was so mangled…so unrecognizable that he at first couldn’t identify her. Her beautiful face…her joy…her everything is gone. Charles lets out a shaky breath, the horror threatening to overtake him.
“This is your fault,” he whispers out to the body, his hands shaking before he bangs his fist down against the metal, “this is your fault! I told you…I told you that we couldn’t live out here…that we couldn’t live amongst them and you…you insisted. You said Theo needed a more rounded experience and now…now you’re dead and the boy is traumatized for life. What am I supposed to do with him, Sara? You were the parent…you were the one who wanted kids and…”
“Hey,” a familiar voice speaks up as the door behind him squeaks open. Charles hurriedly wipes the tears from his face before glancing over at the witch. Her bottom lip quivers for a moment as she places a hand on his shoulder, “I just heard. Charles…I’m so sorry.”
“Your sorrow does nothing for me,” he growls out, “did they find who did this?”
“The shadow demons are gone,” she nods, “and the warlock that controlled them is already in custody. I told them that you get to see him first.”
“How kind of you,” he mutters as he takes a step away from his wife, “what about Theo?”
“His uncle is with him now. He’s…he’s been calling for you. You might want to check in on him before you go crazy on the warlock.”
“You’re probably right,” he nods as he takes one last look at her before stepping into the hallway.
When he makes it to his son’s room, he lets out a deep breath and pushes the door open. Austen is laying in the bed with Theo curled around his arm. Charles lets out a sigh as he steps inside and closes the door behind him. Austen gives him a nod before nudging Theo awake. The boy groans for a moment before opening his eyes, his face widening into a smile as his uncle climbs out of the bed.
“I’ll go fetch him breakfast,” Austen bows his head as he ducks out of the room. Theo’s eyes water as he sits up, holding his arms out for his father.
As much as Charles wants to race forward and comfort his son, he can’t. His legs stay planted in his spot, never moving as he looks down on the last reminder of his wife’s life. His son…this boy is everything Sara ever wanted and now that is ruined.
Everything is ruined.
No matter how much time passes or how much Theo’s pudgy face changes, he will only be one thing to Charles.
A reminder of what he lost and…the reason behind the attack. Of course, Charles will never tell the boy. The shifters have been a prime target for monsters, especially those trying to end the few pureblood shifters around. Charles had tried to get his wife to move to a secluded and safe community purposely set up to protect against certain attacks. She chose against it, stating that Theo deserved to grow up with the world, not hiding from it.
Sara had thought she was enough.
She wasn’t.
Without a word, Charles spins on his heel and leaves the child alone. He can just imagine what Sara would say to that. With a shake of his head, he slips past Austen and back into the hallway.
No, he will deal with the boy later.
Now is the time for revenge.
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