Bride To Be

[Denali’s POV]

“Mommy,” I whimper, hanging on to my mother’s limp hand. “Please don’t go. Don’t leave me.”

Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital bed. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my mother’s recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out.

“You’re going to be fine.”

For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasn’t able to come home.

Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the woman she once was, even when sick.

“Please, Goddess,” I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. “Please don’t take my mommy.”

How could I possibly continue on without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. 

As the daughter of an alpha, it was important that I be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasn’t able to keep up with his teachings. When I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes I would even be locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. Even when he was harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her.

“Denali.” My father’s voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. “It’s time.”

“No!” I wail. “We can’t! She’ll die! How can you…”

I don’t get to finish my words before my father’s hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side.

With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me.

“Mind your words, Denali,” he warns, his eyes flashing with rage.

“But…” I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. “Yes, sir.”