Worlds Collide (Fan Service #6)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Wolf

Ten Years Ago

Taking care to not make a sound, I open the door to Mom’s room and make sure every movement is as quiet as possible when I see she’s asleep like I thought she’d be.

Her head is covered in a Hermès scarf like it has been since she shaved it three years ago when this nightmare began.

I cringe when the bag full of food I brought from the kitchen makes crunching sounds the moment I put it on the floor next to the bed. Mom stirs and I curse myself.

“My Wolf,” she whispers.

“Sorry for waking you, Mom.” I speak low too. This is the last thing she needs. She gets very little sleep regardless. I should’ve been more careful.

“I wasn’t asleep, just resting my eyes.” And they do look tired as those blue pools bore into me with so much love. “Did you bring your guitar?”

I nod and first get her lunch ready for her. The chef she hired two years ago knows the drill by now, so there’s healthy soup with a wooden spoon and a straw for her to use if her arms are too weak.

Watching Mom fade away little by little the last few years has been hell. She was always such a vibrant person, the definition of full of life, and now she can barely walk. I admit that I might have been staying in LA more frequently instead of at home in Carmel-by-the-Sea because the pain of seeing her like this is so fucking unrelenting. But she called me last night and asked me to come today, told me she wanted me to bring my guitar and I know what that means.

It means Aunt Lyla, her sister, and Birdie, my little brother will be out of the house all day to give us space to have a proper writing session. I know she had one with Hawk just last week, and even though I wish I could avoid it, I know I’ll regret it if I do.

Every writing session might be our last one, and that thought alone is unbearable, but it’s why I do need to make myself come here.

“I want to write about your father—” she starts but I cut her off.

“No,” I growl.

“Yes,” she interrupts me before I can protest any more. “This is about what I want, Wolf, not you. You’re going to help me tell the story of how two worlds collided, and how it caused the most beautiful explosion. How everything in the universe was brighter while that fire was alive, and how it’s only thanks to it that the two most beautiful creatures in the world exist. You’re gonna listen, you’re going to really hear what I have to say, and if at the end, even with that you’re not able to finally forgive me, then at least I’ll know I did everything I could. ”

“Mom.” I sob out the word. “There is nothing to forgive.” I speak through a closed throat and have to cover my face with both hands as I follow my instincts and let my chest fall on her legs. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Mom. I should’ve protected Birdie. I shouldn’t have made him mad.” My words come out slowly, through racking cries and harsh breaths.

“Come here, my Wolf.” I feel her tug on my arms and knowing she’s using more strength than I’m worth, I rush to move until I’m lying next to her and have my face buried in the crook of her neck. She croons softly at me, saying I did nothing wrong, that none of it was my fault, that she loves me.

I don’t know how long we stay like that, but long enough for my cheeks to feel stiff with the dried tears. Eventually I realize Mom’s humming a haunting melody, and without waiting for her to stop me, I stand and get my phone, hit record on the voice memo app and grab my guitar.

Clearly, we both have a lot to work through, and what better way to do that than doing what we both love the most?