Morel sat on the porch of the Maddox family home. Henry was also sitting there as they heard together the sound of Jace's pained screams. It had been like this for hours. Morel tried her best, hoping it would be as smooth as Aurora's awakening, but sadly, Jace had more control of his mind.
Jace realized what was happening and held onto his wolf. Morel forcefully tried for hours to get the boy to let go, but it was set in stone now. He held onto Jut and nothing would make him let go.
She could only isolate the house with a silent barrier. Morel stared out into the front lawn and sighed. She slowly stood up from her seat, glancing at Henry who was staring at her while biting his nails/
"Stay here," She muttered to the boy, who quickly stood and shook his head before rushing inside. Morel let out another sigh. She could have easily stopped him but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Massaging her aching forehead, Morel went back inside the house and went upstairs to Jace's room. His screams died down to grunts. He only screamed when he couldn't keep the pain down inside anymore.
Jason and Hailey were right by his side, still trying to get him to let go. "Jace, let him go. It won't hurt if you let him go." Jason pleaded with his son.
"No, Ach! No." Jace groaned out his response to his father's plea. Morel stood at the door watching the interaction before turning to Henry, who stood there half-peeking into the room with a sad but tired expression.
"Enough, it's useless. He can't let him go even if he wanted to now." Morel walked in and told them. "I'll help him with the pain now."
Morel drew into the air and whispered, 'Ingres del Tama verge Bolo.'
A light wrapped around her finger, and she then pushed it towards Jace. The light enlarged them and wrapped itself around Jace before seeping into his skin.
His groans died down a bit, he was still sweating profusely and seemed to be in pain, but it was much more tolerable. It gave Jace the much needed relief he needed to think more about the things happening around him.
Jason and Hailey couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at Morel. Their son's pain was lessened and they were grateful for that.
"This can't completely erase his pain, but it can't make it manageable. He'll get accustomed to the pain before long. It's only the more painful parts he won't be able to handle," Morel explained to them.
"Then what do we do now?" Hailey asked Morel. "I mean will he be in pain forever?"
"No," Morel shook her head, " His wolf is dying. No matter how delayed it is, it'll probably take two weeks, maybe a month."
"It will die, and you'll feel it, that was your choice. " Morel said to Jace, who was weakly staring at her panting softly. "I'll check in every three days. Good luck."
The last part was said to Jason and Hailey. Morel then disappeared from the spot she was standing. Leaving the family alone.
After two tiring days, everyone in the house was just about ready to pass out. Jason tiredly rubbed his eyes before moving closer toward Jace.
"Go, huff huff, the pain, huff huff, is not that bad, huff huff, go to bed all of you, huff huff, please," Jace told them while panting, cold sweat dribbled down his forehead, but the pain was much more manageable.
But it still hurt like crazy, Jace felt as if he was being skinned alive and then thrown in hot lava before being bathed in ice-cold water.
Seeing his family's tired faces made Jace feel guilty. Maybe if he had let go then everyone would be happy. But where would that put him?
When Jace first entered the void, he felt if he didn't grab onto his wolf it would disappear forever.
Even as the pain first descended on him he held tightly refusing to let go. Hours of mind-numbing pain and he finally felt a slight ease due to the witch.
How long had they been awake, he wondered. This can't continue. No, it mustn't continue.
"Please, huff, huff." Jace pleaded. Seeing he was pleading with them the three exchanged looks. Though they didn't want to leave, they also didn't want to stress him out even more.
"Jace is right, let's all go give him some space." Jason decided to say. Jace gave his father a grateful glance as he ushered the mother and son duo out of the room. "Shout if you need anything, son. We'll be right here."
Jace nodded his head as he gave his father a pained smile. He had to adjust, it was worrying seeing his family like this.
When the door finally closed, Jace steeled himself. Tonight he would adjust himself. He'd make the pain tolerable to a certain extent and show his family he was okay.
Jace pushed all his chaotic feelings and emotions into a corner of his mind, locking them away.
He couldn't deal with it, not with the rejection or betrayal. And most of all, he couldn't deal with the fact his wolf was dying.
Jace spent that entire night adjusting without letting a sound out of his mouth. Only when the sun was high in the sky shining brightly did the young man finally close his eyes and sleep.
Henry sat in the living room, his eyes were bloodshot. Though he was sent to bed, he didn't get much sleep.
He was expected to go to school but he just couldn't bring himself to. Jason saw Henry was still out of it and decided to let him rest and reflect.
"You gotta go to school tomorrow bud." Jason walked into the living room and told Henry.
"Can I not go? What do I even say? People are going to notice his absence." Henry grumbled lowly.
"I already told you what to say. Say he's being punished for the parking lot incident." Jason sighed and told Henry.
"Sigh, I just don't know dad, why does it have to be this way?" Henry put his head into his hands and sighed.
"Son, whether you like it or not we need to keep moving forward. You still need to go to school and then there are Jace's beta duties you'd need to take over." Hearing his dad talk about Jace's beta duties made Henry shoot to his feet and cut him off.
"Woah, Woah! Dad, what the heck are you talking about? Jace's beta duties so soon?" Henry exclaimed. Jason looked at his son and nodded.
"Well, who else is going to take over? Surely you knew this?" Jason frowned and asked Henry.
"Of course, I knew, but I assumed it would take months!" Henry cried out.
"Months? Then aren't we just advertising something is wrong? Don't be silly, Henry. The sooner the better," Jason explained.
"No dad, this can't be. It's too soon," Henry argued.
"Life goes on, " Jason sighed, rubbing his forehead. Henry stared at his father in disbelief.
"Life goes on? How can you say that, dad? You're telling me to take over what he trained his entire life to be like it's nothing." Henry shouted, enraged by his father's words.