Mellifuous ✔

Chapter 26: When Fear Takes Root

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The halls of the pack hospital were quiet, the sterile smell lingering faintly in the air as Santiago carried Eli in his arms. Will walked beside them, his steps slow and measured, his gaze never leaving their son. Eli's small hands clutched tightly to Santiago's shirt, his face hidden in the fabric as if the world was too big and too bright to face. Neither Santiago nor Will spoke. They had learned quickly that words didn't help—not yet.

The transition from the hospital wing to their part of the pack house was seamless, but the atmosphere shifted the moment they stepped inside their home. The familiar space, once filled with laughter and the clatter of tiny footsteps, now felt foreign. The silence pressed heavily against them. the other kids were staying with Grace and Conall for a few days just until Eli could settle inn again before their chaotic family dynamic got back to normal. 

Santiago set Eli down carefully on the couch, but the boy instantly curled into himself, clutching the stuffed bear he hadn't let go of since he got it back at the hospital. His eyes darted around the room, scanning the corners as if something might leap out at him.

Will knelt in front of him, his voice soft and soothing. "Eli, we're home now. You're safe here, sweetheart." He reached out tentatively, but Eli flinched, shrinking back further into the cushions. Will froze, his hand hovering in the air before he slowly withdrew it.

Santiago sat down beside Eli, his movements deliberate and slow, giving the boy space but staying close enough to let him know he wasn't alone. "It's just us, little one. Me, Papa, and you. No one else is here," he said gently, his deep voice steady and grounding.

Eli didn't respond. His small body trembled, his grip on the fox tightening as he kept his gaze fixed on the floor. Will exchanged a glance with Santiago, his chest aching at the sight of their son so utterly scared.

"We can do this," Santiago murmured quietly to Will, his tone firm but gentle, like a vow.

The hours that followed were slow and careful. Will suggested putting on one of Eli's favorite shows, hoping the familiar sounds might soothe him, but as soon as the television clicked on, Eli's hands shot to his ears. His breathing quickened, his eyes wide with fear. Santiago turned it off immediately, crouching beside the couch to speak softly to Eli, reassuring him that it was okay, that nothing was going to hurt him.

They tried dinner next, Santiago preparing a plate of macaroni and cheese—the comfort food Eli always loved. But when the plate was set in front of him, Eli just stared at it, his lips pressed tightly together. His hands didn't move from the stuffed bear, and his small frame remained hunched and tense.

"You don't have to eat, buddy," Santiago said softly, crouching beside him again. "But it's here if you want it, okay?"

Eli nodded, barely, but still didn't touch the food.

By the time bedtime arrived, the strain of the day weighed heavily on all of them. Santiago carried Eli to his room while Will stayed close, smoothing out the blankets on the nest and arranging Eli's favorite stuffed animals where he could see them. Santiago lowered him gently onto the mattress, and for a moment, Eli stayed still, clutching the bear to his chest.

But as Santiago and Will moved to tuck him in, Eli's panic surged. His small hands reached out desperately, his voice trembling as he cried, "No! Don't go! Don't leave me!"

Will's heart broke at the raw fear in his son's voice. He dropped to his knees beside the nest, wrapping his arms around Eli without hesitation. "We're not leaving, baby. We're staying right here," he said, his voice cracking despite his efforts to sound calm.