Chapter 81 HIDDEN SON
Asher's Pov
I was sitting on my bed, idly tracing patterns on the blanket, when Nurse Sarah came in to check on me. She looked unusually bright, almost bouncing on her heels, a wide smile lighting up her face. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and I immediately knew she had news—or at least something she couldn’t wait to share. Her energy was infectious, but it also made my curiosity spike, wondering what could possibly have her this thrilled during a routine check.
"Big day today Master Jaxon," Nurse Sarah said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Your mother is having her blessing ceremony. Everyone in the pack is going to celebrate the new baby," Nurse Sarah said.
I didn't say anything. I knew Nurse Sarah meant the mean lady when she said mother but the mean lady wasn't my real mother. My real mother was the blanket lady.
"Can I go watch?" I asked even though I already knew what she would say.
"Oh no sweetie. It's too crowded and you're not feeling well. You need to stay here where it's safe," Nurse Sarah said.
"I feel fine today," I said and that was sort of true. I still felt weak but not as bad as usual.
"I know but your father gave strict orders. You stay in your room during the ceremony. It's for your own good," Nurse Sarah said.
After she left, I got out of bed and went to the window. From there, I could see people gathering in the distance, their movements slow and purposeful. There were so many of them, all dressed up nicely, colors and fabrics catching the light. Laughter drifted faintly through the air. I pressed my hand to the glass, wishing I could be out there with them, part of the celebration, instead of being stuck alone in this room, watching life happen from afar.
I went back to my bed and picked up the handkerchief that the blanket lady sent me. It still smelled like her even though it had been a few days. I held it close to my face and breathed in the smell.
It made me feel safe. Like someone out there cared about me.
Iris the kitchen maid had told me that the blanket lady was coming to the ceremony. She said the blanket lady wanted to see me and that she was fighting to get me back.
I didn't really understand what that meant but it made me happy to know she was thinking about me.
The guard outside my door walked past and I could hear him talking to another guard.
“Man, I wish I could watch the ceremony,” the first guard muttered, leaning against the wall with a wistful grin. “I heard they have the best food catered—stuff you can’t even get in the city. Makes you wonder what it’s really like in there, all fancy and glittering, while we’re stuck out here on duty.” His eyes flicked toward the pavilion, just a hint of longing in them, as if he wished he could trade places for even a few minutes.
"Maybe we can sneak away for a few minutes when it starts. Nobody will notice," the second guard said.
"What about the kid?" the first guard asked.
"He's not going anywhere. Look at him. He can barely walk across the room without getting tired," the second guard said.
They both laughed and walked away. It made me mad that they thought I was so weak. Maybe I was weak but that didn't mean they should laugh about it.
I got out of bed again and went to the door. I pressed my ear against it and listened. I could hear people walking by in the hallway. Lots of footsteps are going toward the ceremony.
Then it got quiet. Really quiet. Like everyone had left.
I tried the door handle even though I knew it would be locked. But it wasn't locked. It turned and the door opened a little bit.
My heart started pounding in my chest, each beat loud in the sudden silence. They had forgotten to lock it—or maybe they hadn’t thought I’d actually try to leave. Either way, the opportunity was there, impossible to ignore. My pulse raced as adrenaline coursed through me, sharpening my senses. Every sound, every shadow felt amplified, and I knew that if I moved carefully and quickly, I could slip past unnoticed. This was my chance, and I couldn’t waste it.
I knew I should probably stay in my room like I was told. But I wanted to see the blanket lady. I wanted to know if she was real or if I had just been imagining her this whole time.
I looked back at my bed and saw the handkerchief lying there. I went and grabbed it and held it tight in my hand. If I were going to find the blanket lady I needed to bring this with me.
I opened the door all the way and looked out into the hallway. Nobody was there. Everyone must have gone to the ceremony.
I stepped out into the hallway and my legs felt shaky. I hadn't walked this far in a really long time. Usually, the nurses just let me walk to the bathroom and back.
But I kept going. I held onto the wall for support and took small steps. I didn't know where I was going exactly but I knew I needed to get closer to where all the people were. That's where the blanket lady would be.
I made it to the end of the hallway and cautiously turned the corner. There was a window, and through it I could see the ceremony grounds stretching out below. The crowd was massive—so many people, far more than I had expected. The tents, decorations, and clusters of wolves in their finest attire made the scene almost surreal. My chest tightened as I watched, heart hammering. So close, yet still so far from him, and every second I lingered made the anticipation almost unbearable.
I pressed my face against the glass trying to see if I could spot the blanket lady but there were too many people. I couldn't tell who was who from this far away.
I needed to get closer. But I was already getting tired. My legs hurt and I was breathing hard. Maybe this was a bad idea, I should go back to my room before anyone notices I was gone.
But then I thought about the blanket lady and how she sent me the handkerchief and how Iris said she was coming to see me. What if this was my only chance to meet her? What if I went back to my room and I never got another opportunity?
I took a deep breath and kept walking. I found some stairs that went down toward the main floor. I held onto the railing and took them one at a time. It took forever but I finally made it to the bottom.
Now I was on the main floor where all the fancy rooms were. The ones I wasn't allowed to go into. I walked past big doors and paintings on the walls. Everything looked so nice and clean. Not like my room that smelled like medicine.
I heard voices coming from up ahead and I ducked into a room to hide. It was a closet full of cleaning supplies. I waited until the voices passed and then came back out.
I kept going until I found a door that led outside. I pushed it open and felt the fresh air on my face. It felt amazing. I couldn't remember the last time I was outside.