When his father turned his back on the family, leaving them to pick up the pieces of their relationship, Nicholas Carter turned to the three people in life he knew would never leave him - his mother, his best friend Aiden and his brother Chris. 

Aiden left the country a few years later, while Chris left the world of the living. 

Now after the death of his brother, left with nowhere else to turn, with nothing but a strong hatred for himself and everything around him, Nick has given up all hope on love and trust. Even so, he is faced with a dilemma: Live, but he would forever live his life in torment. Die, but he cannot bring himself to abandon his mother the same way Chris abandoned them. 

With the return of his childhood friend and a stranger who just can't seem to keep his nose to himself, will Nick ever be able to find a way out of his Purgatory?

**Trigger/Content Warnings: Mentions of suicide, depictions of suicide, depression

Note: This is a werewolf story!

Purgatory

"Don't let go of good times, and let the bad ones know you feel fine, and wear your heart out on your sleeve. Love is all you need." 


The one week break from responsibility provides us with the bonding time I never thought I'd get - soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain dishes during dinner, soft chatter on the sofa, just the three of us. I learn a lot about Sylvia. I learn more about Mom than I have learned in all the years I have known her. The house slowly turns into a lived-in home, the only witness to our family moments. I find my cheeks sore from smiling, my throat dry from all the meaningless chatter, my eyes dry from mourning, yet brighter from better sleep. 


Chapter 38