As I've said this story arc was meant for something else, and while I decided to include Connor and Hugh in this book, I did not include the entire arc.
You're right about the earth mother: she must have something to do with the timing of his healings. In my opinion, she has been nurturing this special race for millennia, and it must have been disappointing when they closed ranks and gave up on finding mates. She holds no grudges though, and she has given shifters Tobyn and Kellar to get them back on track. Cheers!