While the Starlight pack made their way toward the Snow Moon pack's territory, the Snow Moon and Moon Touched packs were preparing for their arrival. Alpha Mark, and Chip, the Beta from Snow Moon, were in constant contact with Alpha Lorn in case they needed assistance during the trip. Once the Starlight pack reached a certain point, they would have to abandon any vehicles that were not off-road capable, and some pack members would have to walk or shift to run in wolf form. Mark wanted to make sure a group of the Moon Touched warriors were on standby. No one knew for sure yet if all of the creatures and fallen angels had returned to their realms. Lorna and Demon went out every day searching and trying to find answers but they found nothing. Demon was surprised by this because most demons and creatures from the underworld try to stay behind and create mischief. He had explained that they would do this until Hades or Lucifer summons them home.
Lorna and Demon were walking in the woods, just outside of the gate, when she sighed, "I hope they get here soon. Crael says they are making good time but are being cautious. Do you have any thoughts on why we have not across any of your fellow underworld people?"
Demon smiled at how the angel referred to his kind as people. It made him feel accepted. since he came forward with little Leo, they had all made him feel part of the pack, and he was surprised his boss had not called him home. "I am thinking that because Hades did not care for this war and who was leading it, he decided to call everyone back home immediately."
"Why has he left you here and not tried to order you home?" Lorna wanted him to explain.
Demon shrugged and could only say, "I do not know. I am hoping it is because Lucifer is here and may need someone to watch his back from the underlings. While he is occupied caring for the souls in his keeping, many would deem this a perfect opportunity to attack him and take out the next leader of the underworld."
"I just don't understand why all of these beings want to fight all the time." Lorna huffed as they continued patrolling the forest.
Mark had finished his phone conversation with Alpha Lorn and decided to check to see how the twins and tose who were keeping vigil over them were fairing. Katia and Selene's situation had not changed at all. Lucifer could still feel their souls but they were not communicating with him. Nathan could not feel Katia at all anymore. Yet he sat stoking her hair for hours while he spoke to her. He told her stories of his childhood. He expressed his sorrow for what he had done to her countless times and begged her to forgive him. He begged her to come back and he would let her do whatever she wanted to punish him. If she wanted to be with Lucifer, she would allow her to reject him. Nathan told Katia of his dreams of her forgiving him and how they would have a happy loving future together. Nothing made her respond. He spoke to Selene also telling her the same childhood stories, begging her to make her sister forgive him, promising her he would protect the both of them to the day he dies. Or at least until Selene's mate makes an appearance. The same response was received from her. He did not forget Aza either. He stroked her coat lovingly as she was his wolf's mate and his wolf was suffering too. He brushed Katia's hair, Aza'a's coat, and Selene's hair until there was not a knot in sight. He even called Aza Wolfie as Katia did. Yet the three lay there, barely breathing.
Doc and Cora checked on them every few hours. Making sure all the tubes and machines were working properly. Doc would shake his head and mutter from time to time. Cora was more vocal with her tears when it got to be to much for her. She had seen Katia suffer so much and she was afraid that this was just too much for her. How many times could a person, goddess or not, be betrayed before they gave up for good? She asked Doc, her mate, why so many times he became frustrated with her. But it was true those girls have had to survive not just years but eons of torture, abuse, betrayal, and very little love. Cora wanted them to return so they could be loved properly. Like they should have been from the very beginning not used as pawns in the longest grudge ever held. Looking at Alpha Nathan broke her heart even more. The man had been an idiot, but he regrets it and really does love their little ghost. He deserved to have a second chance. All of them did.
Cora finished washing down Selene while Nathan finished with Katia. Kane helped by wiping Wolfie down so, just like her human counterpart, she got a bath, too. They used lavender-infused soaps, hoping the fragrance would keep them calm and relaxed wherever they were. Once they were finished and Lucifer returned from his shower, she asked if they needed anything else and when the two men answered in the negative, she left them to continue with their vigil.
Nathan decided to ask Lucifer about his feelings for Katia, "Do you love her?" He grimaced at how it came out but he could not help it. He was terrified that the fallen angel would take Katia from him.
Lucifer turned and looked him directly in the eye. He did not care that most Alphas took that as a challenge. "Do I love her? Yes, but not in the way you think. I love her for who she is not who I want her to be. I love for the scared little girl, who gave up and then came back so many times to fight so more, for the tortured and damaged person who fought to have some love and fun in her life for a short time. Who did not care that everyone did not understand that she and her sister were still healing from their long, long lives, and so many want to call them brats, immature, or selfish when those have not walked in their shoes? Most of all, I love her because out of all of this, she brings those to her who are in need, and she is building something great from the horror that has been her life. How about you Alpha Nathan, do you love her? I don't mean that stupid mate bond love, I mean if it was not there would you still love her? Would you see her?"
"They knew me when I was an angel in good standing and they stuck with me when I screwed up. They were there when I caused my fall from Zeus' grace. They never turned their backs on me like so many others. We played the fact that not many knew how close I and those girls were. I let everyone think I would capture Katia and turn her over. My plan was to act the part while helping to keep her safe." Lucifer wiped tears from his face and sniffled like a kid.
Nathan choked on his next words, but he had to ask, "Then why did you escort her to Uranus?"
"Because I could not talk her out of that stupid plan. She wanted to protect Selene and give Selene a chance at happiness. To feel what she had felt with you until that day. So I went with her and acted as if I was still working for Uranus, and I was able to watch over her. I was surprised when he did not kill her but I figured out pretty quickly he was up to something." Lucifer finished and then turned back to staring at the three bodies on the bed.
"Thank you, Lucifer." Nathan could not think of anything else to say to the man but thank you. The two men sat the rest of the night in silence. Nathan wondered what the future held for him and his pack. Lucifer fought with everything he had to hold onto the three souls barely hanging on to his. He whispered over and over in his mind, "Don't you dare let go. Fight all of you fight. This world needs you. I need you. Your mates need you. Fight damn it."
Marked entered the room quietly and whispered, "Any change?" The two men shook their head no and continued to stare into space. Marked walked to Katia's side, "Hey little ghost, how are you? I miss you. Think maybe you could come back? You are going to be so mad if you do not wake up to meet our very own vampire and demon." He petted Aza lying between them, and whispered to her, "Hi there, pretty girl. We miss your little pranks on Katia. Kelp is really missing you both, your gammas are lost without you." Finally, he reached Selene's side, "Selene, my friend, I miss you, our talks, and your sarcasm. I hope you three are trying to get back to us. I love you three, please come back. One more time, please."