Nathan had just returned from his pack lands right next to Moon Toucheds. He wanted to make sure that Chip was not having any problems and check the patrol reports. The patrol reports were clean; there had been no more fighting or sightings of the enemies. After speaking with Chip, Kane, and his sister, Nathan grabbed a quick shower and changed into clean clothes. He really needed to shave and thought about a quick nap. Sleeping sitting up did not afford very restful sleep, and he was afraid if he laid down for a short nap, he would not awaken like he wanted. Nathan was sure he would sleep through the rest of the day and night. He did not want to do that he wanted to get back to Katia. He had a feeling something was going to happen and was afraid he would not be there to say goodbye to his love. He didn't think either of the girls was going to awaken, and he would only get to hold her as she left for good. The both of them needed more time with each other but Nathan was sure his time with her had run out. It was not fair, that they had so much to deal with and no idea some of the issues were outside influences.
Whle spending so much time with Lucifer, watching over the girls, they had nothing better to do but talk. They had come to know each other well in all those hours together. They really had no idea that they were coming up on a week and Lucifer was holding as tight as he could to each girl's soul. Nathan had heard all about the twin moon goddesses from the moment they were born and on through what, in Nathan's mind, amounted to eons of the lives they had lived and were murdered each time. Lucifer had been with them from the beginning. He always watched over them, most of the time without them knowing. He truly loved both girls for who they were and not for their title and power. He played whatever game Uranus had wanted to play to try and help them. He was fiercely protective of them, and now their new protector was just as fierce. The blonde wolf Gaia had called Zor lay at the bottom of their bed and only moved to go for a run in the morning and evening. Now that he and Lucifer had finished exchanging their histories and the moon goddesses, he would have to remember to as Lucifer if he knew who the wolf was and why he never shifted into his human form.
Nathan moved a little faster as he finished dressing. He could not shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. Sitting back in the room the three girls had occupied since their arrival, he had started to doze off. He cracked his right eye open to check and make sure the three on the bed were still breathing and nothing had changed. Jumping up and throwing his chair backward he screamed, "No!"
Lucifer jumped awake and looked startled. He asked, "What? What is it?" He looked at the spot between the two girls where the wolf was. She was gone. The blonde wolf was whining and pacing around the bed.
Nathan growled out, "Aza, she just disappeared. She was there and then she wasn't. I don't know where she went. Is this another trick? Is Uranus still alive somewhere?"
"No. He is dead. It is not a trick. Calm down, let me search inside and see if they have left." Lucifer spoke quickly because he wanted to check his mind to make sure the twins were still there. He wanted to calm Nathan first and make sure he did not do anything that could make things worse. Gaia helped them; this was not an easy situation for such a strong Alpha. Seeing Nathan was waiting patiently, Lu quieted his own racing heart and mind, searching through the darkness and memories he found them. Hanging out with his soul and quietly speaking with one another. He did not stay to listen to their conversation; when they were ready, they would communicate with him and return to their bodies. As he moved to go back to Nathan and let him know he still had the girl's soul, he noticed the third soul that belonged to Aza felt different. It no longer felt completely like an individual soul. It felt more like her soul was joined with Katia's like it should be.
Nathan watched for what seemed like an eternity as Lucifer stood looking like he was in some kind of trance. Zor nudged his hand and he absently petted him between his ears. He guessed it was the wolf's way of helping him stay calm while they waited to find out what was going on. As Lucifer started showing signs of coming out of the trance, he seemed to be in the Zor, seated himself next to Nathan. Finally, Lucifer moved to sit back down in the chair he had been occupying and said, "I still have their souls. I think that Gaia joined Katia and Aza once more and that is why the wolf disappeared. Joined with her, human will not allow her to be separate any longer. They are of one body and two minds once more. This means that the wolves should be able to heal them quickly now, and if that happens, there is a good chance they will awaken soon.
Nathan was too skeptical to believe it was going to be that simple. He asked Lucifer, "How will we know if they are going to awaken? If they do not will they just slip away without ever opening their eyes again?"
Lucifer spoke carefully, trying to choose the correct words, "If they are going to awaken, they will let me know that is the plan so I will not fight to hang on to their souls. I will let them go so they may return to their bodies. Otherwise, they will try to slip away quietly so as not to put undue stress on my soul and to keep me from fighting them leaving."
Nathan felt defeated. He did not know how much longer he could handle the uncertainty of what was going to happen. They already had Doc and Cora on standby, so if the girls awakened and needed to be sedated, it could be done quickly. No one knew what kind of damage had been done to their minds from any of this. Their bodies were a different story. Doc has had them hooked to an IV and heart machines since their arrival. He even put a feeding tube in all three of them. Nathan noticed that Mark was there and cleaning the fluid that leaked out of the tube left behind from when Aza disappeared. Mark looked to the other two men, and Lucifer filled the Alpha of Moon, touching in on what had happened.
As Mark was finishing with the clean quilt he had put over the girls, the blonde wolf jumped onto the bed and lay at their feet. Mark gasped, "Zor? What? Where? How?" He then sat next to him and stroked the wolf's silky fur while speaking with him. "Look at you, you are such a big boy and so handsome. I see you have grown and your fur is so thick and soft feeling. I am glad to see you and that you survived. I should have known our little ghost would be involved somehow. She always wanted to help you. She knew how much you tried to hold him back and help her. She knew how badly it hurt you, one of her babies, to have to fight his human."
Nathan was shocked to hear the man talk to the wolf-like an old friend. It was like he knew the wolf better than he knew the man the wolf was matched with. He asked, "You know this wolf?"
Mark looked up, startled, and nodded, "I do. This is Zor, Alpha Thomas" wolf. Zor fought his human companion every step of the way when he started mistreating his fated mate and other women. When he decided to buy little ghost, Zor was beside himself with anger. He knew who she was from the beginning even though she did not. He did everything he could to keep Thomas from killing her. The problem was because of Thomas' depravity and sickness of the mind, Zor was weak and scraggly. We thought that when Thomas was killed by Alpha Lorn, Zor had decided to take the wolf's death and not reincarnate with another human."
Nathan explained, "Zor showed up with Gaia in the other realm and refused to leave the twin's side afterward. When Gaia was finished with her task she told the wolf to remain he was not finished here yet."
"Ah, so our Alpha Luna sent you to the great mother to nurture you and get you ready for your destiny. I should have known she saved you and sent you to the one who could help you most." Mark patted the wolf's head and stood. "If everything is okay for now, the starlight pack has arrived, and Alpha Lorn is asking if he may visit with Katia and speak with you for a moment."
"Send him in," Nathan replied.
While waiting, Nathan and Lucifer moved the girls' positions slightly, trying to ensure their muscles didn't stiffen. Then, they straightened the sheet and quilt covering them. They made both girls as presentable as they could. The girls were naturally beautiful, at least they thought. As they reseated themselves in the chairs next to the bed, the door opened, and Lorn walked in.
He walked toward the bed, "Nathan, I am sorry to hear, what is that smell? I have smelled it since we arrived but it is so strong in this room. Do you smell it? It smells like cocoa and cherries."
Nathan could only smell his mate's sweet scent, and it was not what Lorn had just described. Lorn continued toward them while sniffing the air. Once he was beside the bed, his eyes widened, and he stared at Selene.
One word escaped his mouth, "Mate!"