Once everyone was gathered and seated at the table for breakfast, they dug in like they were starving. Nathan was glad to see Katia was eating a little more than she had been. She has a pancake smothered in butter and syrup with a piece of bacon and a sausage patty on her plate. He would have to remember to keep plenty of syrup around. He smiled to himself at watching her pour almost half a bottle on one pancake. She kept glancing to see if anyone was watching, as she was afraid someone would catch her.
As he looked around the table, he noticed the Snow Moon pack members watched in shock as their Luna ate her food as fast as she could. She was shoveling as much in with her hands as she could and barely chewing before swallowing it. Moon Touched members ate like this was an usual occurrence.
Nathan reached over and pulled her chair closer, “Sweetheart, slow down. No one is going to take your food. I don’t want you to choke.” Blushing, Katia immediately stopped eating and pushed her plate away.
Doc spoke up, “Alpha Nathan, our Alpha Luna was severely abused, as you are aware, food was withheld from her many times. When she did eat, most times it was taken from her, or she was accused of stealing it and punished. She learned to eat quickly or starve.” Doc paused to let what he said sink in with the others, “It is why she cannot eat much at one sitting. Eventually, she will be able to eat more, but it will take time. Just as it will take time for our little ghost to learn that she is safe, and no one will take anything from her again.”
Upon hearing Doc’s explanation of his Luna’s eating habits, Nathan was so angry that the fork he was holding was bent in half. Watching Katia was heartbreaking, she kept her head lowered and would not look at them. “Little one, look at me.” He said to her.
She slowly raised her head to look at him but sat there shaking. Nathan wanted to pull her into his lap, but he was afraid the movement would scare her further. He spoke calmly and quietly to her while looking her in the eyes, “I did not mean to embarrass you and would never do so purposely. I know you have had a horrible existence in this world, but I do not know all of what that consisted of. Please forgive me. You eat whatever way makes you feel safe and happy.”
It broke his heart that Katia did not touch her plate again or finish her meal. She did get up though and walked the short distance to him. Standing in front of him, she watched him for a bit like she was trying to decide what she wanted to do. Finally, she stood on her toes and kissed his forehead. Nathan reached out, pulled her into his lap, kissed the top of her head, and rested his chin there. He could still feel her shaking and wonder what Zeus was thinking when allowing these girls to try and live normally in this realm. Nathan was thankful for it because he had his little mate, but it was so hard to watch her deal with the aftereffects of the abuse.
Wanting to move on to something else, Nathan decided to deal with what to do with her pack and help to get them established. He motioned for Doc, Kelp, Eric, Mark, and Coral to join his ranking members at the Alpha table. “I think why we are all together, and it is safe to say that Katia’s grandfather does not know where she is right now. We discuss what is in the best interest of the Moon Touched pack. Katia gasped but did not say anything. She waited to hear what ideas everyone else had before she spoke about hers.
Mark, her beta, was the first to speak, “We would like to remain in our own pack and not merge with yours. No offense Alpha, you have a strong pack, and you take good care of them, but we would like to keep with our original plan.”
Nathan kissed Katia behind the ear while inhaling her scent and asked, “What exactly is the original plan?”
Mark did not waste anytime with the answer, “We have decided that those of us who are blood bound to our Alpha Luna want to remain together creating a pack that welcomes any who are looking for acceptance for who they are, have been mistreated, or just feel that they do not fit anywhere else. We will take anyone asking to join. Of course, there would be a trial period and all packs have rules that must be followed. We would have the same, but we will not tolerate any type of abuse, whether it is another person, animal, entity, supernatural, or abuse of power. We want to be a pack that offers healing and unconditional love for all, not just wolves.”
Nathan was impressed and could tell that this topic had been discussed in depth many times by the ranking members of the pack. Rubbing his mate's back and wondering why she had not had any input yet, “Alright, I can help you with meeting with the council to get your pack charter. There will be lots of paperwork to fill out and several meetings with the council to show you are all serious about this new pack and willing to take responsibility for all the pack members. A decision needs to be made as to who the Alpha, Beta, and gamma will be.” Nathan finished nervously. He did not want Katia to think he was trying to take her pack away, but she was his mate and Luna in his pack.
Finally, Katia stirred in their mines, “I have thought hard about who should guide the Moon Touch pack, as Alpha, Beta, and gamma, and Mark, I would like you to take the Alpha position.”
Mark flushed and stuttered, “Little ghost, I would be honored, but are you sure?”
Smiling Katia replied, “Very sure. You already lead the pack members, and they trust you.” Looking at Eric and Kelp, she asked, “Eric would accept the position of Mark’s beta? He and I once discussed if he was ever an Alpha, who he would like as his beta and gamma. His answer was Eric for Beta because of his level head and loyalty. Kelp that leaves you, and we would all love for you to remain the gamma. You know your job well and will always be one of my gammas, but we all believe you are strong enough to be gamma to more than one Luna.”
Both Eric and Kelp had tears in their eyes when they accepted their positions. Kelp couldn’t help himself and leaned forward to kiss Katia’s forehead. He jumped back quickly, so the Alpha understood he did not mean any disrespect. “Luna, I will need to remain close to you as one of your gammas. How will that be accomplished if I am also gamma to the Moon Touched pack?”
Nathan spoke up then, “My land is large enough for at least five large packs to live on and not get in each other’s way unless they wish to. I will sign the portion of land right next to the Snow Moon pack over to the Moon Touched pack, and you may build to live there. The two packs can work together to ensure the future and prosperity of the packs.”
Looking down, Nathan saw his mate beaming at him. She linked them quickly before the excitement in the room overtook everyone, “Two more things. First, I will be Alpha Luna to the Snow Moon pack and any pack that merges with them. The members of the Snow Moon pack are drawn to me and my light. Any who request a blood bond with me will become members of the Snow Moon pack. You will notice not everyone is blood bonded to me, only those who have requested it, and I will only bond with those that request it. They are my and my sister’s guardians, just as we are theirs. They are the individuals that have experienced the torture of this world and understand the tortures my sister and I have endured, so we may experience the gift bestowed on us from Zeus.” With that, Katia closed the subject and moved on, “Second, Doc and Coral both of you will work together to oversee the building of the hospital on Moon Touched land and will take the lead in training anyone who is wanting to work there.”
None of them could express their feelings the way they wanted to. They have been trying their best to protect and love this beautiful girl, and she has given them all they could ever ask for. Yes, she is a goddess, but she does not seem to care. Their sweet Katia wants to make it, so she, her sister, and everyone else have a life full of happiness and love.
Every person at that table silently promise one another that they will ensure that Katia and her sister the moon goddess win this time. That they get to have their normal life with mates, love, children, and among the species they love so much.