It had been a week since Katia’s family arrived and her father’s rage was still simmering below the surface. Her mother and sister tried their best to calm him and make him understand that maybe this was inevitable. That this attempt at the girls maneuvering Uranus had been different from all the others. Hyperion was hearing none of it. He knew that I had hurt his daughter in a worse way, and she ran into the enemy’s camp to get away from the pain I caused.
Cronos had gone in search of Lucifer to find out where he had taken Katia to hand her over to her grandfather. We now sat around the table, in the dining room, on the twelfth morning of Katia being gone. No one was eating anything. Most of those at the table barely tolerated Nathan, and he knew he deserved it. His own pack still followed him but did not interact with him unless it was necessary to do so. The Moon Touched pack interacted with his pack members as they had been, but none of the ranking wolves came around to visit or work together any longer.
His sister Dalia loved him and tried to convince her mate Kelp that Nathan had lost his temper because he was so scared for his mate’s safety. Kelp, one of Katia’s gammas, felt first hand his Alpha Luna’s fear that day and knew the emotional damage suffered by her was worse than ever. Nathan was her mate. He promised he would never hurt her. He ended up acting just like the others. It did not matter the reason. He really did not understand her or her position. Although Nathan was gaining a better understanding now of what it meant for her to live the way she had been for centuries. He was now really starting to understand why she behaved the way she did when she started to feel safe and not fear torture or punishment.
Suddenly, Cronos and Lucifer appeared in front of them. They all froze, staring at one another. Each of them somehow knew the news was not good. Cronos spoke first, “Katia has done as we thought. She went to Lucifer and asked to be taken to Uranus. Once there, she made a deal with our Father”. He said, looking at Hyperion, he continued, “In exchange for her life, Uranus will end this revenge and allow Selene to live the life she wishes. He will no longer hold a grudge against his sons or their children.”
Theia was openly crying at this point while holding onto her other daughter. Lucifer took over as Cronos started to choke up now too. “Uranus agreed to the deal and took her life instantly. He did grant her one wish beforehand and that was that none of you felt the pain of the bond breaking. That you just do not feel her anymore. He then gave her the final death of the gods.”
At that moment, Zeus appeared booming at them, “What has happened to one of my favored goddesses? Her soul is gone from the hall of souls. I heard the room give a great shudder and then a scream. When I entered, Guf, the guardian, was on the floor. Katia’s soul is gone.”
Selene screamed and fell to the floor crying. Theia, with her and Hyperion, put another hole in one of the walls of the pack house. Selene was on the floor repeating, “Why Titi Why? I will love you forever and never ever forget you. I will make sure your wolves are matched to the best humans possible and are always happy.”
Theia just held her daughter crying. Nathan’s sister, Dalia, had left with Kelp. They needed to let the rest of the packs know and the Alpha of Moon Touched. He knew his sister was devastated along with everyone else and it was his fault. His sweet beautiful little mate was gone, and he would never have that chance to make it up to her. She would never know how sorry he was and how much he truly loved her. Nathan did not know how he was going to live with himself now.
Hyperion asked Zeus, “You are sure? Was it Katia’s soul that was missing?”
Tears were running down his face with Hera now next to his side crying, “Yes, there is no mistake. It was her soul that was gone. She is truly gone, Hyperion I am sorry.”
Looking at Nathan now, Zeus said, “I am ashamed of your behavior. You were chosen to be her mate because you were such a good and fair wolf. I was proud that you were my son. You were born with qualities that took me centuries to learn.”
Nathan hung his head even further. Hera took pity on Nathan though, “Easy husband. You are irrational when it comes to me also.” Looking around at the other mated men like Katia’s father, she said, “So are you all when it comes to your mate’s happiness and safety. The boy might have acted in the wrong way, but he had the mate bond and his love for our Katia driving him.”
Walking over to Nathan, she took her right hand and reached out, lifting his head with his chin, “Remember that when you look to lay blame and condemn. Instead of blaming, remember Katia for what she did for her family. Her trade gave her sister freedom.”
Selene cried even harder, “I would rather have her. How can I go on without my twin? Every time we attempted to outsmart grandfather, we always knew we would return to one another when out human bodies died. Our wolves will be with us. Now there is nothing. No Katia and no Aza. I will never see her again.”
Hera went to Selene next, gathering her and her mother, who was crying so hard she could not speak, into her arms, saying, “Dear child, it will be hard at first, but take it from me who has already suffered through so many of my friends’ final deaths, it will get easier each day. Remember her, don’t shy away from memories, good or bad, because in the end they are all good.”
Hera handed the women over to Hyperion, looking at him, “As long as the gods and titans live on, she will also be with our memories. When the world forgets us or replaces us with other entities, we will still remember her.”
Lucifer spoke up then, “I was there. She did not suffer. In the end, Uranus still loved his granddaughter and cried when he took her life. He did it quickly. She felt nothing. Neither did her wolf.”
Speaking directly to Selene, Cronos said, “Her wolf went with her and will not be returning to be assigned to another like so many chose to do or to reincarnate with their human.”
Selene quietly said through her tears, “I know. Mine and Titi wolves are ours. We are one and we belong to one another. We end together.”
Cronos nodded and then told his brother to take his women home to grieve. He wanted a word with Nathan and then would follow. Zeus looked at his son and told him he would be back when the time was right. Nathan had no idea what that meant. He did not know if there would ever be a right time again.
After everyone had left and Nathan thought he was alone finally, he sat in his chair at his desk, drinking whatever alcohol he could grab. He was not drunk. Wolves did not get drunk. He wished he could for once numb this pain he was feeling. His door opened once more and the visitor he was waiting for was there. Looking at the doorway showed him that Doc was standing there.
Doc just stood staring at him. It was like he could not decide what he wanted to do. Finally, he said, “I begged you to stop that day. I told you no good would come of it. I put her back together so many times over the last few years in that goddess’ awful pack.”
Walking into the room, he continued, “I knew the damage that had been done to her emotionally as well as physically. Why wouldn’t you listen to me? Nathan, I keep standing here thinking how much I want to kill you now. You took from us the best thing that ever happened to us as a pack. I had to sedate Mark, he wanted to challenge you. I don’t know where we will go from here without our little ghost. She was our reason to rebel, to want more for ourselves as wolves, and to help others.”
Tears were running down his cheeks as Doc continued, “I know in my heart that if I or I let anyone else harm you, Katia would never have forgiven me. So, I won’t kill you and maybe someday I can forgive you for not listening to me that day.”
With that, Doc turned and left Nathan sitting there alone.