Nathan and his Beta Chip were in his office discussing the different places Uranus could be holding Katia. Dalia came rushing in with rosy cheeks and looking horrified, “Did you demand Hyperion’s presence here, big brother?”
Nathan grunted, “Yes, and it is none of your business. I have my reasons.”
“Do not take that tone with me. Brother or not, Alpha or not, you will not talk to me like I am an imbecile. Besides, Kelp had already informed me of what was happening.” She said with her hands or hips.
“What the hell? This was to be kept quiet until we knew for sure how to get to her and bring her back alive”, Nathan bellowed.
“For the love of the goddess, Hmm, I wonder when we say that, which one are we calling on? Katia or Selene. I will have to ask Selene when I see her next, which will probably be in the next few moments, since my brother has a death wish.” His sister rambled at him.
Nathan rolled his eyes and said, “Was there a reason you came rushing in here?”
“Nope, just wanted a front seat to my brother’s death for being stupid.” She quipped back at him.
She looked at Chip then and addressed him, “You might want to bring some more chairs in here and line them along the wall over there, Chipper.”
Looking confused, Chip asked her, “Why?”
Smirking at the two men standing in front of her, she looked directly into the emerald eyes of the tall muscular man with the reddest hair she ever saw on a person and said, “Well when I sold the tickets to Nathan vs. Hyperion, I promised there would be seats.”
“Tell me you didn’t,” Chipper said.
‘Oh yes, I did. My brother continues to be a stupid idiot. So, I decided I would make money off it. Like they do on those wrestling shows on television.” She stood with her hands on her hips and turned back to Nathan, “You made me some good money big brother. Now the betting has begun as to how long you will last against a titan.”
Nathan's face was so red that it was almost purple, “Dalia, mother and father did not spank you enough as a child.” He instantly regretted saying it when he saw the look of pain on his sister’s face at the mention of their parents. Before he could apologize and hug her, Dalia stuck her tongue out at him and ran off.
Shaking his head, Chip said, “Kelp has his hands full with her, especially since Katia has been showing them it is okay to live happily and have fun during stressful times.”
Nathan stopped then and looked at his best friend and said, “Is that what she has been doing? Teaching women that it is okay to still live, be happy, have fun, even in the worst of times?”
“Really, Nathan. You didn’t see that? Yes, she was doing things she didn’t get to do as a child growing up and missed out on, but she was also teaching a lesson to all of us adults.” Chipper explained to him like he was the stupid idiot his sister called him.
Nathan stood wondering what other things he missed that his mate was doing. Was he that thick-headed and blind because all he could worry about was her safety? Was his father like this with his mother? He didn’t think so. His father understood his mother. How did he do it though? Nathan was like his sister at times like this when he needed advice. He wished his parents were still here, so he could ask them.
Like any of the other gods, Hyperion appeared without an announcement and was right in Nathan’s face, “You demanded my presence boy?”
Nathan hated it when his father-in-law called him boy. So, he quipped back, “Sure did, old man.”
“Old man! I’ll show you old man.” Hyperion stuttered out as his fist connected with Nathan’s jaw, snapping his head backwards.
Goddess that old man was strong and did he pack a punch, Nathan thought to himself. His sister was right. He must have some kind of death wish. He might die today, but he was damned if he would go without a fight.
Clearing his head, he threw a right punch back at Hyperion, snapping his head backwards. The man just laughed at him and motioned him to keep coming. Nathan ran forwards, grabbing the older man around his middle and pushing him backwards. Hyperion quickly got the upper hand and turned it around. Lifting Nathan like he weighed nothing, he threw him across the room. Nathan landed on his desk, which gave under the weight of his body, hitting it and broke into pieces. Nathan heard a crowd of people cheering and booing. Looking quickly around the room, he saw people standing against the walls. He wondered when they had arrived.
Hyperion was egging him to get up, “Get up, boy. I am not done with you yet. I owe you much more than that for what you did to my daughter, but my mate and other daughter says I cannot kill you.”
Nathan staggered back to his feet and put his fist back up in front of his face. That was when he realized that Hyperion was not using any magic or his powers on him. He was just fighting like a wolf or human would. Nathan’s training kicked in, and he was finally able to land a few punches, knocking Hyperion down. The old man would get right back up though, and when Nathan went down it took him a few moments to get back up.
The two men had been going at it now for fifteen minutes or so and Nathan was a bloody-bruised mess. He was pretty sure a couple of ribs were broken and at least two fingers. Hyperion looked right as rain. Did not act like anything was hurt. Whereas Nathan was holding his side, when not trying to throw another punch and limping, trying to dance out the way of more of Hyperion’s fists.
Another ten more minutes had gone by, and Nathan knew he should just stay down. He couldn’t. He may not be a titan, but he was just as good as one and could hold his own if needed against one. He wondered what Katia would think of him standing toe to toe with her father. She would probably be furious at both. Especially after all the violence she has lived through and witnessed.
Finally, Nathan stopped. “Enough Hyperion. Katia would not want us doing this. If you want to hurt me further, then go ahead. I will not fight you any longer. My little mate lived through enough violence and torture that it would break her heart to know this is what we have come to out of our anger and frustration.”
A female voice interjected, “Thank me! A voice of reason finally.”
Nathan looked through his swelling and blackened eyes to see Selene standing there with her mother smiling at her little joke. Nathan stood swaying on his feet when his sister said, “Well everyone looks like it is over, and it is a tie. All bets will be settled at the bon fire tonight.”
Nathan couldn’t believe that his sister wasn't joking when she said she sold tickets, and they were betting. Then he heard his sister say, “Hyperion, thank you. You made me a lot of money.” Glancing at him, she commented, “Sorry Nathan, I know how to read the odds, and they were not in your favor.” With that she blew him a kiss and scurried out to goddess knows where, to probably create more havoc. Katia would be so proud.
Kane stepped forward, looking both men over. He had already linked Doctor Odie and Doc to come check them out. He did explain what was going on and told Mark to get his butt over there too. The two doctors came in along with Doc’s chosen mate, Coral, and began looking the men over. Hyperion was none the worse for wear. He had a few light bruises and a broken finger that was already healing. Nathan, on the other hand, had dark bruises everywhere and his bones needed set, so his wolf could heal them properly. They needed to set the bones quickly before his wolf started healing them, or they would have to be broken again and set.
Doctor Odie suggested, “Nathan, you should go to the urgent center, so we can get those bones set correctly and then Kalen can begin healing you. Then get cleaned up and have someone set this room back in order, so everyone can meet back here in two hours.”
Nathan agreed to go to the urgent center but told everyone to just meet at dinner, and then they would discuss how to get to Katia and bring her home. Wherever that might be, Nathan thought to himself. Maybe one day she would at least forgive him enough to be his friend. He would never reject her though. If she wanted to reject him, then so be it.
Kalen piped up after remaining mostly quiet for the time Katia has been gone, “Just get her home, Nathan. I will talk to Aza and we will go from there.”