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“It’s ok, I knew if we broke the curse he would be free, but I guess it didn’t really hit me until right now,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Come on, let's run.”
She didn’t give us a chance to say anything before she took off.
“I’m going to miss him.” Lucien looked glassy-eyed.
“Me too,” I said, bringing him towards me for a hug.
“I never realized how much we took advantage of him or how much I thought he would always be there for us,” Zev said, watching Katarina running. “But if we are free, we should live our lives to the fullest because we don’t know how much worse this spell could have been if he hadn’t been here with us.”
“We owe him everything,” I said.
“Especially living a full life he fought so hard for us to have,” Lucien added.
“Come on, our mate is waiting for us,” Zev said, shifting quickly into his wolf catching up to Katarina.
“Our mate. I love the fucking sound of that,” Lucien said, grinning at me before shifting too.
I grinned, shifting too, following them to Katarina. She wasn’t running too fast as we caught up to her, but once we all surrounded her running through the tree, a sense of calm settled over me. She was our mate. It had taken us a moment to get here, but we finally did.
22
KATARINA
When Aeon suggested a run, I wanted to throw him out the window. I was fucking tired, and now I knew for sure I was with child because I was so exhausted. It was like no amount of sleeping made me feel better. My sisters had always complained that they had no energy to do anything—and ok I was a horrible woman for not believing them at the time, but now I understood it.
I wanted to stay in bed cuddling my men with a crap ton of blankets, not run out in the woods in cool weather. The urge to snap at him was strong, but then I felt guilty for keeping my pregnancy from him and Lucien.
I said yes, trying to keep the peace, and begrudgingly I was actually enjoying myself. Aeon was right, we needed to reset. This secret was praying on our insecurities, making me wonder if I was doing the right thing. He was suspicious of us, but I didn’t want him to mourn both of us, the lost chance of a family would make their grief worse.
Just thinking about it made me want to cry, images of them completely heartbroken always felt like I was being ripped in two. Glancing at Zev, I tried not to think about him suffering the loss of his child alone, because no matter whose it was,Zev would be that child’s father through and through. He didn’t deserve this, but what else was I supposed to do?
We weaved in and out of the trees running together as a pack, each of them brushing against me as we ran. For being so big and vicious when I first got here, they looked like big teddy bears now. The more we ran, the more I felt her presence. I thought I was imagining things at first but no, the moon goddess was here.
She was calming, energizing and most of all, loving. The connection the wolves had to her was amazing, it was almost like she was their literal mother. I mean, in a sense she was the creator of wolves. She made them to protect the nights, acting like her guardians until she could go back to the land of the gods. I mean, that's how we all were created. Each god created a race that they saw fit to make during the god wars and that is how all of the supernatural were made. The gods didn’t want to fight it themselves, so they made armies of supernaturals to do their dirty work for them.
Witches usually worshiped the wisdom goddess, but I had fallen into giving my thanks to the moon goddess and now I knew why I preferred her. I felt a kinship with her that now I knew came from my mother’s side, and my father never stopped giving his thanks to her even after my mother had passed away. So much of my life now made sense and I wondered how much more would fall into place if I knew more of the truth.
Taking a deep breath, I reveled in the goddess’ presence and just for added measure, I prayed to both goddesses.
Give me strength. Please let me break this spell. I know I haven’t been a faithful daughter, but I need you now more than ever. My child and my life are in your hands. I could use all the help I can get.
After I finished my prayer, Zev began to howl as he ran with Aeon and Lucien joining in afterwards. This really made me wish I could shift and howl with them. I said fuck it, and howledanyway, hoping someone would hear my prayer. We ran one more time around the perimeter before I started to feel tired, slowing my pace.
“Ok, I’m getting a little tired. I think I’m going to rest here, you guys keep running,” I said, sitting down.
Aeon pushed me back softly with his head until I laid down on Zev who was laying on his side. Lucien laid his head on my chest while Aeon rested his head on my hips. Their warmth enveloped me, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“It’s a doggy pile, guys.” I laughed while I heard a growl or rather felt it. “Come on Sir Fluffington, you know it’s funny.
He huffed like he was mad, but I think he secretly enjoyed being called Sir Fluffington. I scratched his chest wondering if he enjoyed it.
“I think I really like you guys like this. Quiet.” I laughed. “I think we need nicknames for Aeon and Lucien.”
Lucien looked up at me, licking my face.
“Gross, Lu,” I laughed again.
After giving me a few more licks he nestled in my chest again. Even though I was on the ground, I was so comfortable with my men around me. It was still a little chilly but in my doggy pile, they kept me warm. As I felt myself drift off to sleep, I felt and heard her.
