Chapter 55

**Justin’s POV**

When the Moon Goddess offered me the choice to come back, I wanted to jump at it. I needed Kataleya like I needed air to breathe. I was scared though. What if me deciding to come back made her eventual journey even harder? Then, I thought about it and realized I would do anything to see Kataleya again and to hold her, so I would take anything fate throws at us as long as I could spend more time with her. The Moon Goddess cautioned me about sharing my experience with her with other people because it could drastically change fate. She was right about one thing. Fate is a fickle thing.

Kat was now lying on my chest, sleeping peacefully. After my shower, she agreed to leave my side long enough to shower and the doctor came back in during that time to speak with me.

Leigh told me that they wanted me to stay a couple of days for observation, just to make sure that everything healed appropriately. She, also, confided that she was worried about Kataleya. She had lost weight in the past two weeks. Not only weight, but some of her muscle mass was gone. There was definitely a difference in her figure. She hadn’t slept since that attack and she had become more volatile. Leigh wanted me to try and convince her to leave the room for a little bit. She hasn’t been to training…I promised her I would try, but I don’t think she will agree unless I am able to leave the hospital room. Leigh told me that if I could promise to come back and not stay out for too long, she might be able to let me out for short periods of time.

I continued to lie there, rubbing her back. I tried falling asleep with her, but I couldn’t. I keep thinking about what the Moon Goddess said during her visit. She said this wasn’t going to be easy and that we were going to have many challenges along the way.

Since I couldn’t sleep, I decided to contact my parents. I pushed on their link and I could tell that they were still away. ‘Hey, mom. Hey, dad.’

‘Justin! Is that really you?’ my mom exclaimed.

I laughed. ‘Yes, mom. I woke up several hours ago…there was an incident and that is why you weren’t told sooner. Kataleya was struggling.’

‘Oh no! What happened? That poor girl has been through so much the past couple of weeks waiting for you.’

I might as well get it out of the way. Rip the band aid off, so to speak. ‘Well, I died. Completely flat-lined. Kataleya felt my bond break with her and she lost it. Michael and Oliver had to hold her back, to stop her from attacking someone. Dr. Leigh said it was a miracle that I even came back. I was down for six minutes. Then, I came back. Kataleya was a mess. I had to help her first. I couldn’t even think about contacting you. Kataleya thought I was a mirage at first. She thought it was her imagination playing tricks on her. Did you know she marked me?’

‘Poor girl,’ my dad said, ‘I couldn’t imagine the pain and anguish she went through the past couple of weeks with you and then for you to essentially die. We aren’t mad that she did not contact us. We would have found out eventually. I am just glad that she is okay. I can only guess at the kind of pain and anguish I would feel if your mom died on me.’

‘We are definitely not mad at her or you. We understand the mate bond and your priority was your mate, which is what we want. We want you to be happy with Kataleya. We knew she marked you, but we never talked about it with her, except for the day that it had happened. She knew it was the only way that could possibly save you, but she was terrified of your reaction to the mark. She thought she took away your choice. And yes, I assured her that you love her more than anything and there was nothing that would stop you from wanting to bear her mark.’

‘She didn’t tell me. I saw it when she helped me into the bathroom to shower…she started to cry. She was terrified about how I would react to the mark. I love the mark and I love her. Now, I am tasked with trying to get her out of this hospital room, even though I am supposed to stay here for recovery. I tried to get her to leave for a few minutes and get something to eat and she nearly lost her shit on me. She told me she wasn’t leaving this room without me. She was terrified that I was going to disappear. Even now, while she is sleeping, she is lying on my chest and her fingers are gripping the pants I am wearing. If I move slightly, she gravitates towards my body.’

‘You need to give her time, son. You went through the trauma of getting her, but she went through the trauma of watching you get injured, the feeling of helplessness as she watched you waste away in a bed, then she felt you die. Son, she has every right to fret and gravitate towards you. She is terrified of what the lost could do to not only herself, but everyone else. I promise you have had a plethora of visits. From us, all of the rank members have been in your room, and all the warriors have been there at some point. Some of the warriors, like Aziel, had been taking shifts just to sit with Kat, so she would not be lonely, and to make sure that she was alright. Aziel and Gael expressed their concerns about her mental health and her overall health several times, only for Kataleya’s wolf to take over and nearly attack them when they suggested she leave the room, even for five minutes. Just give her a break. If you doubted her feelings for you before, I promise you there is no need to ever doubt them again. She is head over heels for you, even if she does not admit it.’

‘Son, we are going to bed and you need to do the same. We love you. We will be by sometime later to come and visit you.’ With that, they cut the link. I snugged into Kataleya, inhaling her scent, and slowly drifted into unconsciousness.

******************

I woke up a few hours later to one of the nurses checking my vital signs. I looked over to where Kataleya was when I fell asleep and noticed she was not in bed with me.

The nurse noticed where my gaze went and answered my unspoken question.

“Michael asked her to check on something and she said she would be back, hopefully, before you woke up,” she smiled at me.

I felt for the link connecting me to her, ‘Kataleya? Is everything alright?’

‘Yeah!’ she responded, with a smile in her voice, ‘Michael needed my assistance, so I told him I would help him if he did it quickly. I tried to be back before you woke up.’

‘It’s okay, beautiful. I just wanted to make sure you were fine. You refused to leave my side last night, so I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t urgent and that you did not need me.’

‘Nonsense, I always need you Justin…after everything for the last two weeks, I have learned that I do need you and I always will,’ she said with her voice cracking at the end.

‘Aww…our baby is sad,’ Ares said with a whimper.

‘Ares, I am fine…I just realized what I almost lost when you didn’t wake up. I would have been stupid if I had actually rejected you.’

I was shocked. She heard Ares. Normally, no one else can hear our wolf counterparts, except for us… ‘Love, how were you able to hear Ares?’

‘I have learned a few things since I marked you. One is that I can hear your wolf counterpart, especially if his thoughts are directed at me. I imagine once you mark me, you will be able to hear Skye’s annoying ass.’

Poor Kataleya. Her and her wolf. Skye likes to talk. A lot. Michael told me how, when she first got Skye, she wished that she could give her back to the Moon Goddess for a “do over” until her mom explained that was not how it worked. Their relationship has improved since that day though.

‘I am about to head back to the hospital. Do you want me to pick you up something?’

‘Will you bring me some decent clothes? I am tired of these hospital gowns. It never leaves much to the imagination. Will you, also, bring me a pastry and coffee from Zidelia’s?’

She laughed. ‘Of course, Justin. Just so you know, I find the hospital gown sexy. I enjoy that it does not leave much to my imagination.’ With that, she cut the link.

Hmm…if she likes the gown that much, then I might consider leaving it on if it would please her.