Chapter 8

Selene pov I am the Moon Goddess Selene, as they call me. I watched my daughter fall into a deep sleep, but I can't help her yet. She's not yet 17 years old and can't handle my strength. I watched them run into the door. and Doc is screaming "This way." Her beta is carrying her. She doesn't look like she's even alive. Her skin has a blue tint, and her eyes are lifeless. She is still a beauty, even as young as she is. The Alpha is an idiot. He has no idea what he has thrown away. They run into the operating room as the beta lays her on the gurney. The Gamma jumps forward, starting cpr while the crash cart is wheeled in. I hear the word clear several times, and then finally, someone utters, “Oh, thank the goddess." The beta and gamma are chased out while the doctor continues to work on young Katia. One of the nurse hands them fresh clothing, telling them, "Go get cleaned up and get something to eat. There's nothing more you can do for our little Luna." Beta Mark looked at Nurse Coral and frowned, "Coral, you should be careful what you say. Someone hears you calling Katia that, and you could end up in the dungeons or worse." Coral pouted in dissatisfaction."We've been calling her that since she arrived as his chosen mate. Although they aren't mated, thank the goddess, we are keeping her as our Luna." Beta Mark helplessly touched his forehead, remembering that Alpha Thomas was scratched by Aza. He asked about it."And the Alpha?" "Who knows, maybe one of his wounds will get infected and take him out," she mutters. "Now that would be justice. The Alpha dies from a wound that a little girl and her wolf gave him while defending herself from rape and murder." Mark sternly corrected:"He is still the Alpha, Coral, and there is nothing we can do." Coral did not agree with him. She countered,"Mark, he is a disgrace! If she lives, we are going to have to watch him torture her every chance he gets. The pack has decided we will do whatever we can to make her life easier whenever Alpha Thomas isn't around." Mark clearly didn't want to discuss this issue with Coral, he looked at their gamma."Our little ghost has to live first. Kelp?" Gamma sat there, wrapped in a layer of sadness. Only Mark's voice kept him somewhat awake. His gaze shifted from Katia to Mark, and he spoke sadly."She's hanging in there. I can barely feel her, but I can feel her." Mark nodded and came over, placing his hand on gamma's shoulder and offering comfort:"Come on, buddy, let's get cleaned up and put food into our stomachs. Doc will link us if anything happens." I watched them walk out and scoot out of my hiding spot. Looking through the window on the door leading into the operating room, I caught a glimpse of Katia. She is lying there pale with her eyes taped closed. The doctor put her throat back together and sewed a tube into her throat. It's hooked to a machine and breathing for her. If only she had been older, her wolf would have been stronger and maybe able to help heal her. I was so proud when her wolf forced the shift to keep the rape from happening. She was magnificent, not one scream, and the shift had to be agonizing. A first shift doesn't usually happen until a wolf's 15th birthday. It can last for hours, and elders are there to help the pup through it. She shifted three years early, forced by stress and fear, and it was instantaneous. Her wolf was small like her, but fierce and gorgeous. She was black as midnight with the milky white eyes of those who are moon-touched. Moon touched ones are so rare. Many believe it to be a myth. I'm sure her beta and gamma already know. That is most likely the reason the three of them are always together when Alpha wasn't trying to tame her. She's building her pack and gathering her protectors. I am so lost in thought that I lost track of time, and Katia's little pack has returned. I hurry back to my hiding spot so I can hear the doctor when he comes out to update them. "Hey guys, they are still at it. Hopefully, it won't be much longer. Doc said she was holding on. He said to talk to her even if you get nothing back, just talk to her."When Mark returned, he told the others. Those young men, who are just barely adults at ages 20 and 21, sat linking Katia for hours. They never slept. One went to get coffee while the other kept talking to her. They never left again. The Alpha showed up and glanced in the room. He turned and left without saying a word. Finally, the doctor came out looking like he was ready to fall over. "I've done everything I can. It's up to our girl now. She's holding her own, but she isn't out of the woods." "What the hell does that mean?" they both asked. "It means the next 24 hours are crucial. Getting her through that alive should put her in the clear."The doctor sighed and said. While they are talking to each other and not paying attention, I slide into the room . "Oh, my little one, I should never have left you with that woman." Closing my eyes and, putting my hand over her forehead, seeing all she has suffered in her 12 years, and all she still will suffer. She will have to decide for herself if she will ever find happiness, but I worry she will not be able to hold out that long. Hearing a noise, I scrambled out and back to my hiding place. The beta and gamma are carrying cots into the room. They plan on sleeping in there with her and not leaving her side. "Mark, what are we going to do? I mean how are we going to sit back and watch him continue to torture her?" "We will think of something. For now, let's get her through this night."Mark guaranteed." Coral goes in and checks her vitals, letting them know Katia is still hanging in there. "Doc says he will be right down the hall if anything happens. He keeps a room to sleep in here on nights too late to head home." Coral left. The two of them put a cot on each side of her bed. Each laid down and reached up, taking hold of each of her hands. "If we hold on tight, she can't slip away, right Kelp?" "Hear that, Katia? We got you. You can't leave us." I heard Kelp whisper as he started to go off to sleep.