Midnight Mate

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Falcon POV

"f**k," I growled loudly, the anger and frustration vibrating through my entire body. After gently placing Katya down, my hands trembled uncontrollably. In that moment, I hadn't fully considered the consequences of my actions. I had reacted on instinct, thinking that my bite would simply put her to sleep. But now, the reality of how the disease spread hit me like a punch to the gut.

Silence hung in the air, everyone frozen in shock. Then, cautiously, Maeve spoke up. "Falcon, Katya not only protected us, but she healed us too. Somehow, she managed to purge all the Wolfsbane from our systems." Nate held Maeve tightly in his arms, a mixture of relief and awe on his face.

Tom chimed in, his voice filled with gratitude. "It's true. Without her, we might not have survived. We were uncertain of what awaited us outside, and we couldn't risk our Luna. Katya saved us."

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I turned to Tom and Maeve, a deep sense of gratitude welling up within me. "Thank you for taking such a risk to protect Katya. I'm forever in your debt."

"Nate and I found the vampires. Luckily, there were only a few, and we didn't come across any others. They hadn't discovered our location yet. It seemed they were pumping Wolfsbane mixed with some sort of potion in the general area, likely to lure you out. Both Nate and I had felt the effects, but not as strongly as you. We were able to dispatch them quickly. I've gathered a decent amount of research from the kingdom," I continued. "Once I've had a chance to read through it, I'll share everything with you all."

Maeve abruptly interrupted me, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "Falcon," she said, her finger pointed directly at Katya. I noticed the occasional soft glow emanating from Katya's body, accompanied by a slight twitch as if she was in pain. A low growl escaped my throat, reflecting my concern. Ash, echoed my anxiety, his panic palpable.

"I know that look on your face, Falcon," Maeve continued, her words rushed yet filled with sincerity. "I may speak out of line, but please hear me out. When Katya wakes, I sense that you're going to scold her for using her powers, or at least caution her against it. But I implore you, don't. You must understand that she's giving her all to contribute, feeling like a burden despite our reassurances. And I can't blame her, considering the weight she carries. She recently discovered she's the cause of a disease, one that even threatens your life. It takes immense bravery to handle all of this. If I were in her shoes, learning all she did in such a short time, I'd be on the verge of madness. Yet, she's also frightened for you, Falcon. I've spent the entire day talking to her, and I can tell you that she loves you just as fiercely as you love her. The mere thought of your suffering weighs heavily on her, as it does for all of us. Today, she used her powers. I witnessed it. She concentrated with determination, striving to protect us, and she succeeded. She managed to control something she knows so little about, long enough to safeguard our lives until you and Nate resolved the issue. Yes, she may have lost control in the end, and now she battles the aftermath. But you know what? She can fight it because she has a remarkably strong bond with you. When she wakes up, especially with you by her side, I am confident that she will be okay. So, Falcon, praise her. Tell her how proud you are of her. Let her know how much she has helped and reassure her that you'll continue to support her in honing her powers," Maeve's voice resonated with conviction and empathy.

I lifted Katya into my arms again, feeling the weight of her body against mine. Maeve's words echoed in my mind, reminding me that scolding Katya was not the answer. I wanted to request that she refrain from using her power for now. But could I really? She had saved the lives of two dear friends, and I couldn't ignore that. Despite my fear for her well-being, I needed to help her grow stronger.

As I cradled Katya, I couldn't bear the thought of stripping her of her abilities. She was my equal, my mate, and my partner. With her power, she could even surpass me. I had to do everything in my power to help her reach her full potential. But in this moment, all I wanted was to ease her pain.

I glanced at Maeve, grateful for her unwavering support and friendship. We were safe for now, but we would continue to take turns patrolling to ensure our safety. Nate had already taken the first shift, and Maeve offered to join him. They needed each other.

I carried Katya to our room, the soft carpet beneath my bare feet providing some comfort. "Undress, mate. We need to help her heal," Ash insisted, his voice filled with concern. I hesitated, remembering Katya's discomfort the last time I held her naked in the bathroom. I had promised never to overstep with her, but her pain was evident, and I knew I had to act.

"I'm doing this to help you, Katya, not to take advantage of you," I whispered against her sleeping form as I carefully removed her clothing.

Her pains continued to intensify in an unusual way. Ash speculated that her body was processing the Wolfsbane. I climbed into bed, gently positioning her against my body, hoping that the warmth and closeness would offer some relief. Ash's voice echoed in my mind, reminding me that Katya would probably feel guilty again for ending up in bed. But right now, all that mattered was easing her pain and being there for her.

It didn't take long for her to calm down, the strange glow fading away. Ash could tell she would be just fine. "I don't think the disease can transfer to mate since it's created from her," Ash said.

"I would feel if Mate was ill, and she is not. She is perfect," Ash continued. Once I was sure she was safe, I got out of bed for a moment to retrieve the files I had brought back. I climbed back into bed, turned on the light, and started reading them, making sure Katya was still against my body. Even though Ash sensed she was better, I needed to make absolutely sure she was okay.

She was in a deep sleep at the moment. I held back as much anger as I could, not wanting any of it to pass on to Katya as I read through everything. The fact that not only my father but my mother had hidden all this from me. Not just that, my father had been infected for some time. I should have seen it, but he had come up with some solutions, most involving using others, and that really made my blood boil.

Sure, I wanted ways to help myself, but not at the expense of others. I will never use those who look up to me, no matter their status. Part of me wanted to tell my mother that I was infected, but did she deserve to know? The mother I thought loved me, loved her kingdom, and was a Luna to be respected. Yet she lied to me. I always believed she, out of everyone, knew how sacred the mate bond was. Yet she would willingly use my mate.

I started going over the observations of the disease with my kind. Apparently, it started with control and anger issues, causing our wolf to act more feral. Then it caused our wolf weakness, the inability to shift at times and inability to heal. It caused my human half to feel weak and ill. As it progressed, patients seemed to lose themselves, acting feral, and finally losing all ability to shift. Soon after, the infected lost their wolves, leaving them as empty shells. And no one has survived more than a few days without them.

The average infected seemed to slowly progress at first, taking almost a month before experiencing issues shifting. But after that, it progressed faster, and most cases say death occurs within four months of infection.

"Mates bleeding a little," Ash whispered in my mind. I could detect a faint metallic scent in the air, a sign of blood. However, it was minimal, and as long as it didn't harm her, I didn't mind. Based on Ash's observations, it appeared to be just a small amount. I only hoped that when she woke up, she wouldn't feel embarrassed, like she did in the bathroom earlier. Personally, it didn't bother me at all. It was a natural occurrence for her.

I perused through some research on potential remedies, discovering that a few rare plants held promise. Additionally, blood transfusions from white wolves seemed to be effective. That seemed to be what my father had been receiving as well, along with transfusions from wolves right after their first shift. However, I had no intention of taking blood. Instead, I planned to focus on finding the plants.

"We may have to allow Mate to help," Ash suggested in my mind, and I let out a sigh.

"Only when we're confident that it won't harm her," I replied. I continued reading, my eyes growing tired after a long day. My father suspected that other packs might be striking deals with vampires for cures, but he wasn't entirely sure. The increasing number of wolves disappearing made him question whether it was due to the disease or some kind of experimentation. It seemed that he wasn't fully aware of what was happening within the pack we recently visited.

As time passed, Katya stirred slightly against my body. Though she was asleep, her movements caused a sensation that I couldn't help but find arousing. I tried to calm myself, switching off the light and readjusting so that I was lying down with her again. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to drift off to sleep for a while.

__________

"No, no, stop!" Katya's panicked voice jolted me awake. She was caught in the grasp of a nightmare. Ash's worry echoed in my mind as he observed her distress.

I brushed my hand against her tear-stained face, the softness of her skin contrasting with the wetness of her cheeks. She was crying in her sleep again, and I hoped that the longer she stayed with me, these haunting nightmares would finally cease to plague her.

As I moved my hand, she started to wake, her voice muffled and drowsy. "Falcon, are you really back?" she murmured, still half-asleep.

"Yes, I am," I replied softly, my words barely audible. "I'm sorry I wasn't faster, Katya. But you did well, protecting everyone from the threat. You saved Maeve and Tom." My breath caressed her as I whispered against her ear.

"Everyone is okay," she whispered back, her voice filled with relief and vulnerability.

"Yes, we are all okay," I reassured her, my voice filled with tenderness.

"Falcon, um... why am I naked?" she asked, her confusion evident as she became more awake.

"Only to help calm you down," I explained gently. "You overwhelmed yourself. I wanted to provide some comfort."

She shifted slightly, as if trying to distance herself from me, and I knew I should let her go. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I pulled her a little closer, craving the connection.

"Please don't go," I pleaded, my voice betraying my desperation. "I need you in my arms right now, just a little longer."

I pressed my lips against her skin, the warmth of her radiating against my mouth.

"I'm struggling, Katya," I confessed, my voice filled with raw honesty. "I've never admitted any weakness to anyone before, but with you, I can't help but be open. Right now, I'm struggling. I want to be strong for you, for everyone. I'm not accustomed to feeling fear, yet it consumes me now. I've never felt so lost, so in the dark. I feel like I've failed so many by allowing so much to remain hidden, by not noticing. I don't want to fail you. I want to help you become stronger, but I don't even know where to begin.”

Katya moved closer, her gaze locking with mine, and she remained nestled in my embrace. As her eyes met mine, a sense of trust and understanding washed over me.

"I don't think you could ever fail me," she whispered, her voice laced with sincerity. "Nor is it your fault for what was kept from you. You're doing your best, more than many would. I don't expect you to know how to help me, but with you by my side, I'm willing to reach out and learn about myself. Let's be a team, okay? We help each other, just as you have made it so I'm not alone. I want to do the same for you. Together, we are really strong."

Her words resonated in my heart, easing the tension that had been building within me. I nuzzled my nose against her neck, inhaling her comforting scent. The weight of her body against mine brought a sense of security, as if nothing could harm us in this moment.

"You're tired, I can tell," she said softly, her voice like a soothing melody. "Sleep more, Falcon. I won't leave your arms." Her promise was like a gentle lullaby, coaxing me into a peaceful slumber once again.

And as I drifted into sleep, her words echoed in my mind. I believed her. She would be the end of this darkness.