Midnight Mate

Past

Katya POV

This was all so new to me. Although I had gym class at school and ran track in high school, learning to fight was a skill I guess I never thought I would need. But then again, with all the issues I have faced in my life, I guess self-defense skills would have been helpful. The sound of weights clinking and distant chatter filled the air as I followed Maeve to a small corner of the gym. It was far enough that I could not hear all that was going on with Falcon, but still close enough to glance his way.

"I have a feeling Falcon won't be able to take his eyes off you once we start," Maeve said with a smirk. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks at her words.

"Why? He seems like someone who is very focused," I admitted, my voice barely audible amidst the gym's clamor.

"Well, for one, you are hot, Katya," she said. I shook my head, feeling self-conscious.

"I'm nothing special," I admitted.

"Ok, if you say so. But I have a feeling we are about to hear a lot of growling out of Falcon," Maeve said. Confusion filled my mind as I tried to comprehend her statement.

"Why would he growl?" I asked.

"If you haven't noticed, Falcon is pretty possessive. I mean, it's natural; he is an Alpha wolf. But he is even more so, in my opinion. He has always fiercely protected the ones he cares about, as well as this Kingdom. He loves far deeper than many and he holds a love for his home, family, and friends. But for you, well, he loves you the most. You can tell in his eyes how much he cares for you and wants to protect you. But also, how he does not want any other male looking at you in certain ways," she explained.

I felt a mix of emotions, understanding and concern intertwining within me.

"I guess I feel the same. I'm not the jealous type, but I worry about others now looking at him," I admitted.

"Good. And let them know he is yours, Katya. Don't be afraid to make that known because he is yours, and you will be their queen and Luna one day," Maeve said, her words carrying a sense of assurance. The thought of being Queen had me a little nervous, but I could do it. I would not let Falcon nor myself down.

"Ok, you ready to start?" Maeve said to me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yes," I admitted, determination coloring my voice.

"Try punching me," she said. I looked at her, a little shocked.

"You want me to punch you?" I asked, my voice betraying my hesitation.

"Yes," she admitted, a small smile forming on her face.

"Ok," I said, mustering up the courage. I made a fist and swung at her. With ease, she dodged my punch. The sound of her quick movements filled the air.

But a smile formed on her face. “'For someone that has never been in a fight, you are not bad. Almost perfect posture,” she said.

"I've had to fight before. I'm just not good at it," I admitted, feeling a mixture of pride and insecurity. As Maeve waved her hand in the air, the guy who had been with her earlier came over.

"I'm busy. What's up?" he asked Maeve, his voice blending with the sounds of the gym.

"This won't take long," she replied.

"Restrain me tightly," Maeve said eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The man smirked in response, his eyes filled with mischief. "Very well, but don't expect me to go easy on you," he replied. The air was charged with excitement as they prepared for their training session, their love for each other evident in their every move.

Nate positioned himself on the mat, encircling Maeve with his strong arms, effectively limiting her movements. It was a familiar position, one that I had witnessed before. With a calm demeanor, Maeve skillfully maneuvered within Nate's grasp, lifting her knees up and loosening his grip. In one swift motion, she broke free, striking him in the body and causing him to cough. She turned, a triumphant smirk on her face, before wrapping her arms around him and thanking him.

"Your turn now, Katya," Maeve said. I hesitated, glancing at Nate. As Maeve's mate and someone Falcon trusted, I assumed Nate was kind. But the thought of a man I barely knew restraining me made me feel a little scared. Still, I knew I needed to overcome that fear.

"Don't worry, this is just practice," Nate assured me, sensing my hesitation. "I won't do anything to hurt you, Katya. And if you feel uncomfortable, I'll release you immediately."

"Thanks," I responded, mustering up some courage as I approached him. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice steady. "Yeah," I replied, trying to sound confident.

As Nate restrained me, I felt the tightness of his grip. But it was clear he wasn't trying to hurt me. "Do what you saw me do," Maeve instructed, and I obediently repeated her moves. Nate grunted as if in pain, acting to make me feel stronger. His hands loosened slightly, and I was able to break free. Maeve looked at me with shock, and Nate examined me closely.

"Sure you're human?" he muttered, confusing me. Before I could respond, Falcon approached.

"Nate, you can go back and assist the warriors. I'll help here," Falcon said, his gaze shifting between me and Maeve. Nate bowed his head and left.

"I suggest you repeat what I just did with Katya. You may find yourself surprised," Nate advised Falcon before looking at me. "I look forward to training with you, Katya," he added before running off.

"I agree, Falcon. You need to see for yourself." Maeve said.

"Very well," Falcon responded, stepping up behind me.

"Are you uncomfortable?" he whispered against me. I could see the concern in his eyes as he spoke. "I could tell you were panicking."

"I'm okay, just confused," I admitted, feeling a knot of uncertainty in my stomach.

"Are you okay repeating with me?" he asked, his voice gentle..

"Yes," I responded, mustering up the courage to face my fears. He began to mimic Nate's actions, and I followed suit, mirroring every move. As I replicated the maneuvers, Falcon released his grip on me. When I glanced at him, I noticed a hint of pain etched on his face.

"You don't have to act for me. I doubt I can hurt you," I reassured him.

"He is not acting, Katya. You did hurt him, but don't worry, Falcon is not upset. He is impressed," she explained, referring to Falcon's reaction. Falcon pulled me closer to him, and I felt a surge of warmth and protection.

"It would seem you are a lot stronger than you thought you were, even stronger than I thought," Falcon remarked, his voice filled with admiration. He leaned in closer, his breath tickling my ear. "Although you did push me and straddle me on the bed with the same strength," he whispered playfully, causing a blush to creep up my cheeks.

"Maeve, take Katya into one of the private training rooms to continue. And for now, what you just witnessed, it stays a secret. Understood?" Falcon requested, his voice commanding yet caring.

"Understood," Maeve acknowledged, her voice filled with respect.

"I will help you learn more about yourself. I have a feeling being blessed may have given you more than just healing. But for now, and for your protection, we won't let many know. I will come to you shortly, and if you need anything, all you need to do is focus on me, Katya. I can hear you in my mind," he said. He kissed me, this time on the lips, disregarding the onlookers in the stands. Then he ran off again, leaving me in a state of awe.

"Looks like Falcon is making it known you are his," Maeve giggled as she took my hand, leading me towards a private room.

"Let's get going. Now that I know you're Supergirl, this is going to be even more fun," she said excitedly. We spent hours in the training room, my body feeling alive with every movement. I had no idea how exhilarating this could be. Maeve treated me like a long-lost friend, sharing funny stories of Falcon's childhood between our practice sessions.

"We have time for one more round. Let's spar this time," Maeve offered, and I eagerly accepted. As we engaged in the fight, I felt myself growing stronger and more confident with each move. It was as if I had unlocked a hidden power within myself.

Everything was going well until, in a split second, a memory of a man from my past came rushing back. The sudden recollection froze me in place, momentarily robbing me of my newfound strength.

I tried focusing on Falcon, his presence always seemed to calm me. The soft sound of his voice echoed in my mind, "Katya, who is he?" I froze, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

"No," I muttered under my breath.

Maeve, noticing my distress, asked, "Katya, what's wrong?" As the door opened, Falcon entered the room. I felt guilty for sharing my inner turmoil with him and disrupting his work.

"Maeve, I need a few minutes alone with Katya."Falcon said, his voice strained.

Maeve gave me a friendly smile and closed the door behind her.

Falcon stood there, silent for a moment. "I-I'm sorry. I had no idea. I didn't mean to distract you from your work," I stammered.

Falcon moved closer to me, his eyes filled with concern. "That man you shared an image of... I felt your fear, Katya. Can you tell me who he is? I won't force you, but I want to help you," he said, trying to remain calm.

My heart raced, and I hesitated before asking, "How did I share it?"

"Did you focus on me when you saw the memory?" Falcon asked.

"Yes, thinking of you calms me," I admitted honestly. A small smile formed on his face.

"I'm happy to hear that. When you think of me, you open up our link, sharing what you see with me - memories or even current images. I will work with you to control it, although I hope you won't block me out completely. Sharing your past allows me to help you. I can't erase what happened, but I can try to help you no longer fear it," he said softly, closing the distance between us and pulling me into his embrace.

Anxiety filled me as I asked, "Is it okay for you to be with me right now? I don't want to get in the way of your duties. I should be helping, not hindering."

"Yes, Nate can handle things for me. You're causing no trouble. I need you to relax." Falcon reassured me. As he spoke, he gently slid his hand under my shirt, surprising me, and traced his finger over one of my scars. "The man you thought of while training with Maeve... he did this to you, didn't he?" Falcon inquired.

I nodded, feeling the tension in his body as he fought to remain calm. "Who was he to you?" he asked softly.

"My foster parent," I admitted, meeting Falcon's gaze.

"Can you tell me how you got these scars?" he asked, and I took a deep breath. I had a feeling I needed to be open with him so he could calm as well.

"When I was sixteen, I was transferred into foster care. I did not want to, but I had no choice. The orphanage was overwhelmed. I was placed in a house with three other girls, all younger than me, and a young couple. At first, they seemed really nice, but then I noticed they kept bringing people over to meet us. Usually older men. We always had to dress nice, typically in outfits that were form-fitting and really revealing. I was always uncomfortable, as were the younger girls.

I felt something was off with them, so one night, after we were supposed to be in bed, I snuck out and listened in on a conversation they were having. I learned they were traffickers." I started, my voice trembling.

"What is a trafficker?" Falcon asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

I took another deep breath, the memories flooding back, as I struggled to find the right words. "In my world, there are people that kidnap and sell women to be s*x workers, basically," I explained, my voice barely a whisper.

Falcon's eyes narrowed as Falcon clenched his fist tightly, the knuckles turning white. "They wanted to sell you into that?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

I nodded. "Yes, and the other girls and I learned when it was going to happen," I said, my voice trembling. "I returned to my room and when I went to school the next day, I had them contact the authorities."

I paused again for a moment, trying to calm down. "This is the first time I learned in the area where I lived that the police did not care," I continued, my voice filled with bitterness. "They were all paid off, and going to another town was not an option as they always found ways to stop you."

My gaze met Falcon's, "I told the police, thinking they would help. Instead, they insisted I made it up and sent me on my way," I said, my voice shaking with frustration. "So, I decided it was up to me to get myself and the other girls out. I knew that night was when they were supposedly taking us away."

"I could have just run, but I could not let the other girls get hurt. So, I went back with a plan to sneak the other girls out. I waited until I believed we were alone, and then I gathered them.

I took a deep breath, reliving the moment. "But I did not know the police had alerted my foster parents," I said, my voice filled with regret. "My foster father tried to stop me. He lunged at me and the other girls with a knife. But I blocked him from hurting them."

"I don't even know how I managed to do it," I admitted, my voice filled with wonder. "My body just went into protective mode, instinct taking over. I somehow made it away as well. I was found behind a fast food place a few blocks from where I was living.”

"I don't remember how I got away. I don't remember even getting hurt," I said, my voice filled with confusion. "Just that he had stabbed me multiple times. When I woke up in the hospital. They said it was a miracle I survived."

My voice grew softer. "I have flashes of that night, as if my mind is trying to remember all that happened," I confessed. "I see him stabbing me now, the pain searing through my body. But it's all fragmented, like shattered glass."

"The police did not even bother to apologize," I said, my voice tinged with bitterness. "The girls I saved went on to new foster homes, the only one that told me it was me who saved them was the head mistress of the orphanage."

Falcon's face hardened, his fists clenching even tighter. "And the man and his wife, what happened to them?" he asked, his voice laced with anger.

"They ran, no one found them," I admitted, my voice trembling. Falcon, his strong arms enveloping me, whispered words of comfort. Tears welled up in my eyes as I clung to him, feeling his warmth seep into my bones.

"You, Katya, are a fighter," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I saw it from the moment we met, and today you proved it once again. You're incredibly strong. It angers me to hear what you went through, but you didn't just survive. You saved innocent lives when you could have just saved yourself. That's the duty of a true queen and Luna. You protect your pack."

His words pierced through me, igniting a newfound strength within. I thanked him for his understanding and support, feeling the weight of my past slowly lifting off my shoulders. "I've never really talked to anyone about what happened," I confessed, my voice steady. "But it feels good talking with you. I finally feel safe, and I believe I can grow."

For so long, I had lived in a place where help seemed out of reach. But here, I knew my voice would be heard. I knew that with Falcon’s guidance, I could heal and become both physically and mentally strong.