Chapter 63

Chapter 63
POV Kat 
The atmosphere was tense; I could feel it in the cold silence that had settled the moment the Silver Wolf spread his wings into the air. His eyes were fixed on me before shifting to observe each person present. Everything depended on him, whether he would accept my offer or not. Only Lupkan could decide. My heart beat faster, my breath faltered at times, and my gaze was one of pleading. Seconds felt like hours until something happened.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Andrea crying in Damien’s arms. She knew I would never let her sacrifice herself. And if I could give up two spirits, why should I make others suffer for me? The moment I realized it, I saw Jared running toward me. His strong voice finally broke the silence.

"SO BE IT!"

It didn’t take long for a gentle breeze to rise, becoming more intense as it surrounded me. The tightness in my chest came without warning, just like the excruciating pain that spread through my body. I fell to my knees, my massive bear paw trying to comfort my chest in a way that could relieve the suffering overwhelming me. I heard Jared’s voice calling me, filled with concern, anxiety. I wanted to respond, but the words didn’t come, only the pain—the emptiness consumed me in that moment.

I clutched my stomach, gritting my teeth as my human form appeared without even thinking. The pain in my body faded, but a deep sadness took over my soul as I felt a part of me slipping away. Tears streamed freely down my face, and I closed my eyes. A part of me was leaving.
I felt in my entire being that it was the right thing to do. I would never leave Andrea and Damien without their wolf nature. It was part of who they were, and it wasn’t fair for them to lose something so natural and special because of me.

Despite the pain I was feeling at that moment, I could live with it. I would still have some spirits within me, and that would be enough to continue whole. Even with this thought, I stayed hunched over, watching my tears fall to the ground. I should say goodbye to the spirits that were leaving me. I should give them a final farewell.

Taking a deep breath, swallowing the sobs, I lifted my head. The first thing I saw was the affectionate gaze of Lupkan, the Silver Wolf. Then, the animal spirit appeared, vanishing toward the heavens. The white bear looked at me one last time, nodding as if freeing me from the guilt of letting it go. My weeping began, not just for this intimate act but because it was leaving with its mate, the animal spirit of a black bear. They went intertwined, united as one.

Quickly, I turned my face. Jared was by my side, naked, his hand intertwined with mine. His face was a bit pale, but his gaze was locked on mine.
"You... also gave up... your..." My astonishment was immense, but my joy was too, because my spirit wasn’t leaving alone. It would be happy beside its own, with its companion, its destined mate.

"It was the right thing to do!" Even kneeling, Jared embraced Kat around the waist, pulling her to his chest. He wiped the tears that were still falling down her face with his thumb before kissing her gently, tenderly, passionately. "I would never let you do this alone!" They belonged together... Jared glared at the Silver Wolf, who remained still and silent. "Lupkan knew it had to be this way—a pair... that’s why he accepted when I offered too."

I hugged him around the neck, a huge sense of peace beginning to invade me. The sobs disappeared, and my tears stopped flowing. For a moment, I felt strange. The moonlight shone brightly again, just as the wolf beat his wings, rising toward the sky. Looking around, I saw Damien and Andrea running toward us. They brought blankets for us to cover ourselves, and I smiled, happy that everything had worked out with them. The winged wolf vanished, its wings beating slowly as it ascended toward the heavens, accompanied by the brilliant rays of the moon. But before disappearing, it looked at the four of us.

"For this noble act, in which you freed two animal spirits of your own will for the sake of others... I bless you with two new animal spirits." The light grew dimmer, and the wolf disappeared completely, although his voice still lingered. "Take care of them with all the love you showed here, love for others, for your fellow beings, for your nature."

They exchanged glances, a little confused and dazed by everything they had just witnessed and the last words of the God of Wolves. Now alone in the silence of the night, Andrea looked at the couple. She felt all the emotions of the moment, and it was overwhelming.

"Kat... I don’t even know what to say..." Andrea wrapped the blanket around Kat’s body, hugging her so tightly that she almost broke a rib if she weren’t so fragile. "Thank you... from the bottom of my heart."

"I should be the one thanking you." I simply returned the hug, seeing the lupine glow in her gaze, the joy stamped on her body, and her wolf. That made the pain I had felt earlier worth it, without a doubt. "Believe me, no one has ever done something like this for me."

"For us..." Jared accepted the blanket from Damien, squeezing his hand firmly. "Thank you, you’re a man of worth, deserving of my sister." He looked at Andrea, who smiled, shaking her head in embarrassment. Jared kissed her forehead before adding. "I couldn’t be prouder of you, sis."

"I can say the same..." Andrea bit her lip. Despite being happy, she was apprehensive. "What was that? I saw you... transformed into a black bear..."

"Yeah... something I discovered recently." Jared smiled, pulling Kat closer to him. As he wrapped an arm around her waist, he kissed the mark on her neck. "The crises I had before... well... they were other animal spirits trying to take over." Andrea stared at him, open-mouthed, and Damien tried to disguise his surprise but was just as stunned.

"So you mean...?" Andrea gaped, looking at Kat, who smiled shyly. "You’re like Kat?"

"Yes... a shapeshifter." Jared had gotten used to his new nature, and despite having released one spirit, he didn’t feel incomplete. He had everything he needed here—his mate, his sister, and his brother-in-law. His Pack. "We’re soulmates, remember? It all makes sense!"
"Incredible!" Damien and Andrea declared in unison. Their hands intertwined, and their smiles showed the immense relief that flooded them. It would have been very painful if they had to go through with the sacrifice. He thanked Kat and Jared while also thanking Lupkan for blessing him with Andrea in his life.

"But Kat..." Andrea seemed troubled, a sadness beginning to fill her heart. "I saw how you suffered with the loss. I..."

"Don’t think about it." I immediately interrupted her. "The pain was inevitable, after all, it was part of me, but deep down, I can say I’m happy." Smiling, I looked at her. "Lupkan knew who to take. That animal spirit would be a reminder of the violence I caused..." I bit my lip as I recalled how Roxane was killed.

"It was necessary, my female." Jared immediately reassured me, clenching his teeth before adding, growling. "I would’ve done worse!"

"You wouldn’t have done anything." Shaking my head, I gave him a playful slap on the arm, then looked at Damien, who remained silent. I reassured him too. "She went with her mate, happy, at peace, thanks to Jared!"

"I felt it..." Andrea suddenly added, looking at Damien, who embraced her, smiling gently. "I felt all of your emotions."

"Then you know I speak the truth, right?" I took a firm, dominant stance, but my body suddenly trembled, and I leaned against Jared, trying to disguise it.

"Right!" Andrea responded, at peace with herself.

POV Jared 

"Shall we go inside?" I lifted Kat in my arms when she shivered and clung to my arm . "You still need to rest."

Soon, I noticed the bandage on her waist, the bloodstain subtly appearing on the white fabric that covered the stab wound. I gritted my teeth, remembering what had happened,I could had lost my soulmate.
"If Roxane hadn’t died right then," I growl in rage."she would’ve died anyway, but by my own hands."

POV Kat 
 "Easy my love," I smiled as I nestled against his warm body. "I’m just cold!" 

POV Jared 
"Then, I’ll warm you up..." I whispered in her ear, nibbling on her earlobe, "Not the way I want yet," I sighed, frustrated, brushing my nose against her face, heading toward the comfort of the house. " but we’ll get there, very soon..." I smiled maliciously.