"Darren," Kora stopped and turned to face him. "I understand why you are against this, and this is also the reason that I didn’t tell you, but I want you to know that...." He interrupted her,

"I am not losing you. I won’t lose those I love anymore, not by my hands or anyone else. Never again, Kora," He said, and she smiled.

"I do not want to lose you either, nor do I want to leave your side. Believe it or not, I am selfish too," Gaia said. She placed her head on his chest as she hugged him. "I won’t die."

"You are lying, I can feel it," Darren said, but she shook her head, denying the accusation. "It may not all be a lie, but you are hiding something from me. Tell me what it is," he insisted.

This time, she remained still, and he knew he was right. "Kora," he called her name in a pleading tone, but she remained still. It hadn’t been long since they got together, but she was willing to leave him because of others.

"Please, I want you to trust me," Kora pleaded, still not looking at him nor letting go of him.

"You didn’t trust me enough to let me know about this," Darren uttered in a disappointed tone, and this had her scared. "What will happen, Kora? What is the price to pay?"

"I... I am not certain," She replied, and his hold around grew firm. "I am sorry that I did not tell you about this, but we are running out of time. This was the only sure way to put an end to the mess around us. Please, let me do this," she pleaded.

"I don’t trust her," Darren said. He looked at Selene and then back at Kora, "That is why I can not trust that she wouldn’t harm you in the process," he said. He hated himself, for saying this rather than just giving a straight "No" to her.

"So, I can do it?" Kora asked, getting the hope that she wanted from his words. He shut his eyes and took a deep, long breath. Slowly, he opened his eyes and released his breath even slower.

He then nodded his head. "Mhm," He hummed, and she smiled. He had chosen to trust her. He hoped that he was not wrong to do so. That he won’t end up regretting this decision.

"Thank you," Kora was glad that he did agree to it, but deep down, she also knew that something would go wrong. They had already anticipated this right from the beginning. Nothing goes for nothing, and nothing comes from nothing. For what she had asked, she would have to give something in return. One of equal value. Selene did say there was a price to pay. She was just uncertain of what the price would be.

"Don’t make me regret letting you do this, Kora, I would not forgive you if you did?" Dareen said although he knew he would mostly hate himself for not stopping her when he had the chance to do so.

Kora smiled as she didn’t know what else to say to him other than what had already said. Giving him more promises that she didn’t know she would be able to keep it as good as a lie. She stepped forward, but Darren held her hand and intertwined their fingers before he led her to where Selene stood.

"You are now decided," Selene said and looked at Darren. He stared back at her, but his expression was stoic. "You will have to give her some space, Darren," she said.

Her soft and tender voice irritated Darren so much, but he knew to keep his cool. He may not like the goddess, but his mate did, and right, she was the only one capable of putting an end to this madness.

Kora gently squeezed his hand and he looked at her. She nodded at her but he was still hesitant. It took a few more seconds to have him nodding and stepping backward. Kora then moved closer to Selene who reached out her hands and to Kora.

A white circle formed underneath their feet right after Kora held Selene’s hands. At that very moment, Kira knew she couldn’t change her mind anymore. Everything would have to go accordingly and whatever the price was to pay, she would know now.

"What are your wishes, Gaia?" Selene asked again. Whatever she said now, that is what will be done.

"End the war. Make humans forget that we exist. Make them unable to see us, and... Remove the curse from my mate," She replied and nearly growled at Selene when she named her mast condition.

Selene looked at her, taken aback by her last request but then she chuckled and nodded her head. "Alright, I will do as you have asked. But... before I do that, I would like you to know what you would give in return,"

To make sure Darren didn’t hear and interrupt the process, Kota raised her hand and stopped her. "A mind link," she said. Selene did as she wanted and told her what the cost of having her request granted was. Kora shut her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don’t mind," she agreed.

"Very well then," Selene uttered. After that, the circle under them started increasing in size and spreading until it went beyond where they could see. They stood like that holding hands, no one moved or said anything. Their eyes closed and deep in concentration. Once their eyes opened, white light rose to the sky and then disappeared. "It is done," Selene let go of Kora’s hand.

"What about him?" She asked. Referring to Darren who needed to be taken care of.

"You don’t have to worry," she cupped Kora’s cheek and caressed it. "Take care, Gaia, this would be your last life in the mortal realm," she started becoming transparent as she spoke and soon, she was gone.

Kora attempted walking but she didn’t have the strength to do so and rather staggered almost falling had Darren not come to catch her before she could fall.

"Are you alright?" He asked. His eyes scanned her for anything abnormal in her but he didn’t find anything.

"I am fine," Kora said with a smile. He sighed in relief. "I told you, didn’t I?" She giggled.

"Alright, let us go now," he said but stopped when her face twisted as if she was in pain. "Kora!" Darren was both lost and confused. She was fine just a moment ago so what happened now? Did Selene really do something to her?

Kora also had no idea what happened but she was experiencing severe abdominal pain. She tried reaching Gaia but she couldn’t. She was much too weak to respond now.

"Give her to me Darren," Dana’s voice came from behind them. The firewall Gaia raised to stop them from coming dissipated when the white light shot the sky and they could finally come here. "On second thought, carry her. You are faster than all of us. Take her to the Pack hospital, the Midwives there should know what to do until we get there."

It took Darren a moment to understand what she meant. Once he did, he froze. Dana wanted to punch him but she was beaten to it. Kora hit him hard enough to snap him out of it. He immediately picked her up and headed downhill.

"Luna, what did you mean? Emily asked because she did not still understand. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"She is in labor," Dana replied with bright smiled as she shifted and started sprinting towards the pack .