The Hunting
Chapter 19

She could hear yelling and crying somewhere in the distance, yet when she tried to find its source she found nothing.

Everything seemed different, the forest seemed brighter, more vibrant. The birds were singing loud and cheery songs, the animals ran around merrily.

Kia stood back and observed everything with cautious suspicion. Why are all the animals so calm. She thought as she glanced at the little rabbit hopping about, usual they never saw small animals or deer in the forest surrounding the pack, they were all too afraid of the werewolves.

"Always the one to be suspicious of everything." a soft voice said behind her with a giggle. Kia froze, her entire being going cold. It couldn't be. She thought as she slowly turned around.

"Layana?" she gasped. Standing only a few feet away from her was her sister, beautiful as ever. Her blonde hair dancing in the wind, a soft warm glow surrounding her. "But you're dead?" she asked, confused at the situation.

"Yes, I am." Layana said with a gentle smile.

----

Beeeeeeeppppp

"NO!" Tobias yelled, "Get her back! Get her back right now." he was panicked, his whole body felt heavy, almost like he was tied to a rock and thrown into the ocean.

The doctors hurried around, each trying something different to bring Kia back to life. She had been stable all night, her fever even came down for a while, but then all hope crashed as her fever spiked again, this time higher than it was before, her heart beat slowed and the doctors couldn't figure out why. The infection was gone, she seemed to be gaining her strength and yet it was as though her body had given up on her. Dragging her down into the darkness of the afterlife.

The door crashed open and a visible angry Clayton stormed in, Elaina close on his heels.

"What is going on here?" he yelled, his eyes settling on Kia. His face drained of color as he realized she wasn't breathing anymore. The heart monitor kept its monotonous melody of a flatline.

"I'm sorry Beta Clayton, there's nothing we can do." one of the doctors said as he looked down at Kia.

Tobias was still gripping her hand, yelling at her to come back to him, tears streaming down his face. Elaina sank down to the ground, sobs tearing through her body and Clayton just stood there, unmoving, his eyes locked on Kia.

"Damn you, Kia! You come back to us right now!" he yelled before he stepped closer to take her hand.

----

Kia laughed a loud, humorless laugh. "You're kidding right?" she said, staring at Layana.

"I'm not kidding, Ki. You are dead." Layana said, once again.

Kia was finding it very hard to believe. "This is just great, absolutely GREAT." Kia screamed, sarcasm dripping from her words. "I made it through weeks of torture, just to die when I finally got to go home."

Kia started pacing, up and down, mumbling to herself as she went. Finally she stopped, looking at Layana with tears in her eyes, "This is so unfair, Lay." she said, letting go of her tears.

Layana walked closer and hugged her sister.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Lay asked, stroking Kia's hair. "Death is rarely ever fair..." she started.

"How are you not more upset about being dead?" Kia asked, sniffing.

"Kia Everest! Would you let me finish talking." she snapped, giving her sister a look. Kia shut her mouth and nod for her sister to continue.

"Death is hardly ever fair, but just sometimes there's a silver lining. Take me, for instance, I died after having met the love of my life. He also died the same day, we ended up in the afterlife together..." Lay said, smiling widely.

Kia saw movement behind Lay and looked over her shoulder, coming towards them was none other that Mathias.

"Hello, Kia." he greeted, a small smile on his face.

Layana smiled at her mate, before looking at her sister again.

"That's not all that I got blessed with." Lay said, taking Kia's hand.

The walked in silence for a while, Kia thinking over Layana's words.

"Kia.." Layana said, sighing. "Do you really want to go back?" she asked.

Kia stared at the ground for a while, thinking of everything that she had left behind. Her father, her mother, her duty to her pack as the next Beta, and most importantly her mate. Tobias. Kia broke into a smile, nodding her head slowly.

"Yes, I do..." she answered, before her smile fell. "but I can't"

"What if I told you that you can?" Layana said, making Kia frown at her.

Layana burst out laughing. "You look like 2-year old you when daddy told us about mates." she said, laughing still. Kia smiled, remembering that day, she had always been very independent and when her father told her she had to accept a man she didn't know as her mate and that he'd be the one to take over from her father, she didn't like it one bit. Sure she was 2-years old, but she understood things in ways no ordinary toddler would.

"I was horrified..." Kia said, smiling. "But... Having met Tobias, I couldn't think of anyone better to have as a mate." she said, making Layana smile.

"It's so good to see you this happy..." Lay said smirking. "I nearly fell off my chair when I found out you had accepted Tobias." she said, giggling.

"What?" Kia asked, turning to Layana again. "How did you find out about that? You're dead aren't you?" Kia asked.

"Oh dear sister, I was dead, but I got reborn." Layana said, smiling at Kia.

"Reborn?" Kia asked, that frown back on her face.

Layana shook her head. "Turns out, my death was.. Needed." Layana said, looking back to where Mathias was waiting for her. "I was next in line for something I couldn't do on earth." she said, turning her eyes to Kia again.

"What do you mean?" Kia asked, looking around as if the clues were staring her in the face.

"I'm the new Moon Goddess." Layana said, making Kia's jaw drop.

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Kia yelled, totally flabbergasted.

Layana laughed, patting her sisters shoulder.

"Still in training, but yes." she said.

"Wow." Kia said, releasing a breath. "That's big."

"Yes it is, but that also means I have the power to send you back if you want me to." Layana said, squeezing her hand.

Kia looked at her sister, wonder and awe dancing through her eyes. She always knew her sister was too kind and loving for the world, now it all made more sense. Now, her death seemed.. easier to accept.

Kia looked back at Mathias and smiled, it made her happy to know her sister wasn't alone, it also made her happy to know that her sister was keeping an eye on them. Joining in their happiness and sorrow. She loved being around Layana again, she had missed her sister so much, but was having Lay back enough? Was she going to be okay with leaving her family and Tobias behind to be with Layana?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked up at Layana with a gentle smile.

"I love being here with you..." Kia said, pulling Layana in for a huge hug. They stood there for a long time.

As Kia pulled away a tear slipped from her eye. "But I need to go back." she said and Lay nodded along to her conclusion.

"I know." Layana said.

She stepped back and held her hands out towards Kia, a soft glow forming from them moved to envelope her body. Kia looked down in amazement, she was glowing from head to toe, the light almost blinding her.

"Tell the parents I love them." Layana said. "Oh, and tell Tobias he better treat you right. I'll be watching." she said with a wink and then everything went dark.

The yelling continued, Kia felt pressure on her hands and she could hear someone crying. Slowly the sounds around her came into focus, she heard the steady beap of a heart monitor and gasps, some shuffling and something holding her face. Then the smell hit her, Tobias!

She opened her eyes and the blurry image in front of her smiled back at her, when her eyes finally adjusted she saw it was Tobias that was holding her face, looking down at her with a smile on his face and tears in her eyes. The pressure on her hand loosened and she turned her head, to find her father with much the same expression. Before she could process anything else, her mother jumped on her, hugging her so tight Kia felt like she couldn't breathe.

"My baby..."her mother said, crying all over her.

Kia smiled and hugged her back, even though her body felt weak.

"Guys, I need to tell you something." Kia said, a warm smile spreading across her face. "I saw Lay." she said, looking at her parents.

The both shared a look and started smiling, "Is she happy?" Elaina asked.

"Yes, she has Mathias and she's..." Kia said, shaking her head, still unable to believe it. "she's the next Moon Goddess." Kia said finally, making everyone around her gasp.

"Really?" Clayton asked.

"Yeah, she's still in training but she's next in line." Kia said, laughing. It sounded so odd, but it was so fitting at the same time.

"Well that makes so much sense..." Clayton said, laughing.

Kia smiled, she hasn't heard him laugh in such a long time.

"She says she loves you both." Kia said, before turning to Tobias. "And she said she's watching you, so you better treat me right." she said with a playful glare.

"Done..." Tobias said, giving her a look that made her insides melt. "I love you Kia." he whispered as he kissed her forehead.

Kia closed her eyes and relished in the happiness she felt.

Thanks Lay. She whispered in her mind, hoping her sister would hear her.

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