Of course I loved him.

You don't give people you don't love,

the power to destroy you.

***

The man sat at the table with his head bowed.

Hands folded.

Breathes shuddered.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

One inhale at a time to maintain his shaky composure.

Eyes closed.

Blocking out the world.

Blocking out everything that was wrong with it in that moment.

He heard the door open and raised his head, taking in the form of the stranger that stood across from him.

"Where is he?"

The strange scent invaded his nose. He did not know who she was. She was not a member. Not a part of the pack. Intruder.

He rose, a threatening growl escaping his throat, "How did you get in here?"

"Where is he."

She stumbled forward, swaying upon her feet, looking dazed. The man took a dangerous step towards her, when he finally fully took in the scent. Fully took in what had crossed his door.

"Where is he?!" The question came out as a plea. A cry.

"You're too late," he spat out, realizing now who this was.

The woman fell to the floor, crashing upon her knees- a heart wrenching scream breaking through her and shuttering the foundation of the house as she clung to her chest, tears freely falling down.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

"No. No! I can't accept it! I felt the tear, felt the shatter, felt my-," she gasped out her words, unable to fully say what she wanted through her moans of pain and misery.

The man stepped forward, taking in her pitiful sight.

"Who did this. Tell me. I will crush them with my hands, take the wrath of the Moon upon them and-,"

"You."

She paused and choked back on her pain, her pale blue eyes looking up and focusing for the first time on who stood before her.

She gasped then.

He looked just like him.

A copy.

The only difference were the dark blue eyes that bore into her, mixing and lacing themselves with disgust and hatred.

"Little one...,"

"Oh?!" He laughed, a cruel taunting laugh full of pain, "finally recognized me?"

The woman whimpered at his eyes, flinched at his tone.

"Where is he."

She repeated her question of before.

"Leave," the man hissed out, "Leave before I rip your throat out."

But before any threat could be fulfilled, a young woman entered the room.

She took in the crying woman upon the ground, before approaching the man and whispering in his ear.

He closed his eyes in silent defeat.

"Come."

The woman raised her head, hope and frantic desperation laced in her eyes as she heard his word.

Scrabbling to her feet, she quickly followed after them.

He lead her up the stairs. The familiar stairs that had not changed. And into the room.

His scent invaded her, leaving her breathless.

But as she approached the bed, she felt all air, all thought and all senses flee away from her body as she looked at his face.

His dark hallowed in eyes took her in also.

Together they sighed, a deep sigh collecting the full years of sorrow and torture that had been wrapped upon their souls.

She fell to her knees again.

Hesitating as she looked at his hand, the hand she so desperately wanted to take- to hold.

He broke the silence though, faintly whispering into the dark room, "Moon Child."

She sucked in her breath, and felt tears fall as she put her head down upon his chest and cried. Cried and cried and cried.

He lifted his hand, slowly and shakily, before having the courage to feel her hair. Her pure white hair.

Upon the contact he closed his eyes, sighing deeply as he finally touched his absent savior.

The younger man watched the scene with sad eyes, taking in the encounter. He slowly left the room, unable to watch the sight of what should have been a joyous reunion.

"What a horrible nightmare."

The woman raised her head, her eyes wide as his dark ones bore into her.

He looked away, out the window though, taking in the fading light, "Horrible Moon, I thought you had already had your fun?"

"Jay it's me," her voice sounded so hopeful, so full of empty promises as he continued talking to the empty room.

"What a wicked thing to do. To make me dream of her."

The man turned then to her, his frail hand still shaking as he slowly touched her face and traced it, "You're not real you know."

The woman took his hand, skin and bones, and kissed it, panic slowly seeping into her as she finally registered the lost eyes that seemed void of everything.

"No I'm real Jay. I felt...I felt something break and I feared that something had happened to you so I came back. It's me. Daisy. Your little Moon Child. I came back. I came back," she repeated the words as he looked at her, over and over yet no recognition, no spark of life came alive in his gaze.

Suddenly he smiled, taking her breath away as he grabbed a piece of her hair, "I knew a woman once."

Daisy stiffened at his words but remained, breathless as he continued to stroke her hair, over and over.

"A cruel cruel woman. Do you know her?"

He waited for her answer until she finally sobbed and nodded.

Jay continued, "No one expects an angel to set the world on fire, do they? But she did," he whispered into her ear, "She was my mate. My love, my moon, my life. But she left. Mates are not suppose to do that, so why did she leave?"

He looked at her waiting for an answer but Daisy had none, the sobs in her throat choking whatever input she could give.

"And then. Theeeen, she left our son. Our beautiful boy. Atlas."

Daisy felt her world shake as she took in the information. Atlas. His name was Atlas.

"There is not a single word in the whole world that could describe the hurt," he said softly.

He turned to her then, "Why do you think she left?"

He waited the few moments for Daisy to swallow her sobs as she moaned, "She probably was cursed. Cursed to live a life of pain and sorrow and such suffering as none have ever known. She probably did not realize what she had until it was gone. Until she was miles away and the pounding of her heart constricted with her soul. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't go back. Couldn't go back."

"Why?"

The word was hard. Clear. Demanding in its answer.

"How cruel of the Moon," Daisy whispered, taking his hand and tracing his thin lines, "How cruel."

Jay shook his head then, "The Moon is cruel. So are her children."

"Jay. It's me. I'm Daisy. Daisy," Daisy tried once again to reach out to him, but his eyes remained vague and clouded.

"Do you think she is ever sorry?"

"For leaving you?"

Jay shook his head.

"For loving me."

"No," Daisy shook her head and slowly, hesitantly got on the bed next to him, laying her body down beside him as she took in his scent. He turned to her, a look of surprise on his face at her closeness, but did nothing to push her away. "There are many things she is sorry for. But never for loving you."

Jay looked at her and a flash went into his eyes- a flash that made Daisy scoot closer, as he said, "What do you think she is sorry for then?"

"She is sorry for the timing. Sorry for the sorrow and pain. Sorry for the moon and sorry for her pale blue eyes. It was never a question of love. There was plenty of love," she stroked his face, his eyes closing upon their contact as his brows went down in confusion.

"I love her so much," the words came out so raw and full of pain, that Daisy felt her heart break all over again.

"She knows. She does to. But even the greatest of loves cannot withstand the wars of shattered souls. And no matter how much love there was, I don't think it was ever destined to win."

His eyes opened then- eyes that were clear and focused.

"Daisy."

She felt her lungs collapse as a tear fell down his face.

"You came back."

She nodded, encasing his cheeks in both her hands, holding him there so they could look directly at each other.

"You came back."

Daisy felt her own sobs match his as they cried their pain together.

"I knew you would. I knew you would."

He reached over and dragged her across. Her eyes closed at his contact. Closed at his show of possessive dominance that he once demonstrated so freely to her. Closed at how he felt when his breath came over her and his grip tightened.

"Hey Hot stuff."

He buried himself in her neck, inhaling her scent and taking in the faded mate mark.

"Hello my little moon child."

She sighed, not knowing if she was dreaming or if this was real. If the moon really had given him back to her. After she gave her soul away to the moon. Was the moon finally letting her have it back? Finally letting her settle, no longer restless like the tides, no longer feeling the pull and a slave to her will? Finally letting her repent for her past mistakes- for some happiness?

Suddenly he stiffened and pushed her away.

She cried in pain at the hurt that registred and vibrated deep within, but it compared to nothing as she took in his blank, void eyes.

"Jay?"

She whispered the word, hesitantly- scared.

Jay looked at her and suddenly he sighed and said, "I knew a woman once."

I had this chapter written, before I started Atlas's or Daisy's chapters. There is still more left to the story though.

Thank you for all the love and support (I love reading every single one of the comments).

Until next time,

Loves,

/////WORLD_JOY_/////