Zero... come back... we need you... I need you...

Who was calling for me? That voice, why was it so sad? Don't be sad. I'm not gone. I'm right here... but where was here?

A void as dark as night held her prisoner. She couldn't lift her arms nor her legs... No, she couldn't feel her limbs because they were absent. She had no arms to move nor any legs. She opened her eyes and saw nothing except darkness; no light or object was near her, as if she was falling inside a hole that had no end. She wished to move but nothing followed her. Something else held her down and something else brought her here to this place that wasn't like any other.

Zero, we need you... That voice again! Someone called out for her. She needed to go and help them.

Something kept her here but not for long. She gathered the strength in her body and lifted out of this prison holding her down. When she pulled her leg from this shackle, a loud bell echoed through the air like it was warning someone, Zero didn't care for that right now. She ripped away her limbs and got to her feet that were bare and clean. She felt as if she had been asleep for centuries, her breath was short and her body had no muscle.

Suddenly, something fell around her draping her face and arms. Zero stiffened when she touched hair, it was her own. She never kept her hair this long, not after that incident. How was it possible that her hair was back to this length?

Zero straightened and took a good look around her. That was when she realized she was standing in a forest now. Tall trees all around her appeared as if shadows since it was night here and looked as if it'd always be that way. Above the forest was a sky full of falling stars of all different colours, they danced near the full moon who basked its glorious light on this realm. That helped Zero spot all the small animals running around too. A bunny as white as snow hopped over stones and bushes; a family of mice scurried by evading the large snow owl keeping watch over everything.

Strangely, there were no sounds here. Everything breathed together and nothing appeared as if it normally would on Earth.

You didn't save me... The voice again resonated towards her.

Zero didn't understand why, but she needed to get to that voice. But when she took the first step, her foot didn't support her weight and she dropped onto the ground making noise in this strange place. Although, she had left that dark pocket and was laid on soft grass and moss. She almost wished to change into her wolf form here and run freely. It was safe here, no humans or distractions. A place that was guarded to keep everything harmonious and pure.

But what was someone like her doing here? she wondered. There had to be some kind of mistake.

Zero... Zero...

Zero looked ahead of her and saw her mate dressed all in white like he always would be. His indigo eyes broken and fragile, his smile had vanished and there was a pale sheen over him. Zero pushed off the ground and ran to him, but she never got close enough. He held his hand out to her and so did she, but a wall kept her from grabbing a hold of him.

Why did you leave us?

"I didn't mean to, but it was the only way to end this hatred," she answered.

His eyes soothed then, like they never once stopped trusting her. Only you could have done that. But what happens now?

Zero didn't know what was going to happen now. She didn't even know where she was.

Abruptly, her body felt chained once again. A powerful grip on her body attempted to drag her back to that pocket of darkness.

"Severin!" she screamed reaching for his hand and him for hers.

"Zero!" He was being pulled away too.

Everything went black again, but that was only because her eyes were closed. When she opened them, she found herself standing in the hospital where Dr. Stone worked. Hundreds of people where gathered around, she recognized everyone right away. All the packs were here and their families. Zero walked around the packs and saw Gabriel, Isaiah, Alec, King, Marcello even Zachariah was here. Czar and Veronica had arrived and were sitting hand-in-hand.

What happened? she wondered. Why were they all here? she couldn't remember anything.

That was when she saw her mate sitting on the floor covered in blood, Elijah was as if a ghost and so was Tom. Her family... looked broken.

"What's wrong-" she couldn't reach them; her voice was muffled.

Dr. Stone walked out then with tears down her cheeks. "She's dead," she announced and the crowd broke out in tears.

Severin got to his feet and went into the room all on his own. Zero wished he wouldn't see a dead body, she didn't want him tainted with that. But she couldn't grab his hand nor speak to him, so the least she could do was join him. They walked into a dim room where a table was laid out and a body covered with a white cloth.

"This is what you were trying to tell me," he said to her, his hand went to his neck where there was no mark of their mating. "You didn't spare me, Zero. I still feel as empty and as dead even without your mark."

Zero's body froze and she broke at the truth of his words. She saw herself on the table, laid out like she was asleep. Then it all came back to her- what had happened. She was fighting Reaper and she had killed him but lost her life too, which wasn't a surprise to her at all. However, she didn't expect these many people to mourn her because when someone like her was born alone, she imagined that she'd die alone too.

"You were never alone."

A melodious voice chimed through the building and Zero walked out to see who it was that could talk to her here.

A figure appeared. A woman with a midnight blue gown that trailed behind her. Her wild black hair spilled all the way down to her hips. Pale as moonlight were her eyes, they were peculiar but beautiful. The pupil was a light grey and the iris was moonstone. She was beautiful and divine, almost unreal. Zero had seen this woman once before as a child.

"Maya," Zero prayed those words.

A smile as lovely as roses appeared on the goddess's face. "Welcome back," said Maya. "There are some visitors here to see you-" Maya escorted Zero from the hospital room to the foyer where everyone stood- "There not the only ones."

Zero recognized all the faces; some she met for brief moments on her missions, some friends and partners. Maya took her to the large balcony presenting her the entire road covered with people.

"They all prayed for you," said Maya.

"Why?" she mumbled.

"Because you are their saviour," Maya's smiled broadened. "But before I bring you to them, I need to show you something." Maya snapped her fingers and took her to a darkness, the abyss. Zero opened her eyes with her standing in that crystal black water again. The moon was above her, she felt it seep into her blood and bones.

"Why have you brought me here?" she asked Maya.

"The last thing you wished for," Maya pronounced. "You wanted to be accepted in my grace and you were."

"What do you mean?"

"It's time to be reborn, child," whispered Maya.

Zero didn't say another word. All she did was stare at those mesmerizing eyes that she always prayed to see one day. Her goddess, the one she prayed to night and day was here in front of her. She knew all this time that her goddess was real, but she never thought she deserved to stand in her presence.

Before anything else, Zero went down on both knees and bowed. "You heard all my prayers," Zero found her voice again.

Maya's smile saddened. "Of course, I did," she said. "You were always sincere. Always down the right path and always following me. Now, stand, I want to see your eyes."

She did as she was told. "I've met you before," said Zero.

Maya's eyes winked with charm. "Oh yes," she remembered as well.

"Why did you meet me then?" Zero asked and wondered if it was okay to question the divine, but she was already dead and curious, might as well let it kill her twice.

"Because I was there when you were born," she told Zero. "I saw how you resilient you were and decided to keep an eye on you myself, like I do all my children who are alone."

"It was after that day that I became Zero," she admitted. "You put that cloak on me and-"

Maya's face brightened with a radiant glow. "I know," she said. "All I did was cover you from the cold, yet you went on saving the world."

"I had to do what you did for me for anyone that needed my help," Zero said. "There were many."

Maya nodded. "As much as I hate to admit it, there is a lot of evil walking around," she said. "Although, every few centuries I always find myself watching over a warrior who fights for others. But for the first time, you were the one who changed the course of all packs and wolves. You united alphas who always had rivalry, you kept all rogue wolves safe and everyone good respected you, yet evil feared you."

Zero's heart was racing like a stampede. "I tried my best."

Maya brushed Zero's hair back. "I know you did," she said. "You always did your best. I just regret what you've seen; all the darkness you fought against and kept hidden from others. Your heart ached every time yet you continued to fight."

"Darkness didn't matter to me then or now," she said. "I only knew that people needed help, so I went wherever they called."

Maya laughed, it echoed through the void and blossomed through the water. "You really are a strange one," she said. "I'm glad you fought back and stayed strong. Oh! That reminds me, would you like to know about your parents?"

Parents? What did that even mean to Zero. Nothing at all at this point. They weren't of any use when she was alive and neither would they be now.

"No," answered Zero. "As far as that's concerned, I only considered three people my blood."

Maya's eyes gleamed. "I don't think I need to guess who two of those are," she said. "But the third?"

Zero grinned. "Severin, Elijah and-" her eyes locked with the one who saved her again- "You. To me you are my mother and father."

Maya's smile enchanted the world, as if the moon has kissed the horizon and beamed its glorious light over the ocean waves. "You really are the most beautiful soul," she said. "But why would you choose that title for me?"

"Parents are supposed to protect their kids," said Zero. "You protected me all my life when I had nothing. No prestigious name, no money, no destiny. But you saw me and gave me warmth. That sounds a lot like a parent to me."

Zero witnessed maybe the impossible and a phenomenon. A single pearl-white tear streamed down Maya's glass skin, the tear fell into the water below them and exploded into millions of tiny little stars. Zero stared in awe as that tear transformed into a cyclone of starlight and blasted into the universe, taking form of a galaxy.

"So, what happens now?" Zero asked. "Will I stay here with you?"

"Do you want to?" asked Maya.

Zero hesitated as she recalled all the faces of the people at the hospital. "I must go back," she answered. "I have a lot more to do."

Maya chuckled. "Of course, but before you go, I have a little gift," she said.

"I think seeing you has been the greatest gift," Zero blurted out.

Maya stiffened and looked at her adoringly, she bent forward and laid her lips on Zero's forehead. "I bless you, child of mine," she whispered. "Now, for the real gift, which I warn you will hurt."

Zero grinned. "Please, I was stabbed, beaten and still managed to kill a psychopath," she said. "Hit me with your best shot and don't hold back."

"Good, a little bit of arrogance will get you through this," remarked Maya. "Lay down in the water."

Zero did as she was told and braced for the impact.

"Ready?"

"Always," she answered.

Maya lifted her hand from under the sleeves of her gown and the procedure began. Zero's screams echoed in this endless void.

"Zero!" Severin jolted awake crying her name.

Another nightmare of chasing her, but this one was different from before. She wasn't in a bloody state, she was alive and healthy. He even imagined her with long hair, she looked youthful. There were no scars on her hands or face, she looked as if she rested and had gone to a good place. Maybe, this was just a way for his mind to ease his aching heart. Severin didn't believe that Zero died despite what happened. They had a funeral and weeks went by with nothing to fill the void as everyone grew angst.

Severin opened his eyes and got up only to realize that he wasn't in his room, he was in Zero's room that they once shared.

He got up and walked out because he couldn't hold onto this anymore, it was killing him. He passed his brother's room but the door was open and Tom wasn't to be seen. He saw the letter on the table that said he was gone to see Elijah again.

Severin turned to go to his own room when his eyes locked onto the great doors at the end of the hall. His feet moved on their own towards it and he went inside closing the door, like Zero always did and he sat where she sat too.

In front of the ebony sculpture of a beautiful woman, Severin was at a loss of words rather than fuming with anger. He had a lot of resentment in his heart for Maya and wondered why Zero worshipped her at all. However, Severin saw the love in his mate's eyes for Maya. That love was stronger than a storm and unwavering, nothing could shake it. So, he would have faith for his mate and for Maya that Zero's story had no end. Her legacy lived in everyone that she touched and nothing could wipe that out. Even now, Zero lived in his heart and there would be no way he'd forget her memory.

"You always protected her," Severin spoke to the statue. "I hope you protect her wherever she is now."

Severin wasn't devoted to Maya, not like Zero was. But he still grabbed the matches off the counter and lit a candle for his mate. Her strength and her devotion were all real and worth remembering until the end of time.

Severin left the room after a while and returned to the hallway, it felt strange to return to the other parts of the house. That temple felt alive somehow, like it had a beating heart and now he couldn't hear anything else. To cover the silence, he went to his room and took a long shower to unfreeze his stiff limbs. He got dressed later in his usual white attire and left the tie, vest and jacket, he didn't feel the need for those right now.

In the empty manor, an eerie silence filled again. Severin climbed down without any desire to eat or drink, it's been like that for a while now. Through the windows, he saw how the great gates of Zero were shut closed for no one to enter. No one came to these gates looking for their saviour anymore. She wasn't here anymore to brighten the path of a person who had lost hope. Now, even Severin. Everyone was on their own fending for themselves, and it won't be long until evil festered in the darkness once again.

Severin ignored that sickening sensation and moved to return to his room, when suddenly, he froze in his tracks as he heard the creak of the gates echo through the manor. His heart told him to run and check like he always did, but he knew that he would be disappointed when he saw someone else. He wasn't going to give in this time, never again.

The gates silenced and Severin calmed down a little.

The air in the manor thickened, like its heartbeat returned. A strong pheromone released around him latching itself to his body. He felt his numb body catch fire all over, it seeped into his blood.

Severin turned and looked at the gates. All he could do was run until he reached the driveway and saw with his own eyes who had arrived.

"It's you," he said.

Zero stood full glory once again. She was dressed in dark robes, her hair long and black behind her swaying in the wind. There was something different about her, she appeared stronger and a lot more dignified. Severin couldn't believe his eyes, this must be some trick that his mind was playing on him and tormenting him with. They were all at her funeral, they had her cremated in front of thousands of people and it was live on television too.

"Am I dreaming?" he asked.

Zero pushed through the gates and walked towards him barefoot. "I hope not," she replied.

"We had you cremated?" he said.

She looked surprised. "I'm glad you did," she said. "I never wanted to be in a casket."

He nodded. "I had a feeling," he said. Were they really talking about this? Severin stopped in his tracks and he felt his eyes blur with heavy tears. "You came back-" his voice trembled.

"I had to," she professed with her strong sapphire gaze staring directly into him, like she always had... it really was her. "A bunch of troublemakers were waiting for me."

Severin let out a laugh despite the tears in his eyes.

"Are you going to keep standing over there or will you come to me?" Zero asked.