Second Chance Luna
Chapter 111

Jason rocked back and forth, clutching the tiny pup to his chest as sobs wracked his chest and a tremendous sense of loss consumed him. He was empty, a hollow shell. Lobo had gone silent, almost comatose. Their mate was gone.

They would never smell her delicate lilac and sage scent again. Their hunger would never be stoked by the spicy scent of her arousal. He would never be able to eat spicy food again. It would be like eating chalk. His soul was in a thousand pieces and his heart was shattered. Phoebe was gone. She was gone and the only piece of her left was the tiny pup cradled in his arms and its sibling. Her last gift to him.

He would love them, cherish them and raise them with all the care and attention Phoebe expected of him. But it wouldn't be the same. What was he going to tell them when they asked about their mother? What could he say that would alleviate their loss? A sob escaped from him.

"Jason, I know this is hard but," Norah reached out to touch his arm and comfort him. "One day, you'll get a second chance and..."

"No," Jason suddenly snarled. "Never."

"Jason."

"NO! Phoebe was my one and only. I'll never accept another," Jason kissed his son's head. "Never."

Norah pressed her lips together and held her peace. There was no sense in arguing. Jason's pain was too raw. Later, after he had mourned and calmed down, when his heart had enough time to heal, he would replace someone to fill the void that now consumed him. The Moon Goddess would not abandon her son.

A heavy silence settled around them, broken only by the monitor's continued whine. Even the newborn pups had fallen silent, as if knowing what they had lost.

"Time of death, seven forty-seven," Doctor Evans quietly announced, gesturing for Bridget to turn off the monitor. Bridget shook as she reached for it only to cry out as a shock caused her to stumble away. Doctor Evans and several others looked at her in confusion. "It shocked me," Bridget said by way of explanation when a sudden, single beep drew their attention.

They looked at the monitor's flat line in confusion as another bleep registered. Then another. Then another.

They stared in shock. Phoebe had been gone for ten minutes. It simply wasn't possible.

But more blips continued to scroll across the screen. Her vitals slowly crept upward. Then they felt it. Their Luna's bond that had ripped a hole through their pack link was knitting it closed again. They all gave out a collective, relieved gasp as her presence and care once again pulsed through their bond.

It really was her.

Jason suddenly lurched to his feet and stumbled toward the bed. He didn't know he was holding his breath as he reached out to her and grasped her hand. Tingles of the mate bond traveled up his arm and he nearly collapsed as relief flooded him. She was back.

Jason leaned over her, kissing her forehead.

Thank the Goddess, she was back.

***

Phoebe stirred.

Her chest ached and everything felt heavy and strange. She forced her eyes open, taking in a dark room. Her eyes slowly adjusted. It was night. Moonlight streamed through the window. The monitor quietly beeped displaying her vitals.

At the foot of her bed she spied two baby beds. Bundled in each was a small form she could barely see but somehow felt unbreakable connections to each. Her gaze drifted further. There was another bed and there she saw Blake and Emma curled up together. Apparently, they had refused to go back to the packhouse, wanting to be close when she finally awakened.

Eventually, her gaze settled on Jason. He sat in a chair beside her bed with his head resting on the mattress, one hand firmly gripping hers. A smile twitched her lips and her heart pounded as the mate bond sent tingles up her arm. She was really back. Gently freeing her hand, she quietly ran her fingers through his hair.

His brow furrowed and he groaned. He blinked awake, looking around as if unsure where he was until his gaze met hers. Jason suddenly stood, reaching out to caress her cheek.

"Phoebe?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Phoebe swallowed with difficulty, replaceing her throat dry and harsh.

"Wait," Jason darted to the small connecting bathroom.

She heard water running and he returned with a cup of water. He used the bed's controls to raise her up to a sitting position. Bringing the cup to her lips, he carefully tipped it so she could sip. A little dribbled down her chin and he gently wiped it up as she tested her voice again.

"... Jason."

"I'm here, angel," he smiled, nuzzling her and kissing her temple. "I'll always be here."

She could feel his love pouring into their bond but it couldn't quite fill the void in her soul. That was right... Máni. Tears seeped out of her eyes.

"Shh, shh," Jason gently wiped her tears away startled by her sudden change of demeanor. "I'm here, angel. I won't let anything happen to you." "Jason," Phoebe shuddered. "She's gone."

"What? Who?"

"Máni. Máni is gone."

"What?" Jason looked at her in shock. She couldn't mean what he thought she meant. Lobo whimpered.

"She said...she said Máni couldn't come back with me."

"Who said?"

"The Goddess. I saw her. She said she could send me back but I had to sacrifice Máni to do so," Phoebe sniffled. "Máni, she said she said, Go. We both couldn't leave you and our pups. She said she'd wait for us... but she's gone. Jason..." "Shh, shh, angel," Jason slipped an arm around her and held her close until her tears were spent. "You didn't leave her. She told you to go. So we could be together. It was her choice too."

Phoebe let out a haggard breath as his scent and presence calmed her. She clung to his comfort. His arms trembled and she left his worry through the bond. She didn't need to be told how affected he had been by her brief death. It was what had drawn her back. "We'll figure it out," Jason assured her.

He had no idea how she would cope being wolfless. How would it affect their bond? How would it affect her bond with the pack? Would she even be able to mindlink?

He didn't know, but none of it mattered. What mattered was that they had been given a second chance and they would not waste it. Kissing her forehead, he went to one of the baby cradles and picked up the small form within. Gently cradling it, he brought it to her and transferred it into her arms. Phoebe whimpered, rocking the baby as it stirred.

Jason retrieved the other and joined her again. After they were cleaned up, nurses placed both pups on Phoebe's chest, encouraging them to bond with their mother though she was unconscious. Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Ebookex.com. Visit Ebookex.com to read the complete chapters for free. Both managed to nurse as well as it was important for their first milk to come from their mother and luckily she had plenty to give. Since then, nurses gave each of them bottles but neither of the twins seemed fond of their formula.

They debated whether to keep the twins in her room or take them to the maturity ward, allowing Phoebe to rest peacefully. Jason ultimately insisted they stay. When Phoebe woke he wanted to be able to place them in her arms. He was glad he insisted. "Say hello to our son and daughter," Jason smiled.

Though she still felt the pains of her loss, Phoebe couldn't help but smile. She leaned forward and kissed the pup's forehead as it snuggled in her arms. Tears blurred her vision, but this time they were happy ones.