---Thorn's POV---

It was strange to realize how much you missed something, even if you never had it in the first place. How awkward it was to have a loving mother dote on you and look after you, to glance at you with a warmth from deep within her soul.

And each time I caught her gaze and she smiled in that peculiar way, a soft kindness I've only received once...

Arms wrapped tighter around my stomach and I glanced up with a smile, accepting a kiss from Bidziil as his eyes sparked with mischief and yet, that same warmth.

It's been a few weeks since God had arrived to smooth over the interactions between his unruly angels and our family. There hadn't been anymore attacks, no threats, nothing.

In fact, God had commanded several of his angels to go down to Earth and help the immortals and humans alike, to restore Earth to its former glory.

Most of the angels had protested vehemently but had quickly shut up and did as told when God had given them one pointed glare.

Turns out that it wasn't only Ashkii that had forgotten about the mortals on Earth. Many of the Angels had forsaken their duty overlooking mankind and guiding them over the years and had simply ignored the numerous pleas and calls for help.

Instead, they had been too busy processing the numerous amounts of prayers that had been sent to them over the centuries.

The few angels that didn't abandon mankind had a hard time fighting for the survival of their charge. It was one of the reasons that some humans made it out alive throughout the countless years of witch-hunts against their race.

Sadly enough, blessings from above were hardly enough against supernatural creatures breathing down the human's neck. And the angels couldn't physically fight the hordes of demonic entities, vampires, werewolves and whatever else lusted after the lives of the humans.

Now the angels that had neglected their cause were reaping the sour fruits of their labor. Those angels were assigned to deal with the aftermath of the massacre on earth, guiding the humans back on track.

God even ordered them to keep a close eye on them at all times, both to protect them from harm but also to make sure that the same events wouldn't transpire again.

And across the entire globe, a multitude of elves, Fae, pixies and other creatures that were closely involved with nature, started up the campaign to return Earth to its former glory.

A lot of natural wildlife had been lost, species going extinct due to habitat loss, pollution or being hunted. But, there was a lot of hope for the surviving species, as those would repopulate, mutate and create more.

A smile slipped on my lips as I glanced to the side, where Alduin was resting, deep rumbling breaths vibrating through his chest before one scaled eyelid blinked open to look my way.

"Going somewhere?" He yawned, stretching his neck to the skies in an impressive display of teeth before his wings ruffled. I dipped my head, feeling the growing urge to do my duty.

A huff of hot air blasted over my hair as Alduin reached down, the tip of his nose nearly touching the crown of my head.

"Take care of yourself, little one. Life has been much more entertaining since you've come here." The dragon spoke and I smiled, reaching out a hand to hold against the smooth scales of his jaw.

I didn't say anything and neither did Alduin, as I appreciated his concern. There were still some immortals out there that would harm a seemingly mortal on sight.

A snort escaped Alduin's nostrils, huffing over my face before his eyes flitted slightly higher, a smirk over his lips.

"Then again, there is someone who'd burn down everything that has been rebuilt if even a hair is out of place." Alduin teased before a disgruntled huff came from behind me, a familiar set of arms wrapping around my hips.

"Damned right I would." Bidziil grumbled, pulling me closer in his hold as I sighed and affectionately rolled my eyes.

Overprotective oaf.

A small pinch on my hip made me jump with a squeak before glaring at Bidziil, who smirked and winked down. "So, where are we going today, hun?"

"Earth. Naturally." I sighed, cracking my neck and trying to relax the already tensing muscles there. "Where else would I feel a call from?"

Bidziil shrugged a massive shoulder and gave me another squeeze. "There are many planes filled with countless of worlds. Earth definitely is in a bad state but so are countless of other planets."

It was hard to fight back the surprise that flooded through my system but then again, it wasn't every day that you heard about different planes of existence containing worlds of their own.

"That's... fair, I guess. It would make sense that I'm more attuned to Earth, given I've spent most of my life there." Bidziil nodded at my explanation before relaxing his hold on my body, taking my hand in his own.

"Fair enough. Lead the way hun." I playfully rolled my eyes at his behavior before closing my eyes, focusing on the energy that was calling out to me.

It's been happening more and more ever since my so called awakening. To catch tendrils of spirits reaching out, restless souls that begged for and deserved that illusive second chance.

Sometimes, in rare occasions, it was the opposite. Tormented people who had been forced to commit murder, fearing for the lives they loved, for their own lives. Second-guessing their actions as doubt started to sink in, making their lives miserable even if they had to kill in self-defense.

The woman from last week was exactly that; barely an adult and had killed her would-be killer in self-defense, but she didn't see it that way.

In her eyes, she had claimed a life. She was no better than the murderer she had stopped single-handedly. Her misery, confusion and the enraged spirit that lingered of the twisted werewolf had her contemplating taking her own life.

It had been quite difficult, to separate her soul from the deranged entity that was clinging onto it, fusing with her very life essence.

But I had done it.

She could live her life at peace now while the spirit had been banished, laid to rest for eternity.

A tug in my stomach made me react, reaching out to the energy calling. Another tragedy waiting to be fixed. I could tell the second my feet touched the ground, to see the distraught wolf curled around the cold, unmoving body of a human woman.

Mates.

And yet the pack had killed her by forcing the elixir down her throat. Feeding a pureblooded human the elixir, knowing that it would become the most effective poison in existence.

Simply because she was human.

Her mate didn't care. Neither did his wolf. But the pack didn't want such a blemish to their name. Of course they hid their repulsive actions behind whatever religion they believed in.

People like that always were the biggest hypocrites of their religion. To commit sin and deny everything their religion stood for, but all was good because they did it in the name of their gods.

A snort escaped my lips as I glanced around the room. Elderly men, elderly women, all pure wolves, sneering and snarling with disgust and hatred. Proud they had claimed a life, all in the name of vanity.

The pack was quick to spot us but my powers, and Bidziil's presence, made sure that they couldn't interfere. Small puffs of light, entities of life and death were already circling around the room, watching. Waiting.

My feet padded over the cold stone floor towards the wolf, protecting the crumpled form of its deceased mate. A low growl started in its throat as he looked at me.

"Do you love her?" I asked softly, kneeling close to the pair, eyes flitting from the wolf to her face, barely visible in the mass of his fur.

"Yes." The wolf's voice whispered through my head with conviction as the rest of his pack started muttering their protests.

"More than them? Aren't they family?" I inquired, already expecting the smugness of the pack as they glanced at the pair before stilling as the lone wolf growled.

"She is family. They are filth. If it would give her back to me, I'd gladly rip out their throats and bathe in their blood." The wolf snarled, snapping its teeth warningly when I extended my hand.

As my powers reached out to connect with the fragments of her soul, still lingering and desperately connect with her mate, my wings slowly unfurled.

A rush of cold flooded through my veins as my powers scoured through the room, meticulously observing each of the pack. Settling in those that were the culprits, those that truly wanted harm to the human.

Closing my eyes, I could feel the vague touch of cold hands on my shoulder, a whispered thanks followed by a soft press against my cheek.

And as she inhaled sharply, several of the pack clutched for their chests, dropping to the floor as their bodies gave out. There were already portals opening to the underworld, darker entities pouring out with glee, circling the forms of the dying pack members and dragging them to their rightful place.

Those of the pack that were still living and breathing were the very few still open for redemption. But they'd never win back the trust and love of the pair that was joyfully reconnecting.

They would forever have to live with the shame that they had been willing to destroy a pack member's luck, simply because it irked them their mate wasn't a shifter like them.

My muscles relaxed with a sigh, wings fluttering before sagging as I leaned back. Bidziil was already there, smiling down warmly at me as we glanced at the crying pair, overjoyed that they were reunited.

Bidziil's hand settled over mine, warmth blooming in my chest. It was moments like these that made me appreciate the burden of my powers.

Being God's alternate judgement was tough, a grueling and often morbid task that often made me regret ever awakening my powers to begin with.

But, moments where love flourished, where people were reunited with those they thought lost forever... these were the moments that made all the suffering worth it.

"Up you go babe." Bidziil murmured in my ear before I was lifted in his arms. My muscles protested as my body remained limp but Bidziil chuckled warmly as he held me against his body.

"Don't you worry, kitten. I'll be sure to take good care of you when we get home." Bidziil husked, voice heavy with promise. It sent a shiver on my spine as he tightened his hold on my form before teleporting us out.

My job here was done. The pack would either learn from their foolish mistakes, or they would be wiped out by the wolf, along with some aid for the entities that still lingered, waiting for the pack to foolishly attempt to reenact the same mistake.

A flash of light and a oddly weightless sensation took over seconds before we were back at Bidziil's place. The way his fingers slowly danced over my body, creating sparks and shivers that set my body ablaze.

I already had a feeling that I knew just how Bidziil would take care of me. And I was eagerly looking forwards to it.