Nolan hadn't left our conversation from the other day alone. He had spent the two days since then using every chance we had alone to probe me further. He wanted to know everything. And as much as I wasn't sure if I should tell him about it, it still felt nice to talk to someone.

"Why do you think he cheated?" Nolan randomly asked me as we were fetching water for the camp.

I nearly dropped the bucket in my hands.

"What?"

"Why do you think your mate cheated? If he had just found you, he knew who you were and he had plans for the two of you, then why do you think he cheated on you?"

It was the same question that had plagued my mind since I had found out. Why would he do something like that, and with the person he had. He had shared his bed with another who he claimed had meant nothing.

"I don't know," I whispered as I filled the second bucket with water, standing to head back. "I'm not sure why he did."

"Do you think he regretted the decision?"

Had Rafe regretted sleeping with Aphrodite? He claimed he had, I had seen the pain on his face. But was that in the face of being caught, or had he actually regretted the act itself?

"I beleive so, but I'm not sure."

We walked in silence a bit. I was lost to my thoughts, barely even remembering that Nolan was walking beside me.

"Do you love him?" Nolan asked finally.

My head snapped to look at him. Well that was a tough question. When I was around him my mind was so foggy I wasn't sure what I felt for him. I knew I had an attraction to him, it was the same pull all mates had, but was it really love?

What was love? It wasn't something that you could really describe, it wasn't tangible, it wasn't something you could grab. It wasn't definite. It was something that had to be built. Love was something big made from lots of little things.

Did I love Rafe? I didn't think we had reached that point yet. I had that physical pull to him, I wanted to get to know him, or I at least had wanted to get to know him. I had wanted to be there for him, to help him, to be with him. The potential for greatness between us had been there before I left, before he had betrayed me.

"I don't know if I do, but I think I could."

Nolan just nodded walking silently a little further until speaking up once more. "You should go back to him."

"What?"

"You should go back to him. Tell him everything you've told me. You said you left so you could figure things out, to see if there was room for an 'us'. And I think you know that answer now, I think you know what room you have."

He was right, I had looked our situation over from every angle. Nolan had made me see and ask myself things that I never would have on my own. He had shed light onto Rafe and myself and I did think there was room for an us. There was potential for him and me.

"Why are you doing this?" It had seemed odd ever since I had brought the topic up. Nolan had made it clear about his feelings for me, and yet he still tried to help me find my way back to Rafe.

"Because you deserve happiness no matter who it's with. You can't form a relationship with someone else when part of you belongs to another. Even if I can't be with you, I want to see you happy. If that means that going back to your mate, then I want to help you do that. Everyone deserve happiness.

"If going back to him would make you miserable, then I would say to hell with him. Stay with us or find a new pack. But you can't walk away from something just because you're scared. You deserve to be angry for what he did, but you can't let one mistake rule your entire relationship and life."

I set the buckets down on the ground and wrapped my arms around Nolan's neck, squeezing him tightly. I felt his body shake with a slight chuckle as he hugged me back.

"Thank you," I whispered to him.

"You're welcome."

When I pulled back the smile on his face just lit up and it was contagious. I picked the buckets back up with a huge grin and we made our way back to the campsite.

I was going back-I think. I hadn't made my decision completely yet, but Nolan had put up a really good case. The only thing that held me back was being face to face with Rafe again. My wolf had been restless since we had left, she'd been in pain from his betrayal as well. What would happen when I saw him again? I was afraid all the pain would rush back when I saw him face to face once again.

I was stuck between deciding if I should go back and take a leap of faith, or running away, not taking the chance and not risking my heart.

You can't form a relationship with someone else when part of you belongs to another, Nolan's words played agian in my mind. That was essentially what had held me back with Nolan, I had been unable to see him as anything else because part of me still belonged with Rafe.

I picked at my dinner as I thought it over. The others were laughing and talking, but I didn't hear any of it. None of it was important to me anyway. However their sudden silence had piqued my interest.

I heard a twig snap and they had sensed it before I had, someone was nearby. We weren't close to any packs, but that didn't always stop some from killing rogues on the spot.

We all stayed as silent as possible, waiting for whatever or whoever it was to step out where we could see them.

And he did.

Rafe emerged from the dense trees and bushes. He looked ragged, his hair disheveled, his clothes torn and dirt every where. His wild eyes searched until they fell on me and they didn't leave. I turned on the stump I was sitting on and he stumbled forward until I could almost reach out and grasp him.

His knees buckled and he fell to the ground right at my feet. Tears streamed down his face and his arms wrapped around my legs as he murmured my name.

My heart jumped into my chest, I didn't know what to say or do. I had been thinking of returning, but here Rafe was, he had sought me out. Not only had he come out looking for me, but he had done it alone.

His buried his face in my lap, muffling his words, but I could still hear them.

"I'm sorry, Katarina. I'm so, so sorry."

My heart broke for him. I had been worried what anger I might feel when I saw him again, but all I really felt was sadness mixed with relief. Rafe was truly sorry. He had gone out and searched the woods to find me, he wanted me in his life, and he regretted what he had done. His actions of seeking me out spoke louder than his words ever could.

Tears broke free from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks as I looked down at him. I could feel that same heat between us, but I could also feel his weakness. It wasn't overly noticeable, but he was definitely not as strong as he had been the day before I left.

He had kept true to his word and had ended the ceremony with Aphrodite. He hadn't accepted anyone else as a stand in Luna in my absence and he had started to feel the consequence of that.

Not only had my leaving ate at him emotionally, but it had started affecting him physically.

"Please come back to me," I barely heard him whisper.

I choked back the sob that wanted to escape. I couldn't possibly say no. I had been contemplating it, finding more reasons to, than not, to go back; but now there didn't seem like a single reason to abandon him.

He had clearly felt the pain from the mistake he had made, or else he would not be kneeling in front of me right now.

I bent over slightly, my arms wrapping around his head as silent tears leaked down. I pulled his chin up to look at me.

"Yes," I whispered. "I will come back."

I'm not sure who instigated it, but our lips pressed hard against each other. Rafe's hands wrapped around me tightly like he was never going to let me go and my fingers ran through his short, dark hair, and I didn't care if the others were watching. We pulled away, both of us gasping for air.

"My Luna," Rafe said in a husky voice.

"My Alpha," I replied, looking down at him.

*******************

So there it is. I hope you aren't terribly disappointed with the reunion of the two. Leave your thoughts below! :)

Comment, Vote, and Fan. It's all much appreciated! ^_^