Yes, this really is the last chapter... Enjoy! External link to sequel below.

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I got up and went to find Rafe, trying to process what had just happened. The Moon Goddess had actually answered me. I had had loose faith in her since I was young, only turning to her in my most desparate situations and never before had I heard from her. Until today. 

I wasn't sure what to do with what she had said. I entered the pack house and Rafe ran up to me. 

"Where in the world did you go? We went back for you and you were just gone," he said, his eyes wide.

"I'm sorry, I just had to do something."

"Do something? What?"

"I- I talked with the Moon Goddess," I said quietly. I looked into his eyes and I knew he thought I sounded crazy. I mean people talked to the goddess all the time, but no one ever talked with her. "You know what, never mind," I said pulling him to me. 

I wrapped my arms around Rafe's neck and pressed my lips to his. The kiss was intense, Rafe's lips moved hungrily over mine and his arms pulled me in closer. 

Then he pulled back. 

Rafe looked down at me, an expression I couldn't read in his eyes. It was almost like sadness, but not quite. My heart sank, something was wrong, I knew it. Was it because the feeling wasn't there anymore, the pull?

"Katarina."

"It's because of the bond, isn't it?" I asked. 

"What?"

"You don't feel the same way about me because the pull's gone."

Rafe tipped my chin up, making me look into his eyes. "How could you ever think that, Katarina?"

"That's why you pulled away wasn't it?" I asked, my eyes flicking down to the ground before back at him. 

"That's not why. Katarina, you're my mate and nothing's going to change that. I don't know why the feeling isn't there, but that doesn't matter. You were made for me, and I for you. I'm not going to let some bond, some feeling dictate whether or not we're together." He paused for a moment. 

"I only stopped because I had a few questions. starting with this," he said lacing his fingers through mine. I knew he was talking about the fact that there was no intense feeling when we touched. "And this," he said again as he moved both out hands to rest on my stomach. "I love you, Katarina," he whispered before leaning down and kissing me softly. 

I was frozen, had he really just said that he loved me?  What was I supposed to do? Should I say it back, or what? It took me a moment to get my thoughts straight, it felt like my mind had been scrambled. It was amazing how even without the pull he could still have this affect on me. 

"I- I love you too."

Rafe smiled and pulled me over to the couch, sitting down with me leaning against him. "So what did this moon goddess say?" Rafe asked with a slight smile in his voice. I knew he was trying to be serious, he really was curious, but I could also tell he thought I had lost my mind. 

"We're still mates," I said. "Even without that feeling."

"I could have told you that Katarina, I don't need a feeling out here," he said touching my hand again. "To tell me to have feelings in here." Rafe moved his hand over his heart. "But what happened?"

"The binds that were used on me had a mixture of Wolfsbane and Kurlan. Apparently the combination makes a werewolf unable to shift, and if you're exposed for too long, can actually damage the wolf."

Rafe stiffened beside me. "They damaged your wolf?" He asked through gritted teeth. 

I nodded slightly afriad to look up at him. "She's actually gone. I can't access her. When I saw Jon do that to you, I got angry and worked up. I snapped his neck. When Ria came back, I snapped again. The rage and my wolf just took over and I did what I had to do, but I put my wolf under stress when she was already weakened. I didn't give her any time to heal, and with both of those incidents, I ended up damaging her further. 

"I can't shift, and I can't access my wolf, Rafe."

What sort of Luna was I if I didn't even have a wolf anymore. A true Luna, a voice said in the back of my mind. I still hadn't the slightest clue what she meant. 

"What's a true Alpha?" I asked quietly. 

I felt Rafe shift under the sudden topic change and his hand worked through my hair gently. 

"A true Alpha is one that hasn't had to battle and kill to gain his position. He's been appointed by a force greater than him, greater than the pack. The destiny is chosen for them."

"Is that what happened to you?"

"Not necessarily, it's in my family," he said. "Many generations ago, before this pack had formed and been made stable, one of my relatives was chosen as the true Alpha. No ones real clear on how it happened, but it had happened. Since then, no one had challenged him, no one has challenged any of us. It runs in the blood, the Granger line is the line of the true Alphas."

 I nodded. I supposed it made sense, a true Alpha not having to spill blood to become the leader of a pack. And yet I thought of all the bloodshed Rafe had caused in the past. Destroying whole packs in the process. 

Enough of that, haven't you learned already not to question what he does? You nearly lost him and yourself because of it. I reminded myself. I may not agree with his methods, but I had to agree that Rafe had helped the pack thrive with what he did, and his people truly seemed to love him. He didn't rule them out of fear; their feelings toward him were genuine. 

"What is all this about?" Rafe asked, feeling the flood of emotions and thoughts swirling through me. 

"The Moon Goddess, she said that the baby was a product of a true Alpha and true Luna, and that was why the process seemed sped up. It is developing faster, but I don't know what this means."

"Neither do I, but we'll figure this out together."

I looked up at Rafe and he kissed my forehead. 

"We'll get through all of this together. We'll figure out how to get your wolf back, we'll get through all of this. I have faith in us. It doesn't matter if you have your wolf, if we have these superficial feelings. What matters is deeper than that. It may have been a pull that brought us together in the beginning, but it's deeper than that Katarina. I didn't go out there after you because of some pull I had toward you. I went out there because I care about you. I didn't want to lose you, I can't lose you. 

"You are mine and I am yours no matter what. I really meant what I said out there, I was just sorry you felt you had to go behind my back. I'm going to make sure you never feel that way again. Whatever happens, we'll face it together hand in hand." He paused.

"As long as that's what you want," he added quietly, moving around so we were facing each other straight on. 

"I would love that," I whispered back with a smile. 

"Good, then will you marry me, Katarina Reynolds?" Rafe pulled a ring out of his pocket and looked at me expectantly. 

My eyes widened as I looked at it as he held the delicate thing between his fingers. 

"No." I said. This time, Rafe's eyes widened and he rocked back slightly as if he'd been slapped. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean that! I just wanted to see what it would feel like." I pulled Rafe back to me and kissed him hard. He relaxed into me and I could feel a relieved sigh leave his body. 

"Of course I'll marry you Rafe." I said as we pulled back slightly for air. "And we'll face this together."

"Together," Rafe whispered before kissing me lightly again. 

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So this is the end of the story. Yes, I ended it before the baby came, but that's because I didn't want the focus to be on the baby. I wanted the focus to be on these two and their growth as a pair, as mates. Their struggles in finding each other and realizing that the pull wasn't what dominated them, that it only helped them. Their realization that their feelings ran much deeper. 

Yes, her wolf isn't back, and yes, I left it on a huge event right there. 

All in all, there is a good set up for the sequel. So go check it out!

I've had some issues with getting ideas for the sequel, but I'm working on it. It has been started though, it's called Finding My Luna and can be found on my profile.

Remember to Comment, and Vote!! Thanks all. It's been a pleasure writing this for you!