Athena's POV

We walked out of the hospital wing and Serena excitedly offered to give us a tutor of the pack. Apollo was quick to hook his arm around her allowing her to lead the way.

I stayed in the back adding little comments every once and a while but I honestly couldn't care less about any of this.

We never had a pack and we certainly don't need one now. This was our chance for a new start now it just feels like we're being thrown into another battle. Like we haven't been through enough in our life.

I agreed to this though. I could have said no, swayed their opinions by listing all the facts why this wasn't a good idea, but when I saw the happiness in Apollo's eyes when he looked at Serena, I just couldn't.

 Although it made my heart clench, I knew he would go even if we didn't.

And that mere fact scares me the most, just seeing how happy Apollo could be without us... It makes me mad and I feel selfish. How can I be mad at my brother's happiness?

But my ability, I swear its a curse, I can feel their Love for each other. I-It doesn't even make any sense they just met, we've been with each other our whole lives and here he is carelessly walking side by side with her leaving me behind.

Apollo and I fight a lot, when people see us most may think we don't like each other but although we three have been close forever it was always Apollo and I.

The reason was sour but those times with him getting ice cream to calm me down, playing at the park with me because I didn't get along with the other kids, and just watching Lion King on repeat in my room...those were when I was the happiest.

He made me forget how sucky our life was. 

People would think Apollo and Artemis were like glue growing up but it was just me and him while Artemis was our protector. She had to stay home during all of our adventures, enduring so much I couldn't understand at such a young age. All I knew was that my big brother tried his best to shield me from everything. Covering my ears to muffle every scream, rushing to get me far away from the house so I wouldn't feel her pain...

So yeah those adventures were distractions, but they were real. Apollo will always be my Knight that tried to be brave for everyone else. While his heart felt like it was ripping into two, knowing what was happening behind closed doors.

Now when I see him with her he finally looks like he can let go of all his burdens and be free. But is that all we were, burdens? Was his reason to stop touring to finally get rid of us? To find his mate and leave?

Gosh, I can feel everyone else's emotions and yet can never figure out my own. 

Am I happy for him? Mad at him? Jealous of him?

I can't keep watching them I have to...go.

We had been walking around the entire pack for about 20 mins now but I hadn't heard a thing Serena said since we left the hospital.

I looked up from my feet and saw her pointing to some lake that had frozen over. She went on and on about how it was great to ice skate on, explaining all the memories she had with family and friends on it.

I suddenly stopped walking and cleared my throat. They both turned around to face me.

"I-I'm gonna take a look back at the horse stables we saw a few houses back; if that's okay..." I said quietly avoiding Apollo's eyes.

"O-Oh umm okay, I don't know if any ones in there at the moment but if someone is you can ask them to take you out on a ride," Serena suggested nervously.

"Umhm" I hummed as I turned around.

I began to walk the other way when I heard Apollo's call me.

"Athena," He said sternly with a hint of worry in his voice.

"What?" I asked lowly with a trace of bitterness in my voice. I didn't bother turning around.

"Don't stay out there too late meet us back at the hospital in an hour," he stated sharply.

'I almost chuckled at his tone. He knows somethings wrong with me but is choosing to give me my space. Good choice.' I thought as I began to walk away again.

"Athe-" He began again.

"I heard you!" I said a little louder than needed, cutting him off.

I felt his eyes burning holes in the back of my head as I walked away. I simply threw back a wave and continued walking.

After a while, I finally reached the stables. Opening the barn doors the smell surprised me the most, it smelt nice. I've never seen a horse in real life before, but I remember always asking for a pony when I was younger. Though I was told they smelled bad and were hard to maintain, but these stables were very clean!

I walked down the row of stables that held a different horse in each. They were all wearing blankets for the winter I assume. I decided to sit on one of the benches near one of the stables when I heard a whine from further in the barn.

I got up timidly. 'What if one of the horses are sick should I go and get Serena?' I thought to myself as I walked closer to the noise.

'Oh please Athena you ain't no punk you a whole boss' I thought as I opened the door that held the source of the noise.

Then I smelled a familiar scent.

"You??" I said looking at the boy Ezra on the ground with a horse that was whining in pain.

"You?" He said looking up from the horse.

"What the hell are you doing with that horse??" I asked concerned.

I was worried I just walked in on him getting dinner ready or something.

"Haha, this looks weird huh?" He chuckled nervously.

"But believe it or not I'm helping her give birth," he said pointing down to the horse.

As I gave the horse a closer look he was telling the truth.

"You know I'm glad you're here I could actually use some help if you don't mind," Ezra stated looking at me hopefully.

I looked at him like he was crazy 'does he not see my outfit??'

He must have read my face cause he chuckled and said "I mean you already look like a cowgirl in those overalls"

Scrunching up my nose at his comment I crossed my arms ready to correct him and tell him its a dress, but I was taken aback when I heard the mother cry out painfully again.

Forgetting about my outfit I dropped to my knees; onto the itchy hay near the horse and began softly petting her mane.

I could feel her pain and this was too much even for giving birth.

"Why is she in so much pain?" I asked worriedly looking up at Ezra.

"Well besides the fact that shes in labor...shes sick," he said sadly.

"Okay, how can I help?" I said jumping into action.

Ezra handed me a pair of gloves.

"She's been in labor since this morning, it's been almost 7 hours and she can't push any more she's too weak. We usually let the Mare do this herself without our assistance but due to her condition..." Ezra explained trailing off.

"Just tell me what I need to do!" I yelled, tried of hearing this poor horse in pain.

"Okay she managed to get the head and two legs out slightly but we will have to pull the rest out which will be painful for her. I need you to hold her down and try and calm her. Rough movements may cause the foal to shift inside her" Ezra explained positioning himself.

"I understand," I said holding onto the horse and began petting her sweaty mane.

'I can calm her down slightly by taking in some of her pain' I thought as I closed my eyes and concentrated.

This was my Empath ability at its best, being able to take in others' pain turning it into my own but the only downfall is that it weakens me.

I know to do this for a horse seems foolish, but I can't stand seeing people in pain, that goes for animals too.

I winced a little once I began taking in some of her pain eventually her cries began to quiet down underneath me. I focused on my breathing and kept my eyes closed continuing to pet her and shushing her cries.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, but I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard my name.

I opened my eyes to see the baby was out now and Ezra looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"You did it!" I exclaimed happily.

"Yeah it took a while but she's out, I don't know how you managed to calm her down so much. But are you okay you look drained?" Ezra said moving closer to me.

I chuckled lightly "I took in her pain, not all of it but just enough to soothe her for you to get the baby out safely." I said wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"Using your power?" Ezra asked looking down at the horse.

"Yeah," I said looking down with him.

She was breathing shallowly.

"She's not gonna make it is she?," I asked sadly feeling her mane again.

"No...she won't. But she's been sick for a while now it was a miracle that she survived the whole pregnancy, she's a fighter." Ezra said quietly.

I could sense his sadness.

"Was she yours?" I asked looking up at him.

"No...she was my mothers," Ezra said sadly but offered me a small smile.

I thought to ask about his mother but chose against it. He got up and cleaned off the baby before moving it to lay next to her mom.

"What's her name," I asked gesturing to the mother horse.

"Celestia," he said smiling.

We moved to sit against the wall in the room just looking at the mother and daughter nuzzle closer to each other.

We sat in silence for a while just watching the two, seeing the mother's movements get slower and slower.

"My father gave her to my mom as a wedding gift, knowing how much she loved riding," Ezra said suddenly.

"I know it sounds weird werewolves riding horses, but we're human before anything. Being a wolf just lets us connect with nature a little better." He said as he started playing with a piece of hay on the ground.

I decided to just let him talk, he seemed to need someone to talk to, I can relate.

"My brother was never into riding he was usually busy with my father training to be the next Alpha, but me and my mom...we always went out." He paused looking down at his hands.

"I know you want to ask what happen to her huh?" He asked looking at me.

"Ez-" I began to object but he continued.

"She was attacked by Rouges. When this whole thing began she went out to help the smaller packs, she took Celestia's mate since Celestia was newly pregnant. Celestia's mate was killed while my mother..." Ezra said quietly wiping his eyes quickly. 

"She was left paralyzed from the waist down...For a werewolf not being able to run or shift into your wolf is worse than death. She hasn't been the same since. Refuses to come to the stables, rarely talks to us, pushes away all of the healers that have come to try and help. It's like she's given up hope. Now shes just a shell of the mother she once was." he said gripping a bundle of hay in his hand.

"After the attack, Celestia fell ill. Mom didn't even look fazed when I told her, now she's not even here for...this. That was roughly 9 months ago, my brother officially became Alpha and my dad is now set on revenge." He finished letting out a sigh running his hands through his hair covering his eyes.

I leaned over and gave him a hug. We stayed like that until his cries slowed to just sniffles. I pulled back and looked into his puffy red eyes.

"We're gonna end this war, together, and that's a promise," I said.

He just nodded his head.

We sat in silence for a while watching Celestia take her last breaths. I flowed some of my energy into her to ease her pain on her way and felt a tear fall when she was gone.

"Thank you," Ezra said smiling at me.

"What do you m-" I said before he cut me off.

"You helped ease her pain...taking it in again. So thank you, I know my mother would have appreciated that; even if right now she acts as if she doesn't care, I know some part of her is still in there" he said grabbing my hand.

"Its no problem I understand how you feel," I said quietly mostly to myself.

He looked at me confused before speaking. "You know when I first met you I thought you were some cold-hearted chick, but now I see you're just a big softie that likes to put on a tough act."

"Psh whatever when I first saw you I thought you were a spoiled idiot but it turns out you actually aren't so bad," I said pushing him with my shoulder.

He laughed a little. "Do you want to take care of her?" he asked suddenly.

I looked at him shocked. "You mean the baby horse??"

"Haha yes the filly," he said correcting my horse grammar.

"I couldn't, Celestia meant a lot to you and your mother you should look after her!" I said confused why he would suggest such a thing.

"No, I insist I can tell you will give her a lot of Love. After all, you felt her mother's pain as if it was your own. Consider her a welcoming gift into our pack." Ezra said with a shrug.

"Ezra I-" I said trying to reason.

"Stop it, I'll still see her I just really want you to have her." He said confidently as I sat there stunned.

"So what are you gonna name her?" He asked looking back at the filly.

"You're crazy you know," I said chuckling.

"Meh" he said with a shrug.

I just shook my head. I thought for a moment before answering him.

"How about Star?" I asked quietly.

"Star. I love it" Ezra said happily.

"Gosh, this is the longest conversation I've had with someone my age like...ever," I said laughing a little.

"Haha really now I feel special, but a little embarrassed I did just tell you like my whole life story. It's only fair I hear yours." He said giving me a smile.

"Ha! You wouldn't want to hear it." I said.

"I would Love to Athena," Ezra said looking into my eyes.

"Hm, maybe another time. But I will say I only came here to get away from my brother and his new Mate" I said letting out a sigh.

"Why? Do you not like Serena?" Ezra asked curiously.

I let out another breath before speaking "No it's not that I know she means well, I'm just being a brat I guess"

Erza gave me a curious look making me explain. "It's just that Apollo and I have always been close and I guess I'm just worried he'll leave us behind. I know its stupid." I said putting my head down.

"Hey it's not stupid," Ezra said lifting up my head. "If you are as close as you say I think you should tell him how your feeling," he said holding my hand.

"Ha believe it or not I'm not very good expressing my feelings," I said.

"That sure is ironic, but I think you should still try because Serenas not going anywhere, but neither is your relationship with your brother," Ezra said squeezing my hand.

"Ugh, I guess your right. Gosh, I am so tired!" I exclaimed laying my head on his shoulder. He just chuckled.

We started getting to know each other some more, talking about random things. I knew I had to have a fever I was never this open with anyone I just met, but even so, he was really easy to talk to.

I wasn't sure what time it was now but I could only guess it was late when I heard Apollo shout my name throughout the barn.

"Sounds like your in trouble" Ezra teased, chuckling.

"Yeah he's gonna blow his top," I said slightly amused.

That's when the door to the room we were in swung open. Revealing an angry Apollo.

"ATH-" he began to shout but stopped when he looked around the room seeing us among the mess.

He rushed over to me and pulled me away from Ezra and into his chest.

"What the hell were you doing with my sister!" Apollo growled out making Ezra scoot away slightly and hold up his hands in defense.

"Nothing! We were just talking. She helped me deliver the horse and we've been talking ever since. I swear!" Ezra said quickly.

I let out a drowsy laugh "Pollo calm down he's telling the truth." I said quietly, winking at Ezra silent saying I got his back.

Apollo looked down at me and put his hand on my forehead.

"Athena you're burning up. You used your power to take away its pain, didn't you! You know what effect it has on you Ena!" Apollo exclaimed.

"Pollo I'm fine," I said weakly.

"No your not, and YOU" Apollo shouted shifting back to Ezra.

"You didn't think it was strange she had a fever this high?" Apollo asked pissed.

"Yes, but she said it was normal and that she was fine!" Ezra said.

"Apollo stop yelling at him!" I yelled as loud as I could but ended up in a coughing fit.

Apollo looked back down at me with worry in his eyes.

"I'm taking you to Artemis right now," Apollo said picking me up.

I saw him stare daggers at Ezra as he walked away.

I mouthed Ezra 'sorry' and he just gave me a weak smile and waved goodbye.

Serena was standing at the door as we walked by she looked at me worried. I gave her a reassuring smile before laying against Apollo's chest ready for sleep to consume me.

Before I drifted asleep I tugged on Apollos shirt lightly "Apollo" I said softly.

"Yes pup," He said looking down at me with loving eyes.

"I got that pony I always wished for," I said with a smile.

He chuckled. "I'm glad Athena, now sleep you'll feel better when you wake up," He said.

I didn't put up a fight and let the comfort of sleep overtake me.