Edie was content once her breathing returned to normal to attempt to explain what it was that had gone through her mind, even if she was aware it made no sense. She hadn't grown up this way. She'd never needed to learn to fight. Her pack was full of timid creatures that had never had the need for physical fights. At least, not much more than the wrestling she'd done with Beck as a teenager during one of their spats. Of course Kato hadn't meant for her to practice full force â€" or realistically, even thought that she would be capable of such a thing â€" but the very idea of causing him any kind of pain was enough to make her lose any confidence that she might have had before. It pained her to be reduced to this anxious little thing that was struggling to breathe. She hated herself for showing any level of weakness in front of him. After all, it had been the very reason she'd left Yorkshire, hadn't it? The way Beck had cared for her had caused his injury. And yet... and yet she'd never felt this way about Beck, never felt this crushing need to protect him. Never felt a fear of losing him. Sure, she had felt guilty about his injuries, even devastated. And she was sure that if he had lost him, she would have ached for him. But she had been able to leave him, been able to bolt without a second thought, and it hadn't wrecked her. Of one thing Edie was currently sure of, it was that losing Kato would crush her.

The woman hated herself for voicing out her fears, though she couldn't deny the comfort that she immediately got as he turned to caress her skin. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes even as she explained the true weight of what she was afraid of. He had said as much in their first meeting, and then the girl had hardly been bothered by it. He was supposed to be a one night stand, and he had turned into so much more. But still, her time with him was temporary, he'd said as much, and the promise that his heart laid in Africa was enough to confirm that for the girl. She flinched, resisting the urge to entirely pull away from him. It was only when his fingers rested on her own chest that she paused, considering his words. "I don't under..." she began, trailing off as he began to speak. The idea of him being married caused a wave of jealousy to ripple through her, though she made no outward indication of her emotions. That jealousy was very quickly replaced by the grief she felt for him. She could imagine his pain in some form, her mind tracing back to Beck and holding him as he bled.

Beck had proposed to her once. It had been in the field near their homes. The two of them had been laying in the wildflowers, talking aimlessly like they always had. Though he'd never specifically asked her, the pack knew that she was his girlfriend in the way that a Beta could claim someone and have it be uncontested. His father was the Alpha, and as such he had risen to be Beta and would one day be Alpha. The natural progression of things. And for some reason, he'd chose her. It made sense, she supposed. They'd been friends since birth, after all, and it only made sense that their relationship would progress to something more. He'd made her a crown of wildflowers that day, repeatedly telling her she was beautiful, she was perfect, she was his. And then he'd demanded, told her that soon they would be married. And though she'd agreed in the moment, she'd never meant it. She'd left the next day without warning, not even saying goodbye.

But at least, even with that, she knew he was alive. Kato didn't even have that.

"Oh Kato," The young woman whispered, though she had no words to follow up the sentence with. She merely turned her head into his shoulder, nuzzling her nose into his skin in an attempt to reassure him that she was, in fact, still here for him. She couldn't imagine what he had been through, couldn't imagine how much that would have hurt. She remained silent as she listened, her heart sinking a bit with every word as he explained why he couldn't stay in Sacrosanct, couldn't stay with her. She was preparing herself for his goodbye, preparing herself to lose him. Even when he looked at her, she had turned her gaze away, her eyes threatening to brim with tears at the reality of her fears coming true on her.

It was only when he requested she come along with him did she turn her gaze towards him, her body pressing to a sitting position as she regarded him. "I can't..." The woman spoke, clearly believing that he meant for her to go permanently. "I have a pack. Frost... Calliel... Claire... I can't just... leave them." The idea of leaving them tugged at her as well. But it was only when his gaze seemed to settle on her did the full meaning of what he meant sink it. "Oh, you... you mean for a visit. To say goodbye." To say goodbye. He needed to go to say goodbye, he needed to visit one last time, and he wanted her with him. At last, the woman nodded, moving to take his hands. "Yes," She said softly, squeezing his hands as she finally let what he was meaning get to her. "I'll go with you to say goodbye. And to meet your family and let them see you." She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his gently. "Make the arrangements."