(Mintaka)

I am truly fucked. From the moment she brought me back from that nightmare, my wolf has started to awaken in her presence. He doesn’t stay for much longer but he stirs at her proximity.

Her appearance is another issue, she looks so much like Kayla and reminds me of her.

Even after knowing that she and Alnitak are probably mated, I let her hug me, taking in her warmth.

This resulted in not only awakening my wolf from his slumber for a few seconds and howling as if he had found his mate, but also the insatiable demon within me to surface, trying to claim her.

No, this couldn’t be. I couldn’t do this to my brother. I had already fucked up in case of Kacir, I won’t destroy my brother.

He is crazy about Amaia and according to what he has told me, she could very well be his mate.

I had to rush out of that room in the infirmary and put as much distance between us as I could.

My incubus form is different from Alnitak’s. While he listens to me, I am not always able to control it.

That’s exactly what happened and I ended up sleeping with Caria from Guild Serpens. Caria is Cristo’s twin sister and nothing but trouble and yet my feral self took over, numbing the rational part of me.

As always I ran from the pain and truth and buried myself in just sexual pleasure, trying to forget her and the feeling of her soft body against mine. Her veiled words now made sense, becoming slowly clear.

Does she feel something which I have recently begun to do?

I did the deed, but the pleasure with Caria was missing; all I could think of was Amaia. So I went on and got drunk, consuming the special alcohol reserved for wolves.

On my return, I found Alnitak and he appeared utterly disappointed in me. It didn’t help that he reeked off her so I just gave him half-ass replies and went to sleep.

Today, the thought of seeing her again rose like a tsunami inside me.

No, I can’t, not today.

I told Alnitak that I was hungover, and to make excuses, I had a fever.

The day passed with me just lying in bed with a wounded heart, contemplating how to proceed with this situation.

I couldn’t just run and sleep with someone every time I saw her. There has to be another solution.

"You are not going to leave the bed?" Alnitak asks, slipping into his bed after throwing his shirt aside.

"No."

"And you won’t tell me what it’s about?" He questions, facing me but the curiosity which should have been there is missing.

Just like me, he is hiding something. The clever bastard.

I shake my head at him and he simply snorts.

There is a small knock on our door, almost timid as if the knocker is unsure.

Alnitak gives permission to enter and the door opens, only for me to find her standing in the doorway, wearing her night ensemble. The light from the corridors creates a golden halo around her, making her appear like a goddess.

She appears almost fragile when she is not holding her weapon or wearing her uniform. Her long dark strands hang all around her like vines, framing her cute face.

With hesitation, she takes a step in, and Alnitak gets up and brings her closer. He settles her between his legs, so she faces me. His hands slowly and provocatively slide against the skin of her arms. His lips rest in her hair making these uncharted desires bloom inside me.

"Umm, I came to ask about Mintaka. You said he had a temperature," she tentatively says, staring at me.

"Yeah, I am good," I answer, trying not to get affected by her voice. Her heartbeat instantly rises.

~Thump~

~Thump~

Is it because of me or Alnitak?

I am still lost in my thoughts when Alnitak suddenly but casually asks, "Did something happen between the two of you in the infirmary?"

My heart takes a dive. "NO," I almost shout and so does Amaia. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Alnitak mockingly laughs out. But I know that sound. He does it when he knows someone’s secret and is merely testing them

"Both of you are terrible liars," he says and leans closer to Amaia.

"Funny though, that Amaia felt sick at exactly the same time, Mintaka decided to have sex with someone else."

He drops the bomb and my eyes almost fall out of my sockets. My body jerks forward and I sit up straight at his words.

I know Amaia has been having episodes just like Kacir did but they couldn’t be because of me?

It’s the first time I have slept with someone since I met her. Vulnerability and awkwardness flash on her face, but not surprise, as she tries to wriggle away from my brother.

But he loops his arms around hers, tethering her to his body. Her pet bird climbs into her lap.

The truth hits me like a physical blow. A dizzying certainty that left me reeling. I could only stare, with a raw, unguarded shock shaking my body. My greedy eyes are drinking in the sight of her as if she were a mirage I have been waiting for.

She watches me not with disbelief—she already knows. There is an unspoken tenderness in her gaze. Her heart is beating like that of a terrified rabbit, running away for its life from hunting dogs.

"What do you mean?" My eyes finally leave her and find Alnitak.

My brother is watching me with his chin resting on her shoulder. "I was with her last night and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when you decided to sleep with someone, she felt the pain of your actions. She won’t even deny it, she won’t be able to speak about it. I think there is a reason we can’t feel the mate bond with her. When in reality both of us are her mates," Alnitak concludes with a knowing smile. His lips trace the side of her neck and she lets out a small moan.

"Isn’t it Amaia? You don’t have to speak if it’s true and we will know."

Still, she stays absolutely still with her tender-filled eyes locked with me.