(Alnilam)

It’s refreshing to see others agreeing with me.

"We have no evidence to support this theory," my father angrily says to Beta Diez. His gaze finds me. "Did you see the Reavers?"

"I don’t think they will be this stupid to show their faces after pulling something like that. But I think it’s time we cut them off and manage our affairs," I propose.

No one needs to know that both Reavers were obliterated.

"We are self-sufficient to pull this off. I think you should bring this up in your next yearly meeting," General Bakshi backs me up. He is a proud general who holds his forces in high regard. Soon he will be coming to the Academy and handpicking hunters from our first years.

"You know I love you but I agree with others. We need to do this for our children and for the future of Orion. Already we have lost such an important part of us." My mother refers to Fae kind.

My father silently shakes his head. We can only offer him suggestions; the final decision rests with him.

The Dread Army belongs to the State of Istrale, with a mad king, Natianu Jahaz, ruling it, the strongest warlock in our world.

"I am telling all of you again, this is the stupidest decision which will not benefit Orion in the long run. We will be alienated."

I straighten up, removing my palms from the table. It’s futile to discuss this topic with him.

"We will get to it again. Bakshi, ensure that no creature has escaped into Orion. Check boundary spells and crystals again. I don’t want a repeat of this." At my father’s orders, General Bakshi bows to him, removing his decorated black hat, which he loves wearing.

He leaves through the door. This is going to be a tough 24 hours for him and our forces.

"Will you be returning to the Academy?" Mama asks, gently putting her hand on my back.

"Yes, I have to check up on Mintaka and Alnitak."

"You should have let them stay here for the night. Let the royal healers have a look at them." Motherly worry is deeply seated in her voice.

"There were minor physical injuries. If they want to become the top-tier hunters or enforcers they should be treated on equal footing with others. They protected Amaia, which should always be the goal."

It’s good for my parents to believe that Amaia is merely human.

"You are always so thoughtful. I am so very proud of you, my son." Mama’s lips quiver. It’s not easy to have all three of her sons away from her, especially in this precarious world.

"Take Rahria and Kacir with you. They should be with their guildmates. It’s a relief that no one got fatally wounded," Beta Diez says and I offer him a respectable nod.

He is an upright man, and Father couldn’t have gotten a better beta than him. He is different from Rahria, more grounded and polite.

"Yes!"

I turn towards my father and offer him a farewell nod. His face remains rigid, but he moves his head a notch in acknowledgement.

"I will walk you out. There is something I need to talk to you about," my mother says in a serious tone.

She takes my arm with her left hand while her right hand picks up the side of her velvet gown so she can easily walk. Always the picture of elegance.

Together we move out of the meeting room.

Once the door has been closed behind us, Mama speaks. "Alnitak told me that Amaia is his mate. Not only that, but she is also mated to Mintaka, but due to his situation with his wolf, he can’t properly feel the mate bond with her."

What??? When did all this happen?

Did they recognise each other in my absence?

Snow’s wounded howl in my ears blocks out every other sound. The magic goes restless and I have to pause.

’Don’t overreact,’ I warn myself and my unruly magic.

"I had seen them get close but I wasn’t aware that they had recognised each other," I chose my words carefully. But there is a lump of jealousy in my throat which I can’t swallow.

After today, I don’t think I can ignore what I feel for her, and yet learning that she is mated to my brothers is going to make this harder.

It also explains Mintaka’s earlier behaviour.

"Hmm, I wonder why they were only able to recognise each other now? Humans and Werewolf matebond should be similar to those which form between the same species. Or has our twisted world changed that somehow?" She wonders out loud. I know she is as confused as I am with this development.

"Matebonds have been affected since the apocalypse. Could be one of the side effects," I add.

"I wanted to meet Amaia again so I could see for myself. Maybe there is some kind of restriction on her. Sometimes, bad energy or omens don’t let the mate bond fully develop. But that breach came at such a wrong time."

Yeah, I am a hundred per cent sure it was planned by those Reavers to catch Amaia. What I don’t know is, who told them about her?

Mama halts, facing me she holds my arms.

"Your brothers are young and they will get carried away with her. Help them navigate these feelings, especially Mintaka. Both of them having the same mate will be challenging for them. I don’t want them fighting over her."

Her concerns are valid. Alnitak is already trying to pick fights with Ezran. And now that they will have to share her, it can create animosity between them.

"I will, Mama. Don’t worry. We will arrange another dinner, just our family and Amaia so we can all get to know each other better." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I have to appease her but in reality, this is going to get extremely difficult. How long can we keep her identity secret, now that she has been mated to my brothers?

Also, this unexplainable attraction I feel for her is going to create difficulties for me. I can’t even avoid her, she is my student.

Kissing her cheek, I bid farewell to her. "Good night, Mama. Get some sleep. And don’t worry about us."

She assuringly smiles at me before returning to her room.

Kacir and Rahria are waiting for me to head back to Orion.

"Wait in the carriage," I tell them and they obey.

I call the sentinels who are appointed to clean the rear grounds.

"Did you find the necklace?"

With apologetic faces, they shake their heads.

This is bad. Where did her necklace even go?

"Keep looking and only hand the necklace to me." Giving final instructions I turn away.

I might need to find another way to mask her appearance. Defeated, I return to the carriage.

"Is everyone alright?" Kacir asks in concern when we settle in the carriage and it heads out of the palace.

"Yes, Amaia has been a little hurt but we will be keeping this information to ourselves. Don’t tell anyone," I sternly tell them and they quickly nod.

Arriving back at the Orion Academy, I tell Kacir and Rahria to return to their rooms and quickly march towards my office. It’s early in the morning and everyone is sleeping after the tumultuous night.

Saiph meets me just outside the corridor leading to my office. He appears stiffer than usual and grimly asks.

"Did you find her necklace?"

Before I can answer, someone rushes past me and comes to a halt a few meters away.

Both of us gaze in the direction and find Ezran standing there.

He extends his right hand and something dangles down.

Amaia’s necklace, waving like a pendulum between his fingers.

"This one?" He asks with a sarcastic smile.