(Alnilam)

My advancing feet halt as if someone has frozen me over. What in the heavens did this man just say?

His mate?

Amaia is mated to my brothers.

Is he trying to pull some kind of twisted joke?

"Let me out so I can destroy his face," Snow threatens.

"What are you rambling about?" I question, keeping my magic and wolf on leash from reaching out and hurting him.

"The truth." He points towards Saiph. "He can confer that. I made that announcement in front of him and all the others. Everyone knows she is mine."

What has been going on in my absence?

Did everyone become Amaia’s mate?

I turn my head to watch Saiph, whose eyes are locked with Ezran. He stands erect, hands balled up with unfiltered rage reflecting on his face. His usual pretence of indifference has fallen away today and he is seconds away from attacking Ezran.

"Is he telling the truth?" I ask Saiph.

His gaze finally drifts away to find mine. "He had a huge fight with Alnitak and they both claimed to be her mate. I had to give them detention," he explains and my gaze returns to Ezran.

A headache is making its way to my head after all these events and continuous drama.

"Amaia is mated to my brothers. How do you fit in that picture?" I question him.

Ezran’s lips spread in a taunting smile.

"You think I am thrilled at finding out she is mated to someone else, too, besides me? The urge to annihilate the competition is so tempting." The shadows on his body rise like a grim reaper, menacing and threatening.

Saiph extracts his scythe while my magic restlessly shoots forward, the edges of my hair lift, but don’t turn into spikes as I had imagined.

"No need to pass such threats. You hurt my brothers and I will forget you are a recruit under me," I warn with my nostrils flared. Every part of my skin seems to be burning from this unimaginable rage I am experiencing.

"You have already forgotten so much, Alnilam. I won’t be surprised." A disappointment is hidden in his words. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"What’s that even supposed to mean?"

My body shakes from rage.

"I want to see my mate. She told me to be good and not harm anyone. But if you two won’t take me to her, I won’t be left with a choice." There is a desperation and darkness which cling to this man.

"Give me the necklace and I will let you see her soon."

"Why is it so important for you to take the necklace to her? What does this necklace do? You will have to kill me to take it from me." He says his shadows remain on high alert.

"It protects her," Saiph answers this time. His voice doesn’t even hesitate or shake.

"Or maybe cloak her? You realise I have tasted her blood and it doesn’t taste like mere human blood. She is special. I know it."

This is dragging on and I need to check up on Amaia. I know Ezran won’t hand over the necklace without a fight and this will only get bloody. Keeping two mates away from each other is a heinous crime and I don’t want to be that person.

"Get inside." Stepping forward I throw open the door in frustration.

Ezran appears a tad surprised at my sudden invitation but follows anyway. A furious Saiph is right behind him.

The partition is closed, and the boys have to be inside my secret space with Amaia.

"Lock the door," I instruct Saiph.

He turns the lock and places himself in front of the door like its personal guardian.

I turn to face Ezran, who is taking in my study with a bored expression but there is a curiosity there.

"Look Ezran, I am not trying to keep you away from Amaia. But she got hurt in today’s attack and needs time to heal. Give her space."

"Or you can tell me the truth about her. She is my mate and I am going to find it either way." He pauses and lets out a pained breath. "I will never hurt her or let anyone else do it."

There is this possessiveness in his words which Snow hates but somehow my magic understands.

"Just wait here. Let me take a look at her."

"No, absolutely not. You take me with you to see her. Right this very moment," he blasts.

The man has serious trust issues.

Saiph silently watches from near the door, but I know he is super alert; one wrong move, and he will be on Ezran’s throat.

Saiph gives me one slow nod and I let my shoulders drop in defeat.

"Remember, whatever you see in there will remain in there. You tell a soul or hurt her by any means will result in severe consequences." I give Ezran one final warning before pressing the button under my desk and parting the bookshelf.

Ezran nods in understanding, his attention diverts towards the bookshelf.

Taking the lead, I enter my space first. My heart rapidly beats as my eyes find my brothers. They are huddled up in a corner where they have placed a mattress and laid down Amaia on it.

Mintaka is sitting beside her, watching her like a wounded puppy. Alnitak appears more in control, he is holding a book in his hand and I am sure he is looking for any kind of spell to change her appearance back.

Amaia still appears asleep. Her silvery hair is spread all around her while her hands have been folded on her belly. She appears like a sleeping beauty.

Alnitak lifts his head and watches me and then his gaze goes behind me and his whole face darkens. A hatred descends as he takes a menacing step forward.

"Why in the hell is he here?"

I raise my hand and halt him.

"He is her mate. I can’t keep him from her. Besides, he found her necklace."

Some of that hate dissolves on Alnitak’s face as he regards Ezran. He is already moving towards Amaia with the necklace dangling from his fingers.

Bending down he tries to touch Amaia and none of us has imagined what happens next.