(Alnilam)

I have hardly ever felt this helpless in life as I feel right now. Firstly the revelation has left me broken and now Amaia is sobbing in my arms, she is breaking down and no words from me are helping her.

She is mourning that he is gone with no indication of when he will return. But I think it’s the self-blame and guilt that have devastated her.

Just like me, she blames herself for everything that happens in our lives. She feels responsible because she knew about him and couldn’t help him the way she had wanted.

"Let me out. She needs me," Snow growls in my head. Seeing how broken she appears, how her tiny body shakes and rattles against my chest.

Seating her on the sofa I take a step back and comply. I transform into Snow letting him take the lead and sit back.

Snow advances towards her and nudges Amaia with his snout.

Amaia lifts her tear-streaked face. She hiccups but her arms go around Snow, who wails in pain, seeing her in such a condition.

"Yo...u you are here..." she sobs and desperately embraces him, clinging to him dispelling her grief.

Snow flattens himself on the ground, his huge paws going around Amaia’s waist, holding her to himself.

Our mate rests her head on his belly and closes her eyes, the tears flow in abundance. Her body rocks with jolts of her loss and desolation. The gloominess fills the bond making Snow let out a wounded howl.

The three of us stay like that, I don’t know for how long. Her grief is so abundant that I can sense others feeling it through the bond.

Since our mating, I sense the bond between us even stronger. Apart from Rigel, I sense the others. They are worried about Amaia.

Opening the mindlink between myself and my brothers I say, "She knows about Rigel. She needs you guys too."

Alnitak instantly responds. "We are on our way."

Exhausted and nestled in Snow’s furry arms and resting on his belly, Amaia falls asleep again.

Her fractured breath comes slowly and her body trembles from time to time. Her hand rests on the black rose on her wrist and I can only imagine that it has to be a gift from our older brother.

Soon the partition opens and both my younger brothers walk inside. Their worried faces find us where Snow is holding onto a sleeping Amaia.

He lets out a wounded howl, letting them know she is in a vulnerable state.

"Sorry, big guy. We were expecting this. Rigel is gone and we don’t even know when and how we will be getting him back." Mintaka kneels in front of Snow and Amaia. Bending down he kisses her wet face. The tears are slowly drying there.

Alnitak sits beside her, taking her hand in his, he slowly rubs and asks me through the mindlink.

"Did her wings grow?"

"Yes, they have become larger and mightier, even the outline glows now," I proudly tell them.

But I am still unsure how powerful she has grown. We both felt this surge of energy when we mated, like something awakening.

"She is amazing," Alnitak murmurs, squeezing her hand.

"Has Rigel safely left Orion?" I question through the mindlink, although I already know because I can’t feel him.

"Yes, Saiph took him," he dejectedly says.

It feels like we have lost our brother yet again when we had hardly found him.

The three of us stay with Amaia, until she wakes up.

Disoriented, she lifts her head from Snow’s belly and painfully stares at Alnitak.

"Is he really gone?"

My brother pulls her into himself, bringing his arms around her shaking shoulders.

"Yes, but he will be back."

He tries to dissuade her fears but we all feel the tension and gloominess washing down the bond between us all.

"I can’t even feel him. Is he even alright? My heart is drowning," she sobs into his chest. Her anguish is so palpatable. Snow painfully howls while Mintaka wraps his arms around Amaia and Alnitak.

"I know, Lassie, I know. We feel the same." They hold onto each other until Amaia has substantially calmed down.

"Go eat and drink something and get ready. We leave tonight," I tell them through mindlink.

Giving Snow a warm hug Amaia says, "Thank you for staying with me, Snow. I adore you." Her words make Snow howl in satisfaction and he gives her face a quick lick.

Amaia lets him show her affection before going away with my brothers. I shift and dress up. Leaving the secret space, I head over to my room. Taking a bath I change my uniform and head down to the dining hall to grab some breakfast.

The dining hall is mostly empty. I grab a quick breakfast. My appetite has died, my world has tilted after what Amaia has revealed to me. But I am going to act natural, as if I know nothing.

One of the sentinels brings me a message from the headmaster.

I know what he wants to say. Rigel has gone missing from right under his nose and now he is spiralling. Knowing the truth, I am sure he is involved in what has happened to Rigel.

Swiftly knocking on the headmaster’s office door, I wait. I am summoned in and is not even surprised to find Jasian Ewine there. He is the guild master of the Pegasus which puts him on the edge.

"Here, you are. We had been waiting for you," Headmaster Fallon says with a controlled smile.

Jasian offers me a stiff nod. His shoulders appear slumped.

"No news of Ezran?" I coolly ask.

"None. The sentinel guarding the dungeon saw no one. We are concerned about how someone helped him escape while remaining undetected." Fallon paces his office with a stiff back, his hands remain. clasped behind him. "But we are widening the search, he won’t get far."

"Someone helped him. My guess is Amaia, since she is his mate," Jasian says without thinking and my cold gaze slithers towards him, ready to bury him under if he tries to come for my mate.

"Didn’t know you could be this dense, Jasian. Amaia was in the infirmary when Ezran disappeared and I was with her."

My words burn him and make him even more uneasy. He is trying to pin the blame on someone and I will be damned if I let him come for Amaia.

"Are the preparations done? Ready to leave?" Fallon changes the topic.

"Yes, we leave tonight. I am guessing an officiant is coming to collect us."

Now that I don’t have Jamina beside me. One of the officiants of the Inter Guild Wars with similar power to Jamina’s will come to fetch us.

"Yes, let’s bring the glory back to Orion. I am placing all authority in your hands. I know you will conscientiously lead them to victory." The headmaster comes to hold my shoulders and offers a strained smile.

"Take care of my son." I stare into his eyes but only nod, not even sure if to trust such a man or not. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Only time will tell.