Post-Apocalypse: Mated To Alphas Of Orion-Chapter 75: Not The Constellation of Leo

(Mintaka)

Luthial is new to Orion. All I know about him is that he is from a Cat shifter clan. Cunningness clings to his eyes and the way he is strategising and guiding his team is so different from what we are doing.

I am only asking mine to pull because we didn’t gather before the game. Luthial, on the other hand, seems to have a whole plan.

Their feet are synchronised, their movements are in sync. It doesn’t appear like their first game. Have they been practising?

"Get ready to drive!" He calls out to his team and pushes off his front foot. His team coordinates, taking a step back all at once like they are one body. The rope pulls and tension on the rope increases. They begin to cover the distance we had put between the line on the ground and the hanging flag.

"Keep your feet steady, don’t let them gain on us," I call back and feel the pull from my team but it’s not enough.

We are using raw brute strength while they have adapted a strategy.

"Come on, Team Leo. Plant your feet in sync. Where are your toes going?" Ipian yells at us, seeing that we have no sync. We are pulled forward several inches in just one go, and the flag now dangles on its side.

I know Alnitak at the back is doing his best, but I am not sure about the girls. Kacir is strategic, and he has my back even though we don’t even talk anymore.

But the rope is slipping from our hands. I plant my right foot diagonally, my muscles strain and as sweat leaks out of every pore my body possesses.

"Final line!" Luthial calls out, a sly smile covers his face which pisses me off.

A splurge of continuous, rapid and short pulls follows. Their bodies incline back together, and they pull with precision, not random force.

"Come on, guys. Plant your feet," I yell at my team but it’s already too late.

"The end!" Luthial calls out with a smirk. His arms strain against the rope while mine are already tiring out. I realise too late that I used too much force at the start without thinking, while they saved theirs for the long haul.

"That’s a very effective strategy," Ipian praises Luthial.

A rhythmic movement they develop. Pull-strain and then pull again. The rope begins to slip from my hands and I know the whole team behind me is struggling.

They are moving as a single entity now, and the flag just dangles on their side inches from the victory line.

"Fuck!" I hear Alnitak curse from behind.

Did he fall?

And the rope slips, dragging us on the other side as one final strong pull comes from their side and the flag goes over the finish line.

The final whistle blows from Ipian and disappointment buries me deep under.

"Team Pegasus wins. An absolute classical performance with a blend of perfect strategy," Ipian praises them as they cheer. The smug faces of Ramian and his mate make my anger surge.

"Seems like the mighty lion has fallen. We got our revenge," Ramian barges forward and comes face to face with me but Ipian steps forward, separating us.

"Stay on your side," he warns.

I drop the rope and turn around to face the incompetent team behind me.

"What the hell? We had them in the start, and you couldn’t plant your feet." My nostrils flare as my eyes find Amaia. She is rubbing her hands as if this is the first time she has held a tight rope.

"What was to be expected when we had fragile half-pints in our team?" I spit out, and she flinches at the level of anger I show. I expect her to say something, to retort at me but she chooses silence.

"Useless humans always destroy everything," Rahria snorts, rubbing her wrists.

"No need to be bitter. We lost as a team," Kacir says quietly, not even looking at me.

"Man, that sucked." Alnitak is still swiping at his dirty tracksuit. The specs of mud cling to him.

But my anger won’t subside and I just want to unleash it on someone.

"Seems like losers are blaming each other," Ramian’s mocking voice has me clenching my teeth so tight that my jaw hurts.

"All of you, report to my office," Alnilam’s harsh voice comes and I turn to watch my older brother. He stands on the boundary of the training ground with his arms crossed at his chest and his long hair flying in the hot current.

"Trouble, we are all in trouble," Alnitak says what everyone is thinking. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

With our heads low, arms dangling, we move, keeping distance from each other. Alnitak walks by my side, placing his arm around my shoulder.

"Calm down, you’re trembling from anger." His voice is soothing, and the bond between us hums, trying to ease my heart.

Alnilam has returned to his office. Alnitak and I walk in front and I know Kacir is sticking to the human girl while Rahria is all alone.

We are not the constellation of Leo; instead, we act like a constellation of rogue stars, all broken and hurt in our own way, unable to let go of our egos and the hurt we have caused each other.

I sigh and swipe my hands across my face. My head lifts to stare at the blue sky. The emptiness inside me has turned into a void. No matter how much I try to randomly bury myself in sex, no matter how I try to act boldly. Part of me is forever broken, part of me is lost after that day.

Like the shards of a shattered mirror, we enter Alnilam’s office, one by one. Guilt drips off us, the loss leaving us wounded, exposed in front of the other rival guild. We were mocked because we couldn’t act like a team and communicate.

Alnilam stands in front of his desk, his face a mask of control and rigidity. I know he is simmering inside but he won’t show it. At least not now.

He begins, "Five reasons why you lost. One from each of you." His eyes focus on me. "Yes, Mintaka, as the captain, I want you to begin."

He pins me with a hard stare.