Post-Apocalypse: Mated To Alphas Of Orion-Chapter 77: Resolve Your Differences

(Amaia)

I have never used the common room. It’s a cosy-looking area with hues of red and orange. A fireplace in the corner with rugs and comfy sofas. All Guild Leo members are welcome to gather here to play games, read books, play musical instruments or simply hang out. But we have been sent as a punishment.

I crumble near the fireplace, picking up a cushion with Leo Constellation drawn on it, and I hug it to my chest.

Everyone just scatters, sitting at a distance from each other. Only Alnitak and Mintaka sit together. While Alnitak appears relaxed, Mintaka is on the edge.

Rahria sits on a sofa just fuming but she doesn’t say a word.

Kacir is on the sofa beside me with his head leaning back and his long black hair covering the entirety of his face. He appears broken.

We sit there for hours in silence, mulling over but no one really speaks apart from the small talk. Alnitak cracks a joke, trying to cheer everyone up, but the atmosphere remains tense.

The door opens again and in walks Chastin Hase, our Guild Captain. The smile he always carries is missing, and seeing our gloomy, fallen faces, the seriousness on his face spreads.

He just takes a seat in the centre of the room.

"Guys, I heard what happened earlier and Guildmaster Alnilam informed me of the punishment he has given," he begins but there is no reprimand in his voice.

"Yeah! We deserved it, Hase. We sucked out there. Lost 10 points and lost to those blown head Pegasuses," Alnitak says with distaste.

"I understand. Losing brings out the worst in people, and it’s never easy, but we are Leos. One defeat can’t thwart our spirits. Let me tell you guys a story." He focuses his attention on each one of us and gives us an assuring smile like the real captain.

"When I joined Orion a year ago, I was at my lowest. My mate had rejected me because of my skin colour and my father had just passed away." He pauses but his smile never wanes.

He gathers everyone’s attention. Kacir straightens his head to watch him. Rahria shuffles uncomfortably in her seat. Mintaka leans back in his seat with his buffed arms crossed on his chest but he watches Chastin too.

"I was that quiet boy who didn’t stand out and didn’t speak. I couldn’t connect with my other guildmates. My sorrows had clouded my heart."

His gaze shifts between Mintaka and Kacir but he keeps a soft smile going. The orange candlelight glinted off his long dreadlocks piled high on the top of his head.

"But others didn’t give up on me. We also lost all our first events to Pegasus, and I underperformed, and yet no one blamed me. They helped me instead, boosted my confidence and I realised I needed to open my heart. Let the sorrows go and stand on my feet. And at the end of the year, due to my achievements, I was chosen as the Guild Captain."

His eyes land on me and he softly smiles.

"The point is not to gather sympathy but to tell that no matter who you are. A human, a hybrid, a werewolf, a witch. It doesn’t matter guys. We are all Guild Leo. If I can do it, you guys can too. Talk it out and resolve the differences all of you have. Let’s be the most feared guild," he encourages.

"You are amazing, Chastin," I wholeheartedly praise him, hugging the pillow to my chest where a pang of pain won’t subside.

"Thank you, Amaia. And you are as much a Leo as the rest of us," he offers and then turns his head towards the others. "I don’t want any of you to berate the other or call others weak. We are each other’s strength."

Chastin didn’t pinpoint anyone, so no one felt targeted, and yet he spoke collectively to us so we could see for ourselves where we needed to be better.

We nod at him in understanding. Even Rahria stays quiet.

"I will have to make a report to the Guildmaster. You can attend your classes tomorrow but after that, you have to gather here until all of you are on talking terms." He gets up and places his hands on his waist.

"I believe in you guys. Talk and if anyone needs my advice, my door is always open," he says before leaving.

We sit there in muddled silence for a while, staring at each other, thinking who is going to break the silence.

Rahria clears her throat and gets up. All eyes are trained on her as she saunters to the centre and takes up the space Chastin has left. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I will begin." She shrugs her shoulders and her eyes train on Kacir—a gleam of affection coats them.

Kacir shifts uneasily in his seat but he stays put.

"I know Kacir probably doesn’t even want to see my face after what I did. Yes, I slept with Mintaka deliberately, even after knowing Kacir was my mate," she guiltily confesses in a pained voice, her gaze refusing to budge from Kacir.

"All four of us grew up together but I was always attracted to both of you." She gazes at the twins. "I was young and stupid, and believed wholeheartedly that you would be my mates." Her eyes swivel back to Kacir. "But that’s not what the Moon goddess had planned for me and I couldn’t see it. I hurt you and used Mintaka’s grief for that. I apologise to both of you." She lowers her head and shakes it. With a brief pause where silence feels heavy around the five of us, the boys remain silent, listening to her.

Kacir keeps his head low, not sparing her a glance. Mintaka watches her with his clasped hands under his chin while Alnitak’s eyes are almost about to bulge out of his sockets.

Then she faces Kacir again.

"I know you made your intentions clear last night, and I won’t push myself on you anymore, but I am not giving up on us. If you can find it in your heart then please forgive me."