(Amaia)
Alnitak has a silly smile going and he doesn't appear apologetic at all. Mintaka, on the other hand, rubs the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
Their uniforms are snug against their bronzed skins and I cannot help but ogle at my mates.
"First day of the new term and both of you are late for the introduction. You broke the very first rule of my class. Five points detected from both of you and ten laps around the training ground later," Alnilam reprimands.
"Come on, Alnilam. Don't be like that. It's our first day," Alnitak whines, throwing his hands forward.
"Exactly. And it's Sir for you. You will call me with my proper title, no exceptions." Alnilam points towards the chairs. "Take your seats so we can begin."
They drag themselves forward and slump into two chairs opposite me.
I offer Alnitak a smile as he places his arms behind the chair and lazily stretches back, stifling a yawn.
"Sup, Lassie," he says cheerfully. Mintaka is already shuffling through the pile of books in front of him.
"Sit straight or you will be battling two monsters without your magic or weapon in the training session today," Alnilam's unamused voice has Alnitak groaning but he obeys. Others snicker.
"So much for going easy on his brothers," Alnitak mumbles, straightening his back. But I hear him and the very blood in my veins freezes.
They are brothers…all three of my mates are brothers. And then it hits me in the gut. The three brightest stars of Orion's belt.
Alnilam is the largest and central, with Alnitak and Mintaka on its sides.
Three brothers…three stars of Orion.
I am mated to three brothers and none of them can feel the mate bond. My head spins from the thought and my gaze keeps shifting between them, trying to find the similarities.
It explains why Alnilam had previously warned me to stay away from them. He was acting as a protective elder brother.
"As I was saying," Alnilam begins again and is interrupted for the second time while Rahria stumbles inside the library.
"Sorry sorry, I overslept." She is adjusting her outer coat so it will flow behind her while taking quick steps towards the table.
My eyes snap towards Alnilam and finally drift upwards finding his handsome face.
There is no doubt that I have never seen a man as handsome as him. His soft lips have thinned out as he glares at an apologetic-looking Rahria. His jaw is so tense and his neck stretches in a way that veins like blue snakes pop out.
"Miss Rahria, what do you think this is? A soirée I am holding for your entertainment?"
Some of us burst out laughing including the twins. I dig my teeth into my lower lip to restrain myself.
"No." She lowers her head in shame.
"No, what?" He sternly asks, keeping his blazing peepers focused on her.
"No, Sir."
"What time was this session supposed to start?" He questions, leaving his position and taking a step around the table. His elaborate silvery white costume with blue cape decorates his tall and muscular body. His hair is perfectly styled, held back by a single braid. Such perfection that it makes my heart ache.
And he doesn't even know I am similar to him in more ways than he can imagine. Especially my original appearance, the one I keep masked so no one will know of my fae origin.
"6 am, Sir," she answers, stealing a glance at Kacir.
He sits stiffly beside me; he didn't laugh at her, but he is not staring at her either. The pain she keeps causing him, I only got a taste and already hate the feeling.
"What time is it now?" Alnilam takes another step closer and now he stands behind his brother Alnitak. He points with his head towards the grandfather clock in the corner. Its gold pendulum sways, left and right.
"Quarter past six, Sir," she apologetically answers.
"How late does that make you?"
"15 minutes, Sir."
"Then you will be doing 15 laps around the training ground today. I won't care if it takes you the whole day and night but you won't eat or go to bed until those laps are done. Do I make myself clear?" Alnilam asks with so much authority that my knees shake.
The dominance in his voice is overwhelming, and those Werewolf traits he carries make him even more of an Alpha male.
She gasps and lifts her head. Her lips quiver. "Sir, please. It won't happen again. Just this once, spare me."
Alnilam takes another step closer to her, so now he remains only a few feet away but turns to face us instead.
"Then let this be a lesson for everyone to never be late for my class. Every minute you are delayed means one lap around the training ground. Are we clear on this?" Alnilam's eyes flit towards me and warmth fills me like a spring song. Although his gaze is cutting and carries a warning and yet my body reacts to him.
"Yes, Sir!" I say along with others.
"Take your seat Miss Rahria. You people have already wasted twenty minutes. So I am deducting ten personal points from you. Let's get started."
She lets out a sigh of relief and quickly slips into a seat beside Mintaka.
Alnilam continues to walk around us. "So I was saying there are three rules to my sessions with you people. Be those training sessions or learning ones.
Rule number one: Don't be late or be prepared for punishment." He pauses, his sharp gaze sweeps over everyone, ensuring we are listening.
"Rule number two: My say is the final say. I don't care who you are or where you come from. You perform and earn my respect.
Rule number three: Never lie to me. I detest liars. If I catch you, which I will, the punishment will be extremely severe, the one you won't like."
His calculating gaze jumps back to me and I find myself gulping. I have lied to him and he knows it. It is just that he can't prove it.
Boldly, I stare back, not baulking.
"Now that we have that out of the way. I would like all of you to introduce yourselves so we can get to know each other a bit." He pauses, straightens his body so he is directly facing me. "Let's start with you, Miss Amaia Zhāng."