(Amaia)
My heart almost shatters my chest and springs out when we are left alone in the library and Alnitak fully turns to face me. His hands land on my thighs and he slowly pulls me closer.
Sparks dance everywhere he touches, and even the air seems to have become charged between us.
My eyes dip and stare at his arms, the sleeves of his uniform have been pushed up, revealing muscled skin lined with protruding veins that make my mouth water.
Emotions swirl in his golden orbs, he gulps before speaking, "I didn't know. What happened to your family?" Seems like he has a soft heart. Whatever grievance he has been holding has disappeared.
I snatch my gaze away from him and lower it. No one can know the truth about my family. No one will understand. The Fae magic was blamed for the Apocalypse and I would be killed just like others of my kind.
No matter who acts like they care, I have to be very careful.
"Some bandits attacked our village, looted and killed everyone. I was able to escape because my mother and brother fought them. I can't forget the screams and their faces." It's true, the guilt eats me daily, and the nightmares are never-ending.
He lifts his right hand and places the tip of his pointer finger under my chin, lifting it so I can stare into his gold-infused eyes instead of my lap.
"I can't imagine your pain Amaia. I can't even say I understand. But know that you are no longer alone. You will always have a companion in me. I heard something about you but an orphan girl against all odds in this dead world of ours. You did what you had to do to survive."
I know that Alnilam must have warned him against me. What he saw was an illusion, not the truth. He wants to protect his brothers not knowing that I am their mate. Mate of all three of them and yet we can't be together.
His words soothe some of that ever-present pain in my heart. Even if he can't be my mate, I will have him as a friend for now. At least one of them is on my side.
Mintaka doesn't even look at me and Alnilam hates my guts.
"Thank you! For understanding," I say in a quivering voice.
He lifts both his hands and grabs my face. Rough pads of his thumbs stroke the underside of my eyes. His scent has me surrounded like a warm blanket.
My breath catches in my throat, and then I see a flash of bluish purple in his irises that mingle with gold.
Is that his wolf peeking at me? Can he somehow feel some attraction between us?
"Don't be sad, come to me whenever you feel down. You don't have a mate, do you now?" He huskily asks, his eyes keep flashing bluish-purple.
The agony in my thigh intensifies, warning me. The words don't even form when I try to say yes. I can't tell him the truth so I just shake my head.
"I won't lie, Amaia. But, my wolf likes you somehow. He wants to protect you, even lick you," he amusedly says, making me finally smile.
His wolf can somehow sense the attraction; he can't scent me, but a part of him must have recognised me as his mate.
"Does he now? What's his name?"
"Zevran," he growls out the name and I know his wolf has spoken through him. His eyes are inked blue, the gold almost dissolving as Zevran flashes through him.
"Such a magnificent name, Zevran. I would love to meet you someday." I smile at him, my heart thudding so loudly with excitement.
"Later Zevran, behave…" Alnitak closes his eyes for a second and removes his hands from my face. I almost scream out at the loss of touch but know he is struggling to keep his wolf at bay.
"We need to go," I murmur, making him open his eyes. The gold is back, the blue has disappeared but the tenderness hasn't.
He stiffly nods at me and both of us stand up, picking up our books and heading to our lockers.
"So, Sir Alnilam is your older brother?" I curiously question. It feels odd to call my mate Sir, but it is what it is.
Alnitak rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, six years older than us. Mintaka and I are 21 and he is 27. But the two of us are cursed. We don't have mates."
He sighs; there is a longing in his voice, a longing to connect and that hits me deep.
I am right there with them and yet this damn curse. I need to come to the library after my classes and search until I find a way to lift it.
"That makes Alnilam grouchy at times but he has a very soft heart if one can push through that icy exterior of his," Alnitak turns and smiles at me. The smile that makes me want to climb all over him, wrap my legs around his graceful waist and cling to him.
"I understand," I say quietly as we continue towards the training grounds.
"He is getting married at the end of this year though. Being the elder, he needs to step up, so he has taken a chosen mate. Seriously, I just want him to be happy. He had a tough childhood."
Alnitak's words crash over me like a bolt of electricity, grounding me on the spot. I try not to let it bother me, I don't even know him. But these invisible threads that bound me to him and that bond that has permanently settled in my heart almost choke me from the pain.
Jamina is his fiancée. The thought unsettles the very soul of me.
I cough loudly and Alnitak instantly thumps my back. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
I bend over but shake my head. "Nothing, just something got stuck in my throat." I rub my chest, hoping the pain will ease before straightening.
Alnitak appears disturbed. "Do you want some water?"
I shake my head. "Let's keep moving, or your brother's wrath will make us forget our names."
That makes him smile. That beautiful smile of his.
We arrive at the Training grounds and everyone has already started doing their laps.
"Race you to the end. The winner can make the loser do one thing of their choosing." He naughtily winks at me. I shouldn't but I am desperate and want to see where this goes.
"You are on. Don't you dare use your inhuman speed," I call out.
"We can't." He points to the quartz-styled red crystals in each corner. Magic inhibitors. The sun rays are reflected off them making them sparkle.
"Let's go then. I am going to beat your ass, Alnitak. I run fast, don't say I didn't warn you." I wink back at him and he lets out a sonorous chuckle.
"On those tiny legs, you wish," he teases, pointing at my legs. I narrow my eyes at him as we both stand side by side.
"These tiny legs are going to be the death of you. Let's go," I shout and take off, trying to get a head start.
His laughter echoes behind me while the rush of the moment makes my heart swell and veins pump with adrenaline.
My mate is running beside me, smiling with me, even though he doesn't recognise me, I will take this small win after the shitty day I am having.