(Alnilam)
Mama and father seem to be in a discussion when I enter. Mama’s face instantly lit up, seeing . She floats towards , wrapping her warm arms around.
"What a surprise. So glad you decided to drop by."
I give both her cheeks, a kiss each.
"I have sothing to discuss."
My eyes slide towards my father and he offers an authoritative nod.
Mama takes my arm and guides towards the opulent sofa helping sit. She perches herself right beside and we face my father.
"What brings you here?" His voice is irritated, and I can sense that sothing has happened.
My father appears, older and dour than usual. It feels like every ti I see him, he has aged a few years when it has been a few days or weeks.
Taking a deep breath, I try to relax but there is no peace for . "Actually quite a few things."
"We also have sothing to share but you go first," Mama gently says from my side, squeezing my arm.
My head turns towards her. "No, please."
Her eyes have these deep worries swimming in them as she glances towards my father.
"Go on, tell him," he rigidly says.
She bites her lower lip at his permission and focuses her gaze on .
"We received a ssage from the Dread Army. The Reavers they had sent last ti, never made it back. One of them could open portals so they should have returned four days ago."
My heart slightly sinks but I have been expecting this.
"Didn’t you tell them that our kingdom was attacked and they might have perished during that?"
It is my father’s turn to speak. "We did but they won’t believe that re monsters can bring down their best Reavers. One of them was a Battalion Commander. That’s a formidable position in the Dread Army."
"Powerful doesn’t an they are indestructible. How can we know what happened to them?" I shrug my shoulders but the tension in the study feels heavy.
"They are sending a whole Battalion to investigate," Mama grimly informs .
A whole Battalion?
"Isn’t that a bit excessive?"
"They are the Dread Army, everything about them is excessive," father grumbles, seeming irritated and displeased at the outco.
"Let them co. We have nothing to hide."
Inside , chaos has erupted, and I am truly hoping they won’t find anything. We cleaned up well and there shouldn’t be any traces left of them being here in the palace grounds.
"All they will need is a reason that the Reavers disappeared in our Kingdom to wage a war. The fact that they are sending over a whole Battalion is ringing alarm bells." Father leans back and crosses his fingers. I can sense his agitation.
"Then we will be ready. We have the second strongest army. If they choose force we will retaliate."
Mama’s tender touch I sense on my back.
"We will try to negotiate first and resolve whatever this is on the table. Haven’t we fought enough wars? Look at the state of our world."
Completely, I agree with her but I am sure The Dread Army don’t.
"Yes."
"What was it that you wanted to share with us?" Father asks.
The agitation grows in my heart as I prepare myself for all the judgnt and scolding that is going to co my way after they hear what I have to say.
Rubbing my hands on my face, I lean forward. My eyes focus on my father.
"I found my mate."
A curious smile grows on his lips while his eyes enlarge.
Mama’s hand disappears from my back as she places it on her mouth.
"What? You did? Who?" I know she is trying not scream in joy, but this is all going to be short-lived once they hear who it is.
"That’s the problem."
"What is? Is she soone lowborn?" Father questions with all seriousness. At Orion, it doesn’t matter which faction the mate belongs to, but for royals, it’s preferred that the family has so standing in society.
"Oh, God, it’s about Jamina. Isn’t it?" Mama exclaims in a sad tone. "I thought both of you were it but there was always a possibility for one of you to find your true mate."
Frustratedly I rub my face with my hands.
"It’s Amaia..." Her na always cos out of my mouth with tenderness. The very thought of hers sends chills running through , through my wolf, it makes my magic go haywire.
"WHAT?" Mama abruptly stands up, horror etched on every inch of her face. My father lets out a dissatisfying grunt.
"Amaia as in your brothers’ mate?" he asks with a profound seriousness.
"Yes, I developed the mate bond with her three days ago. Snow recognised her as his mate too and the bond settled for both of us. I haven’t acknowledged it in front of her, though, but Jamina and the twins know," I blurt everything out in one go and my chest sohow feels less heavy.
From the mont I found out—the reality of revealing it in front of my parents has been heavily weighing down.
Mama shakes her head, still in denial. Father has his thin lips set in a line of disapproval as if I am the moon goddess and this is sohow my decision.
"Twins sharing a mate makes sense, but Alnilam, you are their older brother and the heir to the throne. You will need a Luna by your side, who is dedicated just to you without any distractions. You can’t share a mate with your brothers," father tersely declares, making Snow aggressively growl in my head.
Usually, he never challenges my father’s decisions, lets him discipline like he wants, but today, he doesn’t like the words coming out of his mouth.
"After all these years of waiting, you find her, but she brings such complications. My poor child, I don’t know what to say." Mama leans closer and hugs , her eyes close and tears spill out of them.
"Jamina is a perfect fit for you. She understands values and traditions. We know the soul mate needs to be respected, but in such cases, you can always dissolve the mate bond with mutual understanding. You can have Jamina, and your brothers will have Amaia," my father gives his verdict, and it’s exactly what I had expected him to say.
Sadly, I agree with him, but at the sa ti, it hurts my heart that none of them asked what I truly wanted.
"I am going to take a few days and make a decision," I inform them.
"Take all the ti you need." At least Mama is understanding.
"I have sothing else to share." Continuing, I tell them about Tarian and Huradis. While they don’t have any issues regarding Tarian, Huradis’ na causes tension. Even my mother appears horrified.
"You did what? I told you not to engage with him and leave the dealings to ," my father rages. Several creases form on his forehead.
"Why? What’s so special about him that we can’t even touch him? Did you not get the part where I said, he has been raping won?" At this point, I can hardly contain my rage.
"I did. But the Dread Army backs him and we have been told to entertain him," my father sternly tells .
That’s enough. This dread of the Dread Army needs to go, we are done, especially .
"Huradis needs to go and even if I have to fight the Dread Army alone to make him disappear. I will." With that said, I get up from the sofa and leave my bewildered parents sitting there.
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