Aries
Chapter 12.1

Aislynn's POV

Even though she had been a late bloomer, she was loved by her pack. The elders constantly supported her and the Alpha and Beta pair stood next to her as though they were her parents.

She did not know whether they were genuinely kind or it was because she was the youngest child of the Gamma. She did not care about it. She was living her life and waiting for her mate. Life was simple for her.

But it was not so simple for her friend Ione, the Alpha’s second child. She had gone with her parents to the Winter Pack on a business trip. There she had seen their Alpha, Alpha Rhett and had fallen in love with him. Lusted him.

It was possible considering the fact that Alpha of Winter Pack was one of the Great Four while Alpha of Southern Pack, an Alpha of Less Four. But she had never expected Ione’s obsession to cross her limits.

“B-but I love him!” Ione protested to her brother, Fane.

“He is mated, Ione!” Fane shouted back. “Why can’t you get that through your thick head?”

“You are saying I have a thick head?” Ione gasped. Then she raised her voice further. “Mom! Look what Fane is calling me!”

At times she wondered how she had even befriended Ione in the first place. Ione was everything she was not. While Ione was demanding and used to have everything in her way, she was more like a chameleon, always adapting.

Seeing the siblings fight, she could not help but sigh. Next to her, her brother rolled his eyes.

She sure is a piece of work, Neo said vis their pack link. No wonder Alpha Rhett never gave her another glance.

She withheld her snigger. She had not gone for that meeting, but the way her brother explained, she had imagined how it would have gone.

Save me, Fane begged them. Save me from her. I will owe you both for the rest of my life.

“Mom!” Ione called.

Alpha Rose came out with a tight expression. “You challenged Alpha Bria for Alpha Rhett? What were you thinking?”

“I love him!” Ione said. “I want him. How can that bitch Bria stand against me? I am the daughter of an Alpha. Bria is just a warrior’s daughter.”

Rage flared in Alpha Rose’s eyes. “You stupid child! Luna decided that Alpha Bria was worthy for Alpha Rhett. You dare disrespect a mate bond?”

Ione screeched. “You called me stupid!”

“Ione,” her mother reprimanded. “What will you do when you meet your mate?”

“Unless he is Royal, I will reject him for Rhett,” Ione said with dreamy eyes.

“I hope you lose in the challenge, Ione,” Alpha Rose sneered. “You are no daughter of mine if you want to take someone else’s happiness. You would even stoop low enough to break a mate bond and force yourself on a male who doesn’t want you. I am ashamed to give you my name.”

With that, Alpha Rose went inside their house, slamming the door behind her. It was then, she realised that Alpha Rose, as much as she lived to her name of being beautiful, bright and soft did have thorns that could hurt.

Ione began to cry and fell on the ground. “Dad! Look what mom said.”

Fane grimaced. “Mother is right, sister. You need to let him go.”

“No!” she brawled. Then Ione clung to her legs. “Ice, please. Help me against these people.”

As much as she wanted to hate her, she could not. Was it because Ione was her friend or was it because Ione had been given everything she had asked for and this was the first thing she was being denied?

Aislynn gently pried her friend’s hands and said, “I trust Luna. She knows what is best for us. If your love is true, you know she herself will break the bond between Alpha Rhett and Alpha Bria and give you and Alpha Rhett the bond. Trust her.”

“Not you too!” she wrenched her hand and continued to brawl.

On the day of the challenge, Ione was glowing. What had her so positive, Aislynn would never know. Ione wore leather just to cover her breast and her groin. She had the elders paint her skin with marks wore by warriors.

As much as she felt that Ione was doing things out of line, Ione was ethereal in her costume. She looked like a huntress of Amaris.

Opposite to Ione stood Alpha Bria in leather pants and a black shirt with a smirk on her face. Her pale skin, unlike Ione, was adorned in marks won, not painted.

Aislynn held her brother’s hand as Ione and Alpha Bria circled each other. An Elder from each pack stood as the judges. Most members of both packs had come.

When the youngest boy of Winter Pack, hardly seven years old, hit the tympanic membrane of the drum, the fight commenced.

Ione shifted to the skin she had first shifted, a white wolf. Alpha Bria’s lips pulled in a sneer, but she never switched to her other form. From the stance she was standing with, Aislynn could tell that the female Alpha fighting for her mate was confident enough to tear her friend apart.

Don’t be rash, Aislynn warned. She is confident about winning.

I will show you winning! Ione said her as she pounced on the female before her.

Aislynn tightened the grip on Neo’s hands as Alpha Bria’s sneer turned to a smirk. It was as if she was expecting Ione to do this.

From what Aislynn knew Ione was a strong warrior. But was she strong enough to compete with the Female Alpha of a Great Pack?

Before Ione could land on Alpha Bria, the female Alpha outstretched her hand. Her hand that morphed to a tiger’s limb. The claws of her hands glinted under the midday sun.

She could feel Ione’s panic, but she could do nothing about it. Alpha Bria caught her neck in one fluid movement and threw her aside.

Ione was quick to rise to her feet. She snarled at the female alpha and leapt at her. Using her momentum, Ione and Alpha Bria fell on the dirt. Rolling over, the Female Alpha of Winter Pack took upper hand again as she pinned Ione down.

“Yield!” She commanded.

“N-never,” Ione breathed. “Not to a low ranking shifter like you.”

At that, Alpha Bria’s hands morphed into claws again and sank into the sides of her neck. Ione screamed.

“Yield!” Alpha Bria shouted again.

Alpha Rhett smirked at the sight of his mate fighting for him. A female who was sitting on a bulky male’s lap rolled her eyes at what the male said and she cheered for Alpha Bria. On the other side of Alpha Rhett, a male with a bald head focused his gaze at the match. They must be the rank holding Shifters of Winter Pack.

“Bald is Beta of Winter Pack,” Neo whispered in her ears. “The mated male is Delta. He is a rare shifter from what I have heard.”

Her brother always knew what was going on in her mind.

“Gamma?” Aislynn asked.

“Must be within Pack to check the orders.”

“I yield!” Ione screamed as Alpha Bria released her grip.

That female had not even shifted and yet she had won against a female with Alpha Blood. Respect grew for her in Aislynn.

As soon as the female Alpha left, Alpha Ladon, Ione’s father and her Alpha rushed forwards to pick his whimpering daughter up. Alpha Rose stayed in her place while Fane hesitated before stepping forward to help his sister.

“I hope that was a lesson enough!” Alpha Bria said, her voice strong. “Alpha Rhett is my mate. I dare you to claim him.”

Alpha Rhett welcomed his victorious mate with a kiss on her lips, while Ione glared at Alpha Bria.

I want a war! Ione snarled in the pack link making sure everyone heard. I want a war. They insulted me!

You have shamed yourself! Alpha Rose admonished. Save that leftover dignity of yours and get your ass back in our Pack grounds.

Ione glared at her mother. Then she looked at her father with tear filled eyes. Papa?

He hesitated. The Winter Pack gave them a curious look and mummers rose from their side of the crowd.

I dare you to agree with her, Ladon! Alpha Rose said. I have no idea where I have gone wrong, but this is not the child I raised!

Papa? Ione called again.

Neo held my hands tightly. I hope-

Anything for you, Ione. Alpha gave his word. Anything.

Dad! Fane shouted. This is a bad idea.

Very bad, Alpha, Neo chimed.

We will prepare for war! And just like that, Southern Alpha promised his daughter a war and Aislynn could do nothing but sit in the sidelines and watch her pack plunge into a war without their hearts in it.

On the day of the war, Alpha Rose had left for Amaris’ Temple. Fane being a shark shifter was asked to lead the naval forces and her brother being someone who traded his human skin for a jaguar, led one unit of the land army. The Southern Pack had the majority of Shifters shifting into sea creatures and their forte laid with the waters.

If the war was brought to sea, Southern Pack would win without a doubt.

As much as she had hope, there was a fear in her heart. She had shifted only last week into a falcon, the fastest bird. Since they said this was her tender period, no strenuous work was given to her. This was the time for her to embrace the other skin in her. Only then, would she be able to shift to other creatures her body wanted to.

She hugged her brother, father and mother as they left to join the Alpha. Ione was going too. She wanted Alpha Rhett and she was willing to do anything.

Mentally cursing her friend, Aislynn went inside the pack house and sat next to Raya, an Elder. The elder merely sighed and patted her head.

“Everything will be fine,” she said.

“I know,” Aislynn mumbled as she hugged the Elder.

Truly, something deep down in her heart said that it would be dawn for her.

Even before she could smell their arrival, she felt it in her bones. She shot up from Raya’s arms and opened the doors to see only have the pack standing. The remaining were either missing or were being carried by their loved ones.

She scanned them to replace Fane and Neo talking to each other. Her mother was supporting her father, but his injuries were mild. Alpha Ladon was carrying Ione like a baby.

Alpha Rose came from the temple and sneered at her mate and daughter.

“I hope this teaches you a lesson,” she said and walked past Aislynn into the house.

Aislynn stepped aside and all the healthy came in while they carried the hurt ones to the hospital building.

Neo came next to her. “Their Gamma fucking annihilated us. That male is ruthless. Damn it! I have never seen such a strong shifter. Their Delta and Beta never shifted throughout the battle. I can’t imagine what would have happens if they had shifted. We could not even handle their shifted Gamma.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Thankfully Ione was brawling in the middle of the fight. I went to comfort her. Had I not gone, I would not be alive.” Fane shook his head.

“Is he that strong?” Aislynn asked.

“He just dove in the sea for one minute, Lynn. One fucking minute,” Neo said. “He was the only one to emerge from the red waters. Only our first line of defence is dead. Others are all hurt. If he wanted he could have killed them all, but he held himself back.”

Aislynn! Ione called. Come here!

She gritted her teeth and exhaled forcefully.

“Ione’s calling?” Neo asked.

She nodded her head.

“Leave my sister alone, Aislynn,” Fane said, sighing. “She will bring you down.”

She closed her eyes. “But she is my Alpha’s daughter. I can’t disrespect her.”

“Not anymore,” Neo smirked.

“What?” She asked.

Ice! Ione called again. Come here!

Before her brother could answer, Aislynn made her way to Ione in the hospital block. She just had a broken arm, which Aislynn was sure it would heal in half an hour. Yet, she was lying on a bed as though she was a few minutes away from her death.

“What is it?” Aislynn asked.

Ione’s eyes were dreamy. She closed her eyes and smiled.

Did she meet her mate?

“Oh!” She sighed. “That Gamma of Winter Pack! He is so handsome. His eyes are the best thing. No! He is the best thing I have ever seen in my life. He is so powerful. Just one sweep, he won the war. I want him. Rhett will be nothing without him. I want Winter Pack’s Gamma.”

Was this female even real? That gamma had destroyed them, and this girl was swooning over him?

Yet, Aislynn could not deny the spark of possessiveness that ran through her when Ione was talking about that Gamma. She wanted to rip Ione’ throat for talking about that Gamma like that. Aislynn shook her head. She was not the one for violence.

“Enough!” Alpha Rose’s voice came through the doorway.

Behind her, Aislynn’s parents stood with grim faces.

“You will not talk about Aislynn’s chosen like that ever again!” she reprimanded.

“What?” Aislynn asked.

“The only reason,” her father began. “Winter Pack let us go was because that Gamma’s parents agreed to have you mate with their son.”

Her world was shattered. She had been waiting to shift for a long time to shift so that she would meet her mate. Now that she had, these people were planning her mating. What audacity did they have?

“No!” Aislynn sneered. “I refuse to bear the mark of a male who is not my mate. I refuse him.”

“The Gamma is coming with his parents and Alpha now as we speak,” her father said with a plea in his eyes. “Please do this for our pack. If you or the Gamma meet your Luna given mate, you can break out of the arrangement.”

Fury like no other boiled her veins.

“Ione wants him,” she snarled. “Mate her.”

“As much as I regret,” Alpha Rose said. “Winter Pack hates her. They refuse to have anyone but you as the token of peace. Apparently, the Delta female had seen you and liked you instantly.”

“No.” She shook her head and without giving her parents another chance to explain themselves, she broke into her another skin and flew as long and fast as she could.

Her mother braided her blond hair as another female applied lipstick. The Pack had forced her to take this decision. Alpha Rose had commanded her with her Alpha command, forcing her to go through this.

The Winter Pack had been insulted she had said when they waited for her to show and never did. Aislynn had to do this.

Today was the say she was going to be engaged to a male she never knew. To a male who was not her mate.

She was wrapped in a pale blue dress that borough out her eyes. As much as her face was beautiful, her eyes did not have that shine.

When they were done with her, Alpha Rose gave her a curt nod and led the way. Ione was locked in her room to prevent her from doing something stupid.

Each step she took was like glass shards piercing her. This was not how her life was supposed to be. She had loved her life. Not this. Never this.

In the hall sat an elderly female with brown hair pinned in a bun. Next to her, a male with red hair. As much as they appeared to be calm and collected, their eyes had a warmth she could not deny.

Apart from them, Alpha Rhett, Alpha Bria and female Delta had come. If she could, Aislynn would have killed the female Delta. It was because of her she was in this fix.

“I am Kenna,” the female Delta said. “Nice to see you.”

She bit back her words and smiled forcefully. “Nice to meet you too.”

Kenna laughed. “We are going to be sisters! Why the formality?”

Aislynn clenched her teeth.

“My sister is quite shy in the beginning,” Neo chimed next to her. “Once you get to know her, she is quite chatty.”

Say what? Aislynn snarled in their mind link.

Neo had the shame to visibly flinch. I had to say something to save you.

Kenna smiled. “I know you might hate me for choosing you. Taking away your choice.”

She somehow maintained her mask of neutrality.

“Trust me,” Kenna continued. “Varian is not like other males. You will be engaged only for a while. That is until either of you replace a mate. He will let you go. He won’t even mark you. Varian has that much honour. Something in me pushed for this. It just feels right smiling and talking with you. You may hate me now, but give me a month’s time. I can prove you wrong.”

Aislynn pursed her mouth.

“Hate me, not my pack,” Kenna said. “Please give us a chance in this treaty.”

“Kenna!” Alpha Bria stood up. “What are you doing?”

“I did not give her a chance to meet her mate, Bria,” she replied. “A chance we both were given. I should apologize.”

Aislynn released the tension on her jaws. “Where is he?”

A sliver of hope surfaced on Kenna’s face before it dimmed.

“You left the day we came,” Alpha Bria said in a sharp tone. “My Delta was insulted. He will not come today. However, he sent the engagement ring that will say you are engaged in him.”

Was this a revenge for what she had done? There was no greater insult than one not coming to their own engagement. Perhaps, he too was waiting for his mate. They could have a bargain.

Aislynn glanced at the elderly female who produced a ring. It was made of gold with a rubellite in the centre.

“I, Aislynn Fall, daughter of Gamma Lisa Fall and Gamma Harry Greene of Southern Pack accept the engagement to Gamma Varian Rykar of Winter Pack.” Her voice had never sounded more monotonic to her.

Gently taking the ring, she wore it herself as she made a promise to throw it at her fiance’s face the moment she saw him.

She had never seen her fiance. For all she knew, he could be dead because of the war following the Curse. But never had she taken that ring off her finger. It held on, shining bright and bold without a loss in its future. With what confidence it did, she did not know.

Nash opened the door to their house. The young werewolf had been the son of her friend to whom she had promised to she would look after her son.

The door opened and revealed a glowing Shifter. Pisca grinned at her. The Warrior of Moon wore a fish cut style black skirt with purple V-shaped blouse.

Rolling her eyes, she stood up.

“Thinking of past?” Pisces asked as she patted Nash on his head and closed the door behind her.

Nash scowled at the new Shifter. “Glad you asked how I am doing. I am doing great.”

“Good to know.” Pisces smiled at him.

Aislynn laughed. “What brings you here?”

“A news,” Pisces beamed. “Of an Alpha who is a Shifter.”

Aislynn shot to her feet. All she had wanted was to be belong in a pack. Was it too much to ask?

“An Alpha who is a Shifter?” she asked.

“Aries met her,” Pisces said, sitting on the sofa. “He met her when Ant dropped by. Said to us. I thought how much you wanted to be in a pack. You can head there.”

Aislynn smirked. “Aries you say. Then is that Alpha that trustable? Aries trusted him with Ant. I will go an see.”

Pisces laughed. “Him? Darling, I think you are making a mistake. The Alpha is very much a female.”

Nash blinked. “What?”

“Never saw the news?” she asked. “The news is all about how a female escaped the Western pack and had wreaked havoc before leaving. Had not Alpha Verir said he would hunt that girl down?”

“She is a Shifter?” Aislynn’s eyes widened. “The Curse is broken?”

“Happens to be,” Pisces said. “What will you do?”

She glanced at a surprised Nash. Thirty years ago, she had taken decisions all by herself. Now that someone depended on her, she had gained responsibility and lost a little freedom.

Nash gave her a subtle nod.

“Give me the damned address,” Aislynn said, feeling hope, warmth and happiness after a long journey through a dark tunnel.

‘Crystals’ was a pretty decent bar. Ignoring the booze and the heavy scent of sex, she made her way into the bar, pulling an unwilling Nash with her.

A song which Nash was crazy on, one she never bothered to listen to was being played loud and that lifted his mood up.

It had been years ago since she had enjoyed herself. But why had Pisca given her this location?

Because I am here, A voice said in her ear.

Turned around she saw another Warrior of Moon sitting on a table. That was the thing about them. No one they did not want to know would ever be able to sense them.

His scent was non-existent. She was able to tell him only because he had chosen to reveal himself to her.

Aries, she said. What a pleasure!

Cut the pleasantries, Aislynn, he said. That Alpha will be here.

Aislynn nodded and pulled Nash who glared at her. He was going to dance and she had pulled him. His childlike behaviour will persist for a few days.

“Pisca was sure fast,” Aries commented as she sat down.

“She knew how much I wanted to be in a pack,” Aislynn said. “All these years I felt as though I was being punished.”

“Isolation can sure do numbers to a person,” Aries said softly. Then he glanced at Nash who stared at him. “Nash? Trina’s son?”

Aislynn nodded. “Yes.”

He hummed.

“How many of us are there?” She asked after a minute of silence filled with upbeat music.

“Many,” Aries said, getting up. “Enough to form a small pack.”

That answer was enough for her. For now. Hope did exist.

She saw Aries walk a way that led to a female who held herself with pride. Her back was straight and her chin was raised. Even though she was dressed for an event like this, Aislynn felt that the female did not belong here.

Aries went to her and to Aislynn’s surprise, that female turned before Aries could announce his presence.

Could she sense him or did Aries allowed her to sense him? Knowing the Warrior of Moon, she guessed it was the latter.

They conversed and she saw Aries struggle to replace the right words. A chuckle left Aislynn’s lips. She could only imagine what would happen if she spilt this to Leo and Libra. Oh, the tea!

When she heard Aries telling that female about a shifter, Aislynn made her way to the young alpha.

Her brown eyes immediately left Aires and she turned her face as though she sensed Aislynn. Aislynn suppressed a smirk. For a shifter who had not yet shifted, she was doing great.

Suddenly two females appeared near the Alpha. One was a witch and other a werewolf. But both had the stance that said they would die for the Alpha. What had the Alpha done to get their loyalty?

“Hello, ” Ailslynn said when the Alpha turned.

Behind her, Nash must have done something for the female Alpha growled. She could feel that young shifter’s dominance and she knew what Nash would have felt. It was his mistake to rile up a new Alpha.

He mumbled a sorry and at that Aislynn felt her satisfaction.

“When Pisca told me about you, I almost did not believe her,” Aislynn said, making a mental note to thank Pisces. “Now I am glad that I am wrong.”

She rose an eyebrow. “I don’t know who Pisca is, but I am Alpha Lyra Throne. I heard you were searching for me.”

Aries smirked at the alpha. He shrugged and folded his arms.

“Where are my manners?” she said. “I am Aislynn Fall. I was the second daughter of Gamma of Southern pack nine hundred years ago. I am planning on joining your pack with this young male. What do you say?”

Before that Alpha could reply, an amazing scent clouded her senses. Why had she not sensed this earlier? The combination of ocean and rain sent bolts of shiver down her spine.

Subconsciously, she rubbed the ring that had never left her finger.

It was then two males came and stood on either side of Alpha Lyra. When his eyes met her, she smirked.

Well, hello there.

A/N: I want to thank each and everyone who reads this story and supports me. You have no idea how much it brightens my day.

As for the next update, it could be a month from now. I am having loads of exams and I am literally getting less than 5 hours of sleep.

I know how much it irritates when the author updates after a month, but I have no other way. So sorry guys. Hope you all understand.