Aries
; POV: the flame that does not die

And for those who have read Taurus, here's a little surprise for you!

This is not just the story of Aries. It is the story of Midnight.

***********

Ever since I saw the way Lyra thrashed, I vowed that I would never take her to that clearing again.

My intentions had been innocent. That was one of the places where the raw and unadulterated cosmic energy came to earth. I had thought that maybe bringing her there would help with the turmoil she had. I never thought it would make her thrash and bring unnecessary flashes of something.

How she knew Tucana and Volans would be a question I could not answer. They had been pulsars and they had been Soul-Bonded to my friends Canis and Ophiucus. And two out of the four were is deep slumber and other two dead and reborn again. How could she possibly know about them?

But it was what happened later that made me have my distance with her. Had I not sensed Nash searching for us, I was sure that I would have kissed her senseless and worry about the consequence later. And the look she gave me was not innocent either. There had been a challenge in her eyes, daring me to kiss her. Who was I to resist her?

Thankfully I had snapped out of it. I did not want to kiss her and then have her regret it. I wanted to taste her only because she wanted to kiss me.

Moping in a cat form would not help. I knew that. I also knew that I had to keep my distance from her. Not because she merely teased me in the language of lust and desire, but her soul was calling out to me and I could not help but respond to it.

Was I afraid of Soul-Binding with her? Never. I would be honoured to call her my other half. But I was afraid of Binding with her without her knowledge. I would never dishonour her by taking her choice. If... if we were to Soul-Bind, I want her to know it. I want her to want it as much as I crave it. I did not want her to want that bond between us just because I had already initiated it.

I prowled in the gardens I had asked Lyra to take care of and By Cosmos, she did well. The flowers that never bloomed for me, opened their secrets to her and showed her what they usually hid from me. I nearly bit a catnip.

I glanced at the moon that seemed to be mocking me for the decision I made. I had decided to give us enough distance so that I would not dishonour her. I respected her and I would it even if it killed me. While distance may not break the forming bond completely, it would weaken it.

I sighed as I sat in the deepest corner of the garden as I saw the peaceful sky. Slight movements said Lyra was in that room. My ears twitched and my whiskers trembled.

I remember the way she had sat on my wolf form in the clearing when I had to race her to the barbeque. I could have taken her slowly then, but I had been scared that I would Mark her or worse Soul-Bind her there.

But what I was doing now was stupidity. I should not have come here. I should have gone back to Steel and seen the stocks that I already knew about. I should have. But I did not listen to my sane brain and I was praying the price for it.

What would harm Lyra in that house? Varian, Miguel and Aislynn were there. More to that, Kaina and Rhaze were in. What could possibly harm her?

But the thought of her laying on my bed, her skin soaking on my scent turned my thoughts to a dangerous direction. She may not be able to replace my scent, but I could and my scent on her skin was everything. Whatever I thought as soothing and calm did not stand a chance against Lyra's scent.

She was my kryptonite and I was happily allowing her to wreck me.

Only if the other Warriors were here. They would definitely laugh at me. Not only them, everyone I knew would. They knew how much I had given myself to the war and never looked for a companionship.

The slight tossing on the bed made me stand up. Was she having trouble sleeping? Making sure that she could not hear me, I moved to the door to see her sitting on the bed with a hard glare. What was she glaring at?

Then she fell on the bed and buried her nose in the pillow. What was she trying to do? Scent if someone else had come in? That would be impossible. I was guarding her the whole time. No one came, I was sure of it.

Then she groaned and for a moment my mind went blank and then hurdled to places that should be. Would she make the same noise if I was to kiss her senselessly? I guess I had to replace that on my own.

Then she got up and sat on the bed again. Was she having trouble sleeping? She could ask Kaina a sleeping draught. That witch might not defeat me, but she was certainly powerful.

Lyra got down and her soft footsteps paddled to the closet. I wanted to sneak my head in and see what she was doing, but I refrained myself from doing so.

She opened a door and then closed it after a minute. Did she hide some snacks in the closet and found they were all empty? Possibility. After all, our closets were side-by-side and I never opened hers. Especially after Aislynn and Kaina filled her closet.

Then she walked towards the garden and I tried to hide myself between two pots. I cursed when she did come to the garden. Why did I come here tonight? To torture myself? I should have known better. Should have.

But this held none of the pain tortures usually held. It held a pleasurable pain that I would not mind being in if it meant I could see her.

She smiled at the flowers and she caressed the petals as if they obeyed her perfectly and she gazed at the moon longingly. Was she thinking about her mate? Or about that Alpha who claimed to be her mate? Just thinking about them both wanted me to hunt them down and kill them.

I could not help myself when my legs brought me closer to her and my body rubbed against her legs. I was simply too starved of her scent. Of her laugh. Of her.

The yearning fled her eyes when it landed on me. That brown eyes, By Cosmos. It could ask me to die and I would gladly do it for her. Just how deep in this was I?

When her scent was marking my skin, I could not control that purr of content that left my mouth. This mark was way better than anything for now.

And for a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes. The world stopped and for that beat, we were in a world of our own creation. If only I was in my human form.

"Look at you," she said in a baby voice. "Aren't you precious?"

Of course, she would think that I was just a cat. And I was precious in this form? What of my other forms? I could take any skin I want and she thought this was precious? I was a terror. A nightmare-

But when she picked me up, I guessed being a cat was not that bad. I mean, she would not be lifting me up if I was a dragon or a Kraken. I put my forelimbs around her neck and buried my head in her neck to inhale that heavenly scent.

Yes. Being a cat was definitely not bad at all.

That second was precious to me for her scent was claiming me and mine was coating her skin. If I was to release the hold I had over my scent, anyone who could smell would think that she was taken. My scent was not merely licking her skin and settling there, it was rollicking with her soul to which her soul gave a deal. It would take my scent only if I was to take hers. My soul did not replace any problem with it and they traded their scents.

My heart nearly skidded to a stop. This was the first part of the bond being completed. It was not that the bond that shocked me. It was the way her soul responded to mine. As if, it was choosing me out of her own will. As if she was choosing me.

Her fingers ran through my fur and that was solidifying everything. Did she even know what was happening? Or was this all happening without her knowledge? If so, how did her soul know what to do?

She took me to the bed and she laid down, keeping me over her. No, no, no. This was giving me very suggestive images in my mind. If I was to shift, right now, what would she do?

If I shifted now, I would be in the same black pants I had worn before shifting to this cat. But I would on top of her, pinning her down with my body. That would not be all. My face would be in the crook of her neck and just one bite-

"Can I name you?" she asked in her sweet voice.

I lifted my head and yawned. She was going to name me? What would she name me?

She chuckled. "How about... Cloudy? Opal?"

I opened my eyes and growled softly. Did she take me for a female cat? I had taken form of a fully grown male cat. Male-

Then she did something I never thought she would. She began to search for my gender. This was too embarrassing. My thought was not that she was going to see my genital parts naked. It was that she was going to see it in this form and not in my human form. I had to check my priorities.

I did what I had to do to defend myself from this female. Defend my shame, I mean. I scratched her hand. It just grazed her skin. Only after seeing that spot of blood did I realise that I should have just let her see what she wanted and never should have scratched her.

What kind of male was I? How could I possibly hurt the female I liked? The female I loved? The female I was thought of taking as my Soul-Bound? This was a disgrace. As much as I did not want to dishonour her, I had done something that was terrible. I had hurt her. Would she forgive me? I never intended for this to happen.

I stuck my tongue out and licked the graze marks. Wishing I could just shift and beg for her forgiveness. But her soul, on the other hand, was too wicked for me. While this may be considered hurting her, blood solidified any bond you wanted. Blood was thicker than water.

Her soul just thought it as a promise that I was making and it came forwards. It came roaring at my soul and her soul was the one to start twining with mine.

"I just wanted to replace your gender," she said.

But my ears could not hear that voice. It was hearing the tune to which her soul was binding with mine. It was a melody I would listen to all my life. When so many said how amazing it was binding, I never believed it. But now, I could. They were not exaggerating. In fact, they were playing it down.

"I officially name you Midnight," she declared and I just stopped to stare at her. Her soul was binding with me, something I wanted to do with her knowledge but her soul was not listening and she was naming my cat form? "Because your fur is darker than the midnight sky."

"Midnight," she said and hugged me tighter.

Any last restraint the bond had about her accepting me fled at that action. To the bond, she had accepted me completely and it began to wind faster and faster around us.

Her peaceful smile was not helping nor did her trust in me when she fell asleep. I panicked and began to gasp. The bond had been formed between us and there was no going back. What I had been afraid of, became true. I had indeed dishonoured my female.

But I would not force it on her. Only if she claimed me with her words would the bond be completed from her side. Until then, I would be in this, feeling all from one-side.

If she never claimed me and if she found another, would I be able to live seeing that?

I did not have an answer to that question. Under the force of the bond, my cat skin gave way to my human form and I immediately twisted us so that she was lying on top of me. I did not want her to wake up to replace that the cat she had so adoringly played with was me.

I waited until she was completely asleep. Would I take her choice from her more than I already did? While sleeping on the same bed as she was an innocent act, I did not wish to pry her modesty and her privacy without her wish. I had already taken the choice from her when I Soul-Bounded tonight, I would not continue to do it again. I would do everything with her consent from now.

I gently took her fingers off my shoulders and moved her so that she was lying on the bed. She did try to stick to me, but I knew what was at play. The newly formed bond demanded me to stay with her. As much as my heart tore apart, I had to move away. I knew she would not feel the pain. I tried my best, but I could not control it.

I took her hand in mine and placed a feather kiss over her knuckles. If I stayed here any longer it would not be good.

Dashing out of the garden, I ran towards the dockyard where Taurus was.

************

Taurus, as a businessman had a reputation and he truly deserved it. He literally ruled the waters surrounding Laukris with an iron fist. In a way, he guarded what came in and what went out.

And he called me because his website had crashed and he thought that something big was at play. What could potentially harm him?

I walked into the dockyard where he said he would be. The guards did try to stop me but one bark from Jarred and they backed down.

"Jare!" I called. "How's life been?"

"It's been ages since one of you guys showed your face here," he commented grinning at me. "Seeing just one face kind of gets boring."

I shook my head. I knew for a fact that this male would follow Taurus even if it meant his own death.

He stood a good foot apart from me and gave me a huge grin. Had this been Niran, he would have dove in for a hug. And boy, that male loved hugs.

"Where's he?" I asked, putting my hands in my pant pocket. I had thrown a black linen shirt on in haste while coming here. "He called me."

Jarred threw his hands up. "He is up," he pointed to the office room, "there with Niran and Fia."

I nodded. "I will take from here."

"Right," Jarred said. "I will take care of the shipping here."

"Aren't you a doctor?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

Jarred groaned. "I am. This is supposed to be Niran's job. That kid is lazing around."

Shaking my head, I made my way to the office where Jarred said Taurus would be.

I slowly walked the stairs up. The bond I had with Lyra was slowly making itself known. It cried to me to go back to her, telling what I was doing was not fair. Was it fair? I did not know the difference anymore.

I did not even knock the door and yet, Taurus held it open for me. He had that rare grin on his face when he welcomed me in with just a tilt of his head.

"Aries!" Fia called with a smile on her face. "Good to see you."

I grunted in reply. The good mood with which I came in went away the second I saw Taurus. He knew something was wrong with me. Else, I would not have come tonight.

What is troubling you, brother? he asked.

I made a mistake, Taurus, I said, slumping on a chair. A huge mistake.

Huge enough to mope about? He asked sitting opposite to me.

Huge enough to be punished in the Chasm for a thousand years, I said.

If not these twelve, with who could I confide in? Polaris? He was way too tacky. Cosmos? Who knew what she would say? Surva? I would rather keep stuff to myself.

"Niran, bring the decanter," Taurus said. "Open it."

"That one?" Niran exclaimed. "That's about three hundred years old! A very fine whiskey."

"Do it!" Taurus said in a soft voice.

"But-" Niran began.

"Enough!" Fia said bringing the decanter herself. "Jarred is down there. You should be too, Niran."

"That's your mate, Fia. You go." Niran smirked.

I closed my eyes when the bond flared to life as if it was triggered by the word mate. It was literally pulling me to run back to her, to stay by her side.

"I hope you will replace yours and your mate will make you suffer," Fia grumbled.

The bond became too overwhelming for me. I should have never separated from her. Why did no one tell me the adverse effects of it? Why did no one say that it would be this bittersweet? It was demanding my complete attention to a point that I could no longer sense that new invader in the other room connected to this. But I managed to pull myself to the present.

"Damn it," I groaned.

Taurus poured whiskey in a glass and gave it to me. "Well..."

What troubles you? Taurus asked when he realised that I was not going to open my mouth.

Just... just give me a second, I said. I need to catch my breath.

"I don't wish to talk about that," I said, hoping that he would get that I was not going to talk about this aloud.

Here then? He asked

Taurus shrugged. "Come on, Aries. You rarely come when I call you. What bothered you?"

Taurus was one good actor, I would give him that.

I shook my head. "You have no idea, Torre."

I took the glass and drank it one swing.

"Fia and Niran," Taurus said. "Leave us be."

"But Torre-" Niran began.

"You suspect my brother?" Taurus asked. "My kin to harm me? It is Aries we are talking about. He is the First Warrior. Even if not for him, do you take me to be a fool? I am Taurus, the Second Warrior. You know what race I belong to. What do you think can break my defences?"

Was that needed? I asked dryly.

Let me enjoy this flair, he replied.

Niran gulped but before him, Fia wheeled her way out. Nodding, Niran followed her, closing the door.

"Tell me, Aries," Taurus said. "What brings you to help me the second I said my website crashed? This is a very minor thing. You don't usually come to help me if something amiss happens in my business. Especially when Princess Antlia, the last descendant of Luna is under your care. So what happened?"

"Lyra Throne," I began. Then I switched to our link, fearing that if someone else came to know who she was to me, would hurt her. I Soul-Bonded with her.

What? He asked. It was a surprise that he did not drop his glass. Soul-Bonded? Do you know what you are talking about?

Yes, I said. I do. I do.

Oh! By Cosmos! Taurus breathed. I knew that he was a clever male. You are berating and the reason for that is... you have Soul-Bounded to her and she does not know about it?

Yes, I said, hanging my head down in shame. Yes.

He was silent for a whole minute. I hope you know that Soul-binding is something you can't control no matter what you do. If your soul replaces someone compatible with it, a perfect match, it will go ahead and bind you to it. Since we are first-generation stars, even Cosmos can't give us bonds and I had been under the illusion that we can't ever have Soul-Bonds. Ursa broke it, you broke it. It clearly says that we have the ability to choose who we want.

I would have chosen her anytime, I said. It's just that, she does not know that we have Soul-bonded.

You should have met Aqua tonight instead of me, he said. But I will do my best, Aries. For in times of confusion, even what we know with clarity appears hazy.

I merely gulped.

If you are Soul-Binding, Aries, he said. It will have consent from both souls. Especially if it is not given but made us, the feeling would have been reciprocated. I am betting that she does love you at least she likes you enough to think about a life with you. If she had not, her soul would not have called out to yours to form that bind. You know this, Aries. You did not do it without her consent. If you are doing it without her consent, then what you have is not even a Soul-Bond and if you had forced it upon her, she would be dead by now.

I took in a deep breath. Taurus was right. I did know this, but why could I not tell it to myself?

Have you truly Soul-Bonded? He asked.

He was not asking if I had Soul-Bonded. He was testing if the one between me and Lyra was one. The bond roared in fury. How could someone think of it otherwise?

I have, I said. I have Soul-Bonded. I feel her soul with mine.

Good, he commented. We will see how this progresses. I will let you tell others. I will bear the secret until then. It is not mine to tell-

We are a family, Taurus, I said. I will tell them. But after I tell Lyra.

Yes, he said. Do that first. Poor girl would feel a pull towards you and won't even understand why.

"That name sounds familiar. Lyra Throne?" Taurus said.

I nodded. "That female."

"Isn't she that Beta's daughter who was banished-" Taurus began, trying to understand who she was.

Don't begin, I said. Else, I will go back to that pack and destroy everything.

Don't need the blood now, do we? he asked.

"You don't even know the full story," I said leaning back on the chair. "She is... perfection. Her eyes have the hue of golden dust sprawled with brown. When she laughs, By Cosmos! I live for that. And-"

"Did the mighty Aries fall?" Taurus smiled.

I sighed. "I did not fall. I just... adore her. Am fascinated by her. I just don't know why, Torre, but my heart flutters. My core energy that makes who I am, flips at the mere thought of her. If you met her-"

"I won't be fascinated by her," Taurus cut in. "If I was, I am sure that you will kill me."

She is your Soul-Bound for a reason, he said

I frowned. "You are right. I would have. Damn it. I got it worse than Leo, haven't I?"

"Mighty Aries is no longer a bachelor?" Taurus asked.

I shook my head. "No! By Moon above. I have not confessed to her."

"Scared?"

"Terrified."

"Then it's all good," he said. "I can't wait to meet her."

I snorted and helped myself with another glass of that alcohol.

"Does Ant suspect anything?" Taurus asked.

Ant did. She was a descendant of Luna and she sensed these kinds of things. She did try to sniff around.

I nodded. "She is suspicious. But other than that, she is bearable."

"I just can't wait to tell the rest of them," Taurus said. I just want to see their face reaction.

I rolled my eyes. "The rest? Gemini is in a country in the continent Asia. Sage is dressed as a high-school girl to replace the rebellion that she owes to a witch. Leo is posing as a motorbike racer and Libra is a detective. I don't even want to talk about others."

"Well said," Taurus said. "I should let you know. Scar helps me once a while. He is a damn good businessman."

"Scorpio?" I asked. I had to pull a meeting about these absurd names we have. "I know. I have been to the hotel he owns."

"Well," Taurus began. "We all have some work or the other, Aries for income. What do you do?"

How did I know that he would ask this? What Cancer, Pieces and I did was a mystery that other nine could not stand.

"We need an income?" I snorted.

"Aries!" Taurus warned. "You told me you did some job. But you never specified what you did."

I could not control it. I smirked. "I design and sell weapons."

"Y-you mean that," Taurus spluttered. "You own that-"

One cat was out of the bag.

"Yes," I said. "I own Steel."

"Wonderful," Taurus said.

"Sometimes it is," I shrugged. "But I don't exactly involve myself, you know? I just... allow my workers to take care of it."

"And they are?" Taurus asked. "At least everyone knows that Fia, Jarred and Niran works for me. What of you?"

"Can't I be a loner?"

"Please."

"Pick a guess," I said, getting up. It was not a secret. After all, everyone knew about the two who worked under me.

Taurus was silent for a few moments after which he gasped. "Don't tell me it is-"

"It is Regina," I said. "As much as that female lusted over me, she is damn good when it comes to design weapons. Not to mention, she is mated and she has a son."

There had been days when I was repulsed by her. I hated the way she threw herself on me. But once I truly got to know her and after she was mated, she was one of the best female subordinates, one could have. While she oversaw the designing part of the weapon, Matt, my other subordinate saw the finance of the company. Just like how Jarred, Niran and Fia were to Taurus, these two were to me.

While I would not trust them as much as Taurus trusted the three, I just know that Steel will not fall under them. That company actually meant nothing to me. If they betrayed me, I would merely start another company. Who said I needed income? Even in the wide space above, I was pretty wealthy.

"Well," I drawled. "I am going to leave."

Taurus shrugged. "I know. I don't know when I am going to meet you again."

Feeling better that you spoke to me? He asked.

Much, I said. I don't know what I would do without you guys.

Don't get sappy, he chided. We will be there for each other. As always.

I sighed. "And what of him?"

"Who?"

"That male who is hiding in the other room, eavesdropping on our conversation? The one... if I guess right who was sent to kill you?"

That one was an assassin sitting in the other room. I could pick up vibrations and for some reason, his vibration was a lot similar to Lyra. Like they both belonged to the same family or something. And he had a Steel gun with him. I would sense it.

At his mention, his heart rate began to spike up and his breathing became erratic. How did he get in past all the defences Taurus had? I had to give it up to him.

"I know," Taurus said. "That's why I put a seal over that room. He cannot escape no matter what. He listened to some stuff that no one should have. I even sent Fia and Niran out. I have to kill him."

"Why didn't you snap his mind?" I asked. "I mean... I could have, but tonight, I came as your guest and I could not break that code."

Taurus snorted. "His mind... it is guarded."

Why did this remind me of Lyra when I first met her? Her mind was guarded against mine the first we met.

"Well then," I said, opening the door. "I am leaving. Tell Fia and Niran."

"Will do," Taurus said. "And I do want to meet that Lyra someday."

"Someday!" I shouted over my shoulder as I left.

I raced down and saw Niran, Jarred and Fia argue over some shipment. Waving my hand to them, I left the dockyard.

I sped up and I found myself in front of Steel. The building was majestic and all. While people only saw the twenty floors up, the real research took place underground. It was about two hundred acres spanning over the wastelands surrounding the building. I usually never came. I checked in twice a month or so. Hence, seeing me must be a shock to the people.

I made my way to the office and shut the door behind me.

Lyra Throne. My Soul-Bound.

Just the thought of her put a smile on my face. But how would I say it to her? Say what we were to her? Would I be brave enough to say it?

A/N: What do you think of this chapter?

Do you think what Aries did was right?

If you have not read Taurus, what are your thoughts about him? if you have, what are your thoughts about him?

Until the next bonus chapter,

~Quill