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Chapter 124
~Aira’s POV~
I pushed through the throng of guests, my heart pounding as I searched for my sister. I hated leaving Zade and Snow behind, but I couldn’t focus on anything else until I found Tempest.
I had a mate. I have a mate. I am not mateless. I have two mates.
Two!
Those words echoed in my mind as I sought out Tempest but one question rang out deep in my head. "Why?"
I barely got an answer from my thoughts when I finally spotted her near the terrace, her back to me as she stared out at the garden.
"Tempest," I said softly, approaching her cautiously lest she dashed out and ran off once more.
She didn’t turn around. "Do you have any idea how much this hurts, Aira?" Her voice was steady, but there was a quiver in her breath.
"I do," I admitted, stopping just a few feet behind her. "And I wish I could change it. I never wanted this to happen."
Tempest let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "It’s not your fault. It’s the damned bond. The Moon Goddess and her twisted sense of humour, trust me."
"I’m so sorry," I whispered, my chest tightening as she finally turned to face me.
Her eyes were red-rimmed but defiant. "Don’t be. You can’t control this any more than I can."
We stood there in silence, no one saying anything at this point. We both had too much on our minds and hearts.
"What do we do now?" I asked quietly.
Tempest’s lips pressed into a thin line before she sighed. "We go back to the party. You need to figure things out with him, Aira. But... I need time."
I reached out, touching her arm gently. "Take all the time you need. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready."
She nodded and finally, Tempest’s expression softened slightly. "I know."
As we made our way back inside, I couldn’t shake the heaviness in my chest. The bond had chosen me, but at what cost? My sister’s joy? Then what about Rhys?"
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~Zade’s POV~
Watching Aira disappear after her sister left a strange ache in my chest, one I hadn’t expected. I’d always wanted my mate but gave up on the idea when I crossed thirty. Now, after almost four decades, I was blessed with one and a little cheery atop the icing.
"She’ll be fine," Snow said, breaking the silence.
I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "You sound pretty sure of that."
"She’s stronger than she looks," he replied in a certain tone. "And so is Tempest. They’ll figure it out."
I nodded, though my thoughts were far from settled. This wasn’t the way I’d imagined meeting my mate—not in a triangle of tension and heartbreak.
"Zade," Snow continued, "this bond doesn’t give us a choice, but you need to tread carefully."
"I know. The last thing I want is to hurt either of them. You’re like a brother to me and having your sister as my mate is my honour but..."
His eyes flashed in the direction where Tempest and Aira ran off. "I..."
Snow studied me for a moment before clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Good. Then let’s get through tonight, and we’ll figure out the rest later."
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~Zara’s POV~
I did not understand what was going on in time until I saw Zade’s lip move and my heart beat sped exponentially.
Who was the lucky lady he found as his mate in this gathering were my thoughts until I trailed his line of sight to the lucky lady and saw Aira but then something wasn’t right.
She should have been happy, right? Only that she tore her gaze away from him to her side and I noticed Tempest staring at Zade with that same sad expression I once saw her with when her mate confessed his love to her sister.
"Moon Goddess, please," I muttered.
After all the chaos, I found my way from the chaos to something more peaceful. The party’s energy swirled around me as I stood near the balcony, letting the crisp night air cool my flushed cheeks.
I couldn’t shake the tension I’d felt earlier—the shift in dynamics when Zade entered the room.
Andrew’s cousin. Snow’s brother-in-arms? And somehow, Aira’s mate?
The layers of connections felt like a tightly woven web, each strand tugging at the other. Yet here I was, caught in a whirlwind of alliances, rivalries, and bonds, trying to find my place.
I took a sip of champagne, the bubbles fizzling against my lips as I scanned the crowd for familiar faces. Snow had disappeared into a conversation with another CEO, and Aira and Tempest were nowhere to be seen.
"Enjoying the evening?" Andrew’s voice cut through my thoughts, smoothly.
I turned to find him standing beside me, holding a fresh glass of champagne. He extended it toward me, and I accepted it with a small smile.
"It’s certainly eventful," I replied.
He chuckled, leaning casually against the railing. "You’re not wrong. Events like these are always a mix of business and theatrics."
I nodded, glancing at him. Andrew had a way of seeming completely at ease, yet his eyes missed nothing.
"Your cousin," I ventured, testing the waters. "Zade. He has quite the presence."
Andrew’s lips curved into a smile, though there was a hint of something guarded in his expression. "Zade is... a force of nature. It’s hard not to notice him."
"Hmm. An alpha, I presume?"
"Yes. You’re spot on."
"From which of the packs?"
"Golden Claw Packs."
"Golden Claw..." I seemed rather lost than when we first started and Andrew noticed, laughing a little too loud.
"You do not know them, right?"
I shook my head. "Never heard of it, to be honest."
"You sure? Think back. The legendary Golden Claw Pack, the strongest pack."
"I thought Ivory Crescent Pack was the strongest." Zara countered.
Andrew halted, stuttering. "Um.. huh, well you see that was in the past though but things happened and then they lost. That’s why you haven’t heard of them."
"Oh..." I nodded in half understanding. "So it’s still a small pack."
Andrew facepalmed and shook his head. "You are something else. Anyway, change of subject. Let’s talk about something else."
I hesitated before asking, "Aira and Zade."
"Aira?"
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