Aries

Hello! I know. I am back from my slumber. I am back.

You might want tissues for this chapter.

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

“Cain?” Liv hissed. “What are you doing up there?”

Cain looked down at the female who was glaring at him with her hands over her hip. That anger that coursed in her eyes!

By Amaris! He wanted to turn it into a flood of passion. Of getting her to the edge and making her beg for release. Perhaps then he would know what it was to play with a wildfire.

He cleared his throat, feeling sheepish. This female was reprimanding him and all he thought was how to pin her to the tree and-

“Cain!” Liv snapped as low as she could. “What in the Moon’s Lair are you doing up on a tree?”

He signalled her to be quiet as he peered down again. To see a victim.

A victim of another false mate bond.

A female who was rejected by that so-called mate of hers.

She thought that the bond she had with her mate was the true one and when he chose his wife over her, she was heartbroken.

How he wished to comfort her by telling her that the man was never hers.

But if he was to tell, he would betray Luna’s trust and not to mention the people who kidnapped and chained his Goddess would find about what Luna had done. At least until Luna was free or until Lyra was born, he would keep his mouth shut.

But by Amaris, he could not.

He could not pretend that he did not know how much this female was hurting.

He could not turn a blind eye. Even if he knew that this rejection was for the best, he wanted to hunt that human down and spill his blood.

He could not simply see the strong, mighty warrior cry when she thought no one was seeing her.

He could not see his sister cry and leave her.

Even if she never knew he was there for her, he would always be there for her. Isn’t that what brothers swear to their little sisters?

What if her pain got worse and she decided to end her life? What would he do without Rhaze?

Last week, Cain bet a two days after she met her mate, he was looking after her and he found her here, passed out.

He had carried her home like a baby and laid her on her bed before covering her with a blanket and leaving. Next day, Rhaze never asked who brought her home and he would not ask her about it. At least not until her wound was still bleeding.

After five minutes, Rhaze got up and shifted to her wolf, not thinking about the shredded clothes and ran with a speed not many could possess.

Rhaze was aiming to be a delta and she would make one hell of a delta.

He climbed down to see Liv sigh at him.

“I don’t know if it is borderline creepy or if it is protectiveness,” she commented.

“She is my baby sister, Liv,” Cain said. “I can’t bear to see her in that pain. Especially when I know what it is to be rejected.”

Liv came forward and hugged him.

“What are you doing?” he asked, trying to step away. “I literally own you, female. You have no right to touch me-”

“Shut up,” she said. “To your first question, I am hugging you. And yeah, master, you own me. But as your slave I should know when to comfort you.”

Both knew what utter bullshit it was. Even though he claimed to own her, both knew he never did. He occasionally commanded to irritate her, by asking her to do some pointless work, but otherwise, he respected her a lot. And made sure Liv knew it.

Cain grumbled but returned the hug. As much as he knew it was cliche to say it, she fit perfectly in his arms. A war could go around them and he could hide her lithe form with his towering one.

He liked the fact that he could protect her, but Cain of all people knew the strength this female carried. She might appear compliant and submissive, but one should see her while sparring. They would drop on their knees for her.

If she wanted, Liv could easily be the topmost warrior of the pack, but her mother’s status forbade her.

Even her working for the lab irked Gamma Lyanne, but when Cain interfered, Lyanne quietened down by saying that Liv should be ready to drop all her work to mated if a treaty declared it.

Liv released him. “Warren and Lik called you.”

Cain immediately stiffened. Did he miss anything-

“Just a false alarm,” the green-eyed female said soothingly. “They still want to meet you.”

Likira was on her last trimester and it was very difficult. Thankfully, Warren knew how to handle a female who was with two children. Likira did complain but Cain could see the love she had for her male.

He sighed and followed Liv.

After a few steps, she fell in pace with him. “Rhaze will make it through, Cain.”

He sighed. “I hope she does.”

Liv took his hands and squeezed it. “Don’t worry about it. Rhaze will meet her true mate one day.”

Cain lowered his head and glanced at their joined hands. “I don’t know, Liv. I don’t know when I can get to see my sister smile again.”

She pulled her hand away and smacked him hard on his shoulder. “You are an idiot, Cain. Life is not a clear summer sky. Sometimes it has the dark clouds of winter and sometimes the murky veil of autumn. And you know what? Even that sky changes its colour a thousand times a day. If it is going to be the same thing, it would be quite boring.”

Cain blinked at her. What was this female doing here? Why did she have to falsely claim that she was the Gamma’s daughter? This female was a perfect Alpha.

He had no doubt in his mind that her mate would be an Alpha. She deserved it. Either this or Liv would make it to the Royal court. He would not be surprised if anyone of the above happened.

But that raging jealousy roared again at the thought of her being the mate of an Alpha. He knew Liv deserved better, but by Amaris, he could not help but want to court her, mark her, love her and spend the rest of his life with her.

He nearly froze and if Liv had not pulled him, he would have stood there forever.

When did this turn like this?

Just when?

Relentlessly, Liv pulled him towards Warren’s house.

His friends’ house was on the outskirts of the pack. It was a cosy home. A small construction that was perfect for a family of four.

But before he could enter, he smelt it. The scent of newborns. He gasped and stumbled.

It was Liv who supported him. She pulled him on his feet and made him keep going.

He tentatively touched the biometrics with his right thumb. It flared blue and then the next was the iris scanner.

Gulping, Cain inched closer and allowed the technology to scan his iris.

When the damn scanner was satisfied with what it saw, it beeped and the door opened. Liv followed the same procedure and entered the door. Behind her, the door shut tight.

He licked his lips and just stood there simply. He could not take his mind off the two new scents permeating the air.

Liv sighed and walked towards the direction of the source of the scent.

Few seconds could have passed or an eternity, he did not know. Did not care. Warren finally came out with a huge smile on his face.

“Healthy girls, Cain,” he beamed.

“They... they are born?” Cain asked, choking a bit. “I thought the due date was a week after.”

Warren nodded. “It is a week after. But the contractions came and I had to deliver my girls. I could not call anyone as it was an urgency.”

Cain cleared his throat. “Well, it is a good thing that you knew how to help Lik through.”

Warren smiled. “We both know what we are getting into when we agreed, Hunter. Don’t fret.”

Cain nodded slowly.

Warren smiled tiredly at him. “Go see them, Cain.”

Cain blinked at his friend. “Lik-”

“She is just resting,” he said. “I made sure she is proper and perfect if that’s what you are getting.”

When he still stood there, Warren groaned. “As a male, I would not allow anyone to see my babies and my mate in their most vulnerable condition. When I say you can go in, it means you can.”

Cain blinked at him. “Liv told me that it was a false alarm?”

Warren sighed. “We thought so too. By the way, we informed Livvia in the afternoon, you are coming nearly at night. Turns out, it was not a false alarm.”

Cain cleared his throat.

“By Amaris, Cain!” Warren growled. “Likira is well enough to fight ten wolves now. She is strong. I could leave her only when she had regained her health and fed our children the first time. She might be just sleeping, but she can damn well decide who can come in and who cannot. She wants to you go in to see the baby you are to protect. To be honest, Lyra will give us trouble.”

Nodding, Cain made his way into the room to see Likira hugging a girl with sparse golden hair. Seeing him, Likira gave him a weak smirk.

“See that male, Chris,” Likira cooed into that baby’s ears. “He is your sister’s godfather.”

Cain tried to glare at the tired mother before shifting his glance at the silently whimpering baby Liv was holding in her arms.

For a second, Cain imagined how would it be to have a family with her. To return home to see her carry their child in her arms.

He shook his head and made his way to Livvia who was speaking sweet nothings to the baby in a baby voice.

He smiled at the sight.

It was a moment he would savour in his heart forever.

Lyra was a baby with a little bit more hair than her twin. But hers was dark brown unlike Chirs’. As if the baby knew he was her protector, she opened her eyes and gave him a toothless grin.

That big chocolate brown eyes did for him. He loved this smile of hers.

This soul, that was so precious was his to protect. This girl was like his daughter and he would do anything to see that damned smile on her face. Knowing her destiny from Luna, he at least hoped to keep her alive no matter whatever it took.

That was when he decided he wanted a baby girl of his own. To spoil her rotten. Not that be would not spoil Chris and Lyra.

He grinned and took the baby from Liv.

Lyra let out a yawn and closed her eyes. Just like that, she fell asleep.

Cain took in a deep breath, committing the scent of his goddaughter.

She had a scent he had never smelt it before, perhaps, it had something to do with the fact that she was never a creature of earth.

Likira chuckled. “She has you wrapped around her finger.”

Cain replied. “If not her, who else will?”

**********

It was a dangerous thing to separate a three-day-old baby from its mother, but Lyra was calm around him. It was like she knew who was going to protect her until she reached her adulthood.

While Likira was singing Chris to sleep, Warren had been dozing off on the couch.

Cain was holding Lyra as he stood a few yards away from the house. Lyra had quietened down only after he had moved out of the house. He moved further into a clearing and allowed the baby’s skin to soak up the sunlight. Sunlight was a good thing. This mild sunlight filtered by the canopy above allowing only the faintest rays was good.

So he stood there for a minute before it happened.

He heard a sharp whistling noise cutting the otherwise still air. Before he could turn around to see what it was, Warren’s house was in flames.

“No, no, no!” Cain gasped as he hugged the baby closer to him.

He inches closer for him to see the house burning to cinders and ashes. While foliage hid him from the two creatures sight, he was sure that the burning ashes hid his scent from them. But then again, should they have not scented him if they truly wanted this pulsar soul?

While he wanted to go and inspect the damage and see if he could help his friends and Chris out, his oath as the Hunter prevented him from doing so. He had sworn to protect Lyra and if he went to inspect, he would harm her.

Luna! He snarled. Is this what you want?

He did not hear her reply for a long time. But he heard a feeble broken no from her after a few minutes.

A female landed on the ground, a few meters away from the burning house from somewhere in the sky. Her hair was a rich colour of Vermillion. Her eyes had a golden iris.

Her lips were full and luscious. So kissable. So perfect. Nothing blemished her skin. It was a smooth expanse of brown.

She was dripping with seduction.

Had he not been Luna’s Hunter, he was sure he would have run up to her, begging her to take him. But now, he felt nothing but intense hatred at her for smiling at the burning house.

“Mistress,” one of the two addressed her. “Are you satisfied?”

She curled her lips into a smile. “Yes. My Soul-Bound, Elijah had indeed chosen perfect assassins for me.”

The two bowed to her. Then just as this female appeared, they disappeared.

Cain held his breath. Who was this female?

The one who caught me.

He glared at her. From being Luna’s Hunter, he knew what had happened to Luna... mostly.

She walked into the burning house as if nothing hurt her. Minutes later she came out with a satisfied smile on her face.

Then she left.

It was then he was able to move. Lyra was sleeping in his arms, not knowing what was happening.

This girl was just three-days-old and they had already begun their hunt. What would happen if Lyra was to grow up?

He gulped and dragged his feet towards the house.

A perk of being a Hunter: fire could not easily kill him.

Soot and carbon filled his nose. Lyra shifted in his arms. She was a baby for Moon’s sake! How could she breathe through this?

Lyra moved to a comfortable position and then she stopped. Her even breaths told him that she was in her blissful world of sleep.

He could not bear to take another step. He had said Warren and Likira how much this was a risk. Had they listened to him?

His grip over Lyra tightened.

Whoever that female was, Cain was going to sink his claws in her and revel in the taste of her flesh and blood.

He let a low growl. He moved further in. Exactly how Warren had been sleeping on the couch, was a charring body. Tears filled his eyes.

He felt remorse from Luna, but he shut her off. He had enough to deal.

His legs heavy as lead, he dragged it to the master bedroom, where he was sure Likira and Chris were.

He could not enter the room. From where he stood he could see their burning bodies.

A choked sob left him as he crumbled to the ground on his knees. The restless flames that were still raging, licked his skin, corroding his jeans.

He would cry now for when wrath hit him, he would have made peace with the sadness to let that fury rule.

“Cain!” Liv’s voice called him. “Cain!”

Using her voice as his anchor, he got up and left the house. Lyra truly was not a creature of this world.

While even Liv could not take that heat, Lyra took it, as if the heat never bothered her. As if she was made for heat.

Her soul was born from flames, Cain, Luna said. Even if you leave her on the sun, she can survive in this body. Not to mention, she was assigned to a star who is renowned for their fire.

Cain frowned. What?

Did I not tell you that these Pulsar souls were already assigned with the Warriors’ souls? Luna asked. She is assigned to Aries. The pulsar who is assigned to Sagittarius is a warlock and the one to Leo is a vampire. So, as much as any element of earth won’t harm her, fire more so. This fire that is used to burn Warren’s house, is the fire of Cosmos. The strongest of all.

Liv was crying and was breathing heavily. He pushed Luna to the back of his mind and rushed to her as she hugged him and Lyra.

He did not know who comforted who. The house still burned and the clouds above raged.

Finally, Liv took Lyra from him and she began to inspect for any injury.

“I was here, Liv.” His voice quivered. This was Liv. If not her, who else would understand? In the last few months, Liv had become Likira’s good friend. “I was here! But I was frozen to do anything, Liv. I fucking froze. What a kind of Beta am I?”

She kissed Lyra on her forehead and then looked at him. “You saved Lyra.”

Cain bit back a snarl. “I lost them, Liv! I lost Warren, Likira and Chris! What did Chris do to deserve this?”

Liv’s eyes shone with tears but there was a hardness behind it. “Listen, Cain. I know it is selfish of me to say this. But I am glad that you froze. If you had not, then whoever killed Warren and Likira would have killed you and taken Lyra. They would have squeezed the life out of her and used it for destruction. You have said that Luna told you this. Lyra is a pulsar, Cain. Her soul carried destruction in its core. That’s why she would be a creator. Because the destruction would pave the way to creation. You have told this to me this. And even if you made out miraculously, would you be able to bear that you have lost Lyra as well? You love this girl!”

Cain sobbed violently. It was not fair that he lost his best friends and their daughter. It was not fair. It was not fair for Lyra either. She would have to grow up without her birth parents, whom he was sure would have loved her to death and her twin, with whom she would have pranked this pack.

Mild scents reached him from afar. It was a perk of a hunter. While the other wolves could scent only the burnt wood, he could sense their scent because of the dying fire.

“People are coming,” he muttered.

Shedding one last tear, Liv held Lyra in one hand and tugged him with another, forcing him to follow her.

**********

Liv took him to her house. Liv frowned and searched for her keys when the door opened and Aurelia stood there.

Liv winced. I am sorry, Cain. I left my house keys with Aurelia at work when I came searching for you. I was having electricity problems for which I had called an electrical and Aurelia volunteered to look over.

Aurelia’s gaze went to the baby. “A baby, Cain?”

He snarled lowly. “Not another word, Aurelia.”

Aurelia moved. “Come in if you don’t want any attention.”

After Cain went inside the house, Liv followed, closing the door behind her.

Aurelia folded her hands. “Start explaining.”

Cain raised his eyebrows. “Explain to you what? Why should I?”

Aurelia gasped. “You came in with a baby to Liv’s house! Do you what would happen if Gamma Lyanne came to know this?”

Liv hissed. “I would say that this baby is mine. If my mother wants to disown me after this, she is welcome to.”

Aurelia’s eyes widened as she looked at Cain. “Whose child is it?”

Both refused to answer her. But Aurelia was a clever female. She knew how to link stuff and there was a reason why there were rumours about Aurelia succeeding Warren.

“Warren and Likira’s child?” Aurelia breathed.

He was sure that surprise was painted on his face.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Aurelia gasped as she fell on the couch. “That explosive vibration our radar picked outside pack borders! Warren and Likira went to the outskirts of Pack borders. It makes sense!”

“What makes sense?” Cain asked.

“That explosion killed Warren and Likira,” Aurelia deduced. “That’s why you have their baby.”

Liv took Lyra from him. “Yes, Lia. That explosion killed them both. But why the hell did no one step out? It is on the pack borders.”

Aurelia gave them a grim expression. “When we took this to the Alpha, he said that the explosion took place outside the pack lands on neutral territory. With the increasing population of lone wolves and rogues and the weapons they created, the Alpha was sure that this might be a fight between them. For a similar explosion was detected on the northern borders last week and when Alpha Violet left to find out what had caused it, she found a full-blown war between the rogues. We can’t intervene in them. That’s why he sent wolves hours after the explosion.”

Cain but back a growl. Alpha Charles should have come. He was the Alpha of West Pack for Moon’s Sake!

“Also,” Aurelia began in a quiet voice. “Warren sent me an email three days ago.”

Cain blinked at her. “What did he send?”

“He... he as me to make sure that Liv would head the Science Sector,” she said. “I am to assist her the way I had assisted Warren.”

Liv gasped as she took another seat on the sofa. “Me?”

Aurelia nodded. “It was like Warren knew something like this would happen.”

Cain closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. That male! Warren had been the Delta of this pack before entering the science sector. That male could hold a fight perfectly.

All Cain wanted was to resurrect Warren and kill his friend himself. How dared he?

Aurelia smiled at the sleeping Lyra. “She is...?”

Liv sighed. “Lyra Vade.”

Aurelia played with Lyra’s fingers and the baby curled her fingers over Aurelia’s pointed finger and refused to let her go. And Aurelia did nothing to remove her finger.

“What are we going to do?” Aurelia asked shattering the silence.

Cain took his seat on the armrest near Liv. “We? There’s no we, Aurelia. It is Liv and my problem.”

Aurelia rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Cain? I know our past. But I would never betray you. I will never utter a word about Lyra to anyone unless you give me permission.”

Liv gave him a reprimanding look. “She is right.”

Cain could not find words to argue against this female.

Aurelia cleared her throat. “We have to find a family that would take care of Lyra.”

“I can-” Cain began.

“You can’t,” Aurelia said. “Laws of the pack, Cain. Unless you have a mate. You can’t adopt a kid. You’re the Beta. Don’t you know this?”

Cain took deep breaths. “Yes.”

“Mike and Reece can,” Aurelia mused. “They would take this baby in a heartbeat and grow her up as their own no questions asked especially if you,” she looked at him, “are asking. But they are recently mated and they don’t have the brightest responsibility to take care of a newborn.”

The three spent the entire evening wondering who would be a perfect candidate when the person floated to his mind.

He gave the two females a smile. “I know where to take Lyra.”

**********

He was in his usual place... on top of the tree. But this time, Liv was with him, her side pressed to his.

Had it been any other circumstance, he would have ignored Luna’s warning and would have kissed her. Maybe, even taken things further.

But now, taking Liv was far behind in his mind. After feeding Lyra, Cain left her on the boulder where he knew Rhaze would stumble upon on her border run.

Just as he predicted, Rhaze’s massive wolf came into view. When the wolf saw this baby, it skidded to a stop and she trotted slowly towards the baby, sniffing as much as she could. But apart from Lyra’s natural scent, no other scent was there. Cain had made sure.

The wolf nudged Lyra with her snout and when the baby did not wake up, Rhaze whined. Suddenly his sister shifted and picked the baby.

His heart thudded against his rib cage. Sweat beaded over his skin and he was thankful for Liv to give him a drug that would suppress his scent. Rhaze was a strong wolf and being his sister, she could easily scent him. This was it.

With a small cry, Lyra opened her eyes dreamily and promptly closed it again, her head falling on Rhaze’s shoulder.

When a smile fit on Rhaze’s lips, he knew he had done it right.

**********

Two years later, Lyra Thorne was a happy, bubbly child.

Cain had never been happier. His mother and father was the best choice. And Rhaze who gave all her love on this kid.

Just when she was going to poke her fingers into the batter Carter had made, Cain picked her up and set her on his shoulder.

“Cai!” She protested but began to giggle.

“What is it, baby monkey?” He asked. “You know how mad dad would be if you played with the cookie batter.”

Instead of responding, she giggled again and began to play with his hair.

“Ouch!” He winced when she pulled a hair more.

Lyra then let go of his hair and then began to run his scalp lightly. He knew where she had learnt it from. Last week when she hit her head against a table, she had begun crying and Evelyn had rubbed her head.

When Lyra began doing this, his heart tugged even more. This was a precious child.

“Where exactly are you kidnapping my daughter, Cain Black?” His mother asked as she stood at the entrance with a grocery cover in her hand.

Cain looked up at his sister. When she grinned at him, he knew she would go wherever he took her to.

Evelyn had taken the news of Aurelia better than he expected her. She did not show him pity and pain like most females in her position would have. Instead, she gave him a hard glare while hugging him. She had told him that he did not need anyone to ‘complete’ him.

And that when she had given birth to him, he was a complete, healthy child and he had his family supporting him. If Aurelia could not love him enough to make a mate bond with her, then she was not the one for him. Simple as that.

While Evelyn knew about him meeting Luna, she did not know about Lyra as his father did. And since Carter had sworn to the Hunter of Luna to not utter a word about this to anyone, he could not say it to his mate. Cain knew it was killing his father, but it was the only way to keep Lyra safe.

“To meet Warren,” Cain mumbled. It had been exactly two years since he lost his best friends.

Evelyn’s hard resolve faltered. “Go. But return by dinner.”

Even now, Cain had a curfew. If he asked about it, his mother would say something like he was her child no matter how old he would be. To appease her, he listened.

With Lyra tugging his hair and soothing his scalp, he made his way to Warren and Likira’s grave.

After that explosion, Alpha Charles went there and when he saw it was Warren and Likira who had died, he ordered the wolves to construct a grave. Cain had ordered it to be in the meadow behind the house they owned, in the neutral lands outside West Pack.

Liv was already there, waiting for him.

He set Lyra down who ran as fast as she could with her chubby legs to hug Liv.

Liv hugged her back and then Lyra saw a butterfly and began to chase it.

They both inched towards the grave. Near it, Cain fell to his knees and Liv knelt next to him. Whenever he wanted to visit them, Liv came with him. It was like she knew that he needed someone.

If only... the desire he had for Livvia never disappeared. If anything, it became more and more powerful. He was afraid that one day his control might snap and he would Mark her against her will.

Despite two years, the pain was still fresh and a tear rolled down his cheek.

He sniffed as Livvia gave him a sideways hug.

Moments passed and Lyra was still near them. That was enough for now.

Liv bumped her shoulder against his. “Stop... Warren and Likira would want you to be happy.”

“I am,” he whined and he looked at her with a pout.

That was when his breath stopped. The answer he had been searching was right in front of him. The answer to the question of his purpose on this planet.

Seeing the shock in her eyes, he could not help himself. He leaned forward and buried his face in the crook of her neck and licked the skin there. Liv moaned quietly.

“My Mark will be here,” he said as he made himself a promise. “How about that?”

Liv’s arousal filled the air and he was thankful that kids below ten did not have a strong nose. Theirs was as weak as a human’s. But this was Lyra and who knew what powers she had.

From his peripheral vision, he saw Lyra playing with buttercup and he knew that she could not sense this.

“Perfect,” Liv purred.

Lyra plucked the buttercup and ran towards them with a huge smile.

“Perfect indeed, mate.”

There will be one for Bonus chapter from Cain’s pov before his story closes. But that chapter will be updated later, after Chapter 26.

~Quill