Aries

Kaina's POV

The witch before her gritted her teeth. “You are coming home!”

Kaina could care less. When she found her mate was in the Summer Tribe fifty years ago, she had been thrilled. She left her tribe impulsively and joined the Summer Tribe under Zayin Priscilla. Now she was paying the price for abandoning her mother tribe.

“Why?” Kaina drawled, swirling the glass in her hand. “Why should I return?”

The elder witch before her exasperated. “Is this how you are going to spend the rest of your life? Drinking away?”

Kaina opened one eye. Yet she did not bother to get up from the sofa. She was quite content how she was. Laying on the sofa, doing nothing.

“What about it?” she snorted and emptied the jin the glass had in one shot.

“Just because Roland left-”

Kaina snarled, smashing the glass on the floor. “Don’t speak about him.”

The door to her house was knocked. By the faint scent of lilies, Kaina knew who was out.

“Enter!” the witch of Summer Tribe said.

When the door opened, a fresh breeze carried away a fractal of pungent smell. Light tumbled after the winds and roamed all around her living room.

A young witch wearing a pastel blue dress stood at the doorway with a basket in her hand. Freshly baked cookies were in it. Kaina rose her eyebrows. Why did she not smell it earlier? Was the alcohol affecting her brain too much? Entering the house, she closed the door with a loud bang.

As soon as the young witch came, she glared at Kaina as she placed the basket before the Zayin of the Northern Tribe. Without a word, she drew the curtains and opened the windows. As if she was weaving a spell, the laziness in the house fled.

“What?” Kaina asked the young witch.

Instead of answering her, Esme turned to the elder witch. “I spoke to Zayin Priscilla. You can take her away, grandmother.”

Kaina gasped and shot up. “How dare you, Esme!”

The witch snapped, her blue eyes filled with fury. “I can no longer see you like this, mother! I am pretty sure even your son will agree. You are wasting your life!”

“Wasting my life?” Kaina sniggered. “What life?”

Esme neared her and shook her shoulders roughly. “Wake up! You were meant to be the Zayin of the Northern Tribe. See how you are now!”

Kaina shrugged off her daughter-in-law’s hands. “Zayin? I am pretty sure Zarola is being trained for that.”

Her mother sighed. “Zarola is being trained. But if you return, her claim will be nothing. Even she recognises this. If you return, Zarola will give her claim.”

Kaina snorted as she strode to her shelf. Taking a new glass, she refilled it. “She is meant to be the Zayin. Not me.”

“Fine,” Deanna said, getting up from her chair. “She will be the Zayin. But at least can you return home?”

Kaina shook her head. “Nope.”

“Why not?” her mother asked. “You are just a hundred years old. Yet you want to give up so easily.”

Esme snorted. “If anything, you still look sexy.”

Kaina groaned and gulped the contents of her glass again. “Do you think I care about my beauty?”

“But it might give you some confidence.” Esme snatched the bottle of gin from her hands. “Not this alcohol.”

“Esme!” Kaina whined.

“You are going,” Esme said with finality. “You are going to pick yourself, patch up. Don’t let that ass do this to you.”

There were days when Esme used to listen to her. Everyone used to listen to her. Her mate had been the brother of the current Zayin. But when Roland betrayed her for a human, Kaina lost it. He betrayed her for a human of all things! Was she not beautiful enough?

Kaina had fiery red hair that complemented her vivid green eyes. Her face had laughter lines and her full lips knew how to smile despite anything. Not to mention, she had a great body even after two pregnancies! While many witches could not even conceive one, she gave that warlock two children.

“I can’t come back home and do nothing,” Kaina mumbled.

“Reish Gina is leaving our tribe. Her mate happens to be a human. She is giving up her immortality to be with him. A new post is free if you want it,” her mother shrugged.

Then, something, somewhere deep in her snapped. Slowly, Kaina began to smirk.

********

“I feel an intrusion,” Zarola said, closing her eyes. “Darren, can you check it?”

Her twin kicked her. “Why are you sending my mate?”

Seeing this, Kaina sighed. “I will go and see. Whoever trespassed seems to have a great presence.”

“I will go too,” her mother said, coming out of the garden. Mud encrusted her hands and small seeds with hook clung to her pants. “Tzade Vessa, you will accompany us.”

Her sister glared at her mother. “Why?”

The Zayin shrugged. “You complained of Zarola sending your mate. Why don’t you accompany him?”

Ever since she came here, Zarola and Vessa had been subtly fighting. It had been one year since Esme had sent her home and this was what she saw. Being the eldest, at time Kaina felt to hit them, but then she realised where she stood. She was here just to heal. As soon as her mother saw her fit, Kaina would leave the tribe. Perhaps the neutral lands would not be so bad after all.

Vessa gritted her teeth. “Why not Zarola? She is next Zayin. Should she not be there?”

Zayin Deanna gave her youngest daughter a pointed look. “Who is the Zayin here?”

Vessa lowered her eyes. “You are, mother.”

“Has my judgement ever gone wrong?”

“No, mother,” Vessa said. And Kaina could hear the strain in her voice.

Zarola nodded. “I shall have it ready.”

Mother must have said something to her via the mindlink. Half a century ago, Kaina would have minded being left from a conversation. But now, she hardly cared.

Giving her sister a nod, Kaina left, with Darren following her. Behind them, mother and Vessa came. From the clenched jaws of Deanna and hard look in Vessa’s eyes, the mother-daughter duo was having a fight.

Kaina sighed. She used to fight with her daughter too. But it was never like the one behind her.

The aura she picked was strong. Too strong. Not to mention the scent that clouded her senses. Even Roland’s scent did not have such an effect on her.

The scent of earth and lemon. So refreshing.

She saw the back of a girl who was facing three others.

“Reish Kaina,” she said, out of curiosity. From the aura of the girl, Kaina could tell she was an Alpha. Her mother should be the one who spoke. Not her. “Of the Northern Tribe.”

The Alpha turned and the other she-wolf show was sitting, stood up as if she wanted to protect the Alpha. The girl was in the young Alpha’s pack.

“Since I introduced myself,” Reish Kaina said when no one said anything. In order, to locate the scent that was playing with her, she took a step forward. “I expect you to do the same, Alpha.”

“I-I am Alpha Lyra Throne,” she said. “I just want to pass.”

Alpha Lyra’s voice trembled. Was it her first time speaking like an Alpha? When her mind recognised her name, Kaina was tempted to take a step back and allow her mother to take over.

Continue, Kaina, her mother said to her via the mindlink. I want to know Lyra’s story. Alpha Verir told us and a few things don’t add up. I want to know.

Yes, Zayin, Kaina replied.

“Alpha?” Vessa snickered. “You have a small pack. If I did not look carefully, I would have passed you for a Gamma. And Alpha? What a joke!”

Kaina resisted the urge to facepalm. Sometimes Vessa was hard.

Vessa! Deanna reprimanded. I would love if you are quiet.

Tzade Vessa straightened her back and nodded slightly.

“Tzade Vessa,” Kaina said, turning her head slightly. “It would be nice if you could keep your opinions to yourself. I am investigating, aren’t I?”

Mother already said, dear sister, Vessa spat. Why remind me?

She could hear the mockery in her voice. Despite being the eldest, Kaina allowed it to slide.

She is gaining the young Alpha’s trust, their mother said. Learn from her, Vessa.

The blonde witch snorted. “Investigating, my ass. You are going to throw them in the dungeon anyway, sister. This is the Lyra, Alpha Ethan informed us off.”

Kaina sighed mentally. Sometimes, her sister was so impatient. As much as Vessa was loved by her friends, she really did not know how to make new ones.

“I would like to hear her story too,” Kaina said, smiling at the intruders. “After all, a story is not complete when only the one side of it is known.”

Somewhere in their mindlink, Kaina feft Zarola smirk. Then you say, you are not fit to be the Zayin. Just one word, sister. I will give this right away.

“Tell us the truth child,” mother said in a soft voice. “Tell us and we might consider.”

“Consider not to give us up?” The she-wolf asked sharply. Her voice was like honeyed poison.

“No need to get tensed, Beta,” Kaina said, detecting her aura. “Zayin Deanna here.” She gestured at the witch who shared her eyes. “Is quite considerate.”

Her mother’s eyes had a glint the young Alpha nor the Beta noticed. Perhaps, only she did. After all, Kaina knew her mother well enough.

“Zayin.” The Beta bowed a little before straightening herself. “As my Alpha said, we just wish to pass.”

The Beta had manners. Kaina would her give that.

Kaina rose an eyebrow. “But your former Alpha said otherwise,” she said, recalling the phone her mother received. “Alpha Verir said that you broke out of the Dungeon built by the Moon and you are to be sent back.”

Then the female behind the pack members steppes front. Seeing her onyx eyes, Kaina felt a tremor run up her spine. What was this female?

When she flicked her wrist, the scent Kaina craved multiplied. Sadly, each of the four had the scent. It was like their scents were intermixed. Yet, the scent soothed the ache in her soul.

“We did not break out,” the female said with a degree of coldness that even had the Zayin of Northern Tribe motionless. “The dungeon let us out.”

“Who are you?” Vessa breathed behind her.

“A star,” Zayin Deanna said. “A warrior star.”

Are they real? Kaina asked.

Even I thought they were a myth when my grandmother uses to tell their stories. Seems like they are true, her mother said. But it an honour we got to meet her.

The star smirked. “Indeed, a warrior star I am. I am here to aid my friend, Lyra who was thrown in the dungeon by the new female Alpha Harper because Lyra is the true mate of Alpha Ethan. Ethan rejected her and marked a female, dishonouring the Moon and Luna! We need to pass.”

Kaina blinked and licked her lips. She knew what Lyra felt. What Lyra was going through. After all, did she not go through the same?

“Rejected? And Alpha’s mate? How is she alive?” Kaina forced herself to ask.

“An Omicron gave Lyra her life essence to survive,” the male said. “Anymore, doll?”

As much as Kaina did not like the way the male replied, she could not help but look at him with awe. He was the first shifter she was seeing. All she had heard was tales and now seeing a shifter and a star brought out the little girl in her.

Hope you are well, a cool voice resonated in Kaina’s mind.

Kaina froze and immediately stretched her mind to see who spoke to her, but to her surprise she found none.

I am in front of you, the voice laughed.

Then her body relaxed. Was it the star? It had to be.

I have a name, the star said. And that is Alioth.

Kaina kept the shock out of her face with great difficulty. To hear that ancient voice who might have seen the life taking its first breath on earth was a blessing enough. This female before her was someone who made time her friend and space her home. She was born in the cosmos, Kaina could only dream of seeing. She was talking to a witch like her. A witch who was thrown away by her Chandra given mate.

It is that warlock’s stupidity to leave you, Alioth said. Don’t put it on yourself.

But, Kaina said after a second. I let him go with her. I did not fight him. I could not fight for us.

You did the right thing, the star said in a voice that might have mimicked the white hole. You let him go because you were strong. Only the strong could let go. You let him go because he was being a poison to you. You chose yourself. That is important.

Bu-

The Moon’s daughter knows the importance of self-respect and dignity. Most importantly, love yourself. You choose yourself over what was destroying you. What is wrong in that?

Zayin Deanna sighed and nodded, pulling Kaina from her conversation. “We will allow you to pass, but only once. Come another time, we have to report you.”

She did not know what game her mother was playing. But for now, she would let the young Alpha go.

With that, the Zayin and the Tzade of the Tribe left. Darren stayed silently behind Kaina.

Why aren’t you going? She asked the warlock behind her.

Vessa wanted me to stay behind, Darren said.

Kaina gritted her teeth.

“Why?” The Beta asked in an authoritative tone. “Why let us go?”

Kaina wore a smile. “Zayins, like Alphas and Omicrons can detect lies. She sensed no malice from you. Only truth. And rejection is not a trifle thing. She must have not thought you as a threat to our tribe. And did you not say that you only need to pass?”

It was then she realised the source of the scent. The fragrance of earth after rain and lemon. What an odd combination, yet it enthralled her.

The Alpha nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Realisation, I see, the star smirked.

She tried to tone it down. Bu-but how could it be possible?

Chandra might have given this new bond, Alioth smiled. She is watching, after all. This gives me hope.

Despite the early realisation, Kaina could not control the primal need to mark. “Then leave. Don’t step in our lands again without an invite. We are risking the treaty we have with the West pack. Leave before any patrol witch or warlock sees you.”

Sending away? Alioth asked.

For the Alpha’s safety.

The invite?

Kaina almost bit her tongue. You know.

With that, she turned to leave.

Kaina, her mother said through the mindlink. That Alpha is a shifter. The one who might break the curse.

Kaina took a deep breath and left the arena, fearing she might do something she should not do. Darren followed her, but she could feel the questions he wanted to ask.

Zarola was snarling at their mother when she reached their home. “You let her go? The Zayin of Spring Tribe wanted her!”

Deanna ignored her second daughter. “What is it, Kaina?”

Still stupefied, she muttered. “Those eyes. Beautiful.”

As if knowing something, her mother smiled. “Why don’t you follow that Alpha and see what they are up to?”

“Mother?” Kaina asked, snapping from her revive.

“Go,” the Zayin smiled, ignoring Zarola and Vessa’s protests, as though she had a secret to protect.