123. Azura

KIARA

This was not supposed to happen. I held Raven tightly as she trembled, struggling to hold her tears back.

"Damon…" I said softly.

He looked at me. I had never seen him look more torn. Confusion, want and guilt all surrounded him. I knew he wanted to comfort Raven, yet at the same time, he felt guilty towards Liam. I had never seen them ever argue like this. They were like brothers in every way. Seeing Liam this angry towards Damon completely shook me up.

"I don't know what to do…" He whispered.

He moved forward, reaching for Raven.

"Liam…" She whispered, her head buried in my shoulder.

I saw the hurt flash in Damon's eyes as he backed away.

She didn't mean it like that... But before I could even speak, Damon had run off. I closed my eyes, feeling confused.

"Luna Kiara." I turned to see one of Dad's warriors approaching me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Alpha Scarlett is in labour."

My eyes flew open, my heart pounding. I needed to get to Mum instantly! I looked at Raven, who wiped her tears and pulled away.

"You should go…"

"Raven, what about-"

"I'm ok. Do you think I'm going to cry over some men? I just had something in my eye…" She tried lamely to make an excuse.

"I'll come to check on you later… He didn't reject you. Things will be ok." I said firmly.

I believe they would too… Why couldn't they see how lucky they were to have a mate who was by their side? Life is too short to let the moments pass you by.

She nodded, giving me a smile. I turned and ran towards the hospital.

"Careful Luna!" The warrior said.

I didn't reply, in too much of a hurry to get to Mom. We weren't sure how things would go, considering how the baby had been transferred. The pregnancy had also been very draining on Mom despite her quick healing.

-----

Two hours later, Liam and I were both pacing the hall. He had returned, but I could feel his emotions rolling off of him. I had been by Mom's side until my own little one was getting agitated and Dad told me to go take a break. But I was not able to as I paced the otherwise empty halls.

"Liam…"

"Don't Kiara…" He said, his voice strained.

"Liam… Don't hurt her-"

"Look, I've not asked for anything in life… but the one thing I prayed for… I…" He sat down, resting his head in his hands.

"Do you know how lucky you are that your mate is here, alive and able to hold you in her arms?" I whispered.

My heart was aching as I thought of my beloved. We spoke quietly, making sure no one could hear us.

"You don't get it? Tell me, Kia, could you share Alejandro?" He asked, looking me dead in the eyes.

My stomach twisted at the very thought of someone else touching my mate.

"Can you imagine Alejandro loving another woman as much as he loves you?"

The thought tugged at my heart and I realised I was in no position to speak, when I myself couldn't even bear to be in Liam's position.

"Exactly my point…" He whispered.

I sat next to him, placing my head on his shoulder.

I wished I could help him, help Raven, help Damon... But this was something they would have to figure out on their own.

"Just… don't run from it all. The three of you need to figure this out… I know that in the rare cases of being blessed with more than one mate, it is usually brothers who are given two mates... But for Selene to bless you and Damon with the same means that she too sees you both as brothers. I believe you can make this work."

He didn't respond. We simply sat there, side by side, until the sound of a baby crying reached our ears. We both stood up, my heart hammering as we rushed to the door.

"Can we come in?" Liam asked.

"Yeah." Dad replied.

We entered to see Dad wiping Mom's sweaty hair off her face as he kissed her forehead tenderly. The nurse passed Mom the baby, allowing her to slip her under the sheet to rest her against her chest. Before leaving us for a moment.

"It's a girl." Mom said tiredly, but despite that, she was smiling. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears.

I smiled softly, going over to look at her. Her mop of black hair reminded me of Auntie's. I looked down at her, my heart warmed as she looked at me with her large doe eyes and those gorgeous long lashes as she yawned.

"She's absolutely gorgeous." I whispered, stroking her cheek.

"Any names?" Liam asked quietly.

He was hiding his emotions perfectly.

"Azura Rayne." Mom said softly, kissing the baby's head tenderly.

"It's pretty and perfect." I said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

We fell silent as we all remembered Aunty Indigo. After so many years, she had been blessed with a child, but she didn't live long enough to see her… I just hoped that she was looking down at us and was proud of her little angel.

"She's tiny." Liam whispered, taking her tiny hand in his. She curled her fingers around his finger and I smiled.

We would take care of her no matter what.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" I asked as Dad sat next to Mom and wrapped his arms around her.

"Tired but good. It seemed harder this time around." She said, with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, I did not like seeing you like that again…" Dad said, frowning slightly.

"For Indy…" Mom said. "I'm going to treat my little girl like a queen and raise her to be one, just like her elder sister."

I smiled and Dad chuckled.

"I really am surrounded by Alpha females."

"Get used to it." Liam said quietly, with a wry smile.

"So no luck with a mate?" Mom asked, looking at him with a hopeful look.

"No. No luck." Liam said smoothly, making a stab of pain go through me, my heart skipping a beat.

Mom looked disappointed, and I had a feeling she had wanted it to be Raven.

"Well… You're a male, it"s common not to find your mate so soon." She said confidently.

"Oh, and what about Damon and Raven?" Dad asked nonchalantly.

"I don't know, we ended up coming here." Liam said with a shrug.

My heart was thudding as he gave me a look, his blue eyes piercing into mine. Mom looked between us.

"You don't know if either found their mate?" She asked, raising a perfect brow.

I shook my head, feeling guilt twisting inside of me. There was a small knock on the door to my relief, and the nurse that had left re-entered.

"Mind if I do a few checks and then you can feed her, Luna?"

Mom nodded and I stood up.

"We'll head out." I said, placing my hand on Moms and letting my healing flow through her.

I saw her relax and knew that despite her fast healing, this birth had taken a lot out of her.

"Thank you, Kia." She said gently.

"Anytime, Mom." I said, before Liam and I left together.

I looked around the hall and pulled Liam aside.

"Why did you lie?" I asked.

"They don't need to know." He said quietly.

"Liam… What are you planning?"

"I'm not-" He stopped talking, pulling me further back. I was about to speak when I realised why he had paused.

"…Luna. It's still weird…"

"Shush! If you're heard!" Another nurse hissed.

"All I'm saying is, we are going to have a child born of magic in this very pack. A freak-"

Liam stepped out, his eyes flashing as the nurse who was carrying Azura froze. My own anger was rolling off me at her words. The other woman quickly took the baby from her as both lowered their heads.

"Sorry Alpha…"

"If anyone talks about my baby sister like that, I swear you will get punished for it. If you don't spread such words, no one will think much of it." Liam said quietly.

"Y-yes Alpha."

"Take her back to Mom now." He commanded.

The woman hurried away and the one who had spoken looked at him in fear.

"Come to Dad's office in the morning, I'm sure he'll have the perfect punishment for insulting our little princess." He snapped.

"Yes Alpha, I'm sorry." She looked terrified.

Liam didn't reply as he walked off, but not so fast that I couldn't keep up. I was still in my gown but I wanted to go to Raven.

"Liam… what-"

"Please Kia, stop it. I'm just going to pretend none of this happened."

"You can't deny the mate bond. Even Alejandro couldn't." I whispered as we stepped out into the cool night.

"He fell in love with you before the mate bond snapped into place, Kia. On top of that, it was a totally different situation!" He said softly, despite the frustration in his voice. "Look, you"re pregnant, you don't need any more stress in your life."

He caressed my cheek, giving me a small smile.

"So, that's your way of saying mind your own business?" I asked, feeling hurt.

"No. All I'm saying is I'm leaving for my Alpha training soon. Alone."

I froze, Alphas who had found their mates were allowed to take them with them… The dorms they lived in regardless of what city they were in, provided for couples too. I understood that his situation was different, but… he could be gone for almost three years, and something told me he wouldn't even come home for the summer holidays…

"You're running away, Liam."

"Then shall I reject her?" He asked so quietly that I just about heard him.

I felt his pain as my own heart ached at those words.

"No…" I said, feeling torn.

"Liam." Damon said.

Liam sighed deeply,

"Don't want to talk to you right now, Damon."

"Alright, take your time man, just don't shut her out."

"Don't tell me what to do. Besides, I was just mentioning this to Kiara, I'm leaving for my Alpha training soon. I want to ask you one favour." Liam said, looking at Damon.

Both were tall. Liam was taller by two inches and he had a slightly bigger build, but both were muscular.

"What is it?" Damon asked.

"Don't mention anything about me being mated to her, I'd appreciate it. If that stays between the four of us I'd prefer it. As for the rest, do whatever." Liam said.

I could sense his agonising pain, despite how calm he was acting.

Damon looked stunned. He frowned.

"Liam, think it over, calmly-"

"Just do as I said." Liam cut in, turning away.

"Fine…"

"Make sure you tell her that too." He said, not directing that at either of us.

It hurt to know he couldn't even say her name any more. He walked off into the darkness and I looked at Damon. Illuminated by the hospital lights, I could see his conflicted expression.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

Liam's words had disturbed me, I could see the toll this would have on Raven. He sighed.

"Sleep on it. I don't know what to do… Liam is like a brother… I don't think I can just be happy knowing he isn't but then, I can't ignore Raven either. Lately, over the last few months, I've fallen for her." He said quietly.

I smiled gently.

Suddenly, in all of this, I felt that they truly could make it work. Damon was patient, calm and caring. Liam was stubborn, gentle and avoided trouble. Then there was Raven, the spark who would ignite them both. I was positive they would figure this out. No matter how hard it would be to get there.

"So shall I take you home?" Damon asked.

"No, I want to go to Raven." I stated.

"She's at the playground. My Queen." He replied, offering me his arm.

"Oops, I didn't mean to sound so bossy." I apologised sheepishly.

He chuckled lightly.

"Not at all."

I took his arm, letting him lead me in the darkness towards the playground. I smiled sadly. Despite not going to her, he had kept an eye out for her. The playground was somewhere Raven often ran off to after she got in trouble or wanted an escape from home. Growing up, she was a naughty child who was always pranking, and I would be lying if I said she didn't ask for trouble. She was a magnet to mischief and when we were younger, the little demon as most called her, was always in the midst of anything going on, and now it seemed even Selene wanted to give her more trouble.

"Thanks." I said to Damon, hearing the creak of the swing in the darkness ahead.

"No problem." He whispered, letting go of me and retreating. I made my way forward, now using my abilities to light my way.

The swing stopped moving and I saw Raven sitting on one.

"I heard the baby is born, Uncle El announced it. Congrats!" She said smiling.

I looked at her, realising she was always grinning or smiling and it was rare for her to show her true emotions. Deep down, I wondered how often she had pretended to be ok, when she wasn't.

She had always protected me, always taken care of me, and she had always been smiling, just like now.

"Azura Rayne. Stunning name too!" She piped in.

I sat down on the swing next to her. Oh, Goddess, this was so hard! I looked hilarious as I held my belly, my legs parted slightly. I kept my aura around me so I could see her expression.

"It is a beautiful name." I agreed.

"How is he?" She whispered after a moment, her smile faltering.

"Confused." I said, not knowing what else to say and I couldn"t bring myself to lie either.

"And Damon?" She asked. "Even he's avoiding me."

"He isn't, they are best friends. Of course this has thrown them off."

"I get that." She said, looking down as she swung slowly on the swing.

Both of us fell silent, looking up at the moon.

"Did he say anything?" She asked after a moment.

"He said to keep it quiet for now… I mean, they did say ‘mate' at the ball, but I guess everyone was pretty busy in their own business. But yeah, he hasn't told Mom and Dad yet." I replied, hoping she didn't take it the wrong way.

"Mm, that makes sense. Besides Azura's just arrived, I'm sure everyone is going to be going crazy to see our new little Alpha princess."

I reached over, took her hand and let my aura fade away. Giving her the privacy to drop her act if she wanted.

"Things will work out. I know it."

"Thank you." She replied softly as she tangled her fingers with mine.

We sat there silently and it felt like we were kids again for a moment. I hoped one day they would get their happily ever after… and I hoped I got mine too.

I miss you, my love.