You haven't won yet

Zephyr's viewpoint

I tossed impatiently on my bed. I had been up awaiting the victorious howl of the king. He had to capture Xyra or I would never meet my own mate. I couldn't leave her, not because she was my best friend and sister, not because she was my alpha, but because I just couldn't. My loyalty to her was beyond friendship or any other bond; it was just there.

I wasn't the only one, Moira was also as incredibly loyal to her as I was. It was like she was our supreme commander. April's wasn't that strong, especially after she mated Lexington. So it wasn't like I didn't want to leave and go to him, I just couldn't.

I knew Xyra was a difficult challenge, a real one the king would wish he never faced, but I still had hope he would win. Xyra had great chances of winning with Majesty and her powers, but so does he. It was a chase which the winner wasn't certain. To others who didn't know the extent of her powers, they would think he would win for sure. But I knew better. And to prove my point, it had been hours since the chase started and yet no howl.

They were probably halfway across the damn planet!

I sat up and pulled my hair with frustration. I shouldn't have left… Okay, I should have because he had no right to take away my choice. But again, he didn't come looking for me and it hurt. Maybe his loyalty was to his king as mine was to my childhood best friend. Or maybe my shift affected him more than I thought it…

I jumped out of the bed when I heard a howl, a loud victorious howl that sounded like an explosion of cosmic sounds.

He won! He freaking won!

Moira immediately pushed into my consciousness. I accepted her link with a happy and gleeful laugh. Moira was laughing too. Tears rolled down my cheeks, tears of joy I didn't bother to wipe off.

‘He got her,’ April chuckled. ‘I will not let this opportunity to tease her go.’

‘Hell yes!’ Moira shrieked. ‘Fuck! Ima gonna make her cry by the time I'm done with her!’

‘But, does this mean I have to leave Lex?’ April asked with slight fear. ‘I can't—’

‘You don't have to,’ I cut her off. ‘I'm going with her, and Moira too, right?’

‘You better believe that, bitch! There is no way in hell I'm letting you two have all the fun without me. Who's going to boost your fabulousness if I don't follow to guide you two to supreme gorgeousity?!’

I snorted while April laughed. It would be boring without her, but it would still be fun.

‘And school? What about school?’ She asked.

‘Fuck homework. It's not like I ever read or anything,’ I said with a dismissive tone. ‘And besides, I'm sure my rich boyfriend can figure something out for me. You hear that, girls? My boyfriend is rich!’

‘Showoff,’ April said with a playful scoff while Moira laughed.

‘Yeah, the first guy she will actually be with that has change in his pocket. Remember that other bulb head she dated last summer? The first one?’ She said while laughing. I frowned as April joined in mocking my taste in men. I was about to reply them when Xyra pushed into our conversation with an angry voice.

‘Can someone come over and give me something to wear?! There is no way I'm shifting back and letting this fool see the skeleton I call body!’

‘Maybe you should let him, so he'll feel guilty.’ I suggested with a chuckle. Xyra gasped loudly.

‘Yes! Of course! Show him my dry boobs because I want him to see my skeleton. Oh, what a wonderful idea, Zeph.’ She said with mock excitement.

‘I'm on my way.’ Moira laughed.

I cut off the communication, rushed to my bathroom and washed my face. I had makeup on all evening. It was a way I deal with anxiety. I wear makeup for no reason and it helps me calm down. Either that, or I cry. Okay, the cry was the first time. Having a mate is serious emotional trauma, ladies, note that.

By the time I was done washing my face, brushing my hair and changing into a less revealing nightdress, the whole house was awake and spying from the living room windows while dad just angrily murmured to himself. It would take him a while to forgive the king for what he did.

"I said put me down! This isn't dignified!" Xyra's scream startled us. I quickly ran to the window to spy too. The king who was wearing what resembled dad's sweatpants, had Xyra thrown over his shoulder as she screamed and slammed her fists on his back. Moira trailed behind them, making faces at her to mock her as she laughed silently.

"You won, I agree, but what is this for?!" Instead of replying, he smacked her ass. Xyra gasped loudly. "Did you just smack me?! That is a whole new level of personal space violation! Do you know it's a crime? Absolute treason! You cannot touch a woman when she does not permit you! Now I command you to put me down!" He smacked her ass again. "Daddy!" She screeched.

We all giggled. Majesty must have redrew her strength from her and sealed their powers, so Xyra was partially weak. Dad stood up and walked to the door with heavy steps. We all scattered round to pretend as if we had been patiently sitting down and waiting for them. He opened the door, didn't bother offering any greeting to show respect, and went back to his chair.

"Don't just stand there, Moira, do something!"

"I am doing something, see?" She stuck her tongue out mockingly, causing Xyra to scoff and we to giggle.

"I knew you would betray me from that moment at the ball. How could you…" The king threw her on the floor midway through her sentence. "Oomph! Hey! That was rude!"

"Xyra, stop screeching before you blow up our eardrums," mum ordered. She obediently kept her mouth shut. King guy raised his amused eyes from her and looked straight to me. I immediately felt like I was shrinking into the cushion from fear. His gaze was intense and held unquestionable power. His intense stare would have crippled me if Xyra didn't stand up and kick his shin.

"Stop scaring my friend," she snapped.

"You changed your looks so he wouldn't recognise you?" He asked instead, completely ignoring Xyra. She didn't like it as her frown deepened.

"I shift body and power to remove his mark," I was surprise I didn't stutter, even though I said it out in a panic rush. An angry growl left his mouth, making me yelp and flinch from fright, almost jumping on mom.

"You sent my friend into a two weeks coma! How dare you!"

Two weeks what!

I knew it would affect him, but I didn't think it would be that bad. But to be honest, I was just convincing myself that it wouldn't be bad, so I could do it. I shifted body and defiled the laws of magic. I tore his mark off me like I went back in time and stopped it from ever happening. Of course it was bound to affect him more than I convinced myself that it would.

"And how dare you turn me into a skeleton," Xyra countered, blocking his view from me, or at least tried to block it. You can't really block a person taller than you. "Have you seen what you did to me? Just look," she pulled up the big shirt she was wearing. Moira got her a sport bra so she boldly lifted it up. "Look at me! I had flesh when I met you, but now I am nothing but bones!"

A small whimper left his mouth as he observed the thin girl in front of him. Indeed, Xyra really lost a lot of weight. She was so thin her skin was sticking to her bones. There was barely any flesh in her. She dropped her shirt and showed him her hands by rolling up her sleeves. And then turned her neck so he'd see.

"There, you succeeded in almost killing me, you happy? Compare the me you met and the me you are seeing now," she hissed as she poked his bare chest, "I have never reduced this much before, but I did because my wolf was in pain so I was in pain. I did not eat, I did not sleep, and I made people kill themselves because I was depress and wished you death. So don't fucking try to act like a saint by trying to scare my best friend. Your friend had it coming when he marked her without her permission!"

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "it wasn't easy on me too,"

"Obviously," she snorted, "where are all the thick muscles I fell in… Er… Saw the other day? Sure, there are still here but reduced before you grew thin too. You haven't slept a wink or even eaten anything since I left, have you?" He shook his head sadly. I felt like we were invading a private moment for them. I looked around and I wasn't the only one feeling that way… Okay, except Lula who was impatiently waiting for them to finish so she could talk and Isla who was bouncing from excitement. She had her iPad in her hands, to ask him questions for her blog. Zira had her camera ready to take pictures to show her friends that the king was in her house.

Okay, the adults were the only ones who felt it.

"Men, why are they so stubborn?" Xyra said with a pitiful shake of her head.

"Tell me about it," mum said as she rolled her eyes, "they want something and won't just get it because of their ridiculous pride,"

"Hey, why is this topic turning towards me? I already apologised, didn't I?" Dad said with alarm, hands raised as he protested. Mum scoffed and folded her arms.

"Apology not accepted,"

"That is your problem, not mine,"

"Awwn, you love sleeping on the floor," mum cooed with a sick sweetness in her tone, one that made dad gulp. She rolled her eyes back to Xyra who was bending as she stared at her mate's body to look for any uncomfortable sign. "Xyra honey, you were both affected by the separation, even if you emaciated more. Why don't you both get some sleep? Then you can stay here for a couple of days so I can fatten you up…"

"I have to return to my throne,"

"Then you can stay here for a couple of days, so I can fatten you up," mum repeated with a sweet smile. He kept his mouth shut. Lula immediately jumped towards them and pulled at the waistband on his pants.

"Can you sleep in my room, please?" She pleaded cutely. He looked down at her and back to Xyra, begging her for help.

She shrugged. "Oh, you think because you caught me means I've forgiven you and would let you come anywhere close to my room? Hell no, better accept any offer you see. I'm tired, goodnight, family." She waved as she walked out of the living room. He looked down at Lula and nodded.

"Yes!!!"

New home, here I come!