Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate-Chapter 52: Her Pain Is His Pain

The smell of burning flesh wafted in the air as Cassandra’s whole body trembled from the excruciating pain that tumbled through her. If Siroos’s strong arms hadn’t been holding her, she would have succumbed to the ground from the effects of the burn that had been etched on her upper arm.

She dug her teeth so forcefully into her lower lip to restrain herself from crying out that they drew blood. She didn’t wish to appear weak in front of them by screaming her anguish.

Siroos kept her steady with his strong arms but his own heart was in shambles. His breath had dislodged in his throat for he didn’t wish to inhale the burning smell of her flesh or even see the ugly red mark that was left there.

Snatching the branding iron, he tossed it so far away it flew through the air and landed on the other side of the oasis.

"It’s alright, I am here," he stiffly whispered, placing his lips on her temple. The sweat broke out there as her body uncontrollably shuddered and trembled.

His savage glare was on Walan, the gold of his eyes was tainted vermilion today. The dragon had surfaced and he was seconds away from shifting and burning Walan to a crisp.

A threatening growl resonated deep in his chest and smoke came out of his nostrils as he lost control. Murmurs went around all the pack members. They hadn’t seen their Alpha so infuriated before.

Faris was quick to interfere and send Walan away; he scurried away like his spirit animal, a weasel and hid in the stone house.

"Take Cassandra inside, she doesn’t have healing powers like us. You can’t mark her when she is in pain. I will send Fownso."

Haylia had stepped up on the platform and placed a hand on Siroos’s shoulders, trying to calm her raging son but the storm they had caused wouldn’t dissipate so easily.

"I am coming back and I would need an explanation. The Elders better have one," Siroos answered his mother through gritted teeth while picking up Cassandra in his arms and plastering her to his chest. Her pained face was making all the spirits inside of him, woundedly cry out.

He quickly jumped down from the platform as Lana and Ranon rushed behind him.

The pack parted to make way with worried looks; some murmured about how weak their Luna was, while others discussed her bravery to go through this knowing she wouldn’t heal.

Fownso tittered behind them carrying his brown satchel while Haylia called a meeting of all the Elders.

Instead of taking Cassandra to her chambers, Siroos took her straight to his. Banging the door open with his foot he entered like a tornado and gently laid her down on his bedding.

His hand reached out and tore off that stupid veil which had been obscuring her beautiful face from him. It was etched in pain, she grimaced and tried to sit up.

"No, stay down." He forcefully kept his hand on her chest so she wouldn’t sit straight and remained in an inclined position.

Lana and Ranon entered followed by Fownso. While Ranon stayed near the door Lana rushed forward to assist Siroos.

Fownso was already extracting the jar of special balm he gave the shifters after they were branded with Pack sigil.

It was a special concoction, composed of aloe vera gel, marigold petals and camomile. It helped reduce the pain and burning sensation.

The iron rod had been coated in silver and a non-healing material, so the scar would be permanent even for shifters. It made it even more painful.

He handed it over to a very agitated Siroos, treading very carefully. He would only step forward if his Alpha would require his assistance.

Lana was worriedly rubbing Cassandra’s hands so she wouldn’t pass out from the pain while Siroos took out a big chunk of the greenish-brown balm. He delicately took hold of her arm and turned it so he could finally inspect the damage they had caused.

It was bright red, and the area around it was all swollen and inflamed. The sigil of his pack seemed to taunt him at that moment. The Chimera wasn’t eating its own tail; it was devouring Siroos’s mental peace.

He hadn’t let any harm come to her in the arena and yet she has been burnt in his pack.

Shoving the rage down he began to carefully spread the balm on the burnt area.

"Ssss!" a low, painful sound escaped Cassandra’s parted lips, and Siroos bristled. But he kept at his task even more gently than before. Her hand unintentionally stretched and grabbed his free arm, seeking solace his nearness always brought her. Her eyes remained shut so no one would see the intensity of pain she was going through.

Ranon fetched water from the table and hurriedly handed it over to Lana so they could give some to their Luna.

Lana snaked her arm below Cassandra’s head and slowly raised her head. She touched the goblet to her parted lips and tipped.

"Please! Drink," she requested and Cassandra took a small sip with her quivering lips.

Ranon and Fownso impatiently watched as Siroos completely covered the burnt mark with the healing ointment.

"Bandages!" He demanded, stealing a glance at Cassandra while extending his hand to Fownso. She had a grimace on her face, but her eyes had opened, and that defiance was still very much present in them.

Fownso quickly handed over cotton airy bandages. They would help keep the wound covered and infection-free. Since her healing would be slow, the bandages were mandatory.

Holding her arm Siroos began to wrap it in the white cloth, taking extra care that he wouldn’t remove the balm he had applied earlier. The scowl on his face seemed to have become permanent, the ridges of his forehead were similar to the dunes caused by an angry sandstorm.

The ceremony was supposed to go smoothly, but a lot had gone wrong, and it was infuriating him. Especially her pain.

"How long before the pain ends?" Siroos barked out at Fownso while keeping his worried globes fixed on Cassandra. She refused to meet his gaze.

"It will lessen in a few minutes," he quickly answered, taking out Gangri roots and handing them over to Lana to give the Luna for pain. He didn’t dare to inform his Alpha that it was just a balm, not magic. It was going to take time.

"Lessen? When will it disappear?" Siroos asked again in agitation while Lana and Ranon exchanged worried glances. They had never seen their Alpha act so frantically.

He was usually calm and composed, to say the least. Never made any irrational decisions.

Fownso shifted from one foot to the other with worries visible on his ashen face.

"I am fine, stop yelling," Cassandra finally spoke in a low strained voice, understanding he was only taking out his frustration on the poor healer, who certainly wasn’t a magic worker.

Siroos understood that he was making her uncomfortable. She needed to rest after the ordeal she had been put through. The pain must be terrifying for her.

"You are not. I know how painful this is," Siroos countered, his arms itching to hold her into them and comfort her.

"I wish to be alone. Can I have some privacy?" Her pained eyes wavered to him and she requested solemnly. The anguish in her tone was like a whetted knife which diced his heart like a vegetable.

"Please!" She added, seeing him frozen and staring stupidly at her. She didn’t want him to be near her, the emotional pain he had caused her was far worse than the physical one. freewёbnoνel-com

"Lana will stay with you. I will be back soon." Siroos tiredly got up and tore his eyes away from her. Cassandra closed her eyes while Siroos addressed Lana.

"Keep your Luna hydrated and tend to her every need. I will send Ames to keep guard."

"I will, Alpha," Lana respectfully bowed and Siroos finally turned away and left with a dampened heart, followed by Fownso.

Ranon lingered and summoned Lana to his side. She quietly got up and approached him. He patted his mate’s shoulder, a silent understanding passing between them.

"We need to protect her; anything happens to our Luna, and our Alpha will lose his mind. Everything affects him ten folds because of that damned curse. Remain vigilant; not everyone has Luna’s best interest at heart," he murmured in her ear, and she nodded.

She already knew that people were against her just because she was not a shifter, and with a curse, they only saw her as a means to an end.

"I know, I will protect her with my life." Both of them held hands and pressed their foreheads together.

"I believe in you, my tigress," he whispered in her ear and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek before leaving.

Lana turned back and gave all her attention to Cassandra. She understood why she was chosen for their alpha.

She was undeterred and brave.

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