As the flap dropped, the place appeared like the inside of a huge pyramid. The lantern Faris had brought illuminated the place, outlining the sleeping dragon’s scales in golden streaks.
Cassandra picked up the healing balm Fownso had left. He had stitched up the wound but instructed that the balm be applied to speed up the healing process.
Removing the wooden lid, Cassandra gathered some of the mossy green material on her pointer and middle fingers before gently smearing it on his wound. It was a deep gash and he could no longer instantly heal with his healing powers suppressed. Her other hand rested on his belly which slowly rose and fell as he exhaled and inhaled.
After the balm was applied, Cassandra tightened the lid back on the container; putting it away, she rose and made her way to where his head rested on a pillow. With difficulty, she lifted his huge claw and placed it in her lap. The edges of his four-fingered claws were sharper than any sword. She was careful not to cut herself. Now that he was unconscious, he wouldn’t be able to handle her with care.
Taking off the pendant Lotus had given her, Cassandra bound it around his claw giving her protection charm to him.
He had been her protector on so many occasions, even when his Elders stood against him, the odds stood against him, the gods stood against him, even fate stood against him, he tried. Now she wanted to return the favour when he was this vulnerable and couldn’t even protect himself.
"Here, this is yours now," she whispered; using all her might, she slipped under his claw and hugged him. He was cold, and the winds howled outside, beating against the flap. They had entered December and nights had gotten colder in this desert area. Placing her lips right under where his throat was, Cassandra lightly peppered kisses there.
"Return to me, will you? If you can hear me, then I am sorry. And I want you back in my life, it has been so rough staying away from you." Moulding her soft body with his, Cassandra drifted to sleep, hoping her closeness would bring him out of this unconscious state.
During the night, the Dragon stirred lightly but couldn’t wake up. The heaviness surrounded him, the burdens he had been carrying alone had made him succumb to the pressure. His body had taken a toll and now it had gone into a hibernating state to recuperate.
But his wolf had begun to heal, now that his mate was back in his arms.
***
"I hope he wakes up soon, man. I just can’t without him." Faris leaned against the shed in the Saffron fields with Ranon and gulped down the ale he had brought.
"He will pull through, we know how strong he is."
"Yahh! Her distancing herself from him took a toll," Faris remarked, spreading his legs and staring up at the heavens with his wineskin attached to his fuller lips.
"I hope this is the last hurdle they need to cross, still can’t believe he has been reborn six times before and died without finding his mate. He pissed off the gods in the worst possible way, but he found our Luna this lifetime; maybe it will be different," Ranon sighed.
"Same, my man, same. I just want them to be happy."
Faris had sent out word to all the Alphas of the South about the Sikalas, warning them that there could be more. He used that as an excuse to delay the Luna Trials, there was no way they were going to let anyone find out that Siroos was in an unconscious state. Their enemies would be quick to take advantage of this situation.
"Faris, Ranon, may I join you?" It was Pallia, the new head of the Elders. He was a middle-aged man, wise and mature. Different from the previous Elders. He had the same spirit animal Faris had so Faris liked him.
"Elder Pallia, please." Ranon offered him the cleaned space and he sat beside them. Ranon handed over his wineskin and he graciously accepted.
"How is Alpha doing? Any changes?" He asked, taking a swig.
"No, but Luna is with him. Her proximity will strengthen their bond once again, hopefully, he will wake up soon," Faris answered.
"Yes, we have offered a prayer and have complete faith in him. He has been through hell lately, let this be the last trial they have to go through."
"Let’s drink to that and also to having someone sensible in this position." Faris raised his wineskin and Pallia clanked his with Faris’s.
***
Next two days, Cassandra stayed with Siroos. He didn’t gain consciousness but stirred occasionally which kept them hopeful. Pack members brought her food and all other necessities. Wila and his mother visited as well. As usual, he brought her flowers while his mother had baked her an almond pie.
"I can’t thank you enough, Luna, for saving his life." She held Cassandra’s hands and graciously thanked her. Tears of gratitude shimmered in her eyes.
"It was my duty," Cassandra answered with a smile and placed a kiss on Wila’s cheek. He blushed and shyly smiled.
"We are praying for our Alpha," she said in hope.
"I appreciate it," Cassandra answered in gratitude.
Wila left with his mom after.
Ara and Faris joined Cassandra and three of them sat just outside the tent where Sirros was resting.
"I would have been doing Luna Trials at this moment if Siroos hadn’t lost consciousness," Cassandra reflected as Faris took a small spoonful of the pie.
"Life is very unpredictable Luna," Ara answered.
Suddenly the spoon from Faris’s hand dropped on the ground.
~Thunk~
He raised his head and took a deep whiff, of the most delectable scent he had ever encountered. The scent of wild berries and rosemary was the scent of his:
~Mate~
Every nerve in his body became hypercharged as his wolf surfaced and let out a deep howl. His head frantically swerved and then he spotted her in the distance, a black fox with dark blue lines running diagonally on her smooth fur. Her icy blue eyes found his orangish red ones which were flowing like molten lava in that instant.
He seemed to have been tumbled into her palest shade of blue ones and frozen over.
The mate bond frantically pulled and settled in their chests.
But she bolted, trying to put distance between them.
Ara and Cassandra watched in surprise with their mouths ajar at what was unfolding. Ara’s heart sank at the word, ’mate.’
"Hey!" Faris nervously called and, without thinking, he jumped and midair shifted into an reddish-orange fox, the size of a large deer and bolted after her.
Ara and Cassandra observed the turn of events when the mist came, bone-chilling freezing wisps of the mist which almost paralysed them in fear.
And then a portal opened right in front of their eyes and someone stepped out.