After the fertility ritual was complete both of them had to perform one final ritual before they would exchange a few words and offer one another a gift to be cherished their whole lives.
The next ritual was "Binding fate with a plant."
Healer Fownso stepped forward and presented
Alpha Siroos with a sea-green seed, the size of a walnut. This ritual was meant to strengthen their bond and have a shared responsibility of building a life together.
It was the seed of a Sensifa tree. A rare species of plant which was grown by two people together. Mostly mates, newlyweds, husband and wife, lovers.
It grew based on their emotions and love. It thrived in an atmosphere of positive emotions.
Its petals and leaves were highly sensitive, subtly shifting their hues and textures in tune with the emotional ambience around them.
When sensing joy, its flowers would bloom brightly in warm, golden tones, while in the presence of sorrow, they closed abruptly and turned lavender or pale blue. Its leaves would turn downwards. Continued negative emotions would make it wilt or dry up.
The Sensifa was prized for its empathetic qualities, and it could grow in any kind of soil as long as it received love and care from both planters. Some said it could sing cheerful ballads when the wind swept across it and the two souls who had planted it conjoined physically and spiritually.
A hole was dug near the left end of the oasis. Cassandra and Siroos were escorted there. Lana held Cassandra’s dress so it wouldn’t get soiled.
Siroos turned to Cassandra and extended his hand. She was reluctant; her heart was crying, and yet she knew she had nowhere to go. The girl with violet-shaded eyes was stuck and didn’t wish for him to touch her.
Yet, she extended her shaky hand and placed it in his rough one. Even with gloves, she could sense his warmth seeping into her. The bond begged to let it calm her and yet she stubbornly remained rigid.
"Relax!" He quietly whispered, sensing her agitation and, at the same moment, bugged at how she continued to ignore him.
Silence followed.
Siroos shifted to her back and his hand completely covered hers from beneath. His body drew closer to her stiffened one as he quietly placed the seed on her palm.
He observed the rich reddish orange shade of the henna. It sat in such contrast against her pale skin. He wished to kiss her palms.
His wanton lips grazed her ear rim and a shudder went through her like a jolt of electricity. Cassandra hated in that moment how the bond writhed in her chest like a fish on the hook. Struggling to be set free and wholly accept him.
If only he had the same intentions.
But Siroos Dusartine was a liar.
The more he touched her, the more rigid she became, but both of them held their tongues.
"Plant the seed, let it strengthen your union," Walan’s empty words echoed ominously. He was overseeing all these rituals which were supposed to bind them and yet his intentions were not pure.
Siroos tipped her hand downwards so the seed dropped into the hole that had been made. The whole pack went into a jovial mood. They were handed a shovel to cover it with the sandy soil.
Both of them worked together to enshroud it with soil and then levelled the ground. The water from the oasis was sprinkled on the seed together.
Cassandra removed her hand from his as soon as all the tasks related to seed were done and took a step away. He didn’t speak but silently stepped back, giving her space for now, but wistfully watched her with a solemn expression.
"Don’t forget to take care of the sapling and water it regularly. Let’s offer a prayer," Walan instructed and a silent prayer was done.
They moved back to the raised platform and again stood facing each other. The wind howled as the pack stared quietly, holding their breaths for they were about to take their oaths.
"Siroos Dusartine, do you take Cassandra LeBlanc as your fated mate? And will mark her to be this pack’s future Luna?"
Siroos cast a gloomy glance at his mate, who had not spared even a single peek his way. With a troubled heart and a disturbed mind, he answered.
"I do."
Walan nodded, and the crowd cheered.
"Cassandra LeBlanc, do you take Siroos Dusartine as your mate and accept becoming a Luna of this pack? To always be obedient and listen to your Alpha," Walan asked, scrutinising her.
Cassandra hesitated for a few seconds and Siroos held his breath. Every nerve in her body screamed to just refuse and leave this place. But where would she even go?
Siroos agitatedly watched her. What if she was to say no?
The whole pack expectantly observed her, ready to hear her answer.
"Yes!" She finally said in a voice devoid of emotions and still staring at her feet which were clad in golden sandals.
Cheers and claps followed her words as the pack went into a frenzy. People embraced each other and congratulations were passed on. Elders congratulated Haylia while Faris and Ranon hugged.
"Please! Exchange your gifts." Walan announced.
Faris stepped forward and patted his brother’s back with a broad smile.
"Congratulations! Bro, here." He handed over the gift Siroos had crafted for Cassandra.
It was a very delicate gold anklet with tiny saffron flowers shaped from raw cut amethysts embedded in it. The shade very similar to her eyes.
Siroos nodded at him and turned to face his mate.
"Extend your right leg," he softly asked. Lana quickly stepped forward and helped pick up her gown so Cassandra could easily move her leg.
Siroos bent one of his knees and lowered himself in front of his mate. A symbolic gesture that an Alpha made only in front of his Luna.
Picking up her dainty ankle as he had so fervently wished on so many occasions, he placed it on his knee.
Well-proportioned and blessed with the skin so smooth and soft, it had a subtle sheen that caught the dying light. The contours of her ankle were gently rounded, with the slender bone subtly visible beneath the surface, adding to its refined appearance.
His rough fingertips brushed the curve where the ankle met the foot and was gently tapered, showcasing a natural arch that accentuated her femininity.
Her body deliciously shuddered as Siroos observed the tendons and veins faintly visible, adding to the sense of delicacy. Taking the anklet, he gracefully wrapped it around the mesmerising feature, enhancing its beauty even further.
And then he gently grabbed her leg and slowly lifted his head and glanced upwards towards her face. From this angle, she couldn’t hide her eyes from him any longer.
The infuriated violet met with curious gold.
The white part of her eye had been dyed crimson as if blood had created some kind of chaos in there.
A serrated dagger seemed to have been plunged inside his heart and twisted mercilessly seeing her eyes and mood. Now he knew and understood why she had been adamant on hiding her eyes from him.
She had been crying.
But why?