Siroos was aware that Cassandra couldn’t shift, so to equal the playing ground, he decided to ask the Elder to skip that part from this year’s trials.
"Smart! I like the idea." Argant answered while enjoying his wine.
Siroos knew he had to start training Cassandra soon. She was a quick learner, but trials were always harsh, and with Elders in charge of them, it wasn’t going to be an easy feat.
"These would be very interesting trials. Luna Cassandra, I will give you some pointers. There are few challenges in the trials which are always there." Simala winked at Cassandra as Argant butted in with pride.
"My mate is the champion from six years back. You should definitely heed her advice."
Simala took a small bow while Cassandra said.
"You must have been so amazing. Can’t wait to see what comes my way."
"Don’t worry, you will outclass everyone. I know." Siroos caught his mate’s eyes and boosted her confidence. Her heart swelled at his words. That’s what a woman always wanted, for her man to stand by her side and keep her morale high.
Simala and Argant nodded their agreement.
"We would like to invite both of you to visit our pack and be our guest for a few days," Simala asked while picking up a skewer stick and taking a bite of juicy meat.
"After the Luna Trials, we will come to visit," Siroos answered as the tempo of the music increased and Faris called out.
"Come dance!"
Argant and Simala were on their feet in no time as he led his mate forward and they began to sway with the rhythm of the drums.
Siroos didn’t dance and kept sitting as Cassandra threw a curious look his way.
Faris had to personally come and grab his hulking brother up and annoyedly said.
"Dance with your mate."
"I don’t do dancing; I only watch," he grunted out, but Cassandra had already placed her hands on his thick shoulders while instructing him to grab her waist.
"Just sway with me; don’t step on my feet, though." She guided him and he reluctantly followed.
Faris stepped back with a big smile, knowing his sister-in-law got this.
"Killing is easier than dancing," he mumbled as his eyes remained glued to his feet so he wouldn’t step on hers. His movements were far from being elegant; they were awkward and all over the place, one could say.
Cassandra let out a gnarly chuckle at his words.
"You are such a brute, Siro." Her tone wasn’t condescending but light and he loved how she had shortened his name.
Every day, she was opening up more and more with him. A glimmer of trust had begun to build between them.
They quit dancing soon after but she enjoyed being held by him while the spirits inside him cursed him for not learning the mating dance like some of them did for their mates, especially bird spirits.
One could say they were highly disappointed that he didn’t put on a feathery costume and stylishly dance for her.
The night went on in drinking and receiving other guests. Most of them were very excited to meet Cassandra, she was so different from them and yet very amicable and hospitable.
She ensured that guests were properly seated and had warm food and filled goblets of wine.
Warriors performed some tricks with fire and knives, entertaining the guests by blowing out fire from their mouths. They also swirled the knives in the air and caught them.
Women bought jewellery and baskets from the stalls while men were all about wine.
By the middle of the night, everyone was ready to leave.
"We will see you at the Luna Trials. May you win, our support is with you. And keep him tamed; only you have the authority, Luna Cassandra," Alpha Argant teased, and Cassandra softly laughed in approval.
Simala and Argant took their leave but not before Simala had shared some tips with Cassandra.
By the time all the guests had left, Cassandra was exhausted so Siroos decided to relax her.
He whirled around to spot Faris but his brother had disappeared along with the entourage of women who followed him everywhere.
Summoning Ranon, Siroos instructed.
"I am taking your Luna for a ride. Wrap everything up and ensure everyone is safe inside the settlement."
"Don’t worry, you have your moment and I will handle the Elders too," Ranon assured him.
Siroos took Cassandra’s hand and led her towards the training arena. It was a very vast area with a thick boundary all around it to give them privacy.
The night was moonless and they had left the torches and lights behind. It was dark and Cassandra’s heart began to race up while her palms turned sweaty.
Seeing her tense up, Siroos instantly let go of her hand and shifted. Cassandra took a step back and watched in awe as Siroos’s bones twisted, lengthened and shortened while he turned into a giant wolf. Its fur was white like snow except for a black patch on its abdomen. The eyes glowed like two burning rubies as they watched her with adoration.
There was not even a sliver of fear in Cassandra’s heart for the creature Siroos had shifted into. The mate bond existed mainly due to this very creature, its soul was tethered with Siroos most profoundly.
Slowly she walked closer to the creature, her feet buried inside the sand. Extending her hand, she placed it on the wolf’s head, and it let out a slow howl of approval, giving her puppy eyes.
His fur was soft, like the finest cotton.
"Hey! It’s so good to meet you," Cassandra kneeled in front of the creature and cradled its face, his snout nuzzled into Cassandra’s neck. Sniffing her otherworldly scent.
Cassandra heartily laughed when he poked his coarse tongue out and licked her long neck, especially the mark Siroos had placed on her. His mark, the mark of his possession.
"It’s ticklish," she heartily giggled, her heart eased meeting his wolf form.
Wolf nudged her to climb on top of him so he could carry her. Cassandra obeyed, clinging to his long fur, she climbed on its back and held on while the wolf sprinted towards the arena.
The air rushed past them as her gown flapped backwards and her wild hair escaped the many hair accessories. They flew wild with their mate and Cassandra couldn’t have been more delighted. She bent over him, burying her face in its pristine coat and letting her heart be calmed by his scent.
Soon the wolf jumped over the fence and entered the arena. It slowed down its pace to a trot, letting Cassandra familiarise herself with her surroundings.
Reaching the centre of the arena, it halted, and Cassandra unwillingly climbed down from the top of him. The wolf turned towards her and gave her one last long, hard, wistful lick before transforming into Siroos.
"Ah!" Cassandra cried out, seeing the wolf disappear.
"Why do I feel like you are disappointed?" He questioned, stepping closer and placing his thumb on her chin, gently swiping it.
"He was soft; I wished to hug him more," Cassandra truthfully answered while being hyper-aware of the dancing sparks on her chin.
"Is that right? Why don’t you give me a kiss and I will let you meet another one," Siroos asked with a wicked smile jotting down his lips.
"Done!" Cassandra quickly agreed, even surprising herself. There was chaos in Siroos’s head as everyone wished to meet their mate, to hug and touch her, to lick and claim her.
Siroos shut them out for a second; he wished to revel in the taste of her lips as his greedy eyes kept dropping to them.
Cassandra observed that and leaned in. Her hands landed on the sinewy muscles of his naked chest. He was warm and inviting. Her fingers wandered for a few seconds before she lifted her head letting her soft lips claim his.
Siroos’s arms tightly wound around her waist, tugging her to himself as he deepened the kiss while tasting her velvety strawberry-tasting skin.
The sparks that birthed from this union of their sensual lips jolted down to their very cores. Ecstasy and pleasure mingled while slurping sounds filled the night air.
They consumed each other with these ravenous caresses of their tender lips. None of them wished to end it, for their intimacy was precious to them due to forced limitations.
Cassandra only pulled back when she could no longer breathe. Their tongues touched one last time and they separated.
Siroos had this hungered intensity dancing in his eyes where he wished to sprawl her on the ground and rut inside her until all that existed was him and his name.
But that was only a dream and he needed to calm himself down. His erected thick rod was very much visible through his attire, and unconsciously, Cassandra’s eyes dipped to it, and she slightly gasped.
Unbeknownst to them a small beetle was following them since they had exited their dwelling to attend the festivities.
It flew away and disappeared into the dark night.