Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate-Chapter 19: Spiceless Meat

The carriage finally stopped and Cassandra peeked out. She had been feeling stuffy and hot, the change in the atmosphere wasn’t very subtle.

The door knocked from the outside and someone called out and asked.

"Lady Cassandra, would you like to step out?" Cassandra glanced around and picked up the small shawl which had been placed neatly near her pillow.

Draping it around her shoulders she went to open the door and curiously but nervously stared out.

The young man whom she had earlier thought to be the Alpha of Dusartine stood there with a cheeky smile.

His hair was sandy-shaded as if the essence of the desert had been captured by them. The eyes were a lighter shade of gold, almost yellowish with hints of orange but held a twinkle of mischief which lacked in Siroos’s orbs.

Similar to his brother, he wore nothing on his torso, just a fine garment which was elegantly wrapped around his waist and fell to his knees.

He was a few inches shorter than his older brother and his body leaner in build. There was this boyish charm about him that spoke of his personality.

"My lady," he respectfully stated, offering her his hand. Cassandra reluctantly accepted it and he helped her step down from the carriage.

The evening was melding into the night, the shades of blue and red merged into black. A slight whirl of hot air welcomed her as she glanced around to see the barren rocky terrain that lay all around. A single rough road had been carved between for the travellers. A few trees and shrubs could be seen strewn all over, but mostly, the landscape lacked vegetation.

Cassandra wrapped her free arm around herself and glanced around wearily.

"Relax. I am Faris Dusartine. Your mate’s younger brother," he chuckled to lower her anxiety.

Cassandra cast him a curious glance and found he did resemble his brother in many ways and yet he was different. She only nodded and extracted her hand.

He guided her forward towards a few rocks.

A bonfire had been lit between them and the delicious smell of burning meat wafted from the sticks with skewered fox and rabbit on them.

The men who had come to fetch their alpha were sitting all around the crackling fire and enjoying the charred meat. One of them was feeding the three strong horses while Siroos was missing.

Cassandra wondered why there were only two horses when there were more men.

"Here!" Faris offered the cleanest of the stones to Cassandra while laying a piece of cloth on it so her dress wouldn’t be ruined.

Cassandra quietly settled on it as Ranon offered her a stick with a whole cooked rabbit on it.

"Sorry, we don’t have any utensils or cutlery. Can you make do?" He asked in an apologetic tone.

"You have nothing to worry about. I will manage." Cassandra accepted the stick with a small smile but had no clue how to eat the meat. She tried to poke it with her finger and found the meat to be burning hot. Quickly withdrawing it she waited for it to cool a bit.

The men got busy tearing apart the charred meat with their hands and teeth and cracking jokes.

They were loud and merry without a care in the world, drinking ale from goatskin and tankards. So vastly different from the mages she had grown up with, who were mostly broody and preferred keeping to themselves. Their egos touched the roof and considered their manners to be too sophisticated from other species.

It was becoming abundantly clear to her that their lifestyle and cultures were thoroughly unalike. Her eyes wandered to see where their brooding alpha was, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.

For a while she stared at the wooden skewer in her hand, her tummy grumbled from hunger. She couldn’t even remember when was the last time she had eaten.

Cassandra tried to break off a small piece, but it was still hot, and she scalded her index finger and thumb. Not trying to act whiney she didn’t cry out and placed them in her mouth to soothe.

Someone came from behind and the wooden stick was plucked from her hand. She instantly turned with her index finger still in her mouth and found Siroos obscuring her vision with his huge frame.

His jaw so tensed that she could sense the tension brewing on his face. With his slender fingers, he began to pluck out the tender pieces of the meat as if they weren’t scalding hot.

He quietly collected them on his palm, letting them cool before offering them to her by extending his large hand. Not saying a word but letting his actions speak.

His right leg rested on the stone on which Cassandra sat and his extended arm was perched on it.

The unfathomable emotions he held on his face were something Cassandra was not ready to decipher at that moment. But she knew he was pissed at her, for he made no effort to speak, his nose twitched as he tried not to be overwhelmed by her scent.

The chatter around them had died down and everyone silently watched. Especially, Faris who was tearing the charred meat apart with a knowing grin.

"Brother is so smitten," he muttered under his breath, amusement dripped from his words and Ranon lowered his head so he wouldn’t laugh out aloud.

Cassandra was still awkwardly staring at him when he finally broke the silence in a mocking tone.

"It’s not poisoned."

Cassandra’s ears scalded, turning crimson, and she quickly picked up a piece and plopped it in her mouth. She didn’t wish for them to think she was some spoiled princess who thought she was above them. She was merely terrified of her future and what it held for her.

"Thank you!" She tried to show her gratitude by engulfing the saltless and spiceless piece of meat.

His gold-infused eyes, which hid emotions still foreign to her in their multitude of folds, continued to observe her reactions. His hand remained in front so she could eat with ease.

It stuck in her throat, the taste was bland and having no salt made it difficult for her to eat.

The hint of amusement was tipping his lips upwards seeing her struggle to keep the chewed meat down.

"Ranon! Water," he ordered his beta and the black-haired man quickly got up and offered a clean water skin to Cassandra. They were designed in a way to keep water cool in this heat.

With a thankful nod accepted it and took a swig. The muscles of her neck swiftly moved as she gulped giving a clear view to Siroos’s hungry eyes. They were latched onto her enticing slope, urging him to run a finger.

Nipping the urge down he spoke in an amused voice.

"Our beasts are used to eating raw, we don’t mind the spiceless food. Our females make better food than us men. Bear with us until we get there."

Cassandra let out a sighed relief and also understood why men were happily devouring such meat.

A few more days and she would be able to get a proper meal.

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