Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate
Chapter 190: Letting Go Of Her Grief

Chapter 190: Letting Go Of Her Grief

Siroos and Razial returned after gathering all the information they could from Tamkil. Although he didn’t know about the tree they were looking for, they acquired quite a bit of information from Tamkil.

Aiko and Faris had arrived at the rendezvous point to pick them up. Faris had accompanied his mate, not wishing for her to go alone.

"I am glad you came along," Aiko said, while settling on a large log inside the snowy forest. Her black coat was snuggly wrapped around her.

"Couldn’t let a lady wait here alone." Faris matter of factly answered, kicking a pine cone and letting a spray of snow fly in the air.

Aiko giggled and opened one portal in front of Faris and another behind him.

The cone flew through the front portal and came out from the one behind him, hitting his back.

"Ouch!" He swiftly turned rubbing his back and found the cone lying behind him.

Aiko’s giggles grew louder as she placed her hand on her belly and cackled, doubling over.

Her laughter was a sweet melody for his ear and he loved the fact that there was someone mischievous like him.

And she was his mate.

He turned to watch her dark hair curtaining her perfectly oval face with cheeks tinted pink of the morning horizon.

"Very smooth but don’t forget, I will take revenge when you least expect it." He playfully teased and she leaned back on the log with her hands on both her sides, giving her support.

"I wouldn’t expect anything less," she challenged and Faris accepted with a smirk of his own.

***

Meanwhile, Cassandra with Lotus’s help tried to create orchards with fruit trees that bore fruits in the winter and spring season.

Cassandra now remembered how lush these lands used to be when she first visited them before they were cursed and turned into deserts.

She wished to transform them into the same glorious lands.

"I want a lot of strawberry plants," Cassandra swooned, making Lotus warmly smile at her sister.

She closed her eyes and let her nature affinity blossom. Both her hands glowed as magic swirled out like gold specs and whorled over the soil. Changing its texture, making it feasible and fertile enough for the growth of strawberry perennials.

Soon the new plants began sprouting as Cassandra stood by her amazing sister and watched in awe, letting her brew her magic.

"Lotus, you are brilliant." Cassandra leaned in and kissed her sister’s cheek.

"I know," Lotus stylishly said, flicking her hair back. "Plants will grow but the fruit will be ready by March. I like the slow process of fruit ripening."

Lotus could grow plants but fruits on them came naturally.

"Can’t wait to have fresh strawberries on my lands." Cassandra hugged her sister in excitement, pressing her cheek with hers.

"I guess I could get used to living here. Don’t think I will ever return to that forsaken place," Lotus answered with a shake of her head.

"Father must be furious that both of you disappeared," Cassandra said, taking her sister’s hand in hers.

"Let him be. The only daughter he needs is Stephanie," Lotus fumed but inside she was disappointed.

Seeing her sister’s mood had soured, she decided to cheer her up.

"Come, I will show you something." Cassandra led Lotus towards the Blood Moon Plant.

Mesmerised Lotus’s eyes sparkled and she fell to her knees seeing the enchanting plant. There was something mystical about it.

"What plant is this, Cassandra? I don’t think I have ever seen something like that." Extending her hand, Lotus touched its smooth leaves.

Cassandra sighed heavily and kneeled beside her sister.

The most painful memories surfaced again making her heart squirm.

"That plant was born when Siroos, as my first lover, was burnt alive right before my eyes. A punishment that he dared fall in love with me. I cried and tears fell to the earthly realm and gave birth to this plant. I remember now."

The girl with violet eyes ironically smiled and confided in her sister, remembering how she tried to connect with him over the centuries, how her tears gave birth to the flower every time he was reborn, carrying her essence in order to feel close to him.

The hope that they will one day find their way to each other.

For a few moments Lotus was speechless hearing of such a horrendous act but as her older sister she had to stay calm.

"Oh! Cass, I am so sorry that fate has been so brutal with you. But our destiny is in our hands now and your mate is right by your side. I have a good feeling about this now." Lotus slowly smiled, giving her sister hope.

"Yes! About to teach all those who wronged me, a very valuable lesson. They messed with the wrong goddess."

Cassandra touched the plant’s petals, and it responded to her and began to grow. Its branches began to extend and writhe like snakes, lengthening as they rose towards the sky.

The stem began to thicken, the leaves began to broaden.

Stunned, both women got up and stepped back, giving the plant space to turn into a tree which would bring forth a fruit when a child would be born into these lands. Every fruit would be unique in taste.

"Your touch transformed it," Lotus astoundedly whispered, seeing the fully grown tree in front of her with circular foliage.

"It had been stunted because of my grief. Remained the same size and only gave one flower representing my mate. But I am past that now. This will no longer be a sign of my miseries, instead a symbol of good news for the pack," Cassandra proudly declared.

Lotus placed an arm around her sister and both of them watched the tree flourish and bring about the number of fruits, each indicating the number of females who had been blessed with a child recently.

The swirling sound of the portal opening diverted their attention as Aiko and Faris stepped out, followed by Siroos and Razial on their horses.

Cassandra rushed to be at her mate’s side. He jumped down the steed and smiled seeing her approach and extended his arms sideways.

But then his eyes wavered behind her as he observed how vast the vegetation around the oasis had become. It had exponentially spread with many new plants and trees.

"You are back." She went into his open arms and drew in a deep breath, her nostrils were bathed in his scent.

Razial, Lotus, Faris and Aiko hurried inside giving them their privacy.

"Yes! Seems like you have been busy." Siroos pointed with the tilt of his head towards the newly grown vegetation.

"Yeah! I had to get rid of my grief and past. That plant you showed me was birthed by my tears, the very reason it never grew but now it will feed on the essence of our pack’s merriness," she confided in her mate as she guided him towards their dwelling.

"You never fail to mesmerise me, Malakti." Placing a kiss on her head, the one carrying his eternal love they continued inside.

"How was your trip? Did you learn something?" Cassandra asked.

"A bit yes, mostly just how dangerous the place is. He hadn’t seen the tree on his visit but had observed those phoenixes," Siroos revealed.

"That’s where we need to go, Siro. I can feel myself being pulled into that direction. Once we set out we will find our way."

He nodded his agreement.

They had arrived in Siroos’s chamber. He took off the heavy coat he had been donning for the journey.

Cassandra quietly proceeded to the wash area, the bathtub had been filled with fresh water but it had gotten cold. She kneeled before the bathtub and plunged her hand inside. Her fiery power simmered underneath her palm and the water began to warm up, enough for a comfortable bath.

Picking up the glass bottle of Siroos’s favourite bath oil, she removed the lid and took a small whiff. A combination of sage and earthly scents invaded and invigorated her senses. She poured a few drops into the heated water and mixed it with her right hand. The water swirled, soaking the fragrances.

His silent steps didn’t hide his presence from her. She could feel him in her nerves, slowly cascading like a smooth waterfall, filling her with a steady harmony.

Siroos’s strong hands rested around her shoulders as he leaned down and whispered.

"Join me."

Cassandra observed he had been too gentle with her from the moment she returned. Although all her injuries had healed, he still carried this fear that she would get hurt.

"I will bathe you first come sit here." Cassandra held his hand and guided him forward. His hand was so large that hers was easily lost in it.

Siroos quietly obeyed and perched himself on the edge of the bathtub with his legs spread and Cassandra lifted her eyes to observe the fine specimen that was her mate.