Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate
Chapter 205: Trust Worthy Or Not?

Chapter 205: Trust Worthy Or Not?

Siroos’s shield shot out and covered all of his companions as he readied himself for any danger that might follow that woman. He couldn’t detect anyone hiding or maybe they were masking their scents and had lowered their heart rates to avoid getting detected.

"Faris! It can be a trap so stay alert," Siroos called to his brother as a woman in her early thirties came into view.

Eyes wide and hair blown, she donned a patched-up coat made from the different skins of animals.

She rushed forward spotting the child in Cassandra’s arms. He had quieted down from the moment Cassandra had picked him up.

"Luca!" She frenziedly called out again but couldn’t step closer because of Siroos’s shield.

"Mama!" The little boy happily cheered, seeing his mother, and extended his arms towards the slightly startled woman.

Her eyes now wavered to the strangers, some of them watched her wearily.

"I don’t want any trouble, I just want my child. He ran away from the village looking for his father," she pleaded. Cassandra moved in her direction carrying her child.

"Where is her father?" Siroos asked, stepping in front of his mate, halting her by his extended arm.

The woman’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she glanced at Cassandra with pleas floating in them. Her gaze rested on her child.

"If you think we are using a child to rob you people then rest assured we don’t even have anyone who could do that. It’s just me and my child. Please, give him back to me. I apologise on his behalf." She extended her hands towards Cassandra with a pleading look in her eyes.

Cassandra’s heart jolted seeing the misery reflected in them, the woman was suffering.

She stepped forward and extended her child towards her. The woman quickly grabbed him and pressed him to her chest.

Aiko and Lotus watched with mixed emotions while the men remained cautious of her.

"Mama! I saw this man, he looked like Papa." He pointed towards Razial and everyone’s eyes followed.

"I apologise, his father used to have a similar horse and appearance," his mother explained.

"Where is he?" Cassandra kindly asked in a much gentler tone than Siroos had used.

Fear descended in her eyes and she tightly shut her lips and clutched her son to her chest as if afraid that someone would snatch him too.

Her eyes wildly wavered to all of them, one by one.

"She is terrified of us or something. She is not faking it," Lotus whispered to Razial; he nodded and took out the chain that held the small glass bottle with unicorn hair. It hadn’t changed colour. He understood the woman meant no ill intent to them.

"Speak freely, we mean you no harm. We are just travellers looking for rare plants and herbs," Cassandra said, placing her hand on the terrified woman’s shoulder.

"You people are not from the capital?" she asked in a hushed voice.

Siroos’s eyes narrowed. "No, we are from the North, just passing by. Why do you ask?"

"My village is nearby. We don’t have much but if you would like to purchase some merchandise, it will be highly beneficial for us." The woman requested, almost desperate. She had observed the rich coats they wore and the kindness with which Cassandra spoke.

"What are you selling?" Lotus stepped forward and asked.

"Woollen clothes, saddles for the horses and some jewellery," she offered, placing her hand on the back of her son’s head.

Cassandra gestured to her sister and Lotus busied the woman with further discussions while she took her mate away from the woman.

Razial moved towards Lotus, as usual hovering over her like a big burly bodyguard, she was so much shorter than him. He tilted the bottle towards Siroos, showing him that the colour hadn’t changed. Siroos quietly nodded.

"She seems desperate and in need of help. We can check their village out." Cassandra rubbed her mate’s arm.

Siroos scratched his chin with his index finger and thumb.

"We are more than capable of protecting ourselves. I think her husband is missing. Kids don’t lie, especially such young ones," Faris added.

"I agree too. We should help them." Aiko nodded. They had seen Razial’s secret message.

Siroos finally crumbled under the pressure and they decided to follow the woman to her village. Faint traces of a smile erupted on the woman’s hardened face; it seemed like she had forgotten to smile before. Cassandra made small talk with her and introduced herself and her companions without revealing who they were.

They changed direction and soon arrived in a dilapidated village. The place seemed to have seen better days.

The wooden houses needed repairs, the beams were falling and there were gaping holes which had been stuffed in with old clothes.

The snow covered the rooftops.

Gaunt faces of the people stared back at them from the streets and peeked out of the houses at them as they passed.

Their eyes curious but lifeless.

Siroos observed there were no men though, except a few old ones. Only women and children.

"This place is creepy, where are all the men?" Faris quietly stated, keeping Aiko close to him by entwining his fingers with hers.

"I have no clue."

The woman led them towards a small market area with broken baskets and stalls that hadn’t been painted in a while. The thick cloth acting as an awning had large holes in it.

The vendors were all females as well.

"Here, you can buy stuff. This is my stall." She pointed to the one with hand-woven gloves, scarves and colourful socks.

"Beautiful, did you make all these by yourself?" Cassandra asked, tracing her hand on the fine material from which these products had been created.

The woman proudly nodded. Holding her child who wouldn’t stop staring at Razial.

Taking out the pouch of her gold coins Lotus said. "We will take everything."

The woman was stunned; tears erupted in her eyes as she accepted the pouch, and Lotus insisted that she kept all of it.

Cassandra and Lotus did the same with other stalls as well and handsomely paid.

Seeing that Faris took out his coin pouch and quietly extended it to his mate.

"Buy yourself something too. Whatever you like."

Bewildered, Aiko stared at him in disbelief. He was offering her his money. No one ever offered her money and she had never expected Faris to do it either.

She accepted it.