Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate-Chapter 24: The Bet

Siroos didn’t let her go until her hair and garb had dried. He finally took a reluctant step back and removed his arms so she could pass.

Every meeting with this man was exhilarating and would leave Cassandra grappling for breath.

He finally led her to the stones where the breakfast was being cooked. Today they had broken the meat into small tender bits and placed it on a large leaf so she could relish it with ease.

A small smile appeared on Cassandra’s face seeing their care.

Everyone except Faris stood up, seeing them approach, and only settled back down once Siroos had given them permission with a curt nod of his head.

Faris placed the leaf in front of Cassandra as she settled on the stone with a spread cloth for her.

He said with a wave of his hand, "Apologies, we have no bread."

"It’s not an issue. I can eat whatever." Cassandra wasn’t a picky eater; she was just not used to eating without proper cutlery.

Men were making rowdy jokes that continued into the breakfast.

Siroos had tied up his hair in a tight bun which accentuated his handsome face even more. Faris turned his attention to Siroos and asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Took you long enough."

Cassandra had to lower her head and bite her lip, embarrassment flooded her cheeks. Siroos grabbed a large stick with a big chunk of meat.

"Focus on eating, we need to leave."

Ranon’s small voice came from the side as well, as his long black hair moved like slithering snakes.

"I almost lost my head earlier."

Faris guffawed at Ranon’s words.

Siroos grunted, sinking his sharp teeth into the skewered meat. His eyes flashed dangerously at Ranon and then at Faris. While Ranon quickly lowered his head, Faris was least affected and wriggled his brows at his elder brother.

Cassandra observed both of them had quite an easy-going relationship where Faris seemed like a rule breaker while Siroos had a more protective approach. Despite everything, he had been safeguarding her since the day they had met. And that was something she couldn’t deny.

The brown tankards were passed around among the men containing ale. Faris served one to Cassandra as well with a boyish chuckle.

"Here, to ease your nerves. My brother can be much at times."

"He seems to specialise in that," Cassandra countered, ignoring Siroos’s glare. Faris winked at her not minding his brother as well.

She accepted the cup with a slight scepticism, not sure about the contents of the cup. The strong earthy notes stung her nose and she knew it was ale. She had never consumed alcohol with breakfast but the old lifestyle had been left in the past. If she was to adjust with them, she needed to learn their ways and adapt.

Before she could take a sip, Siroos’s large hand reached out and grabbed the cup from her dainty hand.

"Don’t spoil her. Women in her kingdom don’t drink cheap ale, especially in the morning. You wish to make her tipsy for the entirety of the journey?" Siroos glared at his snickering brother. Before Faris could add a cheeky remark Cassandra uttered.

"I can handle a little ale." She extended her hand to demand the tankard back. Siroos slanted his body slightly to cock a brow at her and she held his gaze without blinking.

Faris whistled seeing them stare at each other. Siroos ignored his vexatious brother as he placed the tankard on her palm and said with a challenge. His lips showed a hefty snicker.

"Drink up in one breath."

"Accepted," Cassandra instantly responded.

Hearing their alpha challenge Cassandra all the remaining five men took off their leather coin pouches from their belts and began to draw coins, ready to bet.

"10 gold coins on our future Luna."

"20 gold coins that she can’t without coughing."

The squabbling began.

"All my coins that our future Luna can hold her liquor." Faris took off his sandy-shaded pouch from his golden belt and placed it along with other coins.

What seemed like a small challenge had escalated into this betting competition, and Cassandra couldn’t help but shake her head at the dramatics of the men. The need to turn everything into a chaotic contest was something men specialised in.

They expectantly watched her while Siroos’s lips twisted into an evil smirk. The challenge in his eyes fanned her desire to prove him wrong.

Sucking in a deep breath, Cassandra raised the tankard and brought it to her parted lips.

The aroma was overwhelming and assaulting her senses. She could only hope that the taste was not too strong and it had been diluted for the morning consumption.

Cassandra forgot one simple point. They were not ordinary men, they were shifters with very rapid metabolic rates. They didn’t get drunk unless Mithroot herb, which grew on the sides of the huge rocks in their desert area, was added to it.

Tipping the wooden container, she let her throat be scalded by the strong, deep amber liquid. It was much stronger than she had anticipated. She was not a quieter and she wasn’t going to give all these haughty men to laugh at her expense.

No matter what, she was going to swallow every drop and keep it down. Her wandering eyes peeked at Siroos from above the rim of the tankard. The spreading of his supple lips and the crinkling of the sides of his eyes told her that this alpha male was amused at this.

He was underestimating her, thinking she couldn’t do it. It was time to show him.

Fighting a cough that was threatening to bring out the burning liquid, Cassandra chugged it down.

The slender movements of her neck as she swallowed urged Siroos to reach out and grab it. To have the pad of his thumb stroke the sensitive juncture between her neck and shoulder blade. The very point where his mark should rest.

He was jerked out of his lust-filled dream when Cassandra banged the tankard onto the stone in front of him and wiped her damp lips with the back of her hand.

The ale had dampened them, making them so much more desirable and he wished nothing more but to taste the amber liquid from her lips. To let their breaths mingle and for her to moan into his mouth.

All of that broke when his men who had placed their bets on Cassandra cheered and she declared with a challenging smirk and slight tip of her head to the right.

"I won!"

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