Profound Devotion

Chapter 7

July 19th
Cassius

  The food that the she-wolf insisted on bring me was surprisingly good, and it helped calm the growling of my stomach, but I would never admit that to her.

  I balanced my weight on a sturdy branch up within a centuries-old tree, my back resting against the bark-covered trunk as I watched each wolf that sauntered beneath me. They were all oblivious to my presence above, and I had no desire to hide my resentment as they roughhoused together.

  These mutts reeked of a meek friendliness that only made them weak in the eyes of others, but I knew what they truly were. Each and every one was a killer—it was in their natural instincts.

  "You do not have to stay. I am sure I can find my way back on my own."

  My spine straightened at the sound of my brother's eased voice along the path below.

  "Are you sure?" The estranged alpha female was a step behind him, ready to catch him if he took a nosedive toward the dirt. I swallowed my growl and watched with a shallow disbelief as he gave her a friendly smile and hugged her shoulders as if they had known each other for years.

  Nothing I could think of rationalized why he was so quick to trust these wolves. They were all the same, and if we were not careful, we would end up just like our parents and everyone else of our kind.

  "Yeah, you go ahead." She nodded once she was sure he was okay and continued down the path alone. Raian's friendly exterior molted into exhaustion, and his shoulders dropped along with it. He searched the trees, and I knew then he knew exactly where I was.

  "Cassius, I know you are here." He mumbled, his arms folding loosely over his chest.

  I sighed and threw my legs over the branch, letting my body fall through the air. I landed with a thud onto my feet, dusting the too-small pants free from the dirt and debris from the tree.

  I always found peace within the trees. It was my safest place to think after I got stuck climbing one as a young pup. Since then, it was a sure bet for Raian to know that was where I would be if I ever disappeared.

  "What are you doing?" He asked with a blank stare, but I failed to find it within myself to care how upset he was over my behavior.

  "What do you mean?" I brushed him off with a scowl and watched the trail that had once been filled with our traitors.

  "Brother, at least try to be friendly. These wolves are not dangerous." He pleaded, ignoring my growl and dry, emotionless laughter.

  "How exactly do you know that?"

  He ran his hands through his hair, a nervous habit we both shared most of our lives. "Please, just trust me. You have nothing to worry about here." His words rang through my ears as if he were begging for me to listen.

  My nose twitched, and I fought the urge to force some sense into him. "Raian, we are only here until you are better. That is all we agreed."

  His hands fell to his sides, and any hope left on his face of me coming around melted away. The sadness I was met with was hard to ignore, nevertheless, he gave up insisting on an argument and chose to divert the subject.

  "We should probably head back." I sucked in a breath and eyes him wearily as his mood shifted to one of mockery. His steps fell along the path toward the small village within the clearing. "We were invited to a bonfire tonight. We must prepare."

—Monaia

  My legs were bouncing anxiously as I sat on the surface of a cracked log around the fire pit. Nightfall approached rapidly once our shared breakfast had ended, and I was almost grateful for that.