Profound Devotion

Chapter 29

August 1st
Cassius

My feet were glued to the spot Mona had left me in. I was too stunned to move, my eyes following her retreating figure as she confidentially walked away with the other she-wolves close behind.

The kiss stirred a new sensation within me, awakening a part of my consciousness that was once sealed off completely. I wanted to pursue her, to insist that the feelings she had just revealed to me were unquestionably requited.

I was not entirely sure when I realized I wanted her—maybe not officially until she conceded by making the first move, but my feelings were there and showed no efforts to go away.

Raian cleared his throat loud enough to make his intentions known, stepping up to my side and peering in the same direction I had been watching once Mona disappeared.

"I did not realize you two were so...close." His words made me inwardly debate whether I had known it myself. I spent every night with her in my arms, and exhausted almost every hour of the day with her on my mind. At some point, my world rearranged to orbit only her, and I had no protests as I let it happen.

There were two heated glares burning into the side of my head that were not concealed. As I turned with a swallow, searching for the source of each, Carl came into view just across the training grounds. He wore a hate-filled scowl, though it did not intimidate me in the least. I shook my head and wrote it off as childish jealousy, continuing past until a pair of glowering black eyes engrossed me into their vexation.

Jackson lingered within the eerie shade of the trees, his Beta mumbling incoherent words while unaware of the shift of his Alpha's emotions. He clenched his white-knuckled fists at his sides while struggle to reign in his wolf, the way he lifted his stretched lip and bared his fangs only confirming he had seen his mate kiss me unprovoked.

I raised my chin proudly, daring to meet his stare and encourage him to do something about it. I told Mona I would refrain from starting a fight, but I sure as hell would end it if he made the first move. She did not want him, and it was perfectly clear by her blatant display of affection for me. This proved that the mate bond no longer affected her, and that pissed him off more than anything.

His chest rose and fell with a soured growl as he turned his back on me and sauntered into the darkness of the woods, his second-in-command scampering after him like a lost mutt.

Raian diverted to block my line of vision and crossed his arms over his chest. Atticus was soon at his side, mocking his stance and raising an eyebrow, awaiting some sort of explanation.

"It is not my place to tell you." Hell, until Mona confirmed whatever she was thinking, I was unsure where we stood. They both seemed displeased with my answer, but let it go for now. "We need to keep training." I craved a distraction, and the sooner we finished today, the sooner I could find Mona and hear whatever it is she had to say.

"It's my turn."

My brother's face fell as he glanced over my shoulder to the newcomer.

I could recognize that voice and slimy voice anywhere.

"Carl," Atticus frowned and stepped back to widen our circle, allowing his warrior to join us, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"I insist." He huffed, squaring his shoulders and stretching to his full height, though it did not quite measure up to that of my own. "After all, it's just training. Right?"

His glare swirled with unexpressed rage, and choosing to accept his challenge would be the right decision if I wanted to leave him unscathed, but he did offer, and I needed to disentangle my own unkept frustrations.