Profound Devotion

Chapter 33

August 3rd
Monaia

  A hush fell over the crowd, and a pang of discomfort burned deep within my chest.

  The transition was complete. The once emptiness in my mind had now been forcefully closed, radiating a blinding pain through my head that made even my wolf whine.

  Syrene squealed and jumped back, nearly letting her hand fall had it not been for the other female's tight grip. Jamie gritted her teeth and forced out a growl, reminded of the time she had to do this when she had first met Lance. It wasn't pretty for anyone, and if I can remember correctly, Seraphina had actually passed out from the pain when she had been in the lineup.

  To be fair, River Ash hadn't had anyone leave their pack in over a century, so their connection was a solid one that had to be forced apart.

  My skin was ablaze as I willed myself not to lose my grip. Their connection coursed through my veins, searching for the loose end that had once belonged to Sera to take for itself. Once it was found, all the energy that had been flooding my veins washed away, returning to its originating position in the female's hand.

  I swayed, disoriented once I was able to drop my hand and wait for it to heal closed on its own. How long will this last?

  Cheers filled the clearing as Seraphina and Byron celebrated, kissing like their lives depended on it. Atticus and my mother thanked the other females who only curtly nodded their heads and moved to stand at the side, motioning for our part to be over.

  My feet were heavy, rooted into the ground where I had been standing. Lance rushed from his seat to reach for Jamie's arms as she nearly tumbled to the Earth. She mumbled an incoherent thanks and leaned into him, Syrene latching onto my mother for dear life as her eyes fought to stay open.

  "Naia?" My brother frowned and leaned forward so he was eye level with me. It was nearly impossible to get my attention focused on anything, his familiar face nothing but a blurry object in my peripherals. Jackson scowled and took a step toward me, but a warm presence at my back stopped him and made his disdain continue to grow.

  "I have her." A deep, enticing voice vibrated against my back before a set of large hands cradled my elbows and spun me away from the alter.

  I smiled weakly at Cass's chest, his grey buttons shimmering under the bright sunlight while he lead me to sit back down. I fought through the mind fog that was keeping me from being totally present for the rest of the ceremony, but the fresh wound on my bond continued to throw up a new wall whenever I managed to break through the last.

  Jackson swallowed his growl, though I could tell by the aura of fury that now engulfed me that he wasn't happy Cassius stepped up to rescue me and wouldn't let this go so easily.

  "Right here. Give me your hand." Cassius hummed, moving his palm from my lower back to graciously accept mine.

  There was more cheering as my eyes finally were able to focus on a single object, making out once again the colorful flowers that arched over Atticus's head as he sent Sera and her mate up the aisle. My injured hand was cradled in Cass's lap, nearly healed but still stained with traces of blood. He was careful not to get any on his dress clothes while still pressing it into his leg with his own engulfing it in warmth.

  "Ready?"

  I raised my head, shaking it to clear more of my vision. Atticus lingered before me, flashing a humorous smile as he took in my disheveled state. "I guess I should have warned you of the aftermath."

  If I had the strength or ability at that moment, I would have swatted him away or tackled him to the dirt, cursing his name as I forced him to eat it the way I had done when we were kids. I wasn't told I would be rendered useless for an unknown amount of time after the ceremony, yet here I was struggling to make out his words as they left his mouth.