Chapter 46

After surrendering to my exhaustion once again I wake up and the sun is shining brilliantly outside. Im still in the medical tent and no clothing. I lost sense of time but I’m assuming that its late afternoon currently.
I recall the memories of what happened last night and my breath comes to a halting stop. I slowly look down at my chest and find that goddess forbidden mark etched onto my skin. Panic begins to bubble under my skin but I refuse to have it control me. I need to get out of her ASAP.
I hear shuffling outside and my worst nightmare parts the tent open and enters. Damon, along with Sybil and two other women enter with him.
“I see you’ve finally woken up.” He says and walks towards me. My breathing becomes frantic and I shake the at thee binds keeping me on the cot. He extends a hand towards me and I flinch my eyes closed completely expecting a violating touch or violence. He traces a finger down my cheek and jaw. Then makes its way down to my chest. His touch is gentle but feels like a spider crawling across my skin.
He stops and examines the mark above my left breast he and his witch inflicted upon me. I keep my eyes shut tight and try to shut out the feeling of his touch.
“Magnificent, the mark you’ll receive tonight will be beautiful.” He whispers in awe that makes me want to retch. “I do want to apologize for my uncontrolled anger yesterday. If only you accepted my proposal you wouldn’t have become victim to my wrath.”
Is he serious? He is apologizing for the new scars on my body and trauma? This sick bastard.
I manage to pry my eyes open and look him in the eyes for fury. “Go to hell.” I spit out and break eye contact. I cannot stand to look at him.
“Don’t say that now, love. We will be mated and everything will be perfect.” He sighs.
“After everything you’ve done to me, you really think Ill live in the fantasy of yours? When I get the chance ill make sure you pay for everything you’ve done. Once justice is served, I will never think about you again.” I draw out. “Consider that in your sick fantasy.”
He remains silent for a few minuted until he lets out a drawn out sigh. He then turns to the others in the room.
“Make sure she is cleansed and ready for tonight. I want her to look like the goddess herself. I wont settle for anything less.” He says and with that note he strides out the tent.
Sybil barks orders and the other two remain silent as they gather want they need. One grabs an bucket of soapy water and a bristled brush. The other grabs a bottle of soap that looks like shampoo and a brush.
I keep my mouth shut and decide to pick my battles with Sybil. She doesn’t give a shit about what happens to me.
They keep me tied to the cot and begin the scrub down my body with a brush that prickles my skin. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to block out the pain from the scrubbing. Once every inch of my body is red and raw they rinse me down with cold water. I violently shiver because Blanche Is too weak to protect me from the cold. They then move on to my hair as my body dries. They violently knead the soap into my hair and pull that causes my eyes to tear up. They rinse my hair out with cold water once they are finished and step away from me. Leaving me a trembling mess.
The Sybil raises a hand and a warm wind wraps itself around me and expels all the water that clings to my body. Then also dries my hair leaving it soft and straight. If this wasn’t a horrible situation, I would have found that wind manipulation amazing and useful.
Daylight is almost spent and the moon is rising.
One of the wolves then brushes out my hair and Sybil once again flicks her wrist and soft and loose curls appear at the ends of my hair. Then the other wolf comes into the tent with a long sheer white dress. This lacy and completely see though. You’ve got to be kidding me.
“That is what you will wear for the ceremony. Unfortunately for you, Damon demanded no undergarments.” Sybil smirks and hangs the dress.
Lovely. The whole camp gets to see my body.
Then with a snap of her fingers a flower crown of roses and babies breath appears in her hand. She places it on my head and examines her work.
“Perfect, and right on time. Get this on and lets go.” She says and unties my bonds. I slowly rise to my feet and immediately scan for an escape route.
“Before you even think about running. Aiden isn’t leaving Damons side tonight. If you don’t go through with this, he will kill the sweet poor boy.” She mocks and sticks out her lip to fake a pout.
I put one foot front the other and pick up the disgusting an revealing dress. I slip it on over my head and it slips down to cover my body. Its long sleeve and its baggy and lose around the arms and hugs my chest and flows down to my ankles.
Then something gets jabbed into my arm once again. At this point I can hardly feel the prick, but its what flows out of the needle that makes me flinch and clench my teeth. My breathing becomes ragged and fall to my knees. Its not enough to completely incapacitate me, but enough to keep me from running away.
Where is Silas? They should have shown up by now. I cant be mated to that sick bastard. Please have them come before its too late.
Sybil grabs my arm and hauls me to my feet and out of the tent. Torches light the way and the wolves inhabiting the camp are all waiting. The wolves all having conversations go silent and turn their heads towards us and whisper to each other. Some look at me with hatred and anger. Some have lust in their eyes as they let their eyes roam over my body. I want to desperately cover my body and keep away from prying eyes. Above me I notice the dark sky has a red tinge to it. It is a blood moon tonight. My eyes widen in fright. When any kind of mating ceremony is held under the rays of a blood moon. The bond becomes even more fortified than a normal fated mate bond. Some say it even grants both mates more power than any other. They will become the most powerful pair. However it’s a dangerous process. Most mates that try this usually die before the ceremony is complete. That’s why a mating ceremony under the light of a blood moon is almost never done today.
That’s why he wants it done tonight. He wants power.
Im dragged to the center of the camp where Damon waits. He is shirtless and his arms are crossed. When his eyes land on me, they go fiery with disgusting desire.
Then my eyes travel next to him where Aiden is on his knees watching me. A bored look lingers in his gaze and one of Damons men holds a dagger to his neck. I swallow a lump that forms in my throat. I have no choice. I cant let him die here.
Sybil pushes me forward and I fall to the bastards feet. I clench my jaw and keep my head down. He doesn’t deserve my attention.
He bends down and haul me to my feet and spins me around. He keeps an arm around my middle to keep me up and holds out my right arm with the other. Before me Sybil now has a dagger in hand along with a chalice.
She holds the dagger over he head towards the bloody moon and speaks in a language I cannot understand. She then slashes the knife in four directions. Honoring the elements I have to guess. Ive seen Freya honor the four elements which are fire, water, earth, and wind.
She then points the sharp dagger towards us. She takes a few steps to approach us and takes my hand in hers. Then as fast as a serpent, she slashes my palm deeply. I whimper loudly but Damon covers my mouth. The pain is amplified with the wolfsbane in my system. She holds the chalice under my bleeding palm and collects the blood that drips.
Just as she is about to slash Damons palm, a huge wolf charges towards us. Growling and snapping towards us. Tears pool out of my eyes and I thank the great Goddess from above. Its Silas, he came just on time. He knocks me out of the way and a sends Damon flying into a tree. It collides with the tree and grunts in pain. He falls to a knee and regains his composure.
Another Lunar wolf who is unfamiliar comes and stands over me in a defense position. Snarling and growling at any rogue who gets too close.
Then Damon gets back to his feet and a smirk that is so vile and sinister spreads across his face.
“Hello, brother.”