17 THE WHAT RITUAL?

Corsets! The worst fucking invention created for women is corsets!

"Squeeze in your tummy!" I heard Madame Cordelia order from behind as her assistants, Raya and Stanley, tightened the rope at the back of my corsets while I struggle to breathe.

If I had to squeeze my stomach any longer, I swear I was going to burst. I leaned forward, bracing myself on the chair as I tried to 'Squeeze in my tummy' like dear Madame Cordelia asked. Sweat coated my eyebrows as I clenched in stomach with Raya and Stanley still tightening the rope.

"Almost done, almost done..." Stanley cooed at me and I muttered prayers to the gods above to end my torture, "Aaand it's done!" Stanley finally announced, thank the gods!

Raya then brought out the gown I was supposed to wear. It was a creamy white off the shoulder with gold flowery embroidery on it. I went behind the screen and Raya helped me with the train of the gown over my head. When I was done, I stepped outside and Madame Cordelia beamed at me.

"As expected, I am the best!" She praised herself as she took in her work.

Aurora turned to me with a look of concern on her face. "How do you feel Arianne?"

Like I would die any moment from now on if I don't get this corset off! "I...I...I'm fine." I lied and managed a smile on my face but it must have not be very convincing because Aurora had a panicked look on her face.

"Okay maybe, she should try on something else?"

Madame Cordelia arched a brow up at her. "Why? This dress is perfect!" She smiled at the dress and I'm sure she couldn't see me or if she did, she ignored the look of discomfort on my face.

"Yeah I'm not so sure about that." Aurora said eyeing my dress with a look of worry on her face, "How about we find her something she can...I don't know, breathe in?"

"Nonsense! I've been dressing the royals for years!" Madame Cordelia brushed away Aurora's idea away, " And she can breathe just fine, right darling?" Madame Cordelia asked me with a wide smile that looked fake on her face.

"Actually I..."

"See? She's just fine." Madame Cordelia cut me off before I had a chance to talk.

Guess my opinion didn't matter, I thought to myself dryly while Aurora mouthed an apology to me. I gave her a small smile, trying my best to assure her I was okay when in fact I wasn't.

"Alright!" Madame Cordelia snapped her fan loudly, "Now that we've succeeded in trying to bring out her voluptuous figure, how about we move to the next phase?" She asked smirking at me and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like 'The next phase.'

Madame Cordelia snapped her fingers at her assistants and they came rushing forward, carrying leather bound books in their hands.

"The next phase is reading books?" I arched my brow up at the books.

"Of course not!" Madame Cordelia frowned at me, appalled at my question. "This_" She points at the books with her fan, "Is for balance!" She informed me.

"Balance? What do you mean?" I asked but instead of answering Stanley and Raya placed the books on top of my head. "Okay...um.. What's going on?" I asked reaching up to remove the books but Madame Cordelia hit my hand with her fan before I could.

"Don't touch it!" She hissed at me, "You must walk with the book on your head. It makes you stand tall and straight and that's how you walk like a royal. As the queen you need to learn how to work with your head held high not slouch like a hunchback hag!" She informed me, eyeing me with a look of disdain on her face.

I arched a brow up at her in disbelief. First of all, I don't walk like a hunchback hag and secondly I could hardly breathe with this corset and very heavy dress but here she is telling me to walk with heavy books on my head, just so I could walk like royal? Is this a joke?

"You are going to walk the hallway of this castle with the books on your head and if it falls off, you are going to start again from the very beginning!" Madame Cordelia said sternly and I realized how serious she was, "Now let's begin!" She announced with a clap.

***

It's been ten minutes already and my neck was starting to hurt from all the books balanced on my head. No matter how gentle I try to walk, the book keeps falling down and I have to start again from the beginning of the hall and I've not even gotten to the stairs yet.

"You keep your focus on the book, instead of looking at where you are going, that's why they keep falling down." Madame Cordelia informed me as I tried to balance the book on my head.

She was right about my focus on the book. I didn't want it to fall down so I kept looking up trying to balance the book on my head. I was still trying to keep the book on my head when I ended up tripping on the train of my gown and I fell down, the books toppling over.

Madame Cordelia scoffed at my clumsiness. "Gods above, how hard is it to balance books on your head?"

Yasmin immediately rushed to pull me to my feet. I mumbled a thanks to her and she shot me an apologetic smile.

"Okay, maybe we should take a break?" Aurora asked stepping to my defence, "We could take some cold beverages in the kitchen." She suggested smiling brightly.

Madame Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Aurora, I respect you a lot and I understand you are looking out for her but we do not have the time for refreshments! She needs to be prepared! You start again!" She snapped at me.

"This is just insane!" I scoffed unable to take it anymore, "I've been patient while you fit me in a corset that would barely fit into the body of a twelve year old and I had to wear a dress that's so heavy, I feel like I would collapse any moment from now and you want me to start again?" I asked her in disbelief.

"Insane? You think this, is insane?" Madame Cordelia asked before she let out a dry laugh. "You know what's insane, the alpha choosing you to rule over us when there are so much better candidates out there. You think I'm teaching you this just so you could wear fancy dresses and behave like an aristocrat? You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into child." Madame Cordelia scoffed at me while I waited for her to continue, "You are the future queen and soon to be Luna, those two comes with great responsibility. On your wedding day, you are going to walk into a room full of royals from other countries and werewolves who have come to pay homage to their Luna. Most of them think you are a joke already, they also believe you to be weak."

"What?" I gasped looking at Yasmin and Aurora and the guilty looks on their faces proved Madame Cordelia was telling the truth.

"You have to prove them wrong!" Madame Cordelia told me, "Show them that although you maybe human, you are not afraid of them and you won't cower when you stand in front of them. When you walk down the aisle on your wedding day, instead of them seeing a weak girl from town, they will see a woman walking with her head raised high, prepared for the task ahead of her! So do you think you can do that?" Madame Cordelia asked me.

All my life, I was always taught to live in the shadows. Not to be seen and not to be heard. I was always considered to be a mistake. I cowered in front of people, always bowing in submission in order to please them. But now, I was going to be the Queen, the one everyone will bow to. I'm going to prove everyone wrong about what they said about me, I wasn't weak, quite the opposite actually.

Instead of answering Madame Cordelia's question, I grabbed the book from Raya and I placed it on my head. I am strong, that's what I am! With that thought, I began walking. Head held high, shoulders straightened and taking light steps. I made sure my breathing was even as I walked and I managed to walk down the end of the hall, without my books falling down.

I repeated it twice, going back and forth and each time, I made it without tripping and the books were still on top of my head. I turned only to find Aurora and Yasmin clapping for me with bright smile on their faces. Raya and Stanley also applauded me while Madame Cordelia nodded her head at me, a look of approval on her face.

"Well, well, well, you made it without falling, I'm impressed." Madame Cordelia awarded me with a smile and I grinned back at her.

Aurora squealed and came to hug me, causing the books to fall down to the ground. "I knew it, I knew you could do it!" She squealed in excitement hugging me and I laughed as I hugged her back.

"Let's not get too excited, she still has more things to learn." Madame Cordelia said and I turned to look at her, "She needs to be prepared for the mating ritual!" She announced and I frowned at her.

The what ritual? "I'm sorry what?" I asked looking at Madame Cordelia who rolled her eyes at me.

"The mating ritual is practically what you humans call your honeymoon night but it's just a little different." Madame Cordelia informed me and I arched a brow up at her, waiting for her to explain more. Madame Cordelia let out an exasperated sigh but continued. "The mating ritual is a custom among werewolves where the two newly joined mates are taken to the sacred moon cave and mate under the watchful gaze of the moon goddess!"

"Okay um by m..mating, you mean..." I trailed off unable to complete my sentence.

"Sex." Everyone finished for me and my mouth fell open at that.

"Oh gods, it's always so romantic, with the stars, the chirping of crickets, the moon gently caressing your skin as you reach your climax and..." Aurora's voice became muffled because I was stuck in my own nightmare.

Gods! How could I have forgotten about it? Of course I know after the wedding there would be...be sex but I didn't think it was going to be this soon, or at least till when I was ready! And mating outside in a cave deep in the woods isn't definitely how I want my first time to be!

"The doctor will be arriving in few minutes to check everything necessary to prepare you for the ritual and also your fertility." Madame Cordelia's voice brought me back to present and I just stared at her in shock.

"You okay Arianne? You look a little pale." Aurora said with a note of concern.

I wasn't okay! I need to get out of here! "I'm sorry, I... I need to go." With that said, I turned and fled the halls.

I ignored the yells of concern as I ran through the halls, looking for one person who has the answer to all of this. I didn't stop running till I finally reached his door and instead of knocking, I barged inside, only to meet a shirtless Ivan holding a paper in his hands. Kiran was also in the room but my gaze was focused on one typical stormy grey eyed shirtless man.

"Arianne?" Ivan called my name and I stepped into the room.

"What the hell is the mating ritual?" I snarled at Ivan who just smirked at me.

"Oh, I see Madame Cordelia has already informed you of the magical night we will be spending together in a cave." Ivan said a cocky grin on his face while I just stood there, glaring at him.

Fucking bastard! Was the last thought I had before I launched myself at him!

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Hey guys, back with another long chapters and I'll love to read your thoughts on it in the comment section, please guys