CHAPTER 5: The wedding ritual

Aria legs buckled as they dragged her forward, the rough stone beneath her feet scraping her skin raw. The soldiers' grips were cruel, steel fingers bruising her arms as they hauled her through the threshold of the great hall and into the night beyond.

The air outside was bitter, sharp like a blade. It cut against her torn skin, carrying the acrid scent of burning herbs and something far fouler, blood.

Before her, the ritual ground stretched wide and desolate. Towering black pillars ringed the clearing like silent sentinels, carved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly beneath the crimson glow of the blood moon. Fires roared in iron braziers, their flames leaping into the air as if hungry for flesh.

A hush fell over the gathered pack.

Faces surrounded her, hostile and eager. Some twisted with cruel amusement, others solemn as though they stood witness to a sacred rite. They had not come to observe, but to revel in her pain.

At the center stood the altar, a monolith of obsidian stone. It was ancient and cold, its surface soaked in generations of blood. And beside it waited her captor.

Alpha Demetrius .

He stood bare-chested, the firelight dancing across the runes painted red upon his skin. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders like a wild mane. A golden mask concealed half his face. One eye burned crimson. The other glinted with a cold, piercing blue.

He was death clothed in the flesh of a man.

His gaze met hers. Aria's breath caught.

She was forced to her knees before him. The stone cut into her flesh, sharp and merciless. Still, she made no sound.

"Begin," Demetrius said.

The word struck like iron against stone. Cold. Unyielding.

Her chin rose, though her limbs trembled.

From the shadows emerged a figure.

Not some stooped hag but a woman of striking beauty, robed in crimson that shimmered like molten rubies. Her eyes glowed violet, alive with power. Her voice, when it came, was soft and sweet, though beneath it stirred something older and colder.

The witch.

With practiced grace, she drew a dagger shaped like the crescent moon. It was black as night and pulsed with ancient power.

A guard seized Aria wrist and yanked it forward.

She resisted.

He tightened his grip.

The dagger touched her skin, cold as the grave, and then pain lanced through her. The blade sliced clean.

Aria gasped as her blood spilled into a bowl, steam rising as it met the night. The pain was sharp, but worse still was the fire that followed. Dark. Twisting. It moved through her veins like poison.

The witch marked her with her own blood. Brow, collarbone, lips.

"Sanguine ligatur consummatum est. In carne ligatum, in fato aeterno devinctum." she said. Her voice echoed like stone grinding in a crypt.

(The bond is sealed in blood. Bound in flesh, bound by eternal fate.)

Aria's  body shuddered. The blood was more than blood. It was power, old and binding.

Demetrius  approached and took her chin in hand. He lifted her face until her eyes met his.

"You are mine now," he said. His voice was thick with command.

The crowd erupted.

The witch raised the bowl and poured the rest of the blood over Aria's  head. It soaked her hair, ran in red rivulets down her face, and stained her red gown with crimson.

Then she turned to Demetrius and offered him the dagger.

He took it without looking away.

He dragged it across his palm. Blood welled dark and hot.

"Drink," he said and pressed the wound to her lips.

Aria turned her head away.

"Drink," he repeated, softer now, yet filled with menace.

Magic coiled around her like a serpent. Her lips parted against her will. They touched his flesh. Blood filled her mouth, thick and metallic.

And she swallowed.

A scream ripped from her throat.

Pain, savage and wild, coursed through her. It set her blood aflame and tore her soul from its place. Her body convulsed.

The pack cheered.

Demetrius  smiled. "Good girl."

He smeared blood down her cheek like a lover’s caress.

"You learn quickly."

But Aria  was not learning. She was breaking.

The witch stepped forward again, holding a chalice of dark liquid.

"The final seal," she said.

Demetrius  took it and brought it to her lips.

"Drink," he said. "And you are mine in body, mind, and soul."

Aria  eyes widened. Her heart pounded. She tried to turn her face away.

She could not.

The potion touched her tongue.

And fire consumed her.

It tore her apart from within, flesh from bone, soul from self. Her back arched. Her scream vanished beneath the roar of magic.

She collapsed, twitching.

The pack howled.

Demetrius  knelt at her side. He seized her chin and forced her eyes open.

"Welcome home, wife," he whispered.

Then, darkness claimed her.

---

Later...

After the rituals Aria was led towards the king Chamber, her legs shook as Shr trailed behind the guard down the dimly lit hallway.

With each step, the air felt heavier, a chilling aura emanating from the room at the end. She didn’t need to be told— She knew the Lycan King was waiting for her.

"Get in," the guard commanded, his words hitting her like a punch to the gut. With a reluctant push, She  opened the large, imposing door.

She stepped into the dark chamber, and as the door creaked shut behind her, the sound echoed through the room like a haunting toll.

She froze, her gaze fixed on the floor, acutely aware that he was watching her, making it hard to catch her breath.

"Come over here," his deep, seductive voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. But She stood frozen, reluctant to move.

"Don't make me say it again." This time, his tone was more commanding. Reluctantly, she began to walk slowly until she reached the bedside, unable to shake the instinctual fear that gripped her.

King Demetrius flicked the lights to a harsh white, illuminating her body. He had deliberately instructed the maids to dress her in that sheer gown, ensuring he had an unobstructed view of her.

Aria cursed under my breath, her eyes filled with disgust. He switched the lights back to red, a color that sent a chill of terror through me.

The king stepped closer, making her shrink back in fear. He leaned in, his hot breath brushing against her neck, sending shivers down her spine while igniting something deep within her.

"Strip," he commanded, his voice almost spellbinding. Without thinking, she reached for the strap of her dress and loosened it, letting it slide down to the floor, exposing her  bare skin. His eyes remained locked on my body.

She was bewildered; she should have been fighting for her freedom, yet here she was, obeying his every command.

"Ha!" she gasped lightly as he pulled down the fabric. Her breasts bounced free, and he caught her breast in his hand.

"Not big enough," he muttered, and her jaw dropped in shock.

He rolled his thumb over my left nipple and pinched it, causing her to wince. She shut her eyes tight, biting her lower lip to stifle any sounds that might escape.

King Demetrius smirked at my reaction, clearly enjoying her  struggle against his seduction. "Present yourself to me on the bed." His voice was rough and thick, making her nerves tighten.

She gritted her teeth, eyes closed. "P...please," shr managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

Another guttural groan followed, this one filled with anger, sending a shiver down het spine.

With no other option, she turned and took a few shaky steps away from him, her legs trembling with fear. His eyes were etched in her mind, the memory causing her to stumble.

She climbed onto the bed, parted her legs, and arched het back. A bitter sigh escaped her lips as shr braced herself for what was to come.

The bed dipped beneath her, a clear indication that he had joined her. she whimpered, beads of sweat trickling down her face.

Shr tried to mentally prepare for what was about to unfold, but she kept faltering.

Today was meant to be my first day as the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, yet here she was, at the mercy of the merciless Lycan King.

She felt his large hands press against her thighs, spreading her legs further and lifting them slightly. She caught a glimpse of his figure, and her breath hitched in her throat.

His muscles rippled, showcasing his raw power. He was magnificent, terrifying—and completely lost in his primal instincts.

His hands left her thighs and reached for her own, which were gripping the sheets tightly. He folded them behind her back and pressed her chest into the bed, arching her back to make way for him.

She could feel his member against her thigh, firm and ready. Its tip pressed against her folds, making her eyes widen in shock.

He was enormous. Way too big for her  to handle.

"Do you know what happens if I take you and mark you right now?" His deep voice rumbled, and she felt myself gulp.

"What?" She asked breathlessly, surprised she managed to keep my voice steady. Was he really going to mark her when she wasn't even his mate?

"It means every inch of you will belong to me..." he replied, his voice low and sultry as he brought his hand forward, caressing my her with his thumb.

"Your lips are mine."

She held her breath as he trailed his hand down her chest, squeezing her nipples so hard that she whimpered...

"Master..."

"Your breasts... are mine," he growled, shifting behind her to deliver a sharp spank to her backside.

"Ah!" She gasped at the sudden sting.

"Your ass is mine," he said with a commanding tone, then moved his hand back to her front, dragging it down to her slick pussy.

"Ohh," a moan escaped her lips as he slipped a finger inside... I was so incredibly wet... Too soaked, and she couldn't quite grasp how his touch was driving her wild.

"And your pussy is mine," he asserted firmly as her muscles tightened around his finger, coating it with her  sweet juices. "If any man dares to touch you... even a fraction of how I touch you," he warned, gripping her throat to emphasize his point.

She let out a sharp whimper.

"He'll find himself in a shallow grave, and you'll be tied to my bed, fucked so hard that my name is the only thing you'll remember," he said, moving his finger deeper inside her.

"Do you understand?" he questioned.

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A tall elegant lady  sat in front of the mirror admiring her beauty. It could be seen that her snow-white skin was reflected by the mirror. On the back, her long black hair fell down to her waist. From each side to look at, she was the most stunning beauty in world.

She was surrounded my maid who were doing their job on her perfect body. Each one of them have a role to partake in making her body flawless. yes she was King Demetrius Bethroed and the daughter of Alpha Thane the ruler of the BlueMoon park.

She was happy to be chosen by the king and with time she had harboured alot of feelings for the king. Though she hasn't been crowned the Luna of the park but those days are numbered.

"Your nails my lady" one from the slave mumbled in a low tone not wanting to annoy the gorgeous woman in front of her. Lady Scarlet  stretched out her long petal fingers which men would probably die to kiss,but too bad it was meant for the king and no one else.

Lady Scarlet  hummed her favorite song with joy,she can't wait to see the king in his chamber and make love to her beloved.

"A message my lady" Palema, Scarlet  personal maid walked in with furry as her breath ragged like she had been chased.

"Speak!" Lady Scarlet Commanded her voice void as she long to hear what her maid has to offer.

"it personal my lady" Palema said looking at the maids who surrounded her masters like bee to honey. Lady Scarlet  immediately dismiss the slave while gesturing Palema to speak. "while I was going to get your Favorite flower,I overhead some slaves whispering to themselves, about his Grace New Wife " Palema  blunted out making lady Scarlet  face turn pale,her blood immediately dried up and her expression change immediately.

"Wh..What?" Scarlet tried to get her voice as her breath hitched. "How? that isn't possible... where is she?".

" When I asked the maids who prepared her,their reply was that she was taken to the king chamber that was were they stopped,they said that they couldn't disclosure more to me even after persuading them" Palema bowled her head not wanting to meet the gaze of the angry princess.

"I need to see my King" Scarlet  stood up elegantly walking out of the room, but she was stopped by Palema.

"His Grace impose a strict order no one is allowed into his chambers for now, my lady".