Obsession: the Lycan king's Human Mate

Chapter 326 - The Marking Ceremony - I

Unlike every other morning, Adeline was woken with multiple hands-on her immediately sending her into panic mode. 

Her eyes snapped open and she shot up with the speed of an arrow. "Get off!" she cried in desperation, the fear of the past coming to the surface, "off!" she cried again until they were all standing away from her. 

"Adeline," Jenna appeared by her side, her slightly old and wrinkled skin, crinkled in worry, "What's wrong?" 

Adeline's throat dried up and she looked around her room. Women dressed in white stood in front of her, all four of them. 

She did not remember who those women were; all her mind could not bear being touched by multiple women after being forcefully washed by women for the sacrifice that Noah or Nathaniel, whichever name he went by, had planned for her. 

It felt like that today. 

"I-I can't.." Adeline whispered to the woman with tears taking over her eyes and fear clouding her clear judgment. "It..d-does not fe-feel nice.." she hiccupped, being unable to take it any longer. 

"We," one of the women dressed in white said, "we never intended to make the queen uncomfortable.." 

"Excuse us," Jenna said instead, "Send madam Quill as well."

All four of them left at once and Jenna rubbed her hands together, trying to calm her down. After a moment or two, which passed in complete silence, Tessa entered, frowning as she walked in. 

"What happened?" Tessa's words flew out as she kneeled bride the bed. "Did she do something?" Tessa outrageously pointed her finger at Jenna who chuckled, 

"Why thank you," she commented with a smile before it vanished, "Stop pointing the finger at me before I tear it off!" she hissed, making Tessa retract it back as soon as possible. 

"You two are as lovely as ever," Adeline commented dryly. 

"Leave us," Tessa touched her niece's knee. "Tell me?" 

Adeline played with the sleeve of her dress shirt, "That what they did too…"

Tessa did not need to be told twice. At first, she did feel the need to have her doubt clarified but then, it all dawned on her. "I'm sorry.." she took her hands in her own, "I did not know, Adeline. These women were sent by the temples." 

Jenna gulped audibly, on purpose. "These women give baths to the females as a cleansing process. It cleans your mind, body, and soul. It also provides a barrier in your mind from any dark thoughts entering." she spoke as a matter of fact. 

Her eyes darted in between Adeline and Teresa, "I would have sent them back once, however, it is necessary." 

Necessary, another word for there was no way around it. 

"Please be honest with me," She practically begged Jenna for this. "Does it really mean a lot to Xavier?"

It was important for her to know this. He was always answering for her benefit and it only made it important for her to find out if it was as important for him as it was for the others. 

He did not seem like a religious person but Adeline would not count on that. By looking at him, anyone would also assume that he was not romantic. 

"It is," Jenna answered with a defeated look over her face. "I'm sorry but there would hardly be any wolf in the world, any of them, who would not like these ceremonies. Just like everyone dreams of getting married, wolves dream to be mated." 

So he lied to her. 

Adeline sighed. He was not at all selfish when it came to her. 

"I-" she stopped. 

"How about just the two of them? And we could keep the door open so that you can hear me and your aunt?" Jenna suggested and finding no error in it, Adeline agreed. 

***

She should not have. 

"Ms. Jenna!" Adeline cried out with her eyes closed as they poured milk over her, "I am not comfortable." 

"That's alright love," Adeline heard, "no one ever is!" 

Well then, everything was explained. 

As per they had decided only two of the four females were staying with her. Jenna and her aunt were staying outside in her bedroom and the door was unlocked and opened.

Unlike the woman who she had the flashbacks of, these two were very gentle and had a soft smile on their face. 

Admin wanted to enquire about the smile but without being rude or impolite but there was no other way that she could frame the question in. 

"I see that you too are smiling," Adeline herself flashed them a quick smile, "what are you two smiling about if you do not mind me asking?" 

Their smile vanished in an instant and that was exactly what Adeline had feared. 

"I don't mean it like that!" She hurriedly defended her previous words. "I was just trying to inquire about the soft smile on your face and the face and the reason behind it.."

"Oh," Jayva answered, "we're just happy to be saving you in your ceremony. Kings and Queens generally live for a long period of time and witnessing the ceremonies is being the closest to the representatives of God and not to mention the best way we can get closer to you." 

Oh.. "but I do not have a wolf or any kind of.. shifter soul inside me for you to feel that connection." 

Gia, the other girl smiled. "That is what you think," Gia smiled as she washed Adeline's knee. "But the magic and connection we feel says otherwise." 

Magic.. sometimes she did feel the magic around her and other Times it felt like everything had faded away but the connection that she and Xavier shared. 

Maybe it was the magic and connection. Maybe it did exist and it just took the right time and right person. 

They helped her out of the tub and dried her with soft cloth that seemed like pure cotton. 

Jayva and Gia helped her get a dress and dried her hair before she was finally allowed to turn around and look at herself.