Chapter Three

MURAD

.

All through the night I couldn't sleep. All my thoughts were filled with that woman—Kazia. I wanted her around me and bedside me. I wanted nothing more than to take her, to breathe her and to break her. I wanted to be inside her. Hell, I wanted to taste every inch of her.

I cannot believe that I have watched her grow into the woman she is now. My patience and persistence had finally paid off. She bore my mark, she belonged to me.

A smile tugged at my lips when my mind played back to the incident that had happened earlier. I loved being in control and her weakness had turned me on to the point of utter madness.

The pulsating veins around my manhood throbbed when I reminisced on how alluring she looked in that dress. She looked so good, so enticing, so provocative. It's only a matter of time Murad. I know deep down that after today, she will end up on my bed and I will take her innocence and mark her as my consort permanently.

I would let her be for now. She needed to heal because she would bear the mark of all my afflictions in the nearest future.

Morning came sooner than expected. I darted my eyes to the window to see that the sun had risen completely. The birds chirped loudly and their little noises added to my excitement.

Seconds later, the door to my bedroom flew open and Aldana, the head maid, walked inside my chambers with the other maids.

"Good morning my lord!" They all bowed their heads in greetings. I waved them off almost immediately.

"We are here to get you ready for the day my lord." She announced and after rising to my feet, I gestured to her to go ahead. 

"How is my newest consort?" I asked when she reached out to take off my night wear.

"She's in the harem along with the other branded slaves." She answered almost immediately. 

"Good." I breathed out "Today is the moon feast of the Alphas so I want her ready beautifully adorned for the ceremony at night." I instructed and she nodded.

"As you wish my lord!"

Aldana pulled off my robe and underwear leaving me stark naked. Without a single care In the world, I walked straight to my bath chamber and got inside the bathtub. The maids took their time to bathe and scrub me so diligently and I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the feel of their hands on my skin.

When they were finished, they wiped my body dry and oiled my skin. My long silky hair was neatly combed and tied up in a bun. They proceeded to wear the outfit that was picked out for me and adorned my fingers with rings and expensive jewels. On my feet were a pair of plain sandals and they finished the whole ensemble by helping me with my robe.

I stared at the mirror when they were done to make sure that they didn't miss out any details.

Satisfied with my look, I walked out of my chambers and made my way towards the Courtroom where I would be meeting up with the other members of the pack.

The minute I graced them with my presence, they all stood up in greeting till I rounded the table to my chair and lowered myself on it.

"You may sit!" I declared in my usual cold and authoritative voice that spells command and order and they took their seats almost immediately.

"What is the agenda for today?" I asked.

"Nothing much my lord" Coniel, my Beta spoke up "The troops that were ordered to recover the stolen gold from the Druid's pack have been sent out. Hopefully, we will welcome them with good news."

"And what about the preparation for tonight's ceremony?" I went further to ask.

"All preparations are underway my lord. On your command, everything is being put in place as requested."

"Tonight is my turn to host the moon feast." I started "I want everything to work out accordingly. I will not tolerate any mistake. Tonight should go down in history as one of the best nights to have ever happened, do you understand?" My deep voice resonated as I crunched my face in hopes that they would get my message.

"Of course my lord."

Apart from the fact that I wanted today to go as planned, I also wanted to show off to the other Alphas that I was better than them at everything, especially my nemesis Kavan. 

He had always challenged me and acted as though he was better than me at everything but tonight will be different. I will definitely show him that he was way out of my league.

.

KAZIA

.

"Pass me the sausages Maria." I overheard the other consorts chatting happily amongst themselves. From where I was seated, I could see them exchange words while their personal maids took care of them. 

They all wore revealing and sultry outfits as they patrolled around the open space of the harem. Ever since I was brought to sleep here last night, my eyes couldn't close a wink. Somehow, I had preferred the cold, hard surface of the dungeon than being here. They all looked free but I knew that they weren't. 

Branded pets/consorts might have the liberty and higher rank than that of a common slave but they couldn't deny the fact that we were still slaves. I would've preferred to serve as a maid than serve the Lycan king with my body instead but who was I to choose?

"Hello." Someone waved at me and shifted back hoping that the wall would just open up and swallow me.

"You're new here aren't you?" She asked and I nodded my head slowly. She was clad in a flimsy see through gown that exposed her breasts and panties. I forced myself to look away. I wasn't used to seeing women walk around half naked.

"My name is Iris." She introduced herself and sat down next to me on my tiny bed. "And you are?"

"K-Kazia" I stammered a response. 

"Beautiful name." She flashed a smile at me "I saw you yesterday when you were brought in by the head maid. Welcome to the Lycan King's Harem."

I couldn't exactly tell why she was excited. I felt disgusted that it actually made my skin crawl. Why would I be excited to be in a place like this like dogs who were kept to serve their masters.

"Tonight is the moon feast of all Alphas." One of the women shrieked and a loud uproar ensued amongst the other women.

"Moon feast?" I blurted out, bewildered. Murad had mentioned something about it last night but I had the slightest idea about what it was or what it entailed "What does that mean?" I asked Iris.

"It's a ceremony where alphas come with their pets and consorts to celebrate and catch up. And if you're well behaved, then your master would reward you handsomely." She explained "Portia was Murad's consort at the last feast and she was rewarded with a basket of gold. She's one of the king's most loved consorts." She whispered to me.

I nodded slowly, praying in my heart of hearts that I don't get picked as the king's consort for tonight's ceremony. Maybe he only said that to scare me last night. He would definitely pick out someone else to join him instead.

Like the other consorts, I was assigned my very own maid who would cater my needs. Lily, as she was called, fed me and made sure that I was well taken care of as the king's pet.

Later that evening, the head maid whom I had come to know as Aldana walked into the Harem.

"As you all know, the moon feast Is tonight and the King has chosen three consorts to accompany him for the night." She announced and I suddenly felt my heart beating rapidly while the other women danced happily.

"Lady Portia, Lady Iris." She called out with a pause, and then "Lady Kazia" she mentioned finally while everyone darted their eyes towards my direction.

"You will begin your preparation for the night and I will brief you on what to do before you escort the Lycan king to the ceremony." 

After delivering the message, she walked out of the harem while they continued their conversation.

"Looks like we will be partners tonight." Iris mused "I know that you're nervous but don't worry, you'll be fine." She touched my hand in comfort before walking away. I saw the engraved mark on her neck just like mine which also meant that she was branded as well. 

That night, as per the instructions given. We were bathed in scented perfumes dressed up in our revealing outfits. Our hair was styled neatly and our bodies were adorned with anklets and jewelries. 

"Portia and Iris already know the rules but you Kazia...." She trailed off "You would have to follow their footsteps and be extremely careful so that you don't make mistakes otherwise, the Lycan king would punish you severely."

I gulped and Iris smiled at me affectionately. 

"You are to be on your masks at all times and under no circumstances should you remove them or stare directly at the faces of the other Alphas." She continued.

"You must follow the instructions given there by the king and make sure that you never argue with him. Please him and do as you're told." 

"Yes Aldana." She answered in affirmation.

We were escorted to the secluded courtroom where the supposed ceremony was to take place and soon enough, the festival began with the lycan's arrival.

They announced their presence and they took their seats one after the other alongside their branded slaves and pets.

From where I was seated, I saw the slaves pleasing their masters intimately while I struggled not to puke.

"Lycan Kavan, lonely today of all days?" One of the lycan's addressed someone and they all burst out laughing.

"You always try to be modest. Today is a day where we feast and make merry with our slaves" They chastised him.

My eyes trailed round the room and landed on the man who sat down quietly at the table. The one whom they called Kavan.

Our eyes met my stomach knotted involuntarily as I felt my heartbeat accelerate ten times the normal rate.

My blood boiled with need that I couldn't understand. I suddenly felt my body craving, arching as I stared at him. I tried to hide in utter embarrassment when my nipples hardened as the heat pooled down my center. My womanhood clenched and unclenched in nothing but pure arousal while I fought the urge to understand exactly what was happening to me.