Sex after sex, after sex.
That’s practically what the Shaming is. I know most people would like that-constant sex, but not me. The Shaming might have been wonderful if shamed right, if your pussy won’t be overworked by a good number of men. The Shaming has caused wolves a lot. Broken bonds, broken homes, broken relationships, infertility, and in rare cases, infection. The Shaming simply means nonstop sex from dusk till dawn that leads to death.
Nobody has ever survived the Shaming and I would be honored to be the first. The only advantage of such torturous punishment is that it makes people understand that there are men out there who can blindly fuck someone’s mate for hours.
I can still be saved, if Ruarc would just confess. He doesn’t however, keeping his mouth shut as he waits for the drama to unfold. I know the process all too well. Once I have reached the men, I lie put and let them have their way with me, in the presence of so many people.
I take a tentative step towards the men, praying to any deity that exists to save me from this. I don’t want to die, and I don’t want to be raped either.
I can’t do this. I decide after taking two steps towards the men. I don’t think I would ever forgive myself if I let this Shaming happen.
My bones crack, skin ripples and bursts into fur. One with my wolf, I growl, jumping above the men. The crowd parted for me, whispers and murmurs leaving their lips. I charged out of the courtyard, running past the open gates. The streets are empty, and I use that to my advantage, running hard and fast past homes and houses. I slow down, changing back to skin. I walk quickly towards an open house. Maybe I would be lucky, and it would be empty.
But I don’t reach that house. He doesn’t let me.
My survival instinct kicks in as a hand covers my mouth. I scratch at the hand, kicking back at my attacker and there’s a curse.
Sia.
I stop fighting, breathing hard. I slowly turned, and he retracted his hand. We stared at each other for a few seconds, before I hugged him, wrapping my arms tight around him, staining his shirt with tears.
“I…”
“Ssh, it’s okay,” he says smoothly, running his hand up and down my back. I quieten, taking a small step back. I force a smile, but it wears off when I see what he has in his hands.
“No.” I whisper. “You promised me. You told me that I would never have to worry about being collared again. Why are you going back on your word?”
“It’s for your own good Crinka. I thought about this for a long time, and this is the only way I can save you from the Shaming.”
“How? By turning me into a puppet?”
“No. By making you my royal concubine.”
I blink, letting out a laugh. “You want me, a woman who hates children to bear you kids?”
“Most of my brothers have royal concubines, and they don’t have children, so it’s not necessary for you to give me kids. Please understand.”
“What if you don’t take it off? I don’t like having that thing on me Sia.”
“Neither do I, but it must be done.”
“No. I refuse to be collared Sia. If I appear collared before your people, they would see me as weak and pathetic. So, no. I would come with you, but the collar stays off.”
He dropped it. “Fine.”
I followed Sia back to the courtyard. The crowd parts for us, and they sneer at me after their prince has passed.
“Oh look, our beloved prince has brought the runt back. Now we can go on with the Shaming,” Rifera says joyfully.
“No,” Sia said climbing the stage. He pulled me up, and stood before the council.
“No?”, Rifera asks.
“No. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you shame my royal concubine.”
Rifera laughs. It’s evil. “Your royal concubine? She is not even yours.”
“I intend to make her mine.”
“We won’t fight your poorly made decision prince, but we won’t let you interfere with our decision. The girl must be shamed then you can do whatever you want with her, that is if you still wish to keep her after other men have had a taste.
“No”, Sia repeated.
“Thjis can you hear your son?”, Rifera screamed.
“I’m not deaf Rifera. My hearing is as great as time. This moment should be celebrated in our lives don’t you think? Nasia has finally chosen his royal concubine.”
“He chose a criminal Thjis! A criminal! And what ridicule would it be if we let her get away with this, simply because your son wants to make her his concubine? He doesn’t even know her!”
“That’s where you are wrong Rifera. He does know the girl. Do you seriously think my son is the type to get involved with a total stranger? His eyes might have lost their colour, but he can still see properly.”
“She should still be punished Thjis!”,
Thjis sighed. “You heard the woman Nasia. She should still be punished.”
“I will make sure she is punished father,” Sia says.
“Don’t tell me you are actually going to fall for this Thjis!”
Thjis ignored Rifera. “I’m not falling for anything. I do believe my son when he says that he would punish the girl. Now let the matter rest Rifera and get ready for the ceremony.”
“I refuse to be a part of such nonsense Thjis.”
“That’s too late for I have already put you in charge of the ceremony. Ruarc would give you a helping hand, and so will his brothers, Eleanor, Elvis and Thane.”
And with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the crowd.
…..
Beet red, Toreh dashed out of Eloive’s room. She paused a few feet away to catch her breath. She raised her hand and touched her lips. Good heavens! The prince had kissed her! And she liked it! But Toreh feared the expression in his eyes after she had pushed him away. Raw want and desire.
She shook her head, turning on her heel. It was all in her head. If anyone asks, this night never happened, and she never met the prince.