Isadora was scared as Lycan Asher dragged her through the dark hallways. He held her arm tightly, and she struggled to keep up with his long steps.
Where was he taking her?
What did he mean by "Mating process"? She remembered what the mysterious lady earlier at the party said: " You won't survive the wedding night….."
They reached a big fancy door, and Lycan Asher pushed it open. He pulled her inside, and she saw a big bed in the middle of the room. The curtains were open, and it looked like skeleton fingers.
The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering like fireflies. The air was filled with a strange smell that made Isadora feel sick.
Lycan Asher let go of her arm and turned to face her. His eyes burned with intensity.
" We will finish the mating process tonight," he growled in a low, mean voice. " And once we're done, you might not survive the night."
Hearing the word that she might not survive the night, Isadora felt a lump in her throat and sweat clouded her forehead. Gathering the courage to speak up, Isadora started, since there was silence inside the room, "Why exactly are you getting married when you know that all your brides will be dead after the mating process?" Isadora asked, she just couldn't get why.
"You really want to know? Huh?" Lycan Asher's dark voice asked as he looked at her, his eyes almost boring a hole in her soul.
"Yes, I want to know, at least before I die, so I won't die in vain," Isadora said. She didn't know where the boldness came from, but she was not as afraid as she was when she first came to the pack.
"I am cursed," Lycan Asher said casually, like what he just said didn't mean anything.
"And why is that? Who cursed you?" Isadora bombarded him with questions as her curiosity was getting the best of her.
"Who else, if not the Moon goddess?" He chuckled.
"Is that because you're a hybrid, a mix of dragon and Lycanthropy?" Isadora asked, this time her voice low.
"Yeah, it is said that all my brides are bound to die except for my fated mate, who would survive the mating process and come out alive," Lycan Asher said and faced Isadora, whose heart skipped a beat when his gaze fell on her.
"I have answered your questions, now let's get down to the mating process. I have no time to waste."
Isadora stood still, not knowing what to do first, which made Lycan Asher's eyes darken. "You're just so naive, and I hate it so much!" He growled angrily, while Isadora gripped her wedding gown tightly.
"What am I supposed to do? I know absolutely nothing about mating since I haven't found my mate yet," Isadora mumbled, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Okay then, I should teach you," Lycan Asher said, sitting on the sofa inside the room, his eyes fixed on Isadora.
"Take off your dress," his voice was commanding, leaving Isadora no option but to obey. She took off the dress slowly, with her face down. "Why don't you look at me? You might not get the privilege to do that again, since you might not survive the mating process," Lycan Asher said, his voice dripping with mockery, but Isadora said nothing as she continued taking off all her clothes. "I am done."
Left with only her bra and panties, Isadora's eyes met his, which were dripping with lust and desires, almost getting her choked.
"Now, get on the bed," he commanded, and she did exactly that, with her eyes shut. Lycan Asher stood up from the sofa, took off his own clothes, and came on top of Isadora. "Any last prayer?" He asked, this time his voice was extremely deep as he stared at her pretty face, which was shut tightly.
"I don't need one, as long as my pack is in good health and abundance, there's nothing more for me to pray about," Isadora muttered. "Cool, you have a sense of responsibility, and I like that."
As he stared as Isadora, his eyes blazed with intensity.
" You're mine now, Isadora," he growled, his voice low and menacing. " And I'll make sure you understand that."
Isadora trembled with fear, expecting the worst. But Lycan Asher surprised her.
Instead of attacking her, he started to kiss her softly, his lips gentle on her skin. She felt strange sensation wash over her, as if her body was responding to his touch.
Lycan Asher pulled back and looked at her, his eyes searching. " You're different, Isadora," he said, his voice filled with wonder. " You're not like the others."
Isadora didn't know what he meant, but she didn't care. She was too busy trying to survive. She lay still, pretending to surrender, and Lycan Asher took it as a sign to continue.
He kissed her again, and this time, his touch was more insistent. Isadora felt a a strange energy building inside her, as if her body was awakening to something new. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew she couldn't fight it.
.
.
.
The mating process was intense, but it wasn't painful. In fact, it was almost … enjoyable. Isadora felt a a sense of pleasure she never experienced before, as if her body was designed for this moment.
When it was over, Lycan Asher lay beside her, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
He was also surprised. By now, he would have ordered for the dead body of his new bride to be taken away and returned to whatever pack she came from, but for the first time, his bride didn't die.
Isadora looked at him, surprised. She had expected to die, but instead, she felt very much alive.
" Why didn't I die?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lycan Asher looked at her, his eyes filled with surprised. " You're not like others," he continued. " I think, you're my fated mate."
Isadora was shot of words as she didn't know what to say. She was still trying to process what had happened. But one thing was certain - she was determined to make the most of it.
NEXT DAY
The maids and guards responsible for clearing the dead bodies of Lycan Asher's previous brides were expecting to be called, as always, but they didn't hear anything, which got them extremely surprised. Soon, Old Luna, who was already anxious, came all the way from her chambers to Isadora's chambers to find out what was going on.
"Is the new bride dead?" Old Luna asked one of the guards who stood in front of Isadora's door.
"We're not sure yet, Old Luna. Lycan Dragon King hasn't called for us to take her dead body out yet," the guard replied with respect.
"What could be going on?" Old Luna pondered as she walked back and forth in front of the door, contemplating what to do. Finally, she decided to mind-link Lycan Asher to know what was going on, because her patience was already running out. But to her surprise, Lycan Asher kept declining the mind-link, which got Old Luna more suspicious than worried.
...….
When the sun, streaming through the slip in the drapes, came into contact with Isadora's eyes, she groaned tiredly but opened her eyes nevertheless. Looking around the room, which was painted all black, she thought she was in hell.
"Am I dead already?" She mumbled to herself and turned to the other side of the bed, but Lycan Asher was nowhere to be found. "So I really died," she mumbled as tears welled up in her eyes, but the tears stopped midway when the door to the bathroom creaked open and Lycan Asher, clad in a towel around his lower abdomen, walked in, looking extremely handsome, like the devil himself.
"Wait. Did I go to hell with him?" Isadora mumbled.
"No, you're alive, which only meant one thing," Lycan Asher spoke in his usual deep voice. "You're my fated mate." He said and walked into the dressing room.
"What? I didn't die because I'm his fated mate?" Isadora mumbled with wide eyes. She was still speaking to herself when the door burst open, and Old Luna rushed in.
"Good morning, Old …" The remaining words got stuck in her throat when Old Luna glared daggers at her.
"How dare you live? You should have died!" She glared, her voice filled with hatred towards Isadora, who fell speechless.
"Mother, don't you dare speak to my mate like that. I know you've always wanted me to remain cursed forever, but sorry to burst your bubbles, she broke the curse yesterday when I disvirgined her," Lycan Asher said as he came out of the dressing room fully dressed.
"No one, not even you, has the right to disrespect her. But if you try … you won't live to tell the story." With that said, he left the room.