Chapter 9

Mary still stuck close and I was no longer angry with her. However, I tried to pick my words with her especially if everything was reported back to my parents.

On the other hand, during the brief moments she left me alone, I tried reaching out to the fox, asking if he could come by later that night.

Other than that, I was left with nothing to do but to cower in my room, with nowhere to run to.

The day ran by so quickly, by nightfall, I was doing all I could not to hyperventilate. I couldn’t sleep, and when I did, I had dreams of my life before this world.

My days at the orphanage, how I got myself through school. And finally graduated. The times I travelled all over, barely socializing but still having the time of my life, fucking the most eye candy men that met my eyes and tossing them aside the moment I had to move. My job was the best.

But as I woke up from that dream, I realized how short I lived. And how utterly unfulfilling it was. I was happy, comfortable in my manhwas and books and short-term sex partners. But apart from travelling that came with the job, did I truly live?

No, I didn’t.

However, I still missed my life. I would pick that over what was coming anytime. Tears rushed down my cheeks as Mary’s voice came as it usually does every morning. I clutched the marble harder, realizing that no matter how long I waited, the fox wouldn’t be coming.

“Rise and shine, my lady.” She beamed, excited and jumpy. I wiped my tears and hid the marble then forced a smile. More maids came in with her, more excited than she was. Swooning, chatting and all over the place as they forced me out of the bed and into the bathroom like hurricane.

I didn’t know what was happening till my clothes were off and I was being led to a bathtub filled with scented oils, rose petals and something calming.

I appreciated the bath, but their insistence to bathe me was nerve wrecking till someone started washing my hair. If I wasn’t getting claimed, then I might have been happy about this, and maybe even enjoyed it.

When I came out, my window was no longer barred and sunlight was coming in.

It was a beautifully dreadful day. But I wasn’t even allowed to feel like I could cry. I was forced to sit while someone took care of my hair. As that happened, someone else took care of my toenails and the other my hand.

“Do you think the heir would be gentle with our lady, tonight?” One of them giggled. I stiffened.

“I hope he is, it’s her first time.”

First time? First time for what?

“He looks like a complete brute though.”

“And I hear the bear clan are known for always using their muscles.”

“Don’t scare my lady, all of you.” Mary intervened and they all went quiet.

“Your first time wouldn’t hurt as much as you think.” Mary smiled, trying to reassure me. Dread tied the pit of my stomach.

Inara was a virgin.

Fuck.

I was going to lose my virginity twice. What kind of sick game was this?

“My lady…my lady…” someone grabbed my face.

“Breathe.” Mary’s face looked blurred. And I realized I had not been breathing.

“Breathe, my lady.”

The gravity of the situation was beginning to get to me.

I really was going to be claimed.

This is how it ends. My hands trembled and the place turned quiet.

“The bear clan aren’t as bad as the rumors says.” Mary squatted down in front of me.

“I hear they like to cuddle and are rather big babies to those they cherish.”

“I hear they are overprotective of their loved ones and would harm anyone who tries to bring them harm.” Another maid entered.

“We shouldn’t judge them before even meeting them.” Another added.

Yes, they were right.

Knox and his family looked like total scumbags last time but what if they were nicer, what if I could change their view of things? Maybe, make him fall in love with me. He wouldn’t hurt me if he loved me, right?

If I was going to be claimed either way, this might be the only way I would survive.

I took a deep breath in. Then out.

Then I turned to my maids. They looked genuinely worried.

“Sorry.” I pushed out a nervous smile.

“It’s alright my lady. I would be nervous too.”

“Excited but nervous.”

Silence.

Then they busted out giggling. I couldn’t help but join in.

Once my nails were done, and my hair was dry, I was forced to eat.

As I ate, I heard the chaos happening outside. Maids, guards, my mother, the sound of carriages. I tried not to think about them since I couldn’t escape this. I just had to adapt and focus on my new goal.

With Mary finally satisfied, I was finally able to see my dress.

It wasn’t white as I expected.

Of course, not, it wasn’t a wedding.

But a peach-colored long dress that melted like butter against my skin. It was the most beautiful and comfortable piece of clothing I had ever worn. With a deep neckline that revealed the depth of my breast, it clung to my skin, curves and deeps like it was made for it. Two slits ran from the hips to my foot. It was a beautiful dress, but it was a dress made to reveal the pecs I had like I was a goods for auction.

The slit was too high, my legs, breast and back were exposed and the fabric was so soft, anyone could see through.

“Is there more?” I turned to Mary. Her smile broke.

“More what?”

“Is this all of the dress?”

She frowned and so did the other maids.

“Yes, my lady.” 

I frowned.

“Can I wear something else?”

“This dress was made especially for today. I am sorry it isn’t to your liking, my lady but I don’t think your parents will let you change into something else.”

Great.

They went on to pack my hair into an updo, revealing my back and neck, then added jewelry. Simple jewelry to highlight the look. Then I wore a pair of heels.

Once everything was done, I asked to be left alone and stared at myself once more in front of the mirror. I couldn’t recognize myself.

But of course, Inara wasn’t me.

What happened to her?

But more than that, I couldn’t see the woman that I knew I was. My chest hurt. The helplessness was like bitter acid in the back of my throat.

I hated this.

Maybe, I could still run away.

That thought was interrupted by someone walking into my room.

I jumped up at the sight of the Marquis and his wife.

She smiled at me, closing the distance between us and cupping my cheeks.

“Beasts, I am going to miss you.” She pulled me into a hug. Tears blurred my vision, and I hugged her back. Not sure why, maybe, I needed the contact with another flesh, or maybe it was finally dawning on me that I was no longer Victoria Edward but Inara Bloomwood. And my life was changing in a trajectory that I had no hand in.

She pulled away, wiped her tears and returned back to the Marquis’ side. I blinked my tears away and squared my shoulder, meeting his eyes. They were just as cold as I recalled. And I found him disgusting enough to shudder. He ran his eyes over me and nodded.

“The event will be starting soon.” He started.

“The guards will bring you to the hall at the back of the garden when it’s time.”

I lowered my gaze.

“Yes father.”

Silence hit us for a moment. Him watching me and me holding back the emotions and protests unfurling inside of me.

“You are a Bloomwood.” He suddenly entered.

“We might be human, but you are still the daughter of a Marquis and the princess of the East.”

“Do not do anything stupid and bring disgrace to me.” He walked away while my mother pulled me into another hug and left.

I slumped back on the bed, my chest rising and falling.

I still could not believe that this was happening. Maybe, there was still time, I could still escape. I turned to my window and shrank back immediately I saw the guests, maids and guards gathered around the back.

Not from there.

I turned to the door and the moment I pulled it open, two guards blocked it.

My heart sank. I shut the door with a frustrated bang and turned back to my bed.

The door suddenly busted open. My heart skipped and I turned around only to be faced with familiar brown eyes.

“Knox…” his name caught in my throat. He smiled, wide and big. Then sauntered into the room like a boulder that he was. I staggered back, the sheer size of him, terrifying. His eyes ran all over my body like he already owned it and something flashed them.

I shrank back. My heart was beginning to race.

“W..what are you doing here?”

“What else? To see my bride.” He closed the distance between us. I could hear my heart in my ears even as I craned my neck to meet his eyes. And maybe, he could hear it too. Or smell the sheer need to run that suddenly overwhelmed me.

He held my chin, forcing me to keep my eyes on him.

“Heard you were throwing a tantrum.”

I froze.

“For someone who didn’t want to be claimed, you sure look ready to bend over.” He leaned down. I pushed against him but he was as hard and as unmoving as a rock and I fell on the bed instead.

His eyes flashed again. This time, a sharp red. If my heart was racing before, now it was violent. I tried to get up but he was on me before I could move.

“W..what are you doing?” Panic shriveled my voice. He chuckled. Deep, mocking.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen here.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on something huge and hard.

“But just so you know, I can’t wait for this stupid ceremony to be over.”

It pulsed. I recoiled realizing it was his dick.

He chuckled again and got up.

“Better make sure your virgin cunt is ready. I won’t be gentle.”

My heart stopped.

“And you better drop any idea of trying to escape me.”

“I will tear you to shred myself if you do.”