It didn't take long for me to find out exactly what sort of ceremony Damon and Blaise had been cryptically talking about.
"Get up," one of the women barked, forcing me off the bed. I collapsed languidly on the ground, still drowsy with sleep.
"What…?"
The loud clink of the silver chains hitting the floor was what eventually snapped me entirely awake. I was finally freed from my prison. However, I barely even had the time to celebrate before I was lifted by my arms and dragged to the washroom.
"The Alpha and Beta are waiting for you," another woman said. Her tone was much softer and patient. Sympathy flashed across her face.
Only then did I properly look around. There were four women around, all werewolves, from the looks of it. Their grip on my arm was strong enough to snap my arm into two if I were any more fragile.
Alas, even without the silver handcuffs tying me down, there was no way I could escape.
I had to wait.
They stripped me and dunked me into a huge tub that was already filled with hot water and soap suds. I couldn't help but hiss when the heat enveloped my tender skin, but the women didn't even wait for me to get used to it before they began to scrub at my body with scratchy sponges.
"It's fine! I can do it myself!" I protested, trying to grab for a sponge, but they expertly moved away and dunked me into the tub, causing me to choke and splutter.
"We're under orders to clean you up," the first woman said fiercely, daring me to argue. "There must be no dirt on you for the ritual."
She punctuated her point by dragging the sponge hard down my back, causing me to yelp. But I caught the hint and stopped resisting, even as I was highly embarrassed by the way they washed every part of me― I could wash my own breasts and intimate area, but they didn't care that I had perfectly working hands. They used those scratchy brushes to rub against such sensitive places, causing me to squeal in embarrassment as I tried to shy away from them.
"It's clean! You don't have to!"
"Nonsense, we can smell your past arousal," one said bluntly, causing my face to bloom a bright red. It wasn't my fault; that was entirely the mate bond!
And I would have showered if I was given the opportunity.
However, it seemed like I was the only one embarrassed by my own reaction. The women wholly focused on their tasks while I tried not to flinch, my face turning redder at their ministrations.
At least they washed my hair. It was getting grimy and smelly after the past few days, and they even gave me a quick head massage, which did wonders for my mood. I could almost forget that I was a captive, if not for the chain marks around my wrists.
Of course, it was too good to last. After I had been clad in a warm bathrobe, smelling clean and fresh with my hair dried so that it looked thicker and more voluminous, one of the women brought out the outfit I was meant to wear for the mysterious ceremony.
I choked in disbelief.
"I can't wear this!" I stood up immediately, but they held my arms to prevent my escape.
"You don't have a choice," one woman said, looking with a slight pity in her eyes. "This is specially designed by the Alpha for you!"
"He's a goddamn pervert!" I screeched, and all of them growled at me in warning. "This isn't clothing!"
I reached out and nearly tore it from her hands. She hissed as if struck.
"You don't have a choice," the other woman parroted, this time with a lot less patience than the first. "If you destroy this one, the Alpha has already prepared other outfits for you. And they'll make this one look modest in comparison."
The last woman added, "If you destroy all of them, you'll take part in the ceremony naked. I must say, that'll certainly liven things up around here!"
"Susie!" One of them scolded, "This is no laughing matter!"
"But it'll be funny!" Susie protested, "Just imagine her outside with nothing on in front of the pack―"
"Fine! I'll wear it!" I burst out, interrupting her words. They could have been lying, but I wasn't going to take the chance in case they weren't. The brothers were sadistic enough that I had no doubt they would make me endure whatever torture they wanted to inflict on me in the nude.
Somehow, the very thought made me bite my lower lip. I couldn't help but recall how Damon and Blaise toyed with me when they visited. A strange want curled up within me, and I pressed my thighs closer together, failing to notice how the four women discreetly met each other's eyes.
In no time at all, I was wearing that offending outfit. I took a look in the mirror and sighed.
Truly as I thought, it couldn't be considered clothing.
It was a low-cut silk lingerie that revealed the tops of my breasts. Somehow, it was strong enough to push them forward, causing them to look even bigger than they actually were. To make matters worse, the silk ended a hair's breadth above my nipples, and there wasn't a lining inside.
If my nipples stiffened, everyone would be able to see them. What's more, I had to pull it up to make sure I wouldn't accidentally flash my breasts. To say nothing about moving. Forget making an escape attempt, I couldn't even raise my arms without my breasts popping out of this outfit!
This pack was supposed to be prosperous, but they couldn't even afford to add two shoulder straps to this outfit to give me more security.
If the top was preposterous, the bottom was even more so. The fabric cinched and clung to my waist and butt, but it couldn't even cover half of my butt completely. If there was even the slightest hint of wind in the air, I would be once again flashing everyone.
At least they were kind enough to actually provide underwear this time, no matter how flimsy it was. My new underwear was a white lace panty that seemed translucent under the light. It was doubtful how much protection it would offer, but it was better than nothing.
I'd bet it was designed by those perverted brothers.
That was bad enough, but there was still a final icing on the cake.
I was wearing a collar with a tiny bell on it. It rang mockingly whenever I moved, and I wanted nothing more than to tear it away from my throat.
"I'm not a pet!"