<h4>Chapter 798 - THE DAY OF THE CEREMONY (11)</h4>


    "Jedrek, why would you let them do that to you?" Lc ran her fingers on the burning skin on Jedrek''s left shoulder, which was now seared with a symbol of lc flower. Her brows creased tightly.


    Jedrek was wearing his white robe now, but from their proximity, his mate could see the symbol on his skin and looked very worried about it.


    The rod was made of silver, so even the skin around it had starting to heal, the burns that formed a lc flower would be etched forever on his skin.


    "This is part of the ceremony," Jedrek said, tucking a strand of Lc''s hair behind her ear.


    "This is cruel," Lc said through gritted teeth. She didn''t like it, not even a little bit, though the symbol on Jedrek''s left shoulder represented her.


    "This is not a big deal," Jedrek grabbed Lc''s hand and pulled her toward their chamber.


    The guests had already dispersed and the night began to fall deeper as the moon shone brightly in the dark sky. All the omegas and the servants had already begun to exit and started to help clean up the ceremony.


    "Shall we go back to our room too?" Torak stood up and offered his hand to help Raine up.


    "I want to walk in the yard for a while, is that okay?" Raine asked timidly, she looked around her and saw that there were only a few people that stayed behind and were busy chatting with each other.


    The ceremonypletion was marked by the release of continous lively fireworks and afterward, everything gradually became less hectic than before.


    "Of course," Torak kissed Raine''s temple and guided her to the other side of the door, which led to the front yard.


    "I am d that you don''t have to do this kind of ceremony," Raine said softly, feeling the night breeze that softly brushed her skin. The image when Torak brandished that hot rod against Jedrek''s shoulder still engrained deeply in her mind. She couldn''t imagine if it was Torak. "I wouldn''t want you to do that, no matter what you said." Raine sounded unreasonably stubborn when she said that.


    Torak smiled softly at her and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, to keep her warm.


    "Well, it means you still want a ceremony, but without a hot rod, am I correct?" Torak asked her yfully. "Once we ended this madness, we will have one, what do you think?"


    Raine nced at Torak and at the same time the Alpha winked at her teasingly. Sheughed upon seeing that gesture and hugged him. She loved this man.


    "Okay," she said solemnly.


    ==============


    "We look like beggars," Hopeined when she saw her, once beautiful dress, had now turned into a mess, covered with a lot of dirty and mud, not to mention the fabric which Kace had ripped off earlier in order to help her move freely.


    Hope nced at Kace, who didn''t look any better himself, his clothes were all tattered and burned.


    "Nonsense," Kace scoffed. "There is no beggar as beautiful as you," he winked at Hope yfully.


    "Of course, I am beautiful," Hope replied arrogantly and puffed her chest, as she twirled a strand of her hair coquettishly and winked back at Kace.


    The lycanughed at her gesture and tousled her hair instead, messing up her already messy hair.


    "Well, there is no beggar as handsome as me, too," he said proudly andughed even louder when he saw Hope rolling her eyes.


    "You are always full of yourself," she criticized him.


    The moonlight lit up their path, thus it was not difficult for them to walk through the dense trees in thisfortable silence, listening to the sound of crickets or the rustling leaves when the wind blew.


    "What are you doing?" Hope asked with a frown when she saw that Kace was actually tearing his already tattered clothes.


    "This is morefortable," Kace said as he threw away his clothes and walked shirtless.


    "You have no shame," Hope murmured, but she nced at his perfect body once again to observe how perfect he was.


    "What?" Kace pinched her soft cheek and stood in front of her, blocking her view from the world except him. "So, you, who would steal nces at me every now and them, have a shame?" he asked, challenging her yfully.


    "I don''t have this peculiar habit of walking shirtless," Hope pointed out and swatted Kace''s hand from her cheek. She could visibly see how Kace stiffened for a moment and soon after heard a faint growl rumbling from his throat.


    "I will sew the dress onto your skin, if you dare to do that," he said dangerously.


    Upon seeing his mood turn sour, Hopeughed and tiptoed to peck on his lips. "You will never do that, you know that I don''t like needles," she said.


    Kace cupped her face and kissed her again while saying; "Well, I will lock you up inside our room for the rest of your life then," in between their kisses.


    ==============


    "We need to treat the burns, it looks very painful," Lc grimaced when Jedrek took off his robe and showed her his bare shoulder.


    Now, when she saw it again, the symbol appeared clearer since the skin around it began to heal.


    "I feel just fine," Jedrek said lightly.


    "Jedrek, please. We need to call a healer to look at your wound," Lc implored. She couldn''t feel at ease, as her eyes would unconsciouslynd on his shoulder for every few seconds and made her feel ufortable.


    "There is no need for that," Jedrek walked closer toward Lc and sat down beside her, pressing a soft kiss below her ear.


    Her body stiffened when Jedrek whispered in to her ear as his hot breath brushed against her skin.


    "I want you to bear my mark too," he confessed.


    Lc looked down, biting her lips nervously. She felt her heart fluttering when she heard that.


    At this point of time, the atmosphere suddenly became thick and awkward, at least that was what Lc felt.


    As their bond was strengthening, their need for each other became vivid. They wanted to be near each other all the time.


    These new emotions that consumed the two of them were so raw and uncharted.


    "I want you to mark me too," Lc said softly.