CLAIMED

24

Ezekiel stopped by Kazan's room, informing him about sovereign Sabre Red's arrival at the palace. But as much as Kazan wanted to go greet the man out of respect, he's not in a position to do so. Not right now, anyway. Not with how he's feeling. Kazan is so turned on to the point where it feels like he's going to die. And the stench of his arousal is highly noticeable too. Ezekiel even made a mocking comment about it. But he got it so bad, he couldn't even laugh.

Luckily, it's almost time for him to go do that two-hour oil and spice bath thingy at one of Grand Master Dorian's private villas. That is where the first stage of the ritual will take place tonight, before they leave the pack territory to complete it. Therefore, Kazan had to instruct Ziki to provide some excuse for his absence. He also told him to ensure that no one disturbs him for the rest of the day, and that goes for that bothersome Danica too.

Besides, even if Kazan showed up at the meet and greets, he would have to play nice with the elders as if all was well between them. He'd also have to pretend to be a good fiancé to that rotten princess in front of her father.

No, thank you. He already has enough on his plate with his own hormones.

After a few more hours of tossing about and groaning in frustration, it was finally time to prepare for the ritual. Elder Dorian came by his room just in time to escort him to his private villa, which took them a couple of minutes via super speed. And though Kazan didn't see her upon entering the villa, he could tell that the stray was here. Somewhere in the building.

Bloody hell, just her stench alone was enough to start a turmoil greater than that he had experienced earlier. And now he wanted nothing more than to go be with her. He even attempted to do so. But fortunately and unfortunately, Grand Master Dorian was there to stop him. Well, more like knocking him flat on his buttocks when he tried to superspeed to go find his stray.

Dorian then dragged Kazan to an open bath area. There, Kazan undressed upon the elder's instruction and dove into the small pool of oil and delightfully scented herbs that were already prepared for him. And the second he let the oil that was slightly heated devour him whole, there was instant peace throughout his body. All those raging hormones are decreasing at a rapid pace thanks to the magical effects of the oil bath. And as time went on, they were gone, more like suppressed.

When the two hours were up, Kazan got out of the pool and put on a golden robe handed to him by Elder Dorian. Afterwards, the two ventured into the woodlands outside the Azure Pack territory, meeting up with the stray at the agreed location to complete the ritual.

"Hey." Kazan waved at her like a love-struck teenage boy, but she ignored him to address the elder. Damn, that hurt.

"What took you so long?" Leah complained. She was in a bad mood all afternoon. After all, she had to suffer the pain of not having sex to give her some kind of release from these wretched hormones for hours. But that's not the only reason for this. The truth is, she is having second thoughts about this. And the closer the clock struck, the more she had cold feet. And now that she's here, ugh! "I don't have all night. Let's get this over with, shall we?"

"It will all be over soon." Dorian assured her. He then handed the bottle of elixir made from the rare magical herb that he took from his magic pouch to Kazan. "Here, drink this."

Kazan was very hesitant to drink the elixir. And not because it smells awful. He's scared—scared of losing the bond he shares with the stray.

Yes, it was awful at first to be bound to this savage woman, but she grew on him. "I don't want to do this."

"You have to, young sovereign, if you wish to be unclaimed and marry the princess in a few days from now. This has to be done." Dorian lectured.

"And what if I'm having a change of heart? What if I no longer have a problem with being claimed?" Kazan snapped. "I don't want to marry her. I want to be with the stray. My stray." His statement and the way he was looking at Leah pulled a string in her heart. His actions and words are also weakening her resolve.

"That's just her claim on you talking. Now hurry and drink the elixir. The faster this is done, the quicker things can get back to normal," Dorian urged him.

"But—"

"I know this is hard, pup." Leah caressed Kazan's cheeks, and it's like all his worries have disappeared. Someone has to be strong to see this through to the end. "But we have to do this for the safety of your pack."

"I know. But," he uttered, disheartened.

"Tell you what. If afterwards we still feel the same, then we see what happened next." She was trying to give him hope so that he would continue the ritual. But who is she kidding? Once her claim on him is undone, there is nothing binding them together. Their feelings will vanish without a trace. She will continue to live in the shadows, and he will be married to that brat of a princess and start a new family, perhaps.

Honestly, that bothers her. But if this goes well, it won't be for long.

"OK." Kazan sighed in defeat. He then drank the elixir, and as he was about to pass the bottle to Leah per Dorian's instructions, he started vomiting up blood. Then the next thing, he collapsed to the ground like someone having a seizure.