Chapter 10 “ Purification” 

The next morning was moving in slow motion. Audrea came in with my breakfast tray and then jumped on my bed to wake me up. She asked excitedly, "So give me all the deets. I got to know what you talked about and what you did after supper." I just looked at her and said, "Well, he took me to a fancy French restaurant and he had to order for me since I can not read French. You know I need to learn it. After dinner we talked briefly about our families and the things that are about to happen. After that is none of you business." Well, what time did you get home last night? I stayed up so we could talk but fell asleep so dad had Andrew carry me to my room."she asked. " You are full of questions this morning, aren't you? I got home around 2 am and would've appreciated a few more  hours of sleep. But, I know you. You have to live vicariously through others." I laughed and she just tilted her head. 

"It is time for you to start your purification," She smirked, " And I do not live off of what others do, just my soaps." She stuck out her tongue, and I stuck mine out too. We laughed so hard she almost fell off my bed. 

"For breakfast this morning, You have two hard boiled eggs and dry toast." She said proudly. I scrunched up my nose and said," eww!" " I know you don't like eggs but this is what you have to have according to your mom till the full moon ritual. For lunch you will be having a spinach salad with walnuts for protein and fresh fruit. Before you ask, no you can not have any pop only water. The priestess said you have to clean out any impurities. Supper will be a plain grilled chicken breast with a small green salad." I looked at her and said," What does she think I am? I am a wolf I need my meat." We laughed even more, so much that I started to cry. 

Now my mom came in and said,``You are not dressed yet. We have a lot to do and only a few days in which to do it." " Ok mom," I said as I rolled my eyes. I may be my mother's girl but I was frowned and if she knew what happened last night she might push to have the ritual sooner. But it has always taken placed on a full moon.

I got up and forced down the eggs and toast, at least I still got some coffee. I got dressed in the clothes that she laid out for me and we went down stairs. Dad was waiting by the banister as we came down. I looked at him and asked," Does Jack have to go through all of this stuff too." He looked at me and said, "Not to sound sexest but no. Men do not go through all of this. We have our own rites we have to do but not like girls do. Not as intense." "Dad," I almost yelled, " then why do I have to do all this if all he has to do is take a shower and shave?" Mom looked at me and said, " the reason why you have to go through all of this is because the girl is supposed to be pure and cleansed. The guys I guess they expect them to have already, You know, had experience." My mom winked at my dad. 

I went out to the courtyard where the ceremony will be taking place and was told to stand in the middle. The priestess came out a started to throw rose petals around my feet. Others joined in and started chanting. After about two hours they left and the priestess came over to talk to me. She said, "okay, we will do this again tomorrow and again until the time for the full moon ritual." At this I grimaced."I know that this may not be fun, but it has to be done. It signifies the beginning of your purification." She said, " If you have any questions you may ask me at any time." "Ok," I said. 

After we got done with this I had to go bath in a hot bath find with fragrant oils. I was. To do this every day at the same time everyday. I was not only to cleanse the inside but outside too. This in a sense was to purify me. The diet alone was enough but to bathe everyday was weird. I was undressed by servants of the goddess and led in to the pool of steaming water. They then scrubbed my skin till it felt raw to touch and then they led me out and placed a white robe around me. I was then led to a small room were there was nothing but a table with a hole in one end. 

A small lady came in and told me to lay down on my stomach and cover with a sheet that she handed me then she left. I did as I was asked. I took off the robe and lay face down on the table. I covered the best I could with the sheet. There was a soft knock on the door and someone walked in I did not look up and I was getting very tired and was about to fall asleep. The person squirted something on my back and started to rub. There was a scent that drifted to me but I was unable to identify it. As the person massaged my back and legs I fell asleep. I was woken up by a young girl about my age maybe less. She said, Wrap the sheet around you and follow me. So I did. 

After a long day of following orders from a bunch of different people I was allowed to put back on my own clothes and told not to bathe until the ritual was over. I was not looking forward to doing this for the rest of the week. 

As the week was drawing to an end and I was probably 10 pounds lighter, I was told that the full moon this week end was to be a spiritual one as it was to be a blood moon. I had only read about them and was looking forward to seeing one. The servants came and told me that they had to make a small change in the purification ritual since it was to be a blood moon and the wolves heat would be at their highest. Most of the women would have to watched closely as the heat was the time that they could conceive and become pregnant. Just what I needed. Jack and I was expected to do the deed after everyone left and we would know without a doubt that within the year we would have pups. I was not ready to have kids yet. I know what will happen if Jack and I are left alone for even one minute. We had one date and even then we could help ourselves.  It is the only part of the ceremony I was looking forward too. It will be the time that we will mark each other and then it will be left up to the goddess as to what happens. 

The servants were told to watch me close so I could not sneak away to see Jack. I so wanted to feel his touch. If the servants do not keep a close eye on me, I might just jump out the window. Jack and I were allowed to talk on the phone but that was it and it was trying our patience.

Boris had came over one day with Jack in tow so they could sign some papers drawn up. Dad had one of the men in his firm write out the agreement for him and he sent a copy to Boris to read over and to make any changes that they saw fit. I do not know if there were any changes made. The papers were drawn up according to the specifications decided between my dad and him. As they were headed to my dad's study Jack looked at me and winked. 

He stopped long enough to ask if he could come and talk to me and my dad said, " Ok, Hurry we need to get this over with as soon as possible." "Yes sir, I will do."Jack replied as he walked to where I was sitting on the couch reading. He sat down next to me and put his hand on my knee to get my attention.

I looked up at him and asked, "What do you want?" He looked at me and smiled, " I just wanted to say hi and see if you are ready for tomorrow." "I am nervous but my mom has been answering a lot of questions for me. So, I guess so. There has been so much going on to prepare that I just do not know if I am coming or going. This is the first time I have got any time to myself. I am still being watched though." " Well, I have to go now, see you tomorrow," He said. " I'll be there at midnight with bells on," I said as I smiled, " looking forward to it." He got up and walked to my dad's study.

"Danniel's POV"

Boris and I went to the study while Jack went over to see my daughter. I poured us some bourbon and handed him a glass. "Thank you ," Boris said, "Just what I need to wet the old whistle." He held up the glass and so did I. There was a knock on the door and I opened it. Jack came in and I poured him a glass also. " Ok, let's get down to business," I said. Boris rubbed his hands together like he was cold. Jack said, " Where are the papers I want to get this over with as soon as possible. I want to get some rest before tomorrow." I handed him and his grandfather a copy of the papers to read.

After reading we each signed one of the copies and I faxed them to the main office where I had a lawyer waiting to sign his name. After adding his name he then handed them to the courier to hand deliver them back to me. I know faxing would have been faster but lawyer had to make copies with our names on them , and notarize each one with a seal stamp. While we were waiting I asked jack and his grandfather to join me in the dining room for some lunch. 

As we were on the way to the dining room Isabel and my wife joined us. Everyone in the pack house was there also. So I decided to make the announcement that has everyone talking lately. " Everyone please give me your undivided attention. As you all know we have been preparing for a mating ritual. The ritual will take place tomorrow night during the full moon at midnight. You all know that as part of this mating ritual we have also signed a treaty with the Wildwood Pack. So to end all the stories going around. My daughter, Isabel Williams of the Rosewood Pack will be joining with Jack Fitzpatrick of the Wildwood Pack. The day after tomorrow we will have a celebration for this joining but until then please be respectful of the work going on to finish the preparations. Thank you, you may resume your lunches." 

"Lizabeth's POV"

"Dear please sit down and let's enjoy the rest of our lunch before it gets cold," I asked with my hand on his. Danniel looked down at me and said,"Ok, I am just trying to make sure that the pack knows what is fixing to happen. It is not everyday that our lovely daughter finds the person that she will spend the rest of her life with." " I know, I know,' I replied, "but your lunch is getting cold and I know how you hate it if it is cold. So Boris how have you been? I am sorry I was unable to greet you at the door when you arrived. What with all the things going on and all." He looked up from his bowl of soup and said as he wiped his mouth, " I am doing fine lately , and it is ok that you were unable to greet me. I understand there are a lot of things you have to attend to for the ceremony tomorrow. I remember when I was first mated, my wife and I were so in love. We just could not wait till we were joined to begin our family."  "Grandfather," Isabel said not thinking. Boris smiled through gritted teeth. " Was the prep for the ritual this labor intensive when you got married our is just for me," Isabel asked. Jack looked at her and whispered in her ear," Isabel why did you call him that he hates it. You either call him sir or alpha." She whispered back, " Sorry, no one told me mom and dad would not be offended if you called them mom or dad. I will try to remember that though for the future." 

"Sir, sorry I meant no disrespect to you. I look forward to joining your family and your family joining mine. I just want to see if your wife had to go through all that I have had to." Boris laughed, " I would not know what she had to go through those things are kept among the women and passed down from mother to daughter."