Bush Tea

Aubrianne looked up to the ceiling. Even though she'd said it in her mind, she was slightly embarrassed about shouting, what's the big deal?

When it WAS a massive deal for her mate.

"Yes?" Zayne's head turned toward her as he searched her face. Maybe this was his moment to reason with her and get the chance to explain things a bit better to her.

Zayne hoped she would understand.

However, he could not help but be curious and wonder what Aubrianne was about to say. Was she already choosing him and his people, given her attire?

Aubrianne's eyebrows pinched. Determination took over her features as she held her mate's gaze.

"We will do the ceremony…" Well, obviously, Zayne immediately thought, of course they were doing the ceremony. SHE was his Luna, nothing was about to stop that reality.

Nevertheless, he was interested to know where his gorgeous mate was heading.

I realize how much this means to you." Aubrianne spoke, then added, "And your people…who are soon to be our people... plus, I understand that its tradition."

She pressed his chest at 'our people,' as if to stress on her words. "Really, baby?" Zayne sat up, tilting his head, and looked at her, excited and amazed. Wow, and here he was, grappling with how to start the conversation because earlier he had been willing to throw it all away. And now he knew he could not waver.

But the thing is, he would do anything for her, so it was so nice to see her willing to do things for him, also. It meant the world to Zayne.

Aubrianne had gone on to explain her talks with some of the elder folks, how she'd learned of their ways, and that it had not been done in ages.

And she had expressed how she was sorry for trying to push him, and that she was happy to do that for him.

Zayne had told her there was nothing to apologize for and Aubrianne had insisted.

The fact that she had agreed, was everything to him, and now Zayne was ready to have the ceremony, mark, and claim his true Luna. It was about d@mn time!

Nevertheless, Zayne had sprung up and quickly jumped into action as he knew what the knock was about.

The day of prepping was about to begin.

"Oh baby, they are here and we need to get ready." Zayne said in a hurried, but hushed tone.

"Babe, who is here?" Aubrianne, lying on her back, rose on her elbows, her features curious, her hair rumpled.

"The ones who will be taking us through our day until we meet again tonight for the ceremony," Zayne hurriedly explained, as he pulled out a change of clothes and started on Aubrianne's luggage.

"Babe? I don't get to see you for the day?" Aubrianne asked, her tone a bit disturbed that she would not see him the entire day.

"Yip, it is part of the tradition," Zayne explained as he now held up options for Aubrianne.

Aubrianne sighed, "Ok." She then stretched and rose off the bed, she took over for her mate, found a change of clothes, and then jumped in the shower. She did not know precisely what this day entailed. However, she would at least brush her teeth and bathe.

Zayne had joined her. While she showered, he flossed, brushed his teeth, and joined her in the shower.

Soon they were ready to start their day.

Outside Zayne's home, a male and female elder stood along with four attendants.

The female leader explains, "Good morning again, Alpha and our Luna to-be, even though I already consider you my Luna." She said the last part, her eyes twinkling at Aubrianne, then she bowed and smiled warmly at Zayne and Aubrianne.

"Hello, Cynthia," Zayne acknowledged, and she continued, "Elder Marcus and his two male attendants are here for you, and I along with my two female attendants, are here for our Luna."

The male attendants and Elder would be with Zayne all day, while the two female attendants with the female Elder would be with Aubrianne all day.

Aubrianne was surprised as she wondered what was in store for her today, "Ok, let's do it then, shall we?" She eagerly chirped.

There were separate jeeps out front, one for Zayne and the other for Aubrianne.

I miss you already," Aubrianne whispered into Zayne's chest as she hugged him when his finger gently reached her chin and guided her to look up at him, and he went in and claimed her lips in a soft and sweet kiss.

"Me, too.” Zayne acknowledged he was already missing her and would miss her today.

Zayne and his team then got into one of the waiting black jeeps. He was in the front passenger seat, there was a driver, so the others sat in the back.

Aubrianne did the same in her vehicle, getting into the front passenger seat.

They pulled up to the training grounds, and Aubrianne soon found that one of the facility's downstairs areas was wholly transformed into sections.

And it was split right down the middle. Well, at least they would be close to each other, Aubrianne thought.

Nevertheless, Elder Cynthia had led Aubrianne to her section. While Elder Marcus whisks Zayne away, their attendants follow.

Aubrianne opened the first door and was immediately surprised to see a sauna, a bench on the left and right walls, and another door straight ahead leading to somewhere else.

"The first stop is the sauna," Elder Cynthia said.

"Ok, this is nice," Aubrianne answered. The interior was a burnt orange wooden finish, and the benches looked plush. There was a step-up stool next to the bench.

“You have met my attendants, Mia and Josie. They are here to assist and take care of you every step of the way... First up, I need you to undress and lay on the towel."

Soon Jose, the tall and slender one with blonde hair and brown eyes, quickly moved to grab a towel from a small cabinet attached to the wall on the left entrance, and she spread it on the bench.

“You lie on your back for twenty minutes, then turn on your stomach and lie for another twenty minutes.” Josie spoke this time, her tone gentle and kind.

Aubrianne nodded.

"We would be in the other room, and when the forty minutes are up, Mia would come to get you… Your task here is to empty your mind and relax your body." Cynthia paused to ensure Aubrianne was following.

"When you are finished, put on one of the white robes." Cynthia gestured to the white robes. “And we will see you when you are finished with this step.”

'Ok, I could do this,’ Aubrianne thought, and as they excused themselves, she followed through.

She got naked and laid on her back, clearing her mind, which, surprisingly, was not hard. She stayed for the allotted time and did the same on her tummy, enjoying the rejuvenating feeling that flowed through her body.

Soon Aubrianne wrapped herself in the robe suggested, and Mia opened the door and welcomed Aubrianne to the next step.

Mia was short, slim-thick, with gray eyes and black hair.

It was a breakfast spread. "This," Cynthia got up and she swept her hand over the spread, "is a breakfast spread filled with the needed ingredients to help assist with a healthy conception." Elder Cynthia beamed excitedly, “for an heir.” She finished clutching her heart tenderly.

While Aubrianne fought to maintain her composure and not offend these people, but say WHAT? Who was ready for kids? She certainly was not. She had her career.

Of course, if she got pregnant, she would have her baby with her mate, but that does not mean she was interested in partaking in anything that ensured conception.

And what the hell was in that breakfast? "And what kind of ingredients are we talking about?" Aubrianne asked curiously. Her voice held a sense of hesitation and caution.

"Just some things rich with calories and supplements rich with multivitamins, food cooked in extra virgin olive oil, vegetables rich in protein, rich milk for tea, and a special drink."

"And what's the special drink?" Aubrianne inquired, her tone skeptical.

"It is a unique drink consisting of the same type of components as breakfast, including some herbs. Some would call it a type of bush tea. The herbs are meant to cleanse your insides, including saturating your womb."

"Ah, I see,” Aubrianne's tone sounded far away as she finally sat by the table of the spread fit for a king and dove right in. There was no denying she was hungry, but she was hesitating a bit, her mind still on Cynthia's explanation about the drink.