Return of the Pack’s Priest Chapter 06

Return of the Pack’s Priest Chapter 06

The mate-procession stretched for miles. At the front rode a white wolf. On its back sat a wolf-man wearing a crimson priest-robe, holding his head high.

Like he had descended from the highest mountain to claim the daughter of the mountain god.

Pack pups ran behind them, cheering.

“Betty is getting a mate!”

“Hand out the bond-candies!”

“The Moonflower has bloomed!”

“The Guardian has come to claim her!”

Amid the cheers and blessings, I walked toward the white wolf.

I looked up at him.

“You came.”

Liam immediately dropped his dignified expression.

His face flushed red.

He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

“Sorry. The mountain paths changed over the years. I almost lost my way.”

I smiled.

“Of course not.”

He grinned.

A little foolishly.

Like he didn’t know what to do next.

The older wolves laughed and pushed him forward.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Lift your Moon-mate onto the wolf!”

Liam’s ears turned red.

He jumped down from the white wolf and lifted me into his arms.

His hands were eager.

But impossibly gentle.

I held his hand as we sat on the wolf’s back.

For the first time… My heart felt at peace.

After years of waiting, this was the first time I had ever ridden on my mate’s white wolf.

And it felt right.

Completely right.

The procession passed the territory gate.

John was still there.

Frozen inside his vehicle.

His fingers gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

Eleanor ran out and opened his door. “John! Let’s go!”

But the vehicle didn’t move.

Instead, John shoved her away. Hard.

She fell to the ground.

Her knees scraped against the stone.

She stared in disbelief as John started the engine and chased after the procession.

“Mother! Look at John!”

Mrs. Smith’s expression turned ugly.

She stormed toward my mother.

“What is this? Your daughter is my son’s intended mate! How dare she form a bond with another wolf?”

“Couldn’t she wait? Is she so desperate that she already carries some stray wolf’s pup?”

My mother trembled.

But she remembered my words.

“Betty completed her tower yesterday. No mate-claim came.”

“According to Greenwood Pack law, she must form a mate bond with the Moon Guardian.”

“This is the Moon Goddess’s decree. It cannot be broken.”

Mrs. Smith sneered.

“Decree? She was my son’s intended mate for eleven years! She can’t simply bond with another wolf!”

“Call her back! I’ll forgive her. She can still be my daughter-in-law.”

So generous. Just like John.

But no one listened.

My mother turned away and led the Pack toward the Moon Temple.

The celebration continued.

Eleanor called out to the elders who once doted on her.

Not one stopped.

She stood alone. Crying.

“Mother… John left me?”

“Weren’t we supposed to make Betty bow her head after the bond was formed?”

“Weren’t we supposed to make her obey us?”

“The plan… Mother, what do we do now?”

For the first time, Mrs. Smith found Eleanor’s crying unbearable.

All their schemes had collapsed.

She stared at John’s fading vehicle, and a cold fear slowly filled her chest-if John couldn’t bring Betty

back…