Return of the Pack’s Priest Chapter 09

Return of the Pack’s Priest Chapter 09

After the bonding ceremony, the territory returned to peaceful days.

Every morning before dawn, Liam rose to sweep the Moon Temple courtyard.

The soft sound of the broom against stone always woke me gently.

He would leave breakfast on the table.

Covered with a wooden bowl to keep it warm.

Then he would go out to help the Pack.

Slowly, I learned everything he had done over the years.

He had repaired the Moonstone road at the territory entrance.

He had fixed Mrs. Harrison’s roof.

When the great winter storm arrived, he carried food supplies to every den.

For half a month, he survived on dried rations alone.

Whenever Pack members passed him, they always stopped.

They lowered their heads respectfully.

“Liam.”

My mother came to visit one day.

She sat in the courtyard and watched Liam chop wood.

After a long silence, she spoke.

“You’ve returned.”

“What?”

“To who you were before you left for school.”

I understood what she meant.

No more waiting for calls.

No more guessing.

No more fear whenever Eleanor appeared.

Life becaine so quiet…

I could hear my own heartbeat.

John appeared two weeks later.

He did not knock.

He simply stood beneath the old locust tree outside the Moon Temple.

I saw him when I came out to empty the water bucket.

He looked thinner.

His wolf form had weakened.

His former arrogance was gone.

“Betty.”

His voice was hoarse.

He stepped forward.

“Can we talk?”

I stepped back.

He stopped immediately.

His eyes searched my face.

Finally, he forced out, “I sent Eleanor away. She is no longer in Greenwood Pack. I told my mother that if she interferes again, she will be expelled from my territory.”

He took a deep breath.

“I know I was wrong. I thought you would always wait.”

“Every time you became angry, I thought you would calm down the next day. Every time you said you

wanted to break the bond… I thought you would change your mind.”

“I understand now, Betty. Give me one more chance.”

“I can wait-however long it takes. I don’t care. I don’t care that you formed a bond with Liam.”

“Come back. We can start over. Whatever you want-mate marks, Moon blessings, everything I owed you.”

I laughed. “You don’t care?”

He froze.

I placed the bucket down.

“But I do. I care that every time, you stood on her side.”

“That you stripped me before the entire Pack. That you locked me in the arena. That every year you came to Greenwood Pack and never once entered my yard.”

His face drained of color.

“Betty…”

I looked at him.

My voice was calm.

“When you say you don’t care… do you really believe that something you refused to give me means no other wolf deserves to give it to me? Liam gave me mate-gifts.”

“A Moon-blessed bonding ceremony. A home where I never have to wait. He doesn’t need to say he doesn’t care-because when he met me… your name had not even entered my life.”

John stood beneath the locust tree.

Silent.

I picked up the bucket.

“John. Go home. I don’t hate you for what happened not because I forgave you, but because I am finally

done.”

I turned around. Liam stood at the temple entrance, quietly watching.

He walked over, took the bucket from my hands, then held my hand-his palm warm, calloused, but gentle.

Behind us, John’s broken voice sounded. “Betty…”