Chapter 539
The priestess lit the brazier behind her and turned back to the couple on their knees. “I call to the goddess in her glory. We need your wisdom and your blessing on the pairing I have before me.” She raised her hands and tilted her face up to the moon. “Mother of all, we call to thee. Come, bless this pairing. One was forsaken, their mate bond shattered. One passed over, their mate bond never found.” She looked back down at the pair. “They have chosen each other and forsaken all others.”
Derek snorted a little, earning a glare from the priestess herself. He raised his hands and mouthed a quick apology before she turned back to the pair. “As your loyal servants, we know your wisdom in our pairings and beg your lenience and understanding with the two before me.” She turned back to the brazier and lifted a bowl of water from beside it. She shuffled to Brandon and knelt in front of him first. She held out her hand and waited.
Brandon looked confused. “What?”
The priestess smiled, but I could tell she was annoyed at this whole thing. “You must have missed your ceremony class. Give me your hand for the next step.” A giggle rang out, and everyone turned to find the omega, who was standing up front behind Derek, laughing. The priestess smirked for a second before Vince stood up. His face was cold…calculating.
He pointed to the very first omega who had checked on me. “Come up here and take over for this one.” The first omega nodded, catching my eye before she walked up from the side. The giggling omega had already dropped to her knees.
“Please, Alpha.”
Vince nodded to a few guards, and instantly, the giggling omega was dragged away. Everyone in the audience knew better than to say anything. Everyone just pretended that nothing was happening, but I knew that girl was as good as dead. Foolish girl. Vince turned back to the priestess. “Continue.”
She nodded, but I could tell she wasn’t happy. Her jaw clenched as she took a breath. She looked around at the people gathered there as she held out her hand again. She caught my gaze, and I felt the anger in her gaze as if it was a living, breathing animal as Brandon finally placed his hand in hers. Her nose flared as she turned back to the alpha in front of her. I understood her anger. Priestesses were omegas blessed by the goddess; she was seeing her brethren being dragged away to be killed, but she was helpless to do anything.
She could do something, Nix called out, instead of just watching the girl being dragged away to die. She just shook her head.
Nix, that isn’t fair. First, you know priestesses are pure. No bloodshed, no sex, nothing. And second, the same could be said about us. We also watched her get dragged away. Megan was sitting by my magic, monitoring it.
I know, Nix rolled her eyes. But it’s a choice. She could stand up for the girl, just like we could.
If she had, she would have just died with her. I whispered to my wolf, and that seemed to stop her. She just turned away to wait for her time.
I turned back to the mating just in time to see the priestess take a dagger out of her belt and slam it into his hand, a little too forcefully. Brandon bit back his yelp. “Mother, take this blood as an offering. This male was forsaken by his goddess-given mate. He has selected a mate instead of waiting. He gives his life’s blood in hopes of your blessing.” She pulled the dagger from his hand and held it over the bowl, letting the blood flow into the water. “Alpha Brandon, repeat after me. I, Brandon, future alpha of Oakenfang, beg the goddess to accept my mate bond to Shannon, future luna to my pack.” Brandon repeated her words.
The priestess dropped his hand and shuffled over in front of Shannon. She pulled the bowl in front of her and held out her hand. Shannon gave her hand and then braced for the pain. “Mother, take this blood as an offering. This female has yet to meet the mate you have blessed her with. She has decided to select a mate instead of waiting, which you allow. She told me she has loved this male her entire life and knew from early on that he was meant to be hers. She gives her life’s blood in hopes of your blessing.” Instead of stabbing directly into her hand, she sliced the palm delicately and allowed the blade to hold the wound open until enough blood was given. “Now you. I, Shannon, holding no rank in Oakenfang, beg the goddess to accept my mate bond to Alpha Brandon, future alpha of my pack.” Shannon said the words and turned to smile at Brandon.