Chapter 173: THE PRIESTESS
The discussion refused to die. Every time I thought the elders had exhausted their arguments, another concern appeared, dressed up as a question about the safety of the pack but carrying the same intention underneath it.
They wanted Keisha removed and they were simply looking for a reason that would make their decision sound justified.
One of the elders leaned forward, insisting that the unusual transformation could not be dismissed simply because there had been no immediate consequences. He argued that the pack had already experienced enough disturbances in recent weeks and that allowing an unknown ability to develop unchecked was irresponsible.
Another agreed, saying that if something went wrong in the coming days, everyone would inevitably look back at Keisha and wonder whether the warning signs had been there all along.
I listened until I couldn’t take another word of it. "I’m not sure why we’re still here. You’ve already decided she’s guilty," I said. "You’re just waiting for something to happen so you can pretend the decision was made for you."
The elder shook his head. "We’re trying to prevent a disaster, Alpha. You must understand that we can not let it go."
"No. You’re trying to protect yourselves from something you don’t understand. Since when have we acted on feelings?" I pushed my chair away from the table and stood.
The room immediately became quieter. I walked slowly around the table, looking at each of them instead of remaining behind my seat. They had become comfortable speaking about Keisha as though she weren’t a person, as though she were some unknown creature they had discovered in the woods and could simply remove before deciding whether it deserved to live among them.
"You want to know what will happen if something goes wrong?" I stopped beside one of the older elders. "We’ll investigate it. We’ll find the cause. We’ll deal with whoever is responsible. But if I discover that any of you deliberately create a problem just so you can blame Keisha for it like last time, you will answer to me before you answer to anyone else."
Nobody interrupted as I continued around the table.. "And if any of you approach her with the intention of threatening her, forcing her out, hurting her or frightening her into leaving this pack, don’t expect your position to protect you. I don’t care how long you’ve sat on this council. I don’t care how many people owe you favors. The moment you decide to make Keisha your target, you make yourself my problem."
Osric watched me from across the table, his expression unreadable until he finally spoke. "This is more than protection, Callum."
I stopped to look at him. He rested his elbows on the table, studying me with an interest that immediately made me wary. "What exactly is between you and this woman?"
The room became painfully quiet and I could have answered him. I could have told them that Keisha was my mate, that the bond between us wasn’t something I had chosen for political convenience and that protecting her wasn’t an obsession I had developed overnight. I could have ended every question about why I cared by giving them the one piece of information that explained everything.
But I couldn’t.
Because that was what they all wanted.
The moment they knew Keisha was carrying my children, everything would change. The elders would question my judgment, question her loyalty and possibly use the situation to challenge my position as Alpha.
The fact that everyone believed Dane was the father had, for now, kept that secret buried. I wasn’t going to throw it away because Osric wanted an explanation.
"There is nothing you need to know beyond the fact that she is under my protection," I said.
Osric’s mouth tightened. "That isn’t an answer."
"Well, deal with it. Because it is the only one you’re getting."
His gaze remained on me, clearly dissatisfied. "Then don’t be surprised when people begin asking why you’re willing to risk the stability of the pack for her."
I stepped closer to the table. "I’ve made myself clear."
The elder beside Osric shifted uncomfortably, but before the argument could begin again, another voice entered the discussion.
"Perhaps we’re approaching this from the wrong direction."
Everyone looked toward the speaker.
He was one of the few elders who had remained relatively quiet throughout the meeting. He folded his hands together and suggested that instead of assuming Keisha’s wolf was dangerous or harmless, they should have someone capable of understanding supernatural signs examine her.
The pack’s priestess, he reminded them, had studied old records concerning unusual transformations and bloodlines and might be able to tell them whether what happened at the party was a warning, an inherited ability or something entirely different.
The suggestion immediately divided the room.
Some elders argued that bringing the priestess into the matter was unnecessary and that her involvement would only spread fear. Others thought it was the most sensible option because nobody in the council actually knew what they were dealing with. Osric remained skeptical, asking what they expected the priestess to discover that they hadn’t already considered.
I let them argue because for once, I wasn’t interested in stopping them.
Eventually the discussion came back to me and I looked around the table, making a decision right then and there. "Bring her."
The room fell silent. "If we’re going to discuss Keisha’s wolf, then we should at least have someone examine the matter properly instead of sitting here inventing explanations."
The elder who had suggested it nodded.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and called Rhett. He was nearby, and I instructed him to find the priestess immediately and bring her to the council hall. He acknowledged the order and ended the call.
The moment I lowered my phone, the elders began discussing what the examination might reveal. Some were already talking about the possibility that Keisha possessed an Alpha bloodline. Others wondered whether the unusual golden eye meant something more dangerous. One even suggested that the priestess might confirm that Keisha’s transformation was connected to the recent troubles within the pack.
I ignored the speculation as I stepped away from the table and called Dane.
He answered almost immediately. "Where are you?"
"By the lake." He answered.
Right.
"Bring Keisha to the council hall." I told him.
There was a pause. "Callum, you specifically told me to keep her away from the meeting."
I pinched my nose bridge. "I know."
"Then why are you asking me to bring her now?" His tone carried a note of confusion.
"Because the council is having her examined by the priestess. I want her here before that happens."
Dane sounded unconvinced. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just bring her."
He hummed and ended the call.
I returned to my seat and waited. It didn’t take long.
The doors opened, and Dane entered with Keisha beside him. She looked confused the moment she stepped inside, her eyes moving from the elders to me and then back again.
Dane looked considerably less pleased, and I could tell from his expression that he still hadn’t accepted the change in my decision.
Keisha approached me. "What’s happening?"
I looked at her for a moment before answering. "The elders want answers about your wolf."
Her brows drew together. "And they couldn’t wait until later? They never seemed to want me here during the meetings."
A sigh escaped me. "I didn’t want you involved at first."
Dane gave me a pointed look and Keisha glanced between us, clearly realizing there was a story behind the exchange.
"Yeah, I was told to keep you away because I knew this council might turn the matter into something bigger than it needed to be," I explained. "But someone suggested bringing in the priestess instead of continuing to argue about something none of us understands."
Keisha looked toward the elders. "And she’s going to examine me?"
I nodded. "She’s going to try to determine what happened to you."
She seemed uncertain, but she didn’t argue.
Dane remained beside her, his attention constantly moving around the room as though he expected someone to make a wrong move. I understood the feeling. The council had spent the last hour discussing Keisha as a potential threat, and now she was standing directly in front of them.
I wasn’t going to let anyone forget that she was under my protection.
Before another question could be asked, the doors opened again and Rhett entered first.
The priestess followed him and conversation died immediately.
She was an older woman dressed in dark robes, carrying a worn leather-bound book beneath one arm. She didn’t acknowledge the elders or react to the tension in the room. Her eyes moved across the council slowly before settling on Keisha.
For several seconds, she simply stared. Then her attention shifted to me. "Is this the woman I’ve been called for? Keisha?"
I nodded and the priestess looked back at Keisha. "Come closer."
Keisha hesitated only briefly before taking a few steps forward.
Every elder watched as Dane stood rigidly behind her.
The priestess turned to me, her chin raised slightly. "Let us begin."