Chapter 47 The High Priest

Chapter 47 The High Priest
Castiel

The Temple pyre burned bright and strong in the middle of the room as the members of the Lycan Council took their seats one by one.  

While I’ve been to these meetings myself countless times, this meeting felt different.  As if something shifted.  

My seat felt… too big for me to occupy.  Too empty.  

And these eyes filled with judgement, with silent mocking, they crept under my skin.  Hid in places I couldn’t even reach.  

Michael, my second-in-command, leaned over to me, showing the list of the Council members present today, as well as a few copies from reputable tabloids carrying two headlines.

One about Hestia and me, and the other, about her Father, Alpha Heron, and his scandals.  

“Should I shut them down, Your Eminence?”

“Leave them be,” I answered.  “But do look into who’s responsible for these stories.”

I’m not dumb.  I know who was trying to smear my name and Hestia’s.  For almost my two-year reign as the High Priest, I’ve grown to know the snakes among our numbers.  

I’ve warned Augustus before.  But maybe…

I should’ve taken the precaution for myself first.  

The mate bond called me that night.  After all, I had forced Bright, my wolf, to become celibate since she got married to Augustus. 

I stepped back to give him a chance.  Despite my being able to form new bonds with other Lycans, I still chose Hestia and became her silent admirer.  

I hoped Augustus would protect her like he swore he would.  But then came the delays on their mate mark.  I knew he wanted to resist the Council.  I still put my faith in him.   

But a year passed, and instead, she came back, half-dead.  
Augustus knew how close I came to frying him with my divine magic.  And maybe that was the same reason why he kept resisting treatments from me.  

A punishment, atonement, whatever he wanted to call it…

Something he deemed to be enough and just to repent for all of his wrongs.  

If I had known, I would’ve given up this seat and taken her…

“How’s the Alpha?” I asked Michael.  “Had the effects of the poison left his body?”

Michael shook his head.  “Not yet, Your Eminence.  I believe that this time, they used a stronger concoction.  If this persists, the Alpha might lose his wolf…”

I sighed, massaging my temple.  “Monitor him and force him to comply with treatment.  The death of a mate might affect Hestia’s powers.”

Michael uncomfortably shifted in his robes, hesitating to utter another word.  

“Tell me what’s on your mind, Michael.”

He stayed silent for a moment.  “Your Eminence, I believe you should worry about yourself first.  I’ve heard that they wanted to replace you with the son of one of the Alphas…”

I scoffed.  My scepter glowed bright red as my fingers traced the intricate carvings on its body.  “Let’s see who dares.” 

The meeting stretched into a few more moments of uncomfortable silence until one of the Alphas, Alpha Jack, who had always been close to Alpha Heron, stood up.  

“Your Eminence, aren’t you going to address the situation? I believe we in the Council deserve an explanation regarding this… incident.”

His followers agreed.  I watched as the Alpha developed more confidence as support around him grew.  

He climbed down the Council seat and walked towards the Temple pyre.  “You, of all people, should be aware of the consequences of being caught mating with a Queen candidate, Your Eminence.” 

“I’m well aware,” I silently replied.  

A sly smile crept on his lips.  “Then you should know that you would be castrated.  But since you’re the High Priest and you’ve protected our kingdom during your reign, the Council offers… a simple proposition.”

Bingo.  “What is it, then?”

The Alpha’s chest brimmed with pride.  “Well, you see, my boy’s studying as well to become a Temple Priest.  He has been studying—”

“Are you implying that I should step down from my position for a nepo baby?” I bluntly asked.  “Alpha, do you think that this seat could belong to just anyone?”

Before he could utter another word, Michael stepped in.  “I do not think your son’s quite fit to become the High Priest yet, Alpha Jack.  Maybe… in another fifteen winters?”

It was an insult.  After all, High Priests graduated top of their classes.  His son didn’t only slack from his studies, but had also been studying for Priesthood for almost five winters now.  

We’ve been classmates.  And while I graduated after two winters, he remained, as he kept on flunking even the easiest of the programs.  

Alpha Jack's face burned red.  He tried to lunge at Michael, but he immediately intercepted him with his divine magic.  

“You shameless hound!  Do you think the Mother Goddess would be happy if She learns that you mated with somebody? You vowed celibacy.  Yet, you touched what's Hers,” he hissed.  

“Well then, why don’t we ask Mother about Her feelings?” 

I stood up and walked towards the Temple pyre.  The cauldron burned hotter as I pulled up my sleeve.  Michael gave me a dagger.  

The color from the pyre determines the Goddess’s mood.  Blue for happiness or agreement, and red for anger or disapproval.  It was a quick way to make decisions without offending Her.  

“Mother, I stand here before You as Your High Priest and loyal servant.  The other night, I made a decision to mate with Your servant, Hestia Locke, as I’ve felt a mate bond course between us.  Please grant this servant Your approval to be bonded to whomever You choose for him.”

I created a small, superficial cut on my wrist, letting the blood flow onto the pyre.  A few moments later, the fire turned blue, burning stronger.  

An approval.  

I glanced at the men of the Council, each face painted with different emotions.  Some looked skeptical.  And some… were hesitating on whether they would shift factions.  

Alpha Jack stumbled on his feet.  “How could this… she’s already mated to her Vassal! She—”

“Mother grants multiple mate bonds to whoever pleases Her,” I reminded him as I held a clean cloth against my wound.  “And I’m one of Hestia Locke’s mates.  There’s no need for me to question Her will.  If She wanted to give me a mate, then I’ll happily oblige.”

“But—”

Michael’s voice echoed through the hall.  “Then why don’t we ask the Goddess once more?  If She wanted for His Eminence and Lady Hestia to step down from their positions, then She would definitely say so.”

I rolled up my sleeve once more, preparing to ask through the pyre once more.  “Everyone’s a witness.  If Mother Goddess intends Hestia and me to step down from our positions, then we’ll follow.”

But before I could cut through my skin once again, the hall’s massive doors burst open as a still-weak Augustus walked into the room, followed by a swarm of reporters.   

“The Alpha Hunt presents to you, Your Eminence!”