C14 Fourteen

Selena's POV

The Chief Priestess drifted inside–literally. Her feet never kissed the ground. She moved like smoke with shape, silver hair trailing behind her, and those freaky white eyes glowed faintly. In her hands, she held a carved staff, dark wood topped with a snarling wolf head, its teeth twinkling glinting unnaturally.

She always looked ancient, timeless... and absolutely terrifying.

The last time I'd seen her was during the execution of the last rogues. Her presence meant only one thing: Punishment.

And trust me, her punishments weren't the kind you forgot.

She floated right up to Adrian and stopped, dead silent, and the whole hall stared as if we were all about to get our death sentences.

"What the hell is going on..." I whispered under my breath.

Calling the priestess was never a good sign. She didn't do palace events, didn't sit through meetings, barely even existed in the modern world. She stayed in that old hut deep in the pack, where the magic practically buzzed in the dirt.

If she was here... shit was about to get real.

Adrian cleared his throat and continued addressing the crowd. "Since no one has come forward," his voice boomed through the massive chamber, "the priestess will assist us in finding the guilty wolf."

Fear went all about as Adrian turned to the priestess. "You may proceed."

She lifted her staff, and as if conjured from thin air, a small, soft piece of chocolate cake rested in my hand. I almost screamed, and judging from the gasps around me, everyone else had one too.

Even Adrian.

"What in the actual–" I breathed.

Adrian took a step forward, wearing a very tight expression. "This may look like an ordinary piece of cake," he said. "But it isn't."

Great. Because that made me feel so much better.

"This is the truth," he said. "We're all going to eat it. I don't know exactly what's in it, but I do know one thing–the rogue responsible will not walk out of here alive."

Horror rolling through the crowd watched him lift the cake high in the air. "So I'll ask again... does anyone want to come forward? It'll be better than this."

No one stirred, not even an eye twitched; the wolves were frozen, statues in the hall.

"Very well." Adrian raised his chin. "Place it in your mouth."

Oh goddess. Oh goddess no.

But the Alpha didn't hesitate, he popped his piece in, chewed twice, and swallowed. One by one, the crowd followed, hands wobbling and quiet prayers whispered under their breaths. I shoved mine in as well, heart in my mouth.

A deep, suffocating silence held the court hostage as everyone waited for someone to collapse, but seconds dragged by, and still... nothing.

Naturally, Adrian's eyes were fixed on Raymond, the only one still lounging as if this was all a boring documentary he'd already seen twice. To make matters worse, Raymond licked the last bits of cake crumbs from his fingers, eyes shut in pure bliss.

Adrian's fists clenched into tight balls, but the murmurs that erupted across the hall snatched his attention away from Raymond.

"What does that mean?"

"Why didn't anything happen?"

"Did it not work?"

For a brief moment, genuine shock passed across his features before he spun to face the priestess.

"Are you certain the cake was meant to reveal the rogue?" be asked, and she gave a single, slow nod.

Letting out a sharp breath, he said, "Perhaps... you made a mistake with-"

The murderous glare on her face was enough to silence him. "You dare question the Goddess?" she hissed with a voice so icy it sent chills through everyone's bones.

Adrian's teeth ground together, and even though he didn't show it–keeping up that whole "Alpha image" act–I knew he felt those chills as well.

Without a word more, she spun and drifted out of the hall.

Adrian exhaled slowly. "It seems," he announced, almost reluctantly, "none of our wolves were involved."

A collective sigh of relief came from all around.

"I never doubted my pack for a second," he added–big liar– "and now that the truth has been revealed, this meeting is adjourned... for now."

He left through the same side door, and the court instantly erupted with whispers as everyone began to file out.

Standing, I made my way toward the exit, only to nearly slam right into Raymond.

"Godmom," he greeted softly.

I blinked up at him. "Ray... how are you? I haven't seen you since Adrain's crowning. You disappeared."

"Yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "After that crash into the wall? I had to flee. Didn't know what the hell that was. Hurt like crazy, too."

My chest tightened, realizing he still had no idea that Adrian was the cause of the crash. Before I could even open my mouth, he closed the distance between us, and I nearly froze.

He was so close my boobs were pressing against his chest. Uncomfortable, I took a step back, but he just stepped forward, keeping the gap impossibly small.

"Raymond, what are–"

"My lady." A guard suddenly appeared behind me. Thank. Goddess.

"The Alpha wants to see you."

Naturally, I wasn't exactly in the mood for Adrian Holt's bullshit, but Raymond's weird vibe had every instinct in me screaming. So I forced a smile at him.

"Another time, okay?"

He nodded, still staring a bit too intently, and I stepped away, able to breathe again.

The guard guided me through the side door Adrian had disappeared into. He was waiting in the middle of the hallway, looking super tense.

I folded my arms once we were alone. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. Come on," he said, already striding forward.

"What?" I frowned, not moving an inch. "Where to?"

He kept walking, ignoring me. When he noticed I wasn't following, he whirled around, snapping, "What the fuck are you doing?"

I lifted a brow. "Remaining as I am until you tell me where the hell we're going."

"I gave you an order, mother," he growled. "Let's go."

I didn't bother giving a reply. Instead, I walked over to the wall and leaned against it, getting comfortable.

Seeing my reaction, he shot a bullet of a glare at me, but I didn't flinch. After a moment, he sealed his lids shut, and took a deep, steadying breath.

When he opened them again, looking slightly calmer, he said, "We're going to meet the priestess."

"What for?"

"I don't know about you, but my wolf is still weak as shit from whatever the hell happened this morning when I tried to reject you."

Shit. Come to think of it, I haven't heard from Issa since Mia's mansion, and I could barely feel her presence.

Adrian seemed to read into my panic, because he rolled his eyes and continued down the hall, "Come on, we are going to see the priestest to find out what the fuck caused this, and how the hell I can reject you without it happening again."