Chapter 53


    Chapter 53


    “For reassurance as a liable witness.”


    He exined. Yet somehow, a small tinge of doubt ruptured inside me. Something that told me he


    wanted me toe along for an entirely different reason. The Moon Goddess’ Pool was a sacred


    shrine. The Pool indicated the mate ties between the two users. A drop of blood from both parties was


    required to ink into the water in order to ssify the bond as real. If the water turned blue, then they


    were mates.


    If the water turned red, they were not.


    The Moon Goddess ced the Pool there to ensure wolves, they weren’t miscing their feelings of


    attraction. Of course, it was hard to mistake the pull of mates to mere infatuation but it was useful for


    those who had human mates.


    “You wouldn’t mind, would you?”


    His voice was tight. Almost like he was hanging by the string of my answer. I looked over to Noah who


    held my gaze, his eyes darting between Locksworth and I, in evident confusion. My wolf tugged at the


    barriers, willing me to go. She was wagging her tail, her tongue sticking out as she looked after


    Locksworth in pure awe. This reaction from her was so strange. She never treated anyone like this. not


    even Landon. Pursing my lips together, I shook my head. My curiosity was getting the best of me. “No, I


    suppose I could go.”


    And so we did.


    The drive to to the Goddess’ Pool was a short one. It was close to Nightwake territory in the neutral


    region just a few miles South. For a good twenty minutes, all I could think about was the intriguing


    exchange between Locksworth and I. There was no denying he was an attractive man, but would his


    physical features really have such a strong pull on me?


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    It didn’t make any sense.


    My wolf didn’t make any sense.


    “We’re here, Alpha.”


    Staring out the tinted windows, I took in therge mountain with the mouth of the cave in view.


    Surrounded by trees that stretched miles from us, I felt a faint smile on my face. This was the first time


    I’ve ever been here. It was a lot simpler than I expected. Sliding the van door open, I stepped


    out.


    “The entrance is that way.”


    Benicio said, looking directly at Locksworth. The wolf in him was thirsting for a fight. The denial of


    Hestia meant the denial of his bloodline. The ultimate disrespect for a wolf, especially for a Beta or any


    high ranking title. It’s almost funny how it didn’t matter when it happened to me.


    I felt a surge of powere from Locksworth as he narrowed his gaze on Benicio. Sophie, who I just


    noticed was with us, stood close to her mate, urging him to calm his wolf. She too, felt the pressure


    from Locksworth. The pressure that said he wasn’t afraid to fight him if he were to be provoked


    once more.


    Locksworth looked to his Beta and shared a moment of quiet understanding. The Beta nodded,


    standing in his spot and turned to the two warriors they brought with them.


    “Stay here, the Alpha demands privacy among all those involved.”


    Sophie, who held onto her mate’s arm in a tight hold met my gaze. For a split second, something


    shes in her eyes but I don’t let it hold my interest. I looked to Noah and nodded in dismissal.


    If Locksworth wanted his privacy, I would respect it by telling my warriors to stay put. Landon did the


    same, bringing no one but Hestia, Sophie and Benicio. All eight of us made our way into the shrine.


    Noah and I trailed behind, not really having any part in this but being spectators of the whole ordeal.


    The tension surrounding the two groups was thick, understandably so.


    The cave glowed with barely lit torches attached to the walls. The entrance was narrow and cold. I felt


    a chill run through me. A few minutes in, and we reached the Goddess’ Pool. Beautiful, shinning


    crystals grew around it, some hanging from the cave ceiling and others growing from the walls. The


    water was sparkling; clear and unearthly. It looked ethereal, more so with a sculpted marble figure of


    the Moon Goddess centered in the middle. Her hair was exquisitely long, a gand of flowers delicately


    carved above her head as a crown. Her thin arms were outstretched as though she was posed for an


    embrace. One hand held a posy of flowers, the other held a bnce scale.


    A small crescent moonid on one of the weight pans. The sun on the other.


    A perfect bnce.


    It was serene.


    The only sound we could hear was the water dripping from the crystal above and dropping into the


    pool.


    “Well, there’s no need to prolong this. Hestia, go on.”


    My father said gruffly, motioning to the pool with his head. He looked annoyed, insistent on speeding


    the process up to prove Locksworth wrong. Pride was the most primal part of his being. An insult to his


    pride was as good as an insult to his existence. Hestia swallowed, looking at father nervously before


    staring after Locksworth. The longing and fear on her face matched my suspicions


    of her lie.


    Locksworth, without even ncing her way, walked forward taking his ce at the front of the pool and


    swiped out a metallic pocket knife from his back pocket. Sliding the de out, he wordlessly sliced his


    palm open and held it above the water.