Chapter 2: Held Accountable

Gwy's POV

The door has been shut in our faces.

After that revelation that I gave away, Alpha Devon's minions started to tie my hands behind my back and pushed me inhumanely back to Ephy and Cloud.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

Well, it's better this way than say what's really at stake.

"What should we do now, priestess? I don't think he's going to give up so easily," Cloud asked, still bizarre clung into his soul.

"Priestess! How about you just lie to him that he has a mate? That way he will stop this!" Ephy suggested.

I rolled my eyes at her. "That's a suicide, Ephy. No, thanks!"

"Then, what should we do now? He really is pissed off," she added worryingly.

"Just shut your mouths. I'll handle this. The more you close your mouth, the lesser trouble. Got it?" I told them.

"Then what about you? What about the temple?" Cloud asked. "We've been operating here for a decade now. We can't just give up on this!"

"Do you think I will let him destroy my temple?" I scoffed. "Don't underestimate the one and only Gwyneth Hathaway! I've been in this service for a decade now. And if anyone tries to take me down, many people, even Alphas in other packs will vouch for me!"

Cloud sighed. He is the most worried of us three. He is always the worrier. But, I like that he thinks critically. Within our job as shamans, he is the busiest among us. He makes sure that everything is set. He overworks all the time but he never complains. Practically speaking... the temple is our life.

"There are two scenarios I'm thinking about priestess..." Cloud opened up, rebranding his subject.

Both Ephy and I are close to him waiting for his proposals.

"First, Alpha Devon might kill you because of dire shame. Knowing his nature, he would likely do it without even thinking," he uttered.

"Well, he just ran off!" Ephy spoke opening her palms in mid-air next to her spiky shoulder blades.

"That's a thing here," Cloud answered. "The second might be the case. So, hear me out. What if he ran out to think critically about what to do next? And the moment he returns, he will still order our priestess around to pay back his shame in front of us?"

I rolled my eyes at that. "Fucking crybaby he is!" I muttered under my breath. Thinking about the second deduction is a pain in the ass! If that butthurt Alpha really does that, what should I do then? I can't just let him order me around!

"That's for lying, sissy! You better get us out of here!" Grace grunted in her threat.

"Can't you tell that I'm thinking here? Don't piss me off, Grace!"

Cloud and Ephy jumped a little due to my voice.

"Sorry. Grace is shitting on me!" I whispered apologetically. "Anyway, what should we do?"

"We don't have a choice. If this actually happens, we need to compromise. After that, I will somehow go and ask for Alpha Qirak's assistance. He is the only Alpha I know that will surely vouch for our priestess."

I smirked at that. Alpha Qirak of Fountain Pack is surely my savior on any day. He is always inside my temple. Because packs inside the USA are fans of witchcraft. In this place, we are tolerated but still not highly revered as that of the Alpha.

And as for Alpha Qirak... well, he is smitten by me. Every week, he would ask me to find his mate but when I tell him that his mate is still not born yet, he would just sweet talk me over my extra hours. He is such a charm and a baby. Too bad... I am mateless!

Yes. Clear as crystal. I am mateless. This is the fate of a shaman like me. For generic witches around New Orleans, I am different from them. Because my ways stemmed from the Asian Culture of werewolves. And shamans are not allowed to have mates. I am called Solus Lupus.

After the plans were laid out, the three of us got back into our original positions as though nothing had ever happened. When the hoodlums came back, we were back into our fake scared-y faces.

The two large men with long hair stopped in front of me with bland stares.

"On your feet, Priestess!" the first one uttered.

"Excuse me?"

"On your feet!" he snapped. "Alpha Devon doesn't want to wait. Now!"

I jumped in fear and obliged at their order. They were pushing me to leave the main room when I stopped and faced the other. "You will not scandalize my temple, do you hear me? And you will not harm any of my shamans!" I declared to them.

One of them smirked. "You don't have the right to order us around, Priestess! You will listen to our Alpha and no one will get harmed!"

Both of them let out a belly laugh. Then, they pushed me until I was no longer with my assistants.

I sighed. I have no choice. If I don't do this, they will be hurt. I have to swallow my pride for now.

I was brought to the garden where a beautiful gazebo is placed. It was one of my favorite places here in my temple. But now, it began to displease me as the ruthless Alpha of Black Dew Pack settled his back against the statue of the moon goddess.

I clenched my jaw. Very disrespectful!

I was pushed hard unannounced and tripped off in front of the gazebo. I instantly knelt and was catching my breath. I slowly looked up and saw the mocking face of Alpha Devon.

"Hey, you!" he pointed at me, boredom and a bit of amusement filled his eyes, then darted them at me. "You still have a chance to spare your life. All you have to do is go back and clarify what you saw."

I chuckled, making my voice sound antagonistic. "You really never give up, do you? Do you know how much precious time you are snatching from me?"

"I don't care. I can buy your life. So, you don't have the right to complain!" he answered gritting his teeth. "Do it again!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Devon."

He arched his brow at me. "What did you say? Do you want a death wish?"

"I'm not afraid of getting killed, Mr. Alpha," I answered confidently. "But you have to understand this. I cannot do it again because it will not only harm me physically but it will also torment you. The moon goddess has already declared you a Solus Lupus. You are mateless. And that is the truth." I hope my answers will sink into his dickhead!

I saw how he balled his fists trying to control his anger. "So, it is a no?" he asked again.

"Alpha Devon..."

"Then you have to answer for me," he suddenly declared.

I arched my brow at him in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"You, whoever you are, A priestess of Shaman Temple..." he started.

"It's Gwyneth Hathaway!" I corrected him.

"Whatever! You... You, Gwyneth Hathaway, are hereby ordered by the Alpha of Black Dew Pack to become his Luna!"

I widened my eyes due to shock. "I'm a what?!"