Chapter 34 : The Decision

*Vanessa*

“No.” I look at Shawn, blinking in surprise at his sudden outburst. His mouth is pressed in a tight line, his eyes hard.

“I understand your concern, young man, but this isn’t exactly a debatable topic,” Elder Luka says, neither offended by his brash response nor intimidated enough to refrain from calling him outside of his title. “Unless you’re not serious about making Vanessa your mate.”

From anyone else, their words might sound belittling. But something tells me that Elder Luka is not on the same wavelength as the other Elders in the pack who would never dare talk to him like that. I’d always thought there was something almost mystical about them, something ancient. Even Shawn himself noticed when we spoke about them the last time. He joked about his father being scared of them too.

He doesn’t look scared now though, having immediately dismissed their suggestion as swiftly as he did. And knowing what I do about quests to the temple, I can understand why.