From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Shocked whispers filled the room. Nathan’s face flushed with anger.

“Numbers can be manipulated,” he spat. “This is about faith, not statistics.”

“Perhaps, came the gravelly voice of Oliver, our eldest pack member and spiritual advisor. “But if there is doubt, there is a way to resolve it.” He stood slowly, his ancient frame commanding respect even from Nathan. “We must seek direct guidance. I propose we conduct the Moonlight Revelation ceremony

at the Sacred Grotto tonight.”

My stomach dropped. The Moonlight Revelation was an ancient ritual where accused pack members stood before the moon in judgment. According to tradition, the Goddess would either bathe the innocent in her light or turn away from the guilty.

Nathan’s smile was predatory. “An excellent suggestion, Elder Oliver. Tonight, at midnight, we will let the Goddess herself judge whether these modern

methods are blasphemy or blessing.”

The Sacred Grotto was a natural amphitheater in the forest, a half–circle of stone with a pool at its center that reflected the moon when full. Tonight, the moon hung heavy and bright in the sky, its light filtering through the canopy to illuminate the gathered pack members.

I stood at the edge of the pool, my heart hammering against my ribs. The ceremony had been rigged, of course. Nathan had positioned me facing west while he stood east – ensuring the moonlight would fall on him, not me, as the moon ascended.

“Moon Goddess,” Nathan intoned, arms raised dramatically, “we come seeking your wisdom. Show us who has honored your ways, and who has defied them.”

I kept my expression neutral, though Kaia snarled within me at the manipulation. The choice before me was impossible: accept defeat and abandon the medical protocols that were saving lives, or openly defy pack tradition and lose what little support I had left.

Oliver approached, carrying a silver bowl of water from the sacred spring. “Each shall drink and speak their truth,” he announced, offering the bowl first to

Nathan.

Nathan drank deeply, then spoke with theatrical sincerity. “I have always honored our traditions, put our pack first, and respected the ways of our ancestors. I seek only to preserve what makes us strong.”

Oliver nodded and turned to me, extending the bowl. I accepted it with steady hands, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes.

–

a shift in the wind, causing the tree branches above to sway. Suddenly, a shaft of moonlight broke As I raised the bowl to my lips, I noticed something odd through, illuminating the water in my hands with silver radiance.

Gasps erupted from the crowd. This wasn’t supposed to happen – the light should have favored Nathan according to how he’d arranged our positions.

I drank from the shimmering water, its coolness spreading through me as clarity followed. I knew what I had to say.

“I honor our traditions and our Goddess,‘ I began, my voice stronger than I expected. “But I believe she gives us minds to learn and hearts to heal. My modern methods aren’t a rejection of her wisdom but an extension of it. The moon doesn’t fear knowledge – she illuminates darkness.”

As if in response, the moonbeam widened, bathing me in silver light while leaving Nathan in shadow.

‘Look!” someone cried. The Goddess favors her!”

L

10:26 am Pp p

Chapter 180

Nathan’s face contorted with rage, but before he could speak, Oliver stepped forward, his weathered face thoughtful.

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