Chapter 95: At the Gates

The tree’s clearing still hummed behind them as they made their way back toward the shrine. The sound of the tokens brushing one another faded with each step, replaced by the softer murmur of people at prayer. Lanterns lined the path, their runes glowing faintly under the weak midday sun.

Sophia cast one last glance over her shoulder. The massive oak stood serene against the white-dusted field, its boughs swaying gently. The ribbons shimmered like threads of water, their ends catching on the wind. Her token spun once more, and she wondered if the Moon Goddess was already reading her words.

When they reached the shrine, the crowd was thicker than how it was when they first passed by. People moved in and out with quiet purpose, some kneeling on the stone steps before ascending, some standing in clusters murmuring together. Snow had been cleared from the front, leaving damp stone underfoot.

The statue at the entrance stood tall, its carved robes flowing to the base. Someone had placed fresh pine boughs at its feet, and a faint trace of incense curled up into the air. The smell was sharper than Sophia expected. It smelled of pine and spice and something almost sweet.

Lysander slowed the wheelchair as Brynhild lifted her head toward the statue. She didn’t wait for anyone to prompt her; she reached for the armrest and pushed herself forward slightly, her gloved fingers brushing the edge of the stone plinth. Her lips moved, silent but sure.

Sophia felt her own knees bend before she knew it. She bowed her head, copying the people around her. The cold stone leached through the knees of her pants as she whispered a quick prayer.

She didn’t pretend this time and quickly prayed that her wish be granted and hat the moon goddess grants peace to those who had passed including Zena. When she was done, she said a quick thank you. She knew the moon goddess would answer her prayers and also the prayers of everyone gathered here. Once she was done, she stood up and dusted her clothes.

Lysander didn’t kneel though but he paused, one hand still on the wheelchair and the other pressed briefly to the statue’s base before drawing back. He gave a faint, private nod that was more habit than devotion, Sophia thought but it was still a nod all the same.

They lingered only a few minutes until everyone in their group was done before they began their walk back to the pack compound.

The path that had brought them here now felt like a slow-moving river of people headed back toward the compound. Families drifted around them; some spoke softly, some were quiet and pale-faced. Some even had tears in their eyes even as there was a smile on their face. Children darted between legs, the occasional laugh breaking the hush like a spark.

Sophia tucked her hands under her arms against the cold. Her stomach gave a small, traitorous growl. She grimaced. She wasn’t supposed to be hungry especially when she had eaten some pastries from the stall Orion had showed her but her stomach didn’t get the memo. Perhaps she was hungry though because she didn’t eat the previous night.

The gates of the pack’s compound loomed ahead. Guards stood at either side, their breath puffing white in the air. A group stood just inside, conversing quietly. As they drew closer, one of the figures turned.

Ronan.

Sophia recognized him even before his easy grin spread across his face. He straightened from where he’d been leaning on a staff, his blonde hair catching the light. Beside him stood an older man. He was broad-shouldered, his left sleeve pinned neatly at the elbow where his arm ended. His remaining hand rested lightly on the hilt of a sheathed knife at his belt, though his posture was more relaxed than guarded.

The resemblance was clear the moment Sophia saw them together: the same sharp brow line, the same dark, steady eyes, though where Ronan’s gaze danced with humor, the older man’s was steadier.

Once they closed the distance between them, Ronan stepped forward first, boots crunching. "Well, look who’s back from whispering at trees," he called, his grin widening.

"Good morning to you too, Ronan," Brynhild said dryly, but her mouth twitched.

Lysander gave him a long-suffering look. "If you’re going to make a joke every time we come back from the shrine, you’ll run out eventually."

"You think so little of me." Ronan told him. "Of course I’ll come up with a different joke next year."

"And you guys went with Sophia?" He asked intrigued.

Sophia gave him a wave, telling him that she insisted.

Brynhild laughed. "If Orion was here he’d be having a fit right now over the lie."

Ronan laughed then gestured toward the man at his side. "Sophia, this is my father, Daniel."

Daniel inclined his head with quiet dignity. Up close, Sophia could see the thin silver threading his blonde hair, the faint weathering at the corners of his eyes. The empty sleeve at his side was folded with precision.

Sophia blinked and dipped into a small bow. "Good morning, sir."

Daniel’s mouth curved into a warm, slightly crooked smile. "No need to be formal. And besides, I already know who you are."

Sophia frowned upon hearing that. She had never met Daniel before so she did not understand how he already knew who she was.

"How?" She asked him.

Daniel laughed. "Word travels fast in this pack." He told her.

Sophia opened her mouth to reply when her stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl. She went still, heat flooding her cheeks.

Ronan barked a laugh, head tipping back. "Oh, this is perfect. I always get hungry after visiting the shrine."

"You are hungry everytime." Daniel told him.

"Well, I’m a growing man." Ronan replied patting his stomach.

"Are you guys going to the dining hall after this?" Ronan asked them.

Lysander chuckled. "That’s the plan now. Didn’t you hear her stomach growling?" He asked pointing towards Sophia.

"Well, I’m a growing woman." Sophia replied patting her stomach just like Ronan had done which made them all laugh.

"There’s work to be done, beta. You really want go leave all the work to your alpha?" Daniel asked his son.

"Where were you when he was leaving all his work for me? I’m his beta, his assistant and that’s what I do...assist." Ronan told his father.

"Well...we can’t argue with that." Brynhild muttered.

It’s common knowledge that Orion dodges his work although maybe it was due to the festival, or the skylur attack but his skipping work had reduced a bit.

"Exactly. Work can wait while I eat." Ronan told them.p

"Work doesn’t wait," Daniel said.

"Neither does my stomach," Ronan replied, deadpan.

Brynhild smothered a laugh behind her glove. Lysander rolled his eyes skyward, as though asking the Moon Goddess for patience.

"No need to ask the moon goddess for patience, you don’t need it." Ronan told him.

"Are we going to the shrine or not?" Daniel asked his son.

"Of course we are, old man. I’m just trying to make preparations for my stomach when we get back." Ronan told him.

"You are going to the shrine though, you should focus on that." Brynhild told him.

"Oh...I will. And besides I don’t east the much time at the shrine." Ronan told them.

"That’s because you don’t know how to pray. Sometimes I wonder how we are even related." Daniel grumbled.

"Me too, old man but then I remember how we both like women or in your words how we are both players and then I realise, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree." Ronan told him.

"Lysander, why is your friend so different from you?" Daniel asked.

He sounded like he was pleading with Lysander to help set his son straight.

"Um..." Lysander said looking between them. "You do realise I’m not related to either of you right? There’s hardly anything I can do to change who Ronan is biologically." Lysander told him.

Ronan barked a laugh at that. "Good one brother." He said as he tried to stifle his laugh.

Even Sophia and Brynhild were laughing goo along with some other people from the pack who were around.

"So it’s my fault he’s like this?" Daniel asked Lysander who shrugged his shoulders.

"I didn’t say so." Lysander told him.

"No, not outright." Daniel said with a sigh. "Anyway, we should really get going now. We’ve held people for too long."

He pointed towrds their group that was filled now.

Their escort s gave them a nod and they started moving but not before Ronan turned back to Brynhild and Lysander, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Wait for me at the dining hall, we will eat together."

And with that he turned and continued his walk to the shrine while Lysander stared at his back with a shocked expression.

"Sometimes, I wonder how I ended up being friends with him."