Can a druid release a readied spell whilst in Wild Shape?

Question

The description of the druid's Wild Shape feature makes it clear that, whilst transformed:

You can't cast spells [...]

With the caveat that:

Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you've already cast.

The description of the Ready action says, in part:

When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy [...] and holding onto the spell's magic requires concentration.

Could a druid therefore ready a spell, Wild Shape into a beast, and then release the energy of the readied spell?

To give a more concrete example, could I have my druid:

• Ready the beast bond spell
• Wild Shape into a bear, to better win the friendship of a bear and thus make her an eligible target for the spell
• Release the energy of the readied spell, with the newly befriended bear as the target?

Answer 1

Yes, you can (if you're a Moon Druid)!

You already quoted the relevant rules.

• To ready a spell, you cast the spell with your action in your normal shape, and start concentrating on it. Only thing that's left is releasing it.

  When you ready a spell, you cast it as normal but hold its energy, which you release with your reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of 1 action, and holding onto the spell's magic requires concentration.

• Then you use the Circle of the Moon druid's Combat Wild Shape (PHB, p. 69) to transform into something using your bonus action. Don't forget, you spent your action to Ready the spell, and you need to release it before the start of your next turn, so Wild Shaping now is your only chance!

  The description of the Wild Shape feature says:

  Starting at 2nd level, you can use your action to magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. [...] Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you've already cast.

  The Moon druid's Combat Wild Shape feature description says:

  You gain the ability to use Wild Shape on your turn as a bonus action, rather than as an action.

• And finally, you release the spell, spending your reaction and stopping your concentration.

I think your plan to mix beast bond with a Combat Wild Shape is very creative, and I'd love my players to come up with things like this. Fun games!