Chapter 12: His Wound

The council did not vote.

Cade's mother shut the hearing with her palm flat on the table.

"The vote will be taken at moonrise on the Blood Moon," she said. "The Alpha has until then to reconsider."

Then she walked out of the hall without looking at anyone.

The pack broke into noise behind her.

Lachlan walked out too, straight through the crowd, and I went after him.

I caught up with him behind the hall, by the woodpile, where the wind blew cold off the creek.

"Stop," I said.

He stopped, with his back to me.

"You just threw away your seat," I said.

"I haven't thrown away anything yet."

"You said no in front of two hundred people."

"I did."

"You didn't ask me first."

He turned around.

His face was drawn, and his jaw was dark with stubble.

"There was nothing to ask," he said. "I will not mark you with a clock on the wall."

"That's my choice to make."

"It is."

"Then why did you make it for me?" My voice shook. "You did it again, Lachlan."

"Did what?"

"You decided what I could take." I jabbed a finger at his chest.

"For three years you walked out of rooms to protect me. Now you're giving up your wolf to protect me."

"Stop protecting me. Ask me."

"And if you say yes because I'm about to lose my wolf?"

"Then I say yes."

"And if you hate me for it in a year?"

"Then I'll hate you in a year."

He closed his eyes, and his throat moved.

"You don't understand," he said. "I have watched you with him for three years."

"I watched you light up when he walked into a room."

"I stood at that supper table, and you told the whole pack you'd never been happier."

His voice cracked on the last word.

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