Chapter 10: The Hearing

The Council sat at a long table at the end of the lodge hall.

The whole pack stood behind us.

There were three of them, each the Alpha of a different pack.

A heavy man with a gray ponytail came from Ohio.

A woman with a face came from the lake country.

A very old man in a bolo tie said nothing at all and watched me the whole time.

I stood in my jeans from yesterday with pine needles still in my hair.

Mathias stood at my side with his hand around mine.

Opal sat on a chair directly behind us, thumping her cane.

"The petition," the woman said. "Alden Stoke."

Alden stepped forward and bowed.

He had put on a black suit for the occasion.

"The Alpha of the Three Rivers took a human to wife on a bridge, under no witness, and without the pack's consent," he said smoothly.

"She is a shopkeeper with no blood, no training and no kin."

"She has been in the Alpha's company six days, and in that time the Alpha has twice lost control."

I felt Mathias's fingers tighten.

"I do not blame the girl," Alden went on. "I blame the vow, which is a madness."

"I ask the Council to void it for the good of the pack and the Alpha."

The woman turned to me.

"Mrs. Ardrey. You may answer."

"Halvorsen," I said. "And I'd like to ask Mr. Stoke a question first."

She raised one eyebrow.

"Go on."

"Who painted the word HUMAN on my door?"

A murmur ran through the hall.

Alden's expression didn't change.

"I have no knowledge."

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