Chapter 17: The Reading

The Seven's hall was full before the sun was up.

I had never seen so many wolves in one room.

They stood shoulder to shoulder along the stone walls, packs in their own colors.

Every one of them turned to look at me when I walked in.

I wore the green coat.

It was the one Declan's file had a photograph of, and I had chosen it on purpose.

Declan walked me as far as the east door and stopped.

"This is where you put me," he said.

"This is where I put you."

He let go of my hand.

I walked down the long aisle alone.

At the end, on a low dais, the Seven sat in a half circle of old chairs.

Six of them were Alphas I had interpreted for in three languages.

The seventh chair, the tallest, stood empty, waiting for the Apex to take it back.

The Judge rose from a small table in front of them.

"This Gathering will hear a petition by Alpha Garrison to void a bond," he said. "Before it does, there is a statement on the record."

He unfolded a heavy page.

I recognized nothing on it until he started to read.

"I, Declan Cobham, Apex of the Seven, stand as witness for Freja Bourchier. I forced nothing. I hid nothing."

He read on.

"I pledge my seat on the truth of the bond. If the Reading fails, I resign the chair before this hall."

His voice dropped.

"So that no wolf can say she was claimed to buy a throne."

The hall went silent.

I turned around.

Far away by the east door, Declan stood with his hands at his sides and did not look away.

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