Chapter 12: The Key and the Lock

Odessa arrived at the bakery at noon in a rented van, driven by a teenager who looked terrified of her.

She came up the stairs one at a time with her cane.

She did not say hello.

She sat down on the only chair and laid the torn law book across her knees.

She ran her thumb along the ragged stub.

"Cordelia's father," she said. "That man has been cutting up this book since before you were born."

"You know what was on the page," I said.

"I know what was on every page."

Ansel stood at the window with his back to the room and his hands closed.

"I'm going to ask Grandmother to say it," he said. "I can't say it myself. I've tried. I'll explain why after."

"Say what?" I said.

"The reason I didn't answer you at the supper."

He turned.

His face was the color of paper.

"Please let her."

I looked at him for a long moment.

"Go on, Odessa," I said.

She folded both hands on the cane.

"There's an old law, girl," she said. "Older than the elders' table."

She tapped the cane once.

"For every wolf there's one other whose bond fits hers like a key in a lock. We call it the mate bond."

"I know what a mate is," I said.

"You know the stories. Here is the law."

She looked at me steadily.

"An Alpha may never tell a woman she is his mate."

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