She Stole My Wolf, So I Rejected the Alpha novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Heir's Witness

"You cannot do this," Garth said.

His voice was low and perfectly calm, and I heard the crack under it.

"I can," Torin said. "I'm the heir. The old law says no Alpha refuses an heir's challenge before the stones."

"You are a boy who has lost his head."

"Then I lost it last night, in your study."

A murmur ran up the stairwell. Two hundred wolves leaned in to hear.

Garth looked at his younger son for a long moment.

Then he smiled, and that was worse.

"Very well," he said to the crowd. "My sons will settle it at Midwinter, as the Keeper decreed. No claws until then. No one touches the girls or the rogue."

"The rogue has a name," Torin said.

"Torin."

"It's Merrick. He's my brother, and every wolf on those stairs knows it."

Nobody on the stairs said a word. Nobody looked away, either.

Garth turned with Lorna in his arms and climbed through the crowd.

They parted for him. They did not bow.

Torin stayed where he was until his father's boots were gone.

Then he walked over to Pippa and stopped a careful arm's length away.

"The heir may name one witness to his challenge," he said. "She can't be confined, and nobody can lay a hand on her."

Pippa stared at him. "You're picking me?"

"You're the only person in this hall who hates me honestly."

"That's fair," said Pippa.

"Go with Briony. Stay at the cabin until the fire."

She took my arm so hard her nails dug in.

Torin looked at his brother, and Merrick looked back at him.

"I'm not doing this to be forgiven," Torin said.

"Good," said Merrick. "You won't be."

Torin nodded and went up the stairs alone.

Pippa fell asleep on the cabin couch in Merrick's flannel, with her boots still on.

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