Chapter 12: Hand on the Stone

The moon came up red over the pines, exactly as it had two nights before.

This time I did not walk into the circle alone.

Ash stood at my right shoulder in a clean flannel shirt, with his side taped under it.

Anders stood on my left, and he had not looked once at Felicity.

The Garrick pack ringed the Moon Stone, two hundred strong, in their coats and their torchlight.

On the far side stood Northlake, with thirty wolves behind the old Alpha in his camel coat.

Rowan stood at his right hand with my bracelet dangling from his fist.

Felicity had come in with Mom, in a gray dress and no jewelry.

Her hand shook around the stem of a candle someone had pressed on her.

Dad stood by the Moon-reader with his arms folded.

The old woman lifted her cane.

"We are here for two daughters of the Garrick house," she said.

Her cracked voice carried to every edge of the ring.

"The Stone will speak first."

"The clasp is older law," Dad said.

"The Stone is older than the clasp, Harold."

"The vow was spoken in blood before two hundred witnesses," Rowan said.

He held up the bracelet so it caught the torchlight.

"It stands until it's read."

"It will be read," the Moon-reader said. "After."

A murmur went around the ring.

The old Alpha's mouth tightened.

"Then let the girls put their hands on the Stone," he said smoothly.

"I am certain my son's claim will not suffer."

The Moon-reader looked at my sister.

"Felicity Garrick. Come forward."

Mom's hand closed on Felicity's arm.

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