Chapter 9: The Claim

Dawn came up grey and cold over the harbor, and the pack hall was full.

Every wolf in Marrow Bay stood along the walls.

Nolan sat in my father's chair.

The elders sat in a row beneath him, and the old man with the cane stood to read the law aloud from a yellowed book.

I stood in the middle of the floor in my mother's coat.

Caleb stood three steps behind me, with Hattie at his shoulder.

He had not touched me since the border.

"The question before this council," the old elder read, "is whether Lilia Hedlund shall be cast out."

"The charge is the marks of fire and fang."

"Aye," said the Beta, hoarse, with a purple ring around his throat.

"Aye," said two others.

"Nay," said the woman who had taught me to read.

I looked at her.

She looked at the floor.

"The remedy," the elder said, and cleared his throat.

"A mate's claim."

He lifted his eyes.

"Caleb Wardlaw, Alpha of Westpoint. Do you claim Lilia Hedlund as your mate?"

The hall went quiet.

"I do," said Caleb.

A hundred wolves turned to look at me.

I could feel them waiting for me to scream, to run, to spit on his name.

I stepped forward.

"I accept the law," I said.

"I accept the claim. I accept Westpoint's protection, so that no one in this room can put me out of my father's bay."

The elder frowned.

"And the mating?"

"There's no mating," I said.

"There's a shield. If Caleb Wardlaw wants more from me, he'll have to earn it, and it won't be in this hall."

Somewhere behind me, Hattie made a strangled sound that might have been a laugh.

Caleb said, level and low, "That's her right."

"The bite is required," the elder said.

"It must seal the claim before tomorrow's dawn."

"Then he'll have it," I said, and my voice did not shake.

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