Chapter 21: Nine Years of Tea

The ring lay behind the Ironwood hall, a circle of packed earth with a low stone wall around it.

Wolves lined the wall four deep.

Alasdair stood at the gate with both hands on the rail.

"I'll take it for you," he said. "Under the Moot's law, a mate may stand in the ring in place of the claimed."

"No," I said.

"Odette."

"The challenge named me. If you fight it, he wins by saying I couldn't."

His jaw worked.

I put my palm flat on his chest, where his heart was going fast and hard.

"You said I get to decide," I said.

"I did."

"I'm deciding."

He covered my hand with his and held it there.

For a moment he said nothing, and I let that be the answer.

Then he took his hand away and stepped back.

He stood with his arms at his sides while I walked into the ring alone.

The Cold Ridge Alpha was waiting in the center.

He had taken off his coat and his boots, and the ringed hands hung loose at his sides.

He had a fighter's body, thick and scarred, and he was twice my weight.

He did not look angry.

He looked patient, and that was worse.

"I'll be quick," he said, quietly. "You have never shifted. Your wolf is a rumor."

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