Chapter 7: Eight Days

Bronwyn was standing in the lodge kitchen at seven the next morning, holding a bag of bagels.

"I didn't sleep," she said. "I need to tell you something before she does."

Conall stood at the coffee maker with his back to us, very still.

I hadn't told Bronwyn anything about the cabin, and I wasn't going to.

"Sit down," I said.

She stayed on her feet.

"My aunt called me at six. She says the council vote doesn't matter, because the Solstice Run decides it anyway."

"The Run?" Conall said.

"A Luna who can't shift at the Solstice Run can be set aside."

Bronwyn kept her eyes on me.

"It's in the old pack law. It's never been used, because every Luna in living memory could shift."

I felt the floor tilt a little.

"Fourteen days from now," she said. "Everybody runs."

"If you stand in the circle and your wolf doesn't come, any council member can call for the seat."

"And Adelaide knows I haven't shifted in three years," I said.

"Everyone knows. She's been telling people it's the trauma."

Of course she had.

I thought of every woman in the pack who had patted my hand and said, Give it time, dear.

"What did you say to her?" Conall asked.

"I said I'd think about it."

Bronwyn finally looked at him, and then she put the bagels on the counter.

Keep reading free with an account. Start He Never Noticed I Stopped Talking, Until My Wolf Woke from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.