Mateo Santiago novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Price

"Fifty thousand dollars," Chela said, and spat a pumpkin seed into the dirt.

"That's a lot of sheep."

We were in the kitchen at seven in the morning with the hunter's radio on the table between the coffee mugs.

It was a black handheld with a red light, the kind the Black Lake hunters used, and it hissed when anyone leaned on it.

Nico sat with a stitched eyebrow and a bowl of oatmeal.

Mateo stood at the stove with his arms crossed.

"The pack frequency goes to every house on Black Lake," I said.

"Every kitchen and truck cab, and the lodge."

"He's counting on you hiding," said Mateo.

"He's counting on me being a rumor," I said.

"A wolfless girl who ran, who nobody hears from, who can be called anything."

"I'd like to be a voice."

I had a speech.

I had worked on it at three in the morning, with Mateo's arm heavy across my stomach.

I picked up the radio, thumbed the button, and heard the click go out into the mountains.

"This is Sofia Maldonado," I said.

My voice shook once and then steadied.

"Most of you saw me stand in the clearing ten nights ago.

"Some of you looked at the ground.

"That's all right.

"I would have looked at the ground too."

The radio crackled with open air, and I knew two hundred people were listening in their kitchens.

"Last night some of your hunters burned a rogue fence.

"One of them hit a twenty-year-old boy across the head with a pipe.

"Somebody paid for that gas can out of the pack fund, the same fund that pays for your school bus and the clinic roof.

"I'd like one of you to ask the Beta what else it buys."

"The Alpha also told you that rogues killed my mother.

"I was twelve, and I was in the house.

"I never saw a rogue.

"I'd like someone to tell me which one."

I let go of the button.

The kitchen was dead quiet.

Chela made a small sound in her throat.

On the radio something clicked, once, and then a second click, and then the open air.

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