Chapter 15: The Price

Lorna walked out of the ring alone.

The wolves parted for her, and no one touched her, and no one looked.

At the tree line she stopped and said something over her shoulder, too low for me to hear.

Conall heard it.

His jaw went tight, but he stayed where he was.

Then she was gone into the dark, and her black shawl lay on the grass where she had dropped it.

Emmett's arms were still locked around my legs.

I put my hand on his head.

He was shaking so hard I could feel it in my knees.

Conall walked to the foot of the stone, in front of all of them, and went down on one knee.

"Elders," he said. "I ask to set down the seat."

A murmur went around the ring.

"I swore to my best friend I'd look after his family.

"I let that oath eat my own.

"My son waited for me on this rock, and I walked past him.

"I'm not fit to lead a pack that watched me do it."

The white-braided elder looked down at him a long moment.

"Get up, Conall Harlan."

He stayed down.

"Get up," she said. "You don't get to set it down because it's heavy.

"That is the easy road, and the pack will not give you the easy road."

He stood.

She turned to the other two elders, and they spoke low, shoulder to shoulder.

Then she faced the ring.

"This is the council's ruling.

"The Alpha's seat stays with Conall Harlan.

"There is no Luna, and a pack cannot hold a seat without one past Midwinter.

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