Chapter 13: Three Terms

Thane never went home.

I found him at sunrise, asleep against the porch post.

His coat lay over his knees and the challenge lay in his lap.

He had read it so many times the paper was soft at the folds.

"Wake up," I said.

He came awake all at once, and his hand went to his belt for a knife.

Then he saw the porch, and me, and lowered it.

"You didn't go home," I said.

"You told me to. I didn't say I would."

"That's a technicality."

"It's the only kind I've been winning lately."

I let that one go by.

"Luther says the Alpha or his champion," I said. "You can't fight him. You couldn't get down my ramp without bleeding."

"I know."

"So you're going to ask me."

"No." He sat straighter. "I'm not going to ask. You owe me nothing."

He folded the paper once.

"I'll walk into that ring myself if I have to."

"You'd lose in a minute."

"Probably."

He said it so plainly that I almost laughed.

"Then listen," I said. "I'll stand. But I'm not doing it for you, and it costs. Three things."

He nodded.

"One. The Hollow Creek camp gets the land it sits on, signed over in front of the council.

"No more hunters. No more wire."

"Done."

"Two. My name stays on the Stone.

"At the Winter Moon, you stand up and call the notice false, in front of everyone."

"Done."

"Three." I held his eyes. "Lorna stands in front of the pack and answers for the book."

His jaw tightened. For the first time since I had known him, he took a moment before saying yes.

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