Chapter 23: The Crown and the White Wolf

"May I answer?" I said.

The Duke inclined his head, with a courtesy that looked like a knife laid flat.

I walked into the middle of the snow ring, in my borrowed robe, and turned to face the benches.

"I am Alpha of Wintermere," I said. "I won the seat in this ring a quarter hour ago, and I will keep it."

"I am also the wife of the Crown Prince. The Duke says I cannot be both."

"Then I will swear it, here, in front of every pack."

"Wintermere stands under the Hartsmere crown. Our valley is the kingdom's northern door."

"Wintermere wolves will answer the Crown when it calls."

The murmur that ran around the benches had changed.

It was warm.

The eldest councilor lifted his staff.

"The council accepts the oath."

The Duke's mouth thinned.

"Words," he said. "Words are cheap."

He took a step back from his son, and began to take off his coat.

"The old law gives the crown to the Hartsmere who can hold it," he said.

"I am the King's brother, and I am Alpha-born."

"You aren't serious," Lucan said.

"I am entirely serious, nephew. Take off your coat."

The shift took the Duke all at once.

He was a grey wolf, enormous, with a scarred muzzle and cold yellow eyes.

He stood a hand's breadth taller than Lucan.

The crowd drew back to the walls.

Lucan shifted too, black and green-eyed, and walked into the snow to meet him.

I did not decide to follow.

My body decided, and my feet were already moving.

The mate bond hummed in my chest, and I felt Lucan's heart through it as clearly as my own.

When the Duke leaped for Lucan's throat, I knew before Lucan did.

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