Chapter 7: The Council Sits

They carried Rhett out of the hall on a door.

He was awake, but he could not stand. He kept saying one word over and over, and the word was my name.

I did not go to him.

My own chest felt scraped out and hollow, and I held onto the dais rail with both hands until the floor stopped moving.

"Luna Dunning," an elder said behind me. "The council will sit."

"I'm no longer Luna," I said. "I gave that back."

"Then you are a wolf of this pack who has accused its Alpha in front of two packs. The council will sit anyway."

They sat in the back room of the hall for forty minutes.

Pia waited with me in the corridor and pushed a cup of water into my hands. I did not drink it.

When the door opened, five elders filed out in a row. The oldest woman did the talking.

"We have seen the video, Clara. We have also heard what Maureen says about her son's condition."

"What condition?" I said. "He ate lavender in front of me."

"The Alpha has been ill for years. His wolf is delicate. It may be that stress brought on a spell, and the spell made him say foolish things."

"Foolish things in an alley with his hands on her."

"That's a matter for the Alpha and his conscience."

"And for me."

The old woman's face was tired. She would not meet my eyes.

"The pack needs its Alpha well, child. Rhett has served this pack for ten years. Until he recovers, we cannot hold a public trial."

Pia swore under her breath.

"So nothing happens to him," I said.

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