Chapter 18: The Winter Moon

The moon stood over the Stone, white and huge, and the ring of leaves around it lay perfectly still.

I was back in my skin, with Tobin's coat around my shoulders and my ribs taped by the healer.

I could not stand straight yet, but I stood.

The oldest elder came into the circle with the Crown's book open in her hands.

"By the Old Law, page forty-one," she said.

"An Alpha who has cut one mate seven times gives up his pack to her at the next full moon."

"Dane MacCarthy cut Morven MacLellan seven times."

"This is the next full moon."

"Does anyone here deny the count?"

Nobody spoke.

The Cinder Ridge alpha lay on a litter at the edge of the ring, with his leg in a splint.

He raised no hand, and neither did any of his wolves.

Hester stood in the trees, held between two scouts.

She said nothing either.

I think she had finally run out of lies.

"Dane MacCarthy," said the elder. "Come forward."

Dane walked out of the crowd.

He wore the collar of the Black Pine Alpha, a worn leather band with a small silver plate.

On his right hand he wore the heavy ring of the MacCarthys.

I had watched him put both of them on a hundred times.

He stopped in front of me, in the moonlight.

"I'm not going to make you ask," he said.

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