Chapter 20: The Rejection

Faye's POV

The new moon rose over the Stone Hall with no light at all.

Four hundred wolves had come to watch, and every one of them knew why.

I stood in the center of the circle in a plain gray dress with my hair down.

Darek stood at the edge of the stones, and he had promised me he would stay there.

Jarrett came in last.

He had lost weight in two weeks, and the bandage was gone, and the bruises had gone yellow.

He stopped in front of me.

"I read it," he said, so quietly the front row could not hear. "The note by the kettle."

"I know what it says," I said. "I wrote it."

"Faye. I came to the gate that night. I stood at the latch for half an hour."

I looked at him.

He had never told me that.

"I know," I said. "I watched you from the window."

His face broke.

"You were there?"

"I saw you at the gate. I stood in the dark in my own kitchen and waited for you to open it."

"I couldn't."

"I know you couldn't," I said. "That's the problem."

I stepped back.

"Will you let it go?" I said. "One last time. Open your hand."

His hand was at his side, and it stayed shut.

"I can't," he said again. "I'll take whatever it costs. I can't open it."

"Then it's mine to do."

I faced the elders.

Muriel sat in the high seat with her hands folded, and I could not read her face.

"Elders," I said. "I ask the Stone to hear a refusal."

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