Chapter 10: Her Name on the Stone

Freya's POV

"There's a law," Hoyt said. "Older than the Ellerbys."

He sat on my porch rail with a cup of coffee, and the sun had not yet come over the ridge.

"Any wolf struck from the Stone gets to stand in front of the council once and answer the charge. Nobody's used it in forty years."

"Is it real?"

"My grandfather used it." He shrugged. "He lost."

Trudy was already pulling on her coat.

"Then we're going in with a crowd," she said. "Luther can't throw out twelve people."

"He can throw out twelve unpacked wolves," Hoyt said.

"Can he throw out twelve unpacked wolves and a Luna?"

"Former Luna," I said.

"Not to them."

We went down the creek road at eight, in three trucks.

Hoyt had picked the twelve. They were the strongest of the camp, men and women alike, in their cleanest coats with their hair brushed.

The two hunters at the Stone Hall steps looked at all of us and looked at each other.

Neither of them stopped me.

The Stone Hall was full.

Every elder sat on the long bench by the Stone, and every seat behind them was taken. The doors were open, and people stood along the walls.

I had been in this room every week for two years, and never from the floor of a wheelchair.

I rolled up the middle with twelve wolves at my back.

Luther sat in the Beta's seat. His beard was combed, his coat was pressed, and he looked entirely at ease.

Thane sat on a stool to his left, not on the chair of the Alpha.

He was grey, and there was a bandage on his hand.

He saw me, and sat up.

"The council hears no petition from a struck wolf," Luther said pleasantly.

"The council hears one," I said. "Once. Before it has voted. It's the oldest law you have."

Keep reading free with an account. Start Alpha's Regret: The Luna He Left Behind from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.