Chapter 12: The Stone

On Saturday night, one hundred and fifty wolves stood on the Moon Stone with torches in their hands.

The lake lay black behind them.

I walked up the gravel road from the Longhouse between Torsten and Beck, with Stellan a half step behind me.

None of them touched me. They hadn't needed to for three days.

"You were at the clinic Thursday," Stellan said quietly.

"I was."

"You said you were collecting your things."

"I was collecting my things."

"I felt you go cold at four o'clock."

He wasn't looking at me.

"The whole thread went cold. Where were you?"

I stopped walking.

Torsten and Beck stopped too.

"I went to see the Elder," I said.

Nobody breathed.

"He left a note on my car."

"He said he'd answer my questions about my mother, alone, in the Longhouse office."

"You went alone," Torsten said. His voice was very flat.

"He offered me a deal. I choose Beck in front of the pack, and he lets the two of you live."

"All he wanted was the photos from the ledger."

"You said no," Beck said.

"I said no."

"You told us nobody lies, Lowen." Stellan's voice cracked. "That was your rule. You made it the first night."

"I didn't lie. I left something out."

"That's the same thing."

"It's not the same. If I'd told you, you would have gone after him."

"He'd have had a reason to cut you in the dark."

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