Chapter 23: Three Wolves

The Moon Court sat at noon in the Hall of Hollin, with the king's bier gone and the candles out.

Thirty-one Alphas filled the benches in a half circle.

Behind them stood the packs, and behind the packs, in the gallery where the archers had stood, were the soldiers of the Ninth Host.

I walked the length of the marble on a crutch, with my leg splinted.

Jorund walked on my left and Caelan on my right.

Nobody asked them to step back.

The oldest Alpha sat at the center of the bench with her stick across her knees.

"The law," she said.

A clerk read it in a dry voice, and it took four breaths.

"The Crown Wolf may take one Alpha as mate and bond.

"The bond shall hold the packs in balance.

"A second bond is forbidden."

He rolled up the scroll.

"I would like to speak," I said.

"The Crown Wolf has not been crowned," said a large Alpha in black.

He had been one of the ones who stood in the ring, and he had a flat, unhappy face.

"She may speak as a claimant," said the oldest Alpha.

I leaned on my crutch.

"I did not know I was the Crown Wolf four days ago.

"I will tell you what I learned.

"A voice that can bend a wolf's body is a terrible thing to put in one woman's hands."

Nobody laughed.

"I have bent friends, enemies and two thousand strangers with it, and I hated it each time."

Jorund shifted beside me, and I felt him fight the urge to speak.

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