Page 11 of Wolf Duty

She and Bayden, or Bay, as he’d told her to call him, had talked late into the night, or more like early morning.

She’d explained how she and Karim were related and what Dale said was required for her to keep guardianship. Bay had asked her a bunch of follow-up questions, and then he’d gotten a lawyer named Nora on speakerphone.

Nora practiced pack law and was married to an immortal Viking. Bay said the latter wasn’t important.

Sonya had many questions about the Norse man, but she would put them aside until they sorted out how to protect Karim.

She’d learned about Nora’s husband because a man with a Scandinavian accent had grumbled in the background, demanding to know who had woken up his wife. Apparently, hecouldn’t sleep unless she was in bed beside him. He’d repeated that detail several times.

Finally, Bay had told the Viking that the quicker he got off the phone, the quicker their business with Nora would conclude. When Sonya asked who the man was, Bay called him, “that immortal Viking.”

A little more than an hour after that, Bay and Nora had decided they had all the information they needed from Sonya. Bay had sent her to bed and left for his motel. He’d promised her he would present a solution for her problems, or at least get a continuance, at the next day’s—same day’s?—pack meeting. Nora had said she would call Dale and convince him to call a meeting. The tone of voice she’s used sounded more like she would force Dale to do what she wanted. And after being exposed to Nora’s brilliant legal mind for only a few hours, Sonya had no doubt that Dale would do as Nora demanded.

She did however, have doubt about what the future would bring. How could she be sure that Bay and Nora would find a solution?

Sony eyed the drawer that held her bag of Runes. She walked over and pulled out the velvet sack.

If they never spoke to her again, she would be devastated, but she had to take the risk. A single cast instead of a spread wouldn’t dispel as much energy.

Holding her breath, she put her hand in the bag. One rock vibrated intensely against her palm. She’d pulled it out.

The RuneGebowas inscribed on the small stone.

The marriage Rune.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Marrying Dale couldn’t be the only solution to her problem.

She bit her lip. The pain distracting her from panicking.

Gebocould also mean balance or gift.Yeah, but also partnership and relationship, her irritating internal voice whispered.

A partnership with Dale would not be balanced or a gift.

The sound of Karim bounding up the stairs made her abandon her depressing thoughts. He stuck his head in the door. “Are we going or not? You’re not even dressed yet.”

“Did you eat?”

He waved his hand. “Yes, let’s go already.”

It didn’t take her long to put on jeans and a sweater. They pulled on coats and boots and stepped out into the winter landscape. New snow had fallen overnight, but the road was plowed and it didn’t take them long to reach the community center.

The sign on the wall declared the maximum capacity of the main room to be 125. By Sonya’s estimate as they stepped into the room, at least fifty extra people clamored for space. She’d never seen the entire pack in one place. Not even when she was little.

She and Karim made their way to the two seats held for them in the front row, just below the dais where Dale perched behind a long folding table. Two elders and Mandy flanked the alpha, all of them in deep discussion with him.

Too short for his feet to fully reach the ground, her brother swung his legs back and forth, scuffing his toes against the floor. She thought about asking him to stop, but it didn’t really matter if he damaged his boots. He grew out of them so quickly she’dhave to get him new ones soon, anyway. Another item to add to her ever-growing list of expenses.

The truth was, she kind of wanted to swing her own legs to relieve some of her anxiety.

Karim tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. “Where is he?”

She was wondering the same thing, as was everyone in the room, probably. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon,” she told Karim. He’d better be.

“At least this is better than reading lessons.” Karim smiled up at her, flashing his adorable dimples. A powerful wave of love rushed through her, and she ruffled his hair. She winced when he ducked aside to avoid her touch, but at least that way he wouldn’t see the tears welling in her eyes.

She couldn’t lose her brother. Her heart wouldn’t survive it. She’d do anything to keep him in her life…even if that meant marrying despicable Dale.

Blinking rapidly, she reached into her bag. “Well, I brought your e-reader so you can do your lessons while we’re here.”

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