Page 11 of Wolf's Reckoning
I looked sideways at Lewis. His expression was tight,unreadable. But his eyes flicked toward the central tent, then back to me.
“Didn’t think there’d be this many,” I murmured. “And it looks like I am the only female here.”
He didn’t answer. I didn’t expect him to. This was why I never attended these; they were for the males, the leaders of the packs or their seconds-in-command.
I loosened the sleeves of my jacket and slipped it on, suddenly feeling that my black cropped tee wastoocasual for this, seeing too many letting their eyes linger a little longer than was appropriate. Together, Lewis and I headed to the main tent.
Inside, the Pack Council murmured amongst themselves—voices low, reverent, gray as the smoke curling from the fire pit.
No one greeted us. That wasn’t how this worked, but I knew I received more stares than I wanted, but I kept my attention straight ahead. Had I been with anyone but Lewis, I would have asked them if I was being paranoid.
I slid onto an empty bench, not near anyone else, and settled in, the wood groaning under Lewis as he got comfortable beside me. I opened the bottle of water that was set in front of me and drank quickly. Lewis had already finished his. We’d each had a rabbit on the way here, but I was grateful for the water.
The Council was already in session. A few seats were empty, which was to be expected. Not all the Council members traveled at the same time, as each member had their own pack to look after in addition to their duties toallpacks. I noticed that a shaman was present, and tried not to stare at his white eyes. Shamans freakedme out; I’d take a druid any day of the week over a shaman.
I listened as they recited expected reports and discussed matters like territorial boundaries and unpaid debts. A stolen calf from the edge of Riverbend. Nothing urgent. Nothing new from the sounds of it and from the complete boredom of everyone gathered. I settled in for a long day.
I might’ve let my mind drift, just a little—until I heard my name.
“Daughter of the Hollow.”
Not Rowen. Not alpha’s daughter. Just the name for those born of the sacred Hollow where my pack territory was. It sounded cold and heavy in this airy space. A signal.
I looked up.
The shaman’s eyes met mine, white and unseeing, but I knew he saw me all too well.
“Your heat has come and gone,” he said, folding his hands, and I knew I was gaping at him as he declared that to the whole tent. “How long between your cycles?”
What the hell?Lewis nudged me gently, and I turned to glare at him before looking back at the semicircle of males who were all watching me.
“It differs,” I croaked out.
The shaman stared at me intently. His head cocked to the side slightly. “Does it?” he mumbled. He turned to the others. “We will not wait long. We should proceed.”
Proceed? Proceed with what?
I opened my mouth to ask, but Lewis nudged me a lot harder this time, and I kept my mouth shut.
The shaman turned back to us. “You will have a private audience with us.”
I heard Lewis’s heavy sigh, and having no idea what was going on, I simply nodded. My dad had sent me here for a reason: to talk to the Pack Council. Well, it seemed they were waiting for me without us having to wait for an audience.
I hadn’t expected it right now though, and I watched in stunned awe as visiting pack representatives got up and left.
“Come closer, child,” the shaman instructed.
Lewis and I approached the esteemed members of the Council, and I met each of their curious stares with a cool glance of my own.
“Your father is dying.”
The simplicity of the statement winded me, and I heard my gasp loud and uncontrolled in the now almost empty hall.
“Our alpha is fighting,” Lewis grumbled beside me.
The shaman glanced to his left, and I got the impression Lewis wasn’t that happy with the brutality of the announcement any more than I was. The shaman returned to look at me and held up his hand when another Council member went to speak.
“The alpha of Blueridge Hollow is a respected fighter,” he said, his tone gentle and respectful. “But the Goddess calls us all home no matter how hard we fight.” He was blind, but I felt that we were staring deep into each other’s souls. “Your father will join the great hunt soon, child.”
