a
ought to
more bloo
with my fingers still grasping the wound. I was able to focus through the adrenaline long
tense of ignorance if I conti
ware of what w
burning was nothing compared to the excruciating pain in my shoulder, the torment I experien
ntil the temperature of the water reached its maximum. My socks were soaking in bloody water and turning s
safeguard mortals against them were of little concern to them. At the ver
my body and the wound were both clean. I had to apply
hings when I peered in th
n, just little marks remained. What was still in my system and
cond, and certainl
turning w
inch by inch from my roots while
d down to the floor as my garments dragged along my back like an uncomfortable
me, I buried my face in my hands and closed my eye
closed, stranger thi
rved a
lks. Ball dresses, suits, and possibly an era-old tradition of
ound myself bac
ing to someone or something. The dinner was extravagant... but the drink
rce with which they had begun, but only after I changed into dry clothing and made t
to stay put lon
gazing at the ceiling of my bedroom and
ent to myself about what I would do if this ever hap
forward into the distance, the ac
self that I would
wolf wouldn't have been able to bite me without my permission. When he did, he believed he would just p
l Alphas serves a
aimed in their tales that using their new power was simple. Al
at he had just accomplished
uld still be in charge of ev
ll be under
el
with Sk
a
etermined that this was the best time to actually add his opinion to the discussion, which was somewhat unpleasant given that this
tion away from me and toward my third. To say that I was relieved th
ink of some fresh ways to perhaps fix our problem, but we three recognized this was the best we could do. She knew there were no other possibilities
ble I was sitting on. I leaned back a little. But we don't just have a limited number of options; we al
can't trust," Marcy replied. As she spoke, her emerald eyes blazed with a menacing gleam. She was my secon
people believe I'm not doing everything in my power to keep them safe. After dealing with me, she shook her head and gave up
ing on for ages. Nobody anticipates you to have this resolved or even to mak
ing you doubt it will be successful? He c
ore returning to me as he spoke. Our other pack members could be heard trying to hear mo
as another wolf walked past the closed d
more than any prior White Wolf has ever bothered to. We need you to continue the transformation because there's no way to know that whoever comes after you will have the same determination, therefore your s
ecision was made for me. There would no longer be any room for debate, they both understood. "I know you both
me out of the corner of h
eart was beating. That would be reasonable given that it was a falsehood. Walking into the Summit while being surro
you, if for nothing else than to protec
rning to face me directly
nothing less
him to finish. Protecting you is simple, particularly given that the peak falls on a new moon. There w
." I said as I crossed
n almost two thousand years. We need them to pay attention to you if you're going to go. I rolled my neck to try
ked the question myself, but I didn't because I already kn
even the demons, idolise more
at he was seeking, I nevertheless responded. All I needed f
than anything else?" He changed the way he asked the q
y," replied Marc
plans? Put on a nice
ple are more likely to listen to you if you are both powerful and beautiful, and if they are not, you still have the opti
ackson?" I inquired, hoping t
ake it more apparent, we might be able to persuade people to listen to you without your having to force them. We will gain the further benefit of their trus
quired because I knew it was the only explanation for w
cy, a werewolf who was born and raised to be the pack's alpha, gave me a security detail and ceded control of her power. After being bitten, Jackson, who was raised in a political
said. "We'll meet again tomorrow, see
rs?" When Marcy que
e all slipping past the door. Without a doubt, they will come
traveling in at least three-person groups,' I told them, wondering how I was going to keep them all alive for the next Hunt. Make sure everyone is aware that they may contact me wi