he’s a good actor for me, would you?”
“So,” Logan looked Jen over again, wary, “It is true then. You can read minds?”
“Not exactly.” Jen looked to me, her scent spiking with love and determination. “But enough to look out for my mate.” I beamed at her and was rewarded by a smile in return.
Logan nodded, grinning. “That is still unsettling enough. Hopefully, it will be able to see you both through the trial.”
I looked at him as my thoughts raced. “You won’t tell us what is actually happening?”
“It should be easy enough for you to figure out, boy,” he said flatly. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Well, that is highly reassuring.” I grinned, “Will you let us in on the actual plan?”
“No, I most definitely will not,” he snorted a laugh.
“Don’t worry love, it’s just because he’s making this up as he goes along,” Jen said to us both, grinning. “You’ve got an idea, maybe even part of a plan, but you have no clue how it will work out.” Her face softened as she frowned. “Or even if it will work.”
“Enough of that!” Logan was no longer smiling. “I see if you both make it through this, you won’t be popular here.”
“There is a possibility then,” I asked, hope again raising, “That we will both live?”
“Who can say?” Logan turned, I heard others approaching. “It is time. I will have my say, but ultimately it will be up to the council as a whole.”
He backed away to where he had stood with the alphas and waited for the arrival of the other elders. Jen leaned closer and wrapped her arms around one of my own, hugging herself to my side and smiling up at me encouragingly.
Moments later the small group of elders walked into view and joined Logan before us. Most were wearing various states of sadness on their features. It was rare that anyone broke a law as ancient as this and execution was still the most likely outcome. It went against our nature to kill someone because of the choices they had made.
“Let us be done with this.” The bear elder hardly waited for the others to stand in their positions before speaking. “Liam, you have broken one of our cardinal laws. The penalty is death.” Looks of irritation passed through the elders as he turned to leave.
“I believe,” the moose elder spoke, “That this is a trial. Not simply a sentencing.”
It became apparent to me, as the bear grumbled his way back, that my education when it came to the other tribes had been woefully inadequate. I knew nothing of these elders, what motivated them, what angered them, nothing that could help us in this trial.
I didn’t even know their names.
It was another indicator of how self-absorbed I had been. I had only concerned myself with elevating my own status in the wolf clan. What use was knowing the other elders? It was a long way before I’d have been old enough to concern myself with such things.
“He isn’t denying it,” the bear continued, irritated, “The human is right there, hanging off of his arm. I don’t see any need to discuss this further.”
“Agreed,” the fox elder spoke, getting a few nods from the gathered elders.
“I believe there are circumstances that may weigh in,” Logan spoke, stepping forward. Most looked to him with interest. Even though our clan was the smallest he was highly respected. His words carried weight.
“Oh please, Logan,” the fox sneered. “Your star youngling committed one of the worst possible crimes, whatever you have to say won’t change that.” The bear grinned wickedly at the fox's words. They were working together, but to what end?
“Bonding a human is forbidden to keep the average shifter from becoming strong enough to challenge their alpha, or to declare themselves one and form their own packs.” Logan spoke simply and I found myself hanging on his words. “There are some specifics on allowing an alpha to complete the bond.”
His words were met with another round of nods
“So,” Logan looked Jen over again, wary, “It is true then. You can read minds?”
“Not exactly.” Jen looked to me, her scent spiking with love and determination. “But enough to look out for my mate.” I beamed at her and was rewarded by a smile in return.
Logan nodded, grinning. “That is still unsettling enough. Hopefully, it will be able to see you both through the trial.”
I looked at him as my thoughts raced. “You won’t tell us what is actually happening?”
“It should be easy enough for you to figure out, boy,” he said flatly. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Well, that is highly reassuring.” I grinned, “Will you let us in on the actual plan?”
“No, I most definitely will not,” he snorted a laugh.
“Don’t worry love, it’s just because he’s making this up as he goes along,” Jen said to us both, grinning. “You’ve got an idea, maybe even part of a plan, but you have no clue how it will work out.” Her face softened as she frowned. “Or even if it will work.”
“Enough of that!” Logan was no longer smiling. “I see if you both make it through this, you won’t be popular here.”
“There is a possibility then,” I asked, hope again raising, “That we will both live?”
“Who can say?” Logan turned, I heard others approaching. “It is time. I will have my say, but ultimately it will be up to the council as a whole.”
He backed away to where he had stood with the alphas and waited for the arrival of the other elders. Jen leaned closer and wrapped her arms around one of my own, hugging herself to my side and smiling up at me encouragingly.
Moments later the small group of elders walked into view and joined Logan before us. Most were wearing various states of sadness on their features. It was rare that anyone broke a law as ancient as this and execution was still the most likely outcome. It went against our nature to kill someone because of the choices they had made.
“Let us be done with this.” The bear elder hardly waited for the others to stand in their positions before speaking. “Liam, you have broken one of our cardinal laws. The penalty is death.” Looks of irritation passed through the elders as he turned to leave.
“I believe,” the moose elder spoke, “That this is a trial. Not simply a sentencing.”
It became apparent to me, as the bear grumbled his way back, that my education when it came to the other tribes had been woefully inadequate. I knew nothing of these elders, what motivated them, what angered them, nothing that could help us in this trial.
I didn’t even know their names.
It was another indicator of how self-absorbed I had been. I had only concerned myself with elevating my own status in the wolf clan. What use was knowing the other elders? It was a long way before I’d have been old enough to concern myself with such things.
“He isn’t denying it,” the bear continued, irritated, “The human is right there, hanging off of his arm. I don’t see any need to discuss this further.”
“Agreed,” the fox elder spoke, getting a few nods from the gathered elders.
“I believe there are circumstances that may weigh in,” Logan spoke, stepping forward. Most looked to him with interest. Even though our clan was the smallest he was highly respected. His words carried weight.
“Oh please, Logan,” the fox sneered. “Your star youngling committed one of the worst possible crimes, whatever you have to say won’t change that.” The bear grinned wickedly at the fox's words. They were working together, but to what end?
“Bonding a human is forbidden to keep the average shifter from becoming strong enough to challenge their alpha, or to declare themselves one and form their own packs.” Logan spoke simply and I found myself hanging on his words. “There are some specifics on allowing an alpha to complete the bond.”
His words were met with another round of nods
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