“See?”Korwynsaid, turning to face the room.“Bloodcalls to blood.Evenin death, my uncle proclaims me his heir.”
There was a collective gasp and evenHarrisMurdochwas struck silent.
I knew why theMarkon the young man’s chest glowed—he was right, it was blood calling to blood.It’sone of the reasons that it is forbidden to embalm aPackLeader.Forhis blood—no matter how decayed or degraded—is capable of showing the next in his line of succession.
In other words, his true heir.
It wasHarriswho broke the silence, of course.
“This can’t be!”he shouted.“Wecan’t let an untried boy take over thePackLeadership!”
“I’m twenty-nine—hardly a boy,”Korwynsaid, frowning slightly.
“Not even thirty yet!”Harrissneered.“Andyou think you can come in here—a stranger—and lead ourPack?Idon’t think so.”Hestalked over to glare up atKorwyn.“MaybeI’dbetter take you out back and teach you a lesson about respect, boy.”
“Now, now,Harris—let thePackEldershave a moment to think on it,”FatherMacKaitybegged.“TheCouncilofWisdomwill settle this,I’msure.”
Indeed, the older men of thePackwere already murmuring amongst themselves.Therewere four of them onTheCouncilofWisdomand in the past, they’d only existed to rubber-stamp anythingCarterwanted.Butnow that he was gone, they would have to decide on their own what was best for thePack.
I saw them huddle together, all of them taking turns peering over their bony shoulders atHarrisandKorwyn.Iwondered what they would decide.Harriswasn’t much liked in our little community—he was a bully and a blowhard.Buthe was also the strongestAlphain thePackand everyone feared to cross him.
On the other hand,Korwynwas a complete stranger to us and would no doubt be considered too young to bear the responsibility of running the pack, thoughCarterhimself had been no more than thirty when he took over from his own uncle, who had died without a son to be his heir.
Still,Korwynbore theMarkof theJamisonfamily—he had the crest, and it was glowing even now asCarter’sdead blood called out to his living heir and caused theMarkto light up.Howcould theCouncilofWisdomdeny his claim?
All around me, people were speculating in whispers.
“They can’t give it to him—he’s too young,”Iheard someone say.
“Yes, but he’s got theMark.Andit’sglowing,”another murmured.
“Harris will make them all wish they were dead if they give thePackLeadershipto that young pup,” someone else said.“Besides, he’s a stranger.Howcan he lead a pack he doesn’t even know?”
At last, the four old men seemed to reach a consensus because they nodded and came to stand byKorwyn, who was still beside the casket, causing hisMarkto glow with golden fire.
“Good evening,Mr.Jamison,”ElderLeary, the head of theCouncilsaid, nodding at him formally.“TheCouncilacknowledges your claim to thePackLeadership?—”
“What?”Harriserupted.“Youfucking idiots!Youcan’t just?—”
“However,”ElderLearywent on in a loud voice, frowning atHarris.“Wecannot, in good conscience, simply hand you the leadership of aPackwhose members you do not even know.”
Korwyn frowned.
“I can get to know them.Youcan see that my claim is undisputable.”Henodded at the glowingMarkon his chest.
“Yes, we see that.AsIsaid, weacknowledgeyour claim, but we cannot simply hand you the leadership of ourPack,”ElderLearysaid.“However, we can give you the opportunity to earn it.”
“Earn it?How?”Korwynasked.
ElderLearypuffed up his chest importantly.
“It is our judgment that you may stay here and enter theAlphaChallengein two weeks’ time.If, at that time, you prevail over all the otherAlphas, we will grant you the leadership of thePack.Untilthen, you will be a guest in our town—nothing more.”
Korwyn’s mouth twisted.
“SoIhave to fight for what should be legally mine?”
“That is the judgment of theCouncil, yes.”ElderLearynodded sternly.