Caleb agreed to Jonas’ terms and then promptly left. Jonas had already prepared rooms for both visiting Alphas to rest.
Axel was left with Jonas.
“What the hell is this?” Axel asked after Caleb was gone. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
Jonas laughed.
“Like the boy said, it’s a fight,” Jonas replied. “He and I will duke it out, and whoever wins is the battle master to the wolves of Broken Crag.”
“You don’t mean you’re giving up your role as Alpha, do you?” Axel asked.
“This wolf don’t give up nothing,” Jonas growled. “If the boy can take me down fair and square, he earns the respect of my wolves.”
“With all due respect, what does that mean?”
“He will earn the right to ask them to follow him onto the battlefield. Whether they follow is up to them,” replied Jonas.
“Not you?”
“I don’t tell my wolves who to fight for. I may be the voice the rest of you alphas recognize for this pack. But that don’t mean these wolves don’t have voices of their own.”
