Vicky goes to the table, grabs an empty cereal box and moves it to the very centre of the room. Another box is ripped to shreds by Ed's claws. You have no idea where the pens come from, but they're there, being passed around along with the shredded cardboard.
You notice Minjo refuse to take a card when offered.
Izzie does take a card. You suppose there is no reason why a five year old can't vote... even if her writing ability is questionable at best.
Then Marco is offering you a piece of cardboard and a pen.
You take them from him, lean against the wall, and write down a name.
It seems both ridiculously formal and ridiculously informal to write who you think should be Alpha on a piece of card... but that's what you're doing.
When you're finished you stride forward and drop your vote into the still intact cereal box in the middle of the room. It takes the pack about fifteen minutes to vote. The count is just as quick, and just as public. You watch as Terry, Ed, and Marta all move the cards into little piles.
It's closer than you expected. Way fucking closer.
Elma has five votes. Addie has eight. So does Sergi.
"Well," Sergi mutters. "I guess we're doing this the old fashioned way."
"I guess we are," Addie mutters.
"Get the kids out," Elma says.
"Wait!" Izzie protests as she's scooped up. "I want to see! I want to see!"
"Let her watch," Addie says softly. "She's ready."
Izzie straightens her skirt indignantly as she's set down. Nik and JiAn don't protest as they're led out of the room. The door shuts with a loud click.
Sergi cracks his neck and turns to face Addie. "Don't go easy."
She flexes her fingers. "Wasn't gonna."
Sergi nods... then launches himself at her. Addie is ready. You flinch as their bodies smash into each other, growls echoing off the cement walls, fur erupting across their skin, mouths opening wide, and then wider, until they're not mouths but open hungry maws.
They collide with a table, knocking it over, and spilling cereal and milk across the floor. A bowl smashes and a chair cracks alarmingly as it's slammed against the wall.
Izzie looks like she regrets asking to stay. You don't blame her.
Werewolves don't usually fight like this. Claws, teeth, and blood. The air is filled with barks, growls, and yelps of pain. You chew your lip as they twist around each other, one grey, one black, both a hideous blend of human and beast.
Sergi should have the advantage. He's young, fit, and angry. But he's also missing an eye, and a limb... and Addie... she's quicker than you'd ever thought she could be... a hell of a lot quicker.
It's a close fight. Very close. But in the end it's Sergi who's standing and Addie who's holding up her hands and showing her throat in submission.
Sergi looks shocked and a little sick as he fades back into human form. Nikolas comes and throws a blanket over him. Elma does the same for Addie. Minjo gets the medkit...
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