Damon's voice was stern, his arms crossed as he stood at the edge of the training yard gazing at Luca and me, if you think I'm going to trust you you're insane.
"We're not asking for trust," Luca remarked, his voice cool but forceful. "We are requesting an opportunity to show that the prophecy does not have to be our doom, and the bond is not a weakness."
Damon shook his head and laughed scornfully. You do not understand it, then? Of the pack, half believe this link to be a curse. The other half believes you unsuited to be in charge. Why would I bet everything I have on chance? „
"Because the competing pack will destroy us if we don't cooperate," I added, moving ahead. Though my voice was firm, the weight of the circumstances weighed hard on my chest. "They already know way too much about us. We will not survive if we do not join now.
There was obvious conflict between us, the unstated problems hovering around. At last Damon sighed heavily, his eyes straying between Luca and me. "Fine," he muttered grudgingly. But you are responsible if you botch this up.
The ceasefire was at best erratic. Although Damon's hesitant acceptance helped to ease some of our mistrust, I could see the pack staring at me every time I passed the yard. Whispers trailed me everywhere, their words slanted with uncertainty and mistrust.
Luca said, "I don't like this," as we got ready for yet another strategy meeting with the seniors. Damon's is somewhat erratic. The instant things go wrong; he may turn on us.
"I know," I answered, changing the pendant buried under my shirt. But there is no alternative for us. This ceasefire will not continue if we cannot present the pack that we are stronger united.
And should the pack decide against it? His grey eyes narrowing, he questioned.
"then we'll have to find another way," I answered, but my voice betrayed me.
The conference was tight right away. Sitting in a semi-circle, the seniors watched Luca lay out his scheme with wary faces. Standing to the side with his arms folded, Damon silently reminded the pack of its split.
"We have to strengthen the borders," Luca remarked. "For weeks the competing pack has been testing our defences. Not too far off is their launching of a full onslaught.
And on the bond as well? One of the seniors inquired, their eyes flicking to mine. "How does it fit into this?"""
Feeling the weight of their scrutiny, I said, "We're still figuring that out." But the link is with the pendant and the prophecy. We think it will help us to know what the Moon Goddess expects of us.
The older people exchanged nervous looks, clearly dubious.
"Belief isn't enough," stated one of them. "The pack needs results."
Damon pushed me aside later as we exited the conference.
He stated frankly, "This isn't going to work." Why not? My irritation boiling to the surface, I questioned.
His words, sharp, "because the pack doesn't trust you." "They see you as an outsider, someone who came only because of a mark you failed to get. They will also never follow you as long as that is the case.
Although his comments stung more than I had anticipated, I refused to let him know how deeply they wounded. I answered, "then I'll just have to prove them wrong."
"Good luck," he added, sneer evident. "You are going to need it."
Luca and I met in the woodland that evening; the pendant hardly glowed between us. A consistent reminder of the link that bound us, the mark on my wrist pulsed in time with its brightness.
We are running out of time, I replied, my voice hardly audible above a whisper.
"I know," Luca answered with a grimace. Still, I have mistrust of Damon. For now, he is playing along, but I sense he is waiting for us to fail.
Then we cannot fail, I answered, looking back at him. "We have to demonstrate to the pack our strength taken together."
He looked at me for a long time, grey eyes probing mine. You really believe that?"
Indeed, I replied with great conviction.
The strain between us relaxed momentarily, and I sensed a flutter of something gentler in his gaze. But a low growl from the woods sent shills down my spine before one of us could speak.
Our senses on great alert, we turned towards the sound. The shadows surrounding us changed, and from the darkness a large wolf materialized with brilliant eyes pointed on me.
My pulse pounding, I murmured, "It's the same one."
The wolf was clearly there, its vitality like a hurricane. The mark on my wrist burned, and the pendant blazed with light, its illumination of the clearing.
The wolf's voice rang in my head, clear and purposeful, "unity or ruin." "You have the decision."
"What does that imply? "Luca insisted, hovering defensively in front of me.
The wolf paid no response. Rather, it let out a low howl, the sound warningly rippling over the air. Then it spun and vanished into the darkness, leaving the clearing empty.
Luca looked at me, his face austere. " Whatever this link is, it is not just about us. Its future determines that of the pack.
And should we fail to find it workable? My voice shook as I asked.
Then we will lose everything, he replied softly.
His words dropped over me like a thunder cloud, and for the first time I understood exactly how much was on line.