don’t
want
to sacrifice him, but Matt will die a hero’s death and go to Valhalla, the afterworld for the strong and brave. He’ll be happy there.”
“Matt would be happier
alive
,” Fen pointed out.
“That’s not your concern, Fenrir. Your role is to lead our monsters into the battle. These fine young wolves and the creatures that will rise…” The mayor paused and grinned, looking like he was talking about some parade or whatever in Blackwell, not the
end of the world
and billions of deaths. Then he met Fen’s eyes again. “You’ll be at the front of our forces when the battle starts.”
The Raiders were all watching them attentively, and for a moment, Fen was okay being their alpha. Being in charge meant putting their needs first. Regardless of what roles fate had planned for any of them, Fen had a responsibility to the
wulfenkind
watching him right now. He wasn’t going to blindly follow anyone’s plans. It wasn’t about whether or not he’d die. He’d rushed into danger repeatedly, but he’d done it because the younger Thorsen’s plans were sane and logical. There were things worth the risk—saving the world was one of them.
“You’re going to need more than this to convince me thatsupporting your plans is what’s best for the Raiders,” Fen said in a voice intended to carry.
The mayor folded his arms and looked at Fen from the bottom of his ragged shoes to the top of his shaggy hair before saying, “Fate, my boy. The Champion of Loki leads the monsters. If you don’t do your job, I’ll wipe out the lot of these ragamuffins and your cousin, too.” He smiled in a friendly sort of way, as if he hadn’t just threatened everyone Fen knew. He was—like most Thorsens—not concerned about the Brekkes. Fen had seen the flash of worry on the mayor’s face when Matt’s death was mentioned. He obviously cared about
his
family. That didn’t mean he cared about Brekkes.
“Brekkes don’t have a history of obeying Thorsens,” Fen pointed out, thinking of all his family members who ended up in trouble. The Thorsens were the law, and the Brekkes broke the law. That was a fact.
The mayor merely said, “You will do your part, just as Matty will.”
Without another word, the old man turned and walked away, leaving Fen with a crowd of
wulfenkind
who were watching him attentively.
Leadership is hard
, Fen thought. He looked around at the kids. Fear was obvious on more than a few faces. He knew only one thing to say that might help them understand his stance.
“Even if I weren’t bound by
wulfenkind
law, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt my cousin. You all know that I’ve paid Laurie’sdues for years. I don’t let down the people I’m sworn to protect. I’ll do what I have to do to keep you safe just like I have with her. I’m going to find a way to protect
all
of us.” He tried to keep from yelling at them for ever trusting a Thorsen.… Well, trusting one who wasn’t Matt. As calmly as he was able, Fen added, “Following Thorsens isn’t a great idea for Brekkes, and following
that
Thorsen really,
really
isn’t.”
He didn’t wait to see what they all thought. Instead, he went straight to Skull’s tent, which had been the first one Fen had ordered erected. He needed to see how his recovery was going, and if possible, learn some information from him. Skull had been the alpha since this pack was formed. He was the oldest and strongest kid there, and no one would have challenged him for leadership. That meant he knew everything about the pack—which meant that Fen needed to gain his trust if he was to rescue the pack from the mayor’s crazy plans.
The older boy met his eyes expectantly when Fen stormed into the tent. “So…” Skull started.
“So, that lunatic is why you trapped me.” Fen flopped to the floor of the tent.
“Yep.”
“Do you believe in the whole better-to-end-the-world-and-rebuild-from-the-ashes thing?” Fen asked.
For a moment, Skull said nothing. He looked
want
to sacrifice him, but Matt will die a hero’s death and go to Valhalla, the afterworld for the strong and brave. He’ll be happy there.”
“Matt would be happier
alive
,” Fen pointed out.
“That’s not your concern, Fenrir. Your role is to lead our monsters into the battle. These fine young wolves and the creatures that will rise…” The mayor paused and grinned, looking like he was talking about some parade or whatever in Blackwell, not the
end of the world
and billions of deaths. Then he met Fen’s eyes again. “You’ll be at the front of our forces when the battle starts.”
The Raiders were all watching them attentively, and for a moment, Fen was okay being their alpha. Being in charge meant putting their needs first. Regardless of what roles fate had planned for any of them, Fen had a responsibility to the
wulfenkind
watching him right now. He wasn’t going to blindly follow anyone’s plans. It wasn’t about whether or not he’d die. He’d rushed into danger repeatedly, but he’d done it because the younger Thorsen’s plans were sane and logical. There were things worth the risk—saving the world was one of them.
“You’re going to need more than this to convince me thatsupporting your plans is what’s best for the Raiders,” Fen said in a voice intended to carry.
The mayor folded his arms and looked at Fen from the bottom of his ragged shoes to the top of his shaggy hair before saying, “Fate, my boy. The Champion of Loki leads the monsters. If you don’t do your job, I’ll wipe out the lot of these ragamuffins and your cousin, too.” He smiled in a friendly sort of way, as if he hadn’t just threatened everyone Fen knew. He was—like most Thorsens—not concerned about the Brekkes. Fen had seen the flash of worry on the mayor’s face when Matt’s death was mentioned. He obviously cared about
his
family. That didn’t mean he cared about Brekkes.
“Brekkes don’t have a history of obeying Thorsens,” Fen pointed out, thinking of all his family members who ended up in trouble. The Thorsens were the law, and the Brekkes broke the law. That was a fact.
The mayor merely said, “You will do your part, just as Matty will.”
Without another word, the old man turned and walked away, leaving Fen with a crowd of
wulfenkind
who were watching him attentively.
Leadership is hard
, Fen thought. He looked around at the kids. Fear was obvious on more than a few faces. He knew only one thing to say that might help them understand his stance.
“Even if I weren’t bound by
wulfenkind
law, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt my cousin. You all know that I’ve paid Laurie’sdues for years. I don’t let down the people I’m sworn to protect. I’ll do what I have to do to keep you safe just like I have with her. I’m going to find a way to protect
all
of us.” He tried to keep from yelling at them for ever trusting a Thorsen.… Well, trusting one who wasn’t Matt. As calmly as he was able, Fen added, “Following Thorsens isn’t a great idea for Brekkes, and following
that
Thorsen really,
really
isn’t.”
He didn’t wait to see what they all thought. Instead, he went straight to Skull’s tent, which had been the first one Fen had ordered erected. He needed to see how his recovery was going, and if possible, learn some information from him. Skull had been the alpha since this pack was formed. He was the oldest and strongest kid there, and no one would have challenged him for leadership. That meant he knew everything about the pack—which meant that Fen needed to gain his trust if he was to rescue the pack from the mayor’s crazy plans.
The older boy met his eyes expectantly when Fen stormed into the tent. “So…” Skull started.
“So, that lunatic is why you trapped me.” Fen flopped to the floor of the tent.
“Yep.”
“Do you believe in the whole better-to-end-the-world-and-rebuild-from-the-ashes thing?” Fen asked.
For a moment, Skull said nothing. He looked
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