a P

initial shockwave of my accusation gave way

ked at Elois, and for the first time, I saw murder in my father's eyes. The love

"No..." she whispered, the word lost in the upr

crambled to his mother's side. He shook her arm frantica

s a confessi

their fear condemn them more effect

g through the noise like a judge's g

stone used in the ritual. I addressed Elder Edgar, who l

is... in doubt, he no longer has the right t

my father's murderous face, then back at me. "That

known for our... mercy." The word dripped wi

is father, let us make hi

hing the proceedings with wide, terrified eyes. "I dema

It was designed for situations exactly like this: when a child's paternity was unknown or disgraced. The rite

status. He would lose his inheritance. He would become, offi

down on Elois, and

with animalistic despair. "You c

d like claws, but stopped short

was a raw, gravelly rasp, the soun

s she

ly acknowledging his cuckolding and personally order

crambled to obey, pulli

er! I am your son! I am!" He crawled on his

m away with a snar

fore the White Pack was slaughtered, our people had crawled to Esley just like that,

s. Elder Edgar read the proclamation, his vo

Esley, henceforth, is bound to the bloodline of his mother, Elois Mercado. His name sh

. The name 'Esley' beside mine flickered, and then vanished. A moment later, it reappeare

ed, inhuman wail tore from his thr

him, a broken, empty shell. I

led uncontrollably, staring

t a cold, empty calm. This was not victory. This

doors of the Ancestral Hall were t

ating power and authority. On their cl

an Pack h