Soon enough, though, Marie tore past Claire and took her rightful place at the front of the pack. Claire fell back, just a pace or two, and Marie snatched the rabbit a slim moment before he disappeared into a hole in the ground. She killed him quickly and efficiently.
The other wolves skidded to a halt, and Katherine raised her head, the beginnings of a howl pouring from her throat. Claire cringed, knowing full well that this was exactly the sort of thing her mother had told them not to do. Judith turned and rammed her head into Katherine's shoulder, cutting off the sound as Katherine wobbled in surprise.
Marie said to be quiet! Judith sat and scratched her ear.
Sorry. Katherine hung her head. I wasn't thinking. I—
You put us all at risk with your thoughtlessness. Marie put down the rabbit and paced over to Katherine.
It won't happen again. Katherine sank down onto the carpet of dead leaves, her nose buried between her paws.
Claire's heart began to pound. She'd seen that look—that posture—on her mother before. Not in her wolf form but in her human form. And it meant one thing. Marie wasn't going to let this go.
It certainly won't happen again tonight. You are no longer welcome at the feast. You will go get your things. You will speak to no one, and you will go home. Marie stood over Katherine, who lay on the ground looking up at the Alpha wolf.
Katherine whined a pathetic, apologetic whine.
Marie leaned down and caught the soft flesh at the side of Katherine's neck in her mouth. Not hard enough to hurt— Claire could see the space between her teeth—but enough to make Katherine's eyes widen.
I will not be disobeyed. Marie left Katherine shaking on the forest floor. She scooped up the rabbit and began trotting back in the direction of the fire, with Beatrice close behind her. Claire hesitated, staring for a moment at Katherine's pleading expression aimed at the retreating forms of Beatrice and Marie.
Judith brushed past her, following the others. Get used to it. There is no law except pack law. Let's go.
A sudden anger flared inside Claire. What Katherine did was wrong—stupid, even. This was no game—she'd seen that last summer. Every time they were in the woods it was a lifeand-death risk, but tonight they had good reason to be extra cautious. Her anger grew as she considered Katherine's recklessness. And over a stupid rabbit.
This was, she realized, exactly the sort of thing that made her mother think she had to control every inch of what happened in the pack. Which meant that Claire would suffer the consequences of Katherine's actions. There would be more rules, more commands, because it was the only way Marie knew how to keep them all safe.
Claire turned to go with the others, leaving Katherine alone in the heart of the woods.
They finished the rest of the ceremony quickly, the mood in the clearing gray and muted as a cloud.
Claire walked alongside her mother as they made their way back toward the house. Marie looked more tired than usual, the circles under her eyes shadowed nearly black by the moon, but she seemed as calm as ever. Claire watched out of the corner of her eye as her mother stepped carefully over tree roots and ducked under the low, leafless branches that reached for her hair like thin-fingered hands.
There was no scent of anger in the air. No reminder of what had passed between her mother and Katherine.
"Mom?" she ventured, too curious to stay silent. "Are you still—I mean, the thing with Katherine—" Claire fumbled around for the right words.
"The thing with Katherine is finished. There is no need to dwell on it." Marie's voice was quiet. Steady.
"So, you're not angry?"
"No. That is not our way. And it is especially not my way. She erred, and as the Alpha it was my duty to correct her. So I did. One cannot lead the pack by carrying grudges or playing favorites. That path only ends in chaos." Marie shrugged. "There is the law, and it must be followed. It is my job to ensure that. My feelings for Katherine—who has been a loyal and faithful member of our pack for many years—have nothing to do with it."
It was so similar to what Judith had said that Claire shivered. But it made sense. There was no room for error in a werewolf 's life. The kindest thing a pack leader could do was to keep those mistakes from happening—to keep all the wolves alive. Even when it meant being strict. Even when it meant being merciless. Even when it made the wrinkles in Marie's forehead deeper and made her eyes look tired.
Lost in thought, Claire trailed behind her mother, reluctant to leave the forest. Things were harder underneath the trees. More dangerous. Even brutal.
But at least they were honest, which was a lot more than she could say for her human life.
Chapter Fourteen