"What? You honestly think having co-Alphas is better?"

"It would be the easiest option to palate for the wolves," answered Morris with an unconcerned shrug. "As the bonded mate of the Alpha, you would already be treated equally for the most part. Bonded mates are granted all the same privileges and can generally tell the pack what to do so long as it doesn't supersede the Alpha's established rules and commands."

"For the most part, things would be as the pack would expect for an Alpha's mate," added Octavia. "You would just take it a step further by having equal command over the wolves."

"Sounds like it could get messy." I looked at Ulysses from the corner of my eye as he shifted his weight in the padded leather chair. He kept his gaze to the table while considering our words.

"It will take some time getting used to," admitted the elder wolf, "but the confusion would be worse if you tried to deny your dominance."

"Obviously the other two choices aren't going to be any better since fighting Everett or leaving the pack would just leave our current Alpha heartbroken. Which has not gone well for our pack in the past." Octavia sighed with her words and shared a frown with her brother.

"So of the options," said a gruff, but youthful voice, "the most reasonable and kindest solution is for you to lead together." Ulysses sat at the end of the table with his thick arms crossed over his broad chest and his fingers tapping a rhythm against his bicep. Though there was some finality in his tone, I didn't find a shred of contentment in his face.

"Have other packs done this?" I directed my question to Gretchen, my breath coming easier now that I wasn't trapped in the Gamma's hard stare.

"I've seen packs with two alphas, but it generally ended in bloodshed. However, those situations never included bonded mates. The strength of the chain binding two fated wolves is far more powerful than bloodlust and pride. I fully believe bonded mates could rule together without suffering the same tragic fate I've seen before."

I felt the reassurance in the warm softness of her voice, but I still shivered. I looked up to Everett, hoping to find an answer on his lips.

"What will it be, Delilah?"

"I... I don't think I'm an Alpha." My eyes watered and the strain of the past couple days pounded against my skull. "What if I just throw the whole pack off balance?"

"What if we're already out of balance and two Alphas is exactly what we need to set things right again?"

We watched each other while his hand rose up to massage my shoulder. The others remained still and quiet, their presence fading into the background as I delved into the words left unsaid between me and their Alpha.

"Can I have some time to think about it?" I directed my question to everyone at the table, though it was Everett that gave me my answer.

"Yes, but Delilah, the lack of a decision may end up being worse than no decision at all. Please don't wait long to decide."

I acknowledged the ultimatum with a subtle drop of my chin.

"Everyone, head home and don't breathe a word of this until Delilah has made her decision. We will meet again after tomorrow night's run."

They rose up without a word and filed out the door with practiced solemnity.

"Luc, close the doors after they're out."

As instructed his Beta sealed us off again once the advisory board had left the manor.

"Are you okay? We haven't had any time to talk about what happened at the execution. I can feel the frantic energy wafting off of you. Is it just from your dream?"

His hurried words stumbled over his lips so that they slurred together in one long string of concern. He bent down so we were almost eye to eye, while his hands reached out to grip my shoulders, his thumbs running up and down the length of my neck.

"It has been a lot, but I can be angry about it tomorrow." I rolled my head into the soothing pressure of Everett's touch, his hand accommodating the gesture by cupping my cheek in his large palm.

"I agree. What we need right now is to go upstairs and straight into bed."

For a moment I let myself linger on the memories of our last night in bed together. The imprint of his body pressing deep into mine still tugged at my core and sparked every nerveending along my skin. My mouth watered, but despite how much I wanted to snuggle up next to him beneath the cool breeze of the lazy ceiling fan, I had only just rested and the shadows of that dream had not left my thoughts.

"I can't." I sighed and pulled away from his touch, worried it may dampen my conviction to move forward. "I need to do something first."

"What?" He still kept his hands on my shoulders despite the distance I put between us. His arms stretched with the movement and his thick muscles strained with the tension.

"I need to go to the woods."

"You're going to be the death of me, Delilah." He released his hold and sent his hands to his face before dragging them through his wild hair. With a groan he arched his back and then whimpered as he slouched into the closest chair. "Why must you keep tempting fate in those woods?"

"Because they are calling to me—Clementine is calling to me." I balled my hands in fists at my sides, my lip jutting out in childish indignation.

"I know it hurts that she was taken so violently and I know grief can drag us into places we know better than to dwell in."

"You're not understanding, Everett."

"I can't understand how you're coping, but..."

"No, listen, she called to me—in my dreams. She's done it before." I stayed firm with my back straight and my arms stiff. He, however, leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. His eyes, widened with pity, look up at me from behind long lashes.

"She's dead, Delilah. Beheading and burning is the most surefire way to kill the majority of the clans in Whisper Valley."

"But," I replied, the word drawn out as I dared him to stop me, "she could be a ghost."

"Delilah..."

"She could be. We don't know. Do you?"

He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head and assessing the ground.

"Out of all the clans here, I know the least about ghosts. They aren't particularly forthright with things and I can't say with complete certainty that I know how a ghost is created."

"So there's a chance."

He threw his hands up and looked to the ceiling.

"I suppose, but that chance is likely very, very slim."

"I'm telling you I heard her. The first time she ever called to me was in the woods and she told me to come find her. Then, on the night of Dean's ceremony, when I was asleep on that very same couch in the library, I swear I heard her whispering in my dreams. Now, tonight, I hear another plea for me to come find her in the woods. It must be her."

"Or it's someone else. Someone with intentions that are far from kind."

"Are you going to try and stop me?"

"Couldn't if I wanted to," he answered with a low rumble of laughter in his voice. He then rose up from his chair and paced a small line on the floor. "I'll do you one better. I'm going to go with you."

"No, you can't." The words jumped from me and I took a few heated steps to meet him in his pacing. "I have the ward still." I pulled the rune from my chest so he could see the tattered sachet. "I can get in without setting off whatever guards Graham has in the woods, but I only have one. I have to go alone."

"I don't like this," he growled.

"I know," I said with a smile, my hand reaching up to caress his whiskered cheek. "But I can take care of myself. Death has tried many times and has failed to claim me. It won't be visiting me tonight. I can feel it."

"That's exhaustion talking."

"Everett."

"You will take Damien with you." He turned from my hand, his words more of a growl than a human voice.

"I'll take him to the tree line, but I'm going into the woods alone."

"Fine." He snorted the word and then made his way around the table. He stood before a large map pinned to the wall of the lounge, which he beckoned me to view.

"I can't stop you from doing your lap around the woods or whatever you need to do to convince yourself that Clementine is no longer here. However, I beg and I plead with you to mind the boundaries of our pack. We have enough going on, we do not need a turf war added to our problems—particularly if it's started by an Alpha wandering into another pack's lands."

"Of course."

He looked at me from the side of his eyes. After deciding I was to be trusted, he reached out and pointed to a thick band of mountains.

"Pack lines are the town's limits, which are defined in part by the Ehnita mountain range and the Raterennotha' River. So long as you stay at the base of the mountains and don't cross the river, you'll be well within our territory."

"The river..." I raised a finger up to trace the curving spine of the waterway along the map. Eventually I landed on the mountain that fed the stream. "So this is within the territory?"

"Yes, why?"

"Because that's where I need to go."

***

Del is headed to the woods to find the voice calling for her. What will she find there?

We're in the final stretch now! If my estimates are correct, the last chapter will be posted on Valentines' Day.