Bloodmoon: Peace Treaty Read Free Page B

to be treated like I'm unequal. I'm every bit as strong as you are, if not stronger" she said, raising her chin and squinting.
    "You and I know that's not it Keena"
    Her breath caught again. If he could stop doing that, it would be highly appreciated. Could he see the reaction his use of her name was getting from her? Is that why he used it again? And more importantly, why was it having such a reaction?
    She sighed.
    "Yeah, you're right. But it's personal, and I'd rather not talk about it."
    "I've been famed to give really good advice. I am really old you know" he said, smiling.
    "Like I was born yesterday" she replied, rolling her eyes.
    "Well. I've been famed to give good advice" he said again, shrugging. "Who says our bouts only have to be of the physical kind?" he added
    She understood what he was saying and she knew she would probably feel better if she told him what was truly bothering her. On the other hand, the lupine sceptic within her warned her on the possible dangers of such a revelation.
    For all she knew he could just be searching for information that he could use to cripple their defences. The peace treaty was still young and as shaky as the first day it was signed. It was not news that a lot of them from both sides still harbored grudges against the other side and would sooner see the treaty broken than see it flourish.
    He's had more than enough opportunities to kill you if that were the case. Why hasn't he? A little voice questioned her.
    That was the case though wasn't it? He seemed like he could be trusted, which was the very reason she was so reluctant to do that. In her lifetime she'd learned that nothing ever came easy. She had been brought up that way.
    Still, her worries were threatening to eat her up if she did not open up to someone about them.
    Turk.
    There was a time when she would already have given him a total breakdown of her fears and worries without a single thought. A time when she would reach out to him to comfort her in her time of need.
    That time had long since passed.
    "Well. It's my father"
    Christoph shifted where he sat. He was surprised she was actually going to open up to him. Surprised, but oddly, glad.
    "Yes, what about him?" he asked, adjusting so he could look at her squarely
    "He's old. As you well know. More than two centuries old. And the time for him to ascend is approaching. Meaning, it will soon be time for the pack to choose a new leader" she paused, and looked to make sure he was listening.
    His attention was rapt.
    "Normally, it would fall to one of my brothers. But I am my father's first child. So it's going to be settled with 'bardaga'. I'm going to have to battle them for the alpha position."
    He did not say anything for a while and just looked contemplatively, then.
    "So What? You don't want to fight?"
    "Yes. Exactly. I mean, why do we have to? I'm oldest, I should be the one. Why do I have to fight my brothers to prove that? I've proved myself on the battlefield against your kind one too many times. I'm more than capable"
    Christoph chuckled without mirth.
    "Rules, Keena." he paused, as if saying her name somehow made it harder to speak immediately afterwards. ". . . Sometimes, rules just have to be obeyed. Especially those ones that have been passed on from generation to generation. I mean this is how all the former alpha chiefs were chosen right? I doubt it could have been easy for them at the time too."
    She nodded slightly, her expression still troubled.
    "Look at it this way. You'll be defending yourself. Because, your brothers are going to come at you with all they have. We've established peace now. This is the best time to be an alpha chief. Everyone will thrive."
    Keena sighed resolutely. He was right. Her brothers would definitely be gunning for the position of alpha chief of the pack. She looked at Christoph, he was his father's first son as well. Would he have to do terrible things too at the demise of his father?
    She couldn't help but