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There was a third option. But it was equally unpalatable as it put Macey in harms way. But Owen had no doubt that his father had already put a target on her back and asked the pack vampires to go a little harder on her at training. Whether or not they would was up for debate. Who’d snitch and report back to his father? There was always someone wanting to curry favor.

The bullshit and ego that this pack was built on grated on his bones. But he couldn’t change things here. Not even if he won and became his father’s second. His father would simply grind him down, the way he’d been trying to for the last five years.

There was only way out and he hoped Macey would forgive him.

“I will not fight.”

“You will kneel and let Joel take blood without even trying to retain your place?” His father laughed and others joined in.

Owen’s gaze flicked to the watchers. Did they think he needed knocked down a peg or were they only laughing to be seen to support his father? It was hard to tell. Those that liked the old ways were let into the pack, those that didn’t were rarely allowed to leave. His father believing it was safer to watch them and force them to conform.

His father beckoned Joel into the circle.

Owen stared at his father. “I invoke the right to defense.”

It was dishonorable to not fight your own battles. But a wolf didn’t have to fight, they could ask a vampire to fight and take the risk of injury.

Joel’s smug smile froze. “What’s that?”

Owen kept his voice level, even though he had scored the first victory and exposed Joel’s ignorance. “You follow the old ways and like tradition? The right to defense is the third option in your preferred way of dealing with issues. I can choose a vampire to fight in my place.”

Owen glanced at the vampires ringing the wolves. One of them gave a slight nod as though in agreement. But he wouldn’t ask one of the pack’s vampires. They were loyal to the leader, in action if not always in thought.

His father scowled. “Then pick one.”

“I have to fight a vampire?” Joel grimaced like it was beneath him.

“I don’t want any of them. They are yours, father.” Owen glanced at Joel. “I want Macey.”

“You want to haveherto fight in your place?” Joel’s words were laced with scorn.

Owen’s heart beat hard and each breath hurt. He nodded. “Yes.”

She may not agree. If she didn’t, he’d be demoted to the bottom with no other questions being asked. If Macey agreed and she won, then things would get very interesting. He was walking a dangerous path by not submitting.

Whatever happened, he doubted he’d be in this pack come dawn.

* * *

Macey drankthe offered shot then shook off the burn. She didn’t need liquor to unwind, but she was a vampire and she needed to hang out with vampires. Not just to listen to gossip, but because, as Talia had said, she needed to accept what she was.

It was much easier to accept herself when people weren’t treating her like she didn’t belong.

Someone slapped her on the shoulder. “Nice fight today.”

“Thanks.” She turned and came face to face with Ajax, but he was already moving past and saying something to another newbie. Despite his all-round surliness he took his job of teaching seriously.

He would’ve been an excellent pack leader if he’d been a wolf.

“How was your swim?” Talia leaned on the bar next to her.

“Wet.” She spun the shot glass. “It’s weird hearing all those tiny heartbeats…weirder to hear the slower ones and not know where the monster is lurking.”

Talia studied her for a moment, but then shook her head and said nothing.

The dining room echoed with heartbeats, and while they were all vampire, the room was divided. Not by gender or pack, but by age as people caught up with friends they rarely saw face to face. She’d never seen so many vampires in one room. And while their numbers didn’t rival the wolves, if they all walked away, there was nothing the wolves could do about it. They couldn’t all be called rogue and hunted.

Could they?