Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

looked at me.
    I know what I wanted to say. Auriele was likely to agree with Mary Jo—and we’d already heard what Darryl’s viewpoint was. Even if Mary Jo lost, it would help Adam. I looked at the wolves and saw a lot of resentful faces—they had done the math as well, and they were very unhappy with me being a part of the decision.
    Then I saw some wiggle room.
    â€œIt seems to me that there is another problem,” I said. “If we agree that Mary Jo can fight because she ranks within three people of Paul. I submit that Paul does not stand within three people of Adam.” Like Mary Jo, I held up my hand. “Adam, then me.” I held up a finger. “Darryl—and Auriele, then Warren.”
    â€œThen Honey,” said Warren with a little smile. “Then Paul.”
    Paul snarled. “He has already accepted my challenge. That presupposes I have the right.”
    I looked at Adam.
    â€œNice try,” he told me. “But I agree with Paul.”
    â€œAnd the official code of conduct,” said Ben grumpily, “which I had to damn well memorize before I was allowed in the pack, says challenge within quote three men unquote. The important word being ‘men.’ ”
    â€œSo Mary Jo can’t fight,” said Paul with a relieved grin. “She’s not a man.”
    â€œSo Mary Jo’s claim is still valid,” I pointed out. “She’s within three men of your rank. Does the code of conduct say that the challenger has to be a man?” Kyle told me that one of the secrets of being a lawyer was never to ask a witness a question you didn’t know the answer to. I knew what it said, but it would sound better coming from someone else.
    â€œNo,” said Ben.
    I’d done all I could do. Adam’s silent urging pushing me, I looked at Mary Jo, and said, “Like Adam, I have too much of a stake in this.”
    â€œMercy,” whispered Jesse fiercely. “What are you doing?” I patted the hand she’d locked on my wrist.
    â€œDarryl, Auriele, and Warren will decide this, then,” said Adam.
    Because my mate bond with Adam was sort of functioning again, I knew he believed that if I’d been part of the decision, it would have just become another point of contention. Another stupid thing that allowing a coyote into a pack of wolves had accomplished—instead of what it should be, a recognition of Mary Jo’s right to challenge regardless of her sex. I figured he was right.
    â€œThere are only three females in this pack,” said Darryl. I don’t think he forgot about me so much as he really meant three women werewolves instead of females in general. “That is typical for all packs. Most werewolves die before they have spent a decade as a wolf, but for women who are wolves, that life span is almost doubled because they do not fight men for dominance. And still they are so few. You are too precious to us to allow you to risk so much.”
    It took me a while to realize he wasn’t talking to the whole pack, but to his mate.
    Auriele crossed her arms. “That makes sense in a species where women are important to survival. But we aren’t. We cannot have children—and so are no more valuable to the pack than anyone else.”
    It had the ring of an old argument.
    â€œI vote no,” said Darryl, snapping his teeth as he spoke.
    â€œI vote yes,” responded Auriele coolly.
    â€œDamn it,” said Warren. “Y’all are going to throw me in the middle of a marital spat on top of everything else?”
    â€œUp to you,” Auriele said grimly.
    â€œHell,” said Warren, “if this ain’t a whole can of worms, I don’t know what is. Mary Jo?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œYou sure about this, darlin’?”
    It felt as if the whole pack drew a breath.
    â€œThis is my fault,” she told him. “That Adam got hurt, that the pack has been in an upheaval. I didn’t cause it all, but I didn’t stop it either. I think it’s time I make suitable reparations, don’t you? Try to fix the damage?”
    Warren stared at her, and I saw the wolf come and go in his eye. “All right. All right. You go fight him, Mary Jo—and you damn well better win. You hear me?”
    She nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
    â€œYou do better than that,” he said grimly.
    â€œMary Jo.” Paul’s voice was plaintive. “I