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He tried to sound cooler than he really was inside. All of his rage threatened to spill out at any given moment, and he was operating out of desperation now. He had let Delilah fight, but he wasn’t going to jeopardize the Fang District’s safety.
“The problem, Mr. Grimmaw, is that I called off our deal when I agreed to send her to the Silver Paw pack instead. If you choose to harbor this fugitive, we will hold you guilty of kidnapping.”
“Then I guess we’re guilty of kidnapping, and you’ll do what you feel you have to.”
Rage fueled Graham’s words now. He was done playing nice. He could no longer prevent an escalation.
This time, Travers spoke up. “This is stupid. You’re protecting someone who isn’t even yours. Delilah is a lone wolf who didn’t hold up her end of the bargain. I’m not leaving without her, and that’s final.”
“Well, we’re not giving her up, and I don’t think she’s going with you,” Graham challenged. “So, you can leave and deal with it, or you can waste everybody’s time a little longer. Up to you.”
Travers spat. “You dare disrespect me?”
“If I might interject,” Jonah said. “I believe what we have here are terms for a duel. Is that not correct?”
Jude chuckled. “Maybe in old-timey, uncivilized interpretations of shifter law, but—”
“You’re correct,” Graham said. “Winner takes Delilah? Assuming she’d even go with you, of course.”
Jude stared at him. “What are you doing?”
“We might have buried those laws,” Graham breathed, “but their strictest interpretation is still just cause for the end of the Grimmaw pack.”
“There’s no way I’m letting you.”
“There’s not anything you can do to stop me, Jude,” Graham said, looking at the four wolves in front of him, Travers carefully watching the discussion. “If anything happens, I need you to do me a favor.”
He looked to Delilah, determined to stand her ground but afraid for him regardless.
“What’s that?” Jude asked, already half knowing the answer.
“If anything bad happens here, I need you to take Delilah and evacuate the packs,” Graham said. “Maybe they consider her property, but she’s not ours to hand over.”
Jude nodded reluctantly, as Graham moved to Delilah, giving her one final kiss.
Chapter 30
Delilah
Delilahlookedoninpanic. It wasn’t fair. She had stood up to fight, and she was finally ready to confront the specters that had been looming over her for so many months.
As the packs dispersed from the courtyard, spectators eager to witness the fight were pushed back to its perimeters, creating a wide, open space for the impending duel.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Miranda said, holding Delilah back as she moved to approach the starting fight.
“This is my fight, Miranda!” Delilah said, through an enraged half-whisper, half-yell. “I should be responsible for fixing this, not Jude and Graham!”
Jude had taken leadership now and was carefully monitoring the area while Graham and Travers circled around the plaza square, a fountain pouring close by, and the steady rhythm of the clock above ticking with every passing second. He fit the role well and maintained a professional calm in contrast to the internal turmoil Delilah knew he felt.
“Look around,” Miranda said. “They’re not fighting because they have to protect you. They’re fighting because theywantto protect you.”
She caught the quizzical expression on Delilah’s face, before adding, “It’s a screwed-up system. But right now, they’re the only ones who can stand up for you because the laws weren’t designed for you.”
Miranda looked back out over the plaza. “And besides that, with everything you’ve had to deal with mentally, I think you’ve already fought enough.”
“I can’t just sit back and watch them maul each other,” Delilah cried.
“Honey, I know it’s hard, but right now, the best way you can help Graham and Jude is by doing nothing at all.”
