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"You've got to go," Rudy said. "This isn't the place for the pack. There are too many humans, too close together. With this many of us, sooner or later someone's going to make a mistake, and this time it might mean the end of us. Look at those boys." He pointed to the Five. "Don't tell me they've got the common sense to stay out of trouble."
"They're only being boys," Astrid said, smiling indulgently at the Five.
"And maybe they got a point," Lucien Dafoe said. "Maybe it's time to change the rules. Maybe it's time to hunt instead of be hunted. That's my opinion."
"We know about your opinions," snapped Aunt Persia, the elderly healer.
And your drinking, Vivian thought. He hadn't handled his losses well. If anyone was a menace, he was. What if he lost control and revealed himself in some bar one night? Rudy was right. They had to get out of the city.
"But we've only now settled in," Raul Wagner said. "We've got jobs." He nodded toward his wife, Magda. "We've finally got a decent house."
"And look what's happening to our kids while we're busting our asses trying to earn enough to live in this city," his brother, Rolf, answered. "We need to live somewhere where we can afford our own business again, where we can make our own hours, make time for the kids."
"Mom," Vivian whispered anxiously. "What do you want?"
Esmé shook her head. "I like it here." But she looked unsure.
I always took it for granted that everyone agreed, Vivian thought. That when the time came we would go.
The Wagners were arguing among themselves now, as if no one else existed; the triplets were wrestling and squealing again; Orlando Griffin was trying to raise his voice above the racket. Jenny Garnier burst into tears and the baby joined her.
Rudy jumped up. "Shut up, all of you!"
His words didn't do any good. The noise crescendoed. Vivian put her hands over her ears and wished they'd go away. She saw the Five edging toward the door.
Then Gabriel strode across the room and leaped onto the coffee table. "Quiet!"
The Five froze. The room fell silent. Almost.
Rudy knelt beside Jenny to comfort her, and gradually mother and baby stopped sobbing.
"A strong leader has control, Rudy," Astrid said. "Maybe the reason the boys are running a little wild is you, not the city. I think with the right leader we can make a good life here." She studied Gabriel with pleasure. "I know a good strong man when I see him."
"You've known a lot of them," Esmé said loudly.
Astrid's lip twitched but she suppressed the snarl. "What do you say, Gabe? Want to stay in town and lead the pack?"
Gabriel looked from one of the women to the other with languid amusement and Vivian thought she'd die of shame.
"Yes, Gabe," Esmé said sweetly. "You've been very quiet. What do you say?"
"I vote we go," Gabriel said, and jumped down from the table.
Astrid stared at him in amazement.
"Hah, I vote we go, too," cried Esmé, "with Gabriel to lead us."
Raul stepped forward to face Gabriel across the coffee table. "What makes you a leader, puppy? I've got years on you."
Several other males stood up to argue their cases.
"Come on, let's vote on this," Rolf said. "Let's be fair."
"Who said this was a democracy?" cried Lucien.
"It's not," said Aunt Persia, in a voice that rang effortlessly above the others, startling them all. The keeper of ancient magics raised her hands slowly, her rings glittering. "It is time," she said, "to choose a leader in the Old Way."
"But that's like stepping back into the Dark Ages," Esmé cried into the shocked silence.
