Amanda wasn't looking forward to the afternoon session. Another endless round of discussion and posturing, that was all it was. They knew they weren't going to acknowledge Fenrir as king. They wouldn't agree to most of his demands. It seemed highly unlikely that Fenrir would agree to any of their concessions. So what was the point?

Intellectually she knew what the point was. They had to manoeuvre things somehow so that none of the tribes agreed. If they alone defied Fenrir, he would move against the Leidulf tribe, but if he couldn't get any of the other tribes to side with him, would he still dare face them?

The meeting with the Grimweir had been a huge coup. She knew that, too, intellectually. But she was still mad at their dismissal of Brianna's near rape and their views of women in general.

The drizzle had stopped but the sky was still overcast and grey. No one looked too happy to be camping out of doors today, or attending yet another round of meetings.

They were almost at the council circle when she spied a Fleischer wolf she recognized. She didn't know a name, but he'd been out in Idaho. She knew that much. This was the first they'd seen of that pack at this council.

Whoever he was, she expected him to duck away shamefaced. Instead he approached her and Connor brazenly. "Heard someone nearly raped the little blond," he sneered. "Wish I had been in on that action."

Amanda pushed forward, too angry to speak.

He wasn't done. He looked smug, like he assumed he was perfectly safe. "Too bad you and I didn't have a chance to play, either. Not as cute as your little wolf but you'd be plenty of feisty."

Amanda roared at him.

####

She came too curled on her side. She rolled over and looked around. Woods surrounded her. Jonathan and Erica were sitting side by side, both naked, watching her.

"What happened?" she asked. Then she realised she was naked as well, and she knew what had happened. She sat upright. "Crap! How bad was it?"

"We did a pretty good Jay," Jonathan said with a smile. "Led you out of the camp before you did too much damage."

"To the people at least," Erica added. "Tents and stuff? Man, you tore through that camp."

Amanda grabbed her head and groaned. She had a headache and felt groggy. She strained to remember and caught flashes, the wide eyes of the man as she slammed him out of her way, tearing through a tent, running through the woods chasing after Jonathan and Erica, who would pause and bark to entice her on.

She heard the sound of feet coming through the woods. It was Connor, Tanner and Arthur. Connor rushed to her, his face full of concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said. "I'm fine. Is...is anyone hurt?"

"No, not seriously," Arthur said, his eyes bright. He seemed quite pleased with something.

Tanner had a small bag with clothes for all of them. He passed them out.

"A couple of the Fleischers got tossed around, but mostly everyone got out of your way. And Erica and Jonathan did a great job," Connor said with a nod towards them. "They led you away."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have lost control like that," Amanda moaned.

"No need to apologize," Arthur said, lighting a cigarette. "Been a good day, a very good day."

Amanda just stared at him. He met the gaze evenly.

"First the Grimweir, now this," he said. To Amanda's continued stare he added, "No blood was drawn, so they can't say we broke peace. But it was a brilliant display. So a few tents got ruined? Fuck that. They all saw what a bear shifter looks like, in full display. Man, the expressions. It was worth it, let me tell you. They'll think twice before jumping on the bandwagon for war against your clan."

They made their way back towards the camp. She'd come a couple of miles easily in bear form. She felt silly and sheepish as they came back into the camp. Faces craned to see her and then as quickly looked away. She felt embarrassed but she knew, too, that Arthur was right. There was a new fear and wariness in those looks.

"They've canceled the council for this afternoon," Aaron told them as they reached the pavilion. "Given the circumstances. You okay?"

Amanda nodded. Connor ushered her inside the pavilion. She was glad, for that afternoon at least to get a break from the others.

"I think you have a visitor," Tanner remarked to Amanda as the afternoon dragged on.

Amanda looked out of the pavilion to see Haltir passing their camp, looking over his shoulder at it from time to time.

"It's the third time he's passed by," Tanner said. "Knows he's not welcome."

Connor let a low hum of disapproval escape him to emphasise the point. Amanda scowled. She knew Connor didn't like him, for all the reasons that Amanda shouldn't like him either, but mostly because of his interest in Amanda. Not that it was like that, even.

"You can stop with the jealous protective act any time," she snapped. She rose and went outside. Everyone in the lane froze, watched her warily for a minute and then busied themselves again. She regretted leaving the pavilion.

Haltir approached her. "You okay?"

She shrugged and nodded. "Yeah. And the camp?"

"It's just a camp. No one was hurt. Do you remember any of it?"

"Bits and pieces."

"Gaining some control then."

"Some.

"Never seen a bear shifter in form. It's quite impressive." There was a soft light in Haltir's eyes, amazement and something else. Amanda looked away.

"You haven't?"

"Not until today."

That bit came back to her suddenly. Haltir's wide eyes, fearful. Starting forward and then stopping, recognising him. Then the barking of Jonathan and Erica and turning away. "Are you afraid now?"

"No," he said. "You wouldn't attack me."

"How can you be so sure?" she demanded.

He just shrugged. "Cuz you didn't."

There was a noise, Connor at the pavilion's entrance, watching them. "Did you need something?"

He glanced at Connor and frowned. "I just wanted to see if Amanda was okay and... to apologize. For what happened to Brianna."

"Did you play a part in that?" Connor asked, his voice tight with rage.

"No," Haltir said. "I just know... you'll get no apology from anyone else. And what happened...deserves one. That's all." He turned and started away.

"I don't like him," Connor said as Amanda went back towards the pavilion.

"I've noticed, believe me," Amanda snapped back at him.

"I don't see why you even talk to him. He's the enemy."

"We are supposed to be making peace aren't we?" She flared. "That's what you kept telling me. Well, we're not going getting anywhere with Fenrir."

"Getting Haltir on our side is an exercise in futility," Arthur groused. "They'll not listen to him anyway."

She gave Arthur such a dark look that he blanched and put his eyes down. Only Connor would meet her eye when she was in a mood like this. "I just don't like you talking to him is all," Connor said.

"Cuz he's a boy? God, Connor. I'm your mate. You know that." Even if Haltir had a hint of Jay's sweetness and a hint of wolfish strength. She shook her head to get rid of the thought.

"You're my mate," Connor agreed. "And sometimes mates do what their partner asks of them."

"Shouldn't have mated a bear then." They stared at each other, both angry. Then she broke the gaze. "Just talking is all." She stomped back to her place in the tent and sulked.