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murmured.
    "Father, I have come to redeem myself in your eyes and the pack. Please allow me to speak."
    Victor's mouth dropped open as he reeled from Mark's words.
    "Rise, my son, you may speak." Mark stood and the old man continued. "You know the law, Mark. You were given a chance to speak and yet you said nothing," he said with a stern tone.
    Mark stood eye level with his father. The family resemblance was uncanny. Victor could tell that in his youth, Mark's father's physique had been similar to his son's, but time had weakened it. Mark's facial features were almost identical to the chief's. The only difference was their eyes; the old man's eyes looked like coal.
    "Forgive me, Father, my injuries prevented me from doing so at the time. I beg you for another chance."
    "Many years have passed, Mark, since you were cast out. It may be difficult to convince the tribe of your innocence. Why do you come forth now seeking redemption?"
    "I have found my mate. I wish to live in peace with my people again, with him by my side," he said gesturing to Victor.
    The old man turned and acknowledged Victor's presence for the first time. He openly ogled him. Victor held his tongue, not knowing their customs.
    "You have bonded with this man already?" he asked, turning back to Mark.
    "Yes, Father. We are one."
    Mark's father looked between Victor and Mark and his face softened. He sighed and with a sympathetic voice, said. "Son, I am old now. Soon the youth of our pack will challenge me for my leadership. There is not much I can do for you."
    "Father, I know you could not go against the laws on my behalf when this crime occurred, but please, could you try to influence the counsel to see me now? I am prepared to fight for my place."
    Concern filled the older man's eyes. "If you lose this time, Mark, it will mean your death," he warned.
    Mark nodded. "I know."
    Mark's father caressed his face and gave him a warm smile. "It is good to see you, son. I will do what I can." Changing to his wolf form again, he returned to the cave.
    "You could have mentioned your father was the leader of your tribe," Victor said when Mark turned to him.
    "That would have made no difference. It only made my banishment that much more unbearable. Usually the son succeeds the father in leadership, but not always, especially in a case such as this. I used to be second in command, but I was set up and betrayed. My status was stripped and my family dishonored. My father had no choice but to follow the laws of the council."
    Victor nodded. "So now what?"
    "We wait. My father will speak for me. His time to step down is near, but he is still leader. They will listen to him."
    Mark took Victor's hand and led him to some nearby rocks.
    They waited for hours. Victor fidgeted and shifted his position to sit on the ground. He looked up at Mark. His mate's body stiff as he stared straight ahead with his eyes transfixed on the cavern wall. He had not moved a muscle from the moment they sat down. Victor rose from the dirt and dusted himself off.
    "I'm starving, Mark. I'm gonna go back to the stream we passed and—"
    Mark jumped to his feet, startling Victor and held his hand up for silence. "Wait, someone comes."
    Victor turned to see wolves exiting from every opening in the wall. Many filed into the small clearing, filling it quickly. He counted at least fifty before there were too many to count.
    "Stay here, Victor," Mark demanded and advanced on the crowd.
    Victor remained behind without protest, taking slow, deep breaths to calm his rapidly beating heart. When Mark kneeled before the grizzled old wolf again, he and all the rest of the wolves shifted into their human forms. Men and women, young and old, all now stood naked in the opening separating the trees from the cliff. Mark's father gestured to one of the older men to step forward.
    "Mark, your father says you are prepared to do what is necessary to return to the pack," the man said bluntly.
    Mark rose to his feet. "I am,