He left the room without a word.
The outside door opened and slammed shut.
Ben strolled in, looking grim, Sam right behind him.
"Where's Henry going in such a hurry? Darryl, good--I was looking for you.
I just got through talking to Warren downstairs.
Have you heard .
.
.
" His voice trailed off when he saw Jesse standing there.
He took a good look at all of us.
"I see you have." Darryl stiffened.
"Samuel?" His voice was soft.
"He's been like this a couple of days," offered Ben.
"So far, so good.
It's a long story, and you can hear it later: we're due in the garage in five."
11
THE ONLY REASON THE GARAGE WASN'T PACKED WITH werewolves was that there hadn't been enough time for the word to go around.
Instead of thirty or so, we only had eighteen, not including Sam, who wasn't pack.
But I had to keep looking around and counting because there seemed to be fewer people than my count showed.
Most dominance fights, like boxing or wrestling matches, are full of jostling, cheering, jeering, and betting.
This one was eerily silent, and only one person was moving.
Paul jogged in place on one side of the padded floor, stopping every ten or fifteen seconds to stretch or do a little shadowboxing.
He was a tall man with blond hair and a short red beard.
His skin was the kind that is usual for redheads, pale and freckled.
The excitement of the impending fight left him flushed.
Like Adam, he wore only a pair ofgi pants.
There is no tradition that dictates dominance fights have to be done in human form.
It is common, though, because it makes the challenge more about skill and strength.
When you are armed with fangs and claws, a lucky hit can take out a more skilled opponent.
On the far side of the mats from Paul, Adam stood in horse stance, head bowed, eyes closed, and shoulders relaxed.