Kaelen froze. He didn't look at her, but he paused.
"Don't kill him," Roxy commanded, stepping off the porch into the mud. She walked right in between them, ignoring the danger. "We need him. He's an idiot, but he's a strong idiot. And besides, he has a mate."
She stopped beside Kaelen. She placed her small hand on his trembling, bloody fist.
"Show them," Roxy whispered. "Show them that the new way isn't just about the pleasures of life. It's about mercy. We can be strong even when we are weak."
Kaelen looked at Vorn. He looked at Roxy. Slowly, agonizingly, he lowered his fist.
He stood up, towering over the broken Beta.
"You live," Kaelen spat. "Because she commands it. Not because you deserve it."
He offered a hand to Vorn.
Vorn stared at the hand. He stared at Kaelen, who was untouched by the cold, radiating power. He realized then that Vorn was the one who was weak, weak from hunger, weak from fear.
