Mo’s voice was sharp, her anger bubbling up. “I’m giving you a lifeline, Nate. A lifeline I’ve never offered to anyone. The second I saw you that day, playing your guitar, I knew there was something special about you.”

Tears began to fall down her cheeks. Mo rarely cried, but she often found it useful in convincing others that she was sincere. “You’re a good boy. I’ve known that from the start. I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone, Nate. The others are angry, but they love you too. I want to show them what I see inside your heart. That’s why I’m fighting for you. What happens next is your decision,” Mo said.

She pulled out the blade from her pocket. It was Ash’s blade. She saw Nate eyeing it with concern. “So what’s it going to be? You must prove to the Tribe that you’re still one of us,” Mo said.

She prided herself on knowing exactly what her kids were thinking. Not this time. Nate’s blank expression was impossible to read. There was a chance that she misjudged him. God, she hoped she hadn’t misjudged him. She sat in silence, wanting to give Nate the time he needed to make this important decision. She could see the wheels turning as he considered his choices. Life and the Tribe or his own reckoning. The minutes and seconds passed by, agonizingly slow.

“I choose the Tribe,” Nate whispered.

It wasn’t as enthusiastic as Mo would have liked, but it was a start. There would be more than enough time to rebuild their trust. First things first. Mo gestured to the knife. “Now we have to convince the others of your commitment. Are you ready?”

The Tribe tattoo signified loyalty. This was Nate’s chance to convince everyone he was back and committed to the group. Mo took the knife and purposefully dug it into his flesh, piercing the skin in the center of the eye of his tattoo. Blood pooled, Nate’s face a stoic mask in spite of the obvious pain she was causing.

“Good. Very good,” she said. “Vic, we’re ready,” Mo called out.

The tent flap opened and Kelsey entered. She looked at Mo with watchful eyes. Mo held out the knife. Kneeling down she took it and dug it into the tattoo. “The Tribe endures,” she said.

Then one by one the others filed in, taking their turn. This was Nate’s opportunity for redemption and everyone seemed on board. Mo leaned back, a shiver of pleasure flooding her body as she looked on. She couldn’t have asked for a better end to the day. Ash and Leslie were gone, and Nate was back where he belonged. She hoped that he would prove his worth, but only time would tell.

BECCA

BECCA