Page 133 of Wolf Roulette

“Your stance on working together is still the same?”

Sascha exhaled. “I’m not sure.”

I’m not surewas better thanabsolutely fucking not.“What’s holding you back?”

“A lot of my older wolves have lived through centuries of oppression. It’s not just our history with your tribe. The pack we were once part of was ruled with violence and fear. Many of my wolves carry physical scars from the treatment they received at the hands of my father’s brother. Then there were the vampires and demons. We’ve never owned something for ourselves. My people want a home they can rely on. They want to be safe.”

That helped me to understand Alexei’s anger. “I didn’t know the old pack was that bad.” I couldn’t even fathom what it would take to scar a Luther.

“It was. Enough for half of them to flee toward the unknown with my father. My wolves have never had anything to call their own. That’s why convincing them to give more won’t be easy—maybe impossible.”

“I wouldn’t push this if I didn’t believe it was best.”

Sascha cocked a brow. “I know, mate, and since you just beat the pack in Timber, I guess I better start listening. You’re smarter than me.”

Stewards got a whole extra hour in the grid. That was the difference between us.

“Is that a maybe?” I held my breath.

“I need to test the waters and see if working with you is viable at all. Breaking their trust is something I can’t do, and I won’t give you hope before being sure of what I can offer.”

That was something.

Atlast, it was something.

I could do this with his help. I knew it. “I’m asking a lot, I know, but I really am smarter than you. You should listen.”

He rolled to his feet. “I only said that because I want to get in your pants.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

I squealed as he picked me up.

“When will we do the last meet?” I rested my cheek on his chest.

“Eager?” He walked us through the trees.

Eagerwas a freakin’ understatement. If he was walking with a limp because of his blue balls, then I was using a damn cane. “Yes and no. Rushing into sex with you because of Grids and what may happen doesn’t feel right. On the other hand, I do want to add another notch to my belt.”

“That deserves a dunking.” He walked into the water.

“Booker will seriously eat you alive. She hates water.”

“So does Greyson.” He winced as the water reached his hips. “Worst part.”

I laughed.

He dropped me, and my shriek was lost as cold water closed over my head. I wind-milled my arms and emerged, hair over my face.

What the fuck,Booker screamed in my head.

Parting my soaking hair, I glared at Sascha. “You’re in massive trouble.”

“Am I? I seem just fine.”

I launched myself at him.

23

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