Page 164 of Wolf Roulette

“How will we get out?” I asked Cam.

Wade found us snorting and chuckling a minute later.

“Finally,” he snapped. “You’re seven minutes late.”

We shut up.

Wade shucked me from the car like an oyster from its shell.

“How are things in there?” I asked.

“Perfect,” he snapped again.

Yikes.

“Let me see you.” I grabbed his arms and looked over his face. Smoothing a strand of his blond hair back, I straightened an imaginary crease from his suit jacket. “This is your night. You’re going to enjoy it. Take a deep breath with me.”

He did so, then rolled his shoulders a few times. “Sorry. I’m better now.”

“Of course you are. You’re taking the hottest gal in town to the ball.”

“You have two less testicles than what’s ideal for my current preference.”

“Can’t help you with that, I’m afraid.”

“Sascha could.”

“Hands off.” I was already struggling to get a certain strawberry blond off my jealous mind. There were a few female Luthers it could be. Was the woman inside and standing too close to Sascha?

My gums ached at the thought.

“My lady.” Wade held out his hand to me, shooting a look at Cam. “You have to walk in by yourself. You don’t match us.”

Her lips twitched. “Fucker.”

When she’d entered the noisy hall, Wade exhaled.

This ball meant more to my friend than just an important Deception Valley tradition. Some people in that room had likely made his life hell at some point. “This is why you cultivated a strong friendship with the head steward, remember? Show everyone you don’t give a fuck what they think.”

He held my hand tight. “I used you to get here, and now I’m going to enjoy it.”

“That’s right… baby boy.”

“Baby girl, you did not just make my night by calling me baby boy.”

Cringing slightly at the thought of listening wolves, I managed to keep a straight face. “Baby girl did.”

“Baby boy is happy.”

“Good, because that was a one-off.”

“Fair enough.”

Holding hands, we walked to the entrance.

The pulsing music cut off, and I blanched.What the fuckery?

Pascal lingered inside the doors, and at the sight of us, she lifted a mic to her lips. “Announcing Mayor Andie Charise Thana, beloved Chieftess of the Ni Tiaki tribe…”

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