Page 63 of Wolf Roulette

Knock, knock.

Eleanor poked her head in. “Andie. Everyone is here.”

I slid my phone away. “Thank you.”

Showtime.

Walking out of the manor, I inhaled the mix of curiosity, sympathy, and anger rising from the stewards. I greeted them on my way to the stage.

Nodding at the head team who formed part of the front row, I exchanged a look with Wade, then walked up the steps to the microphone.

I gazed out at theNi Tiaki. “I haven’t called this special gathering to celebrate my return. I’ve called this gathering because I, along with the head team, believe that you deserve to hear an accurate retelling of the events in my life that led to me becoming a Luther. My personal life is my own, but where it affects this tribe, I will be transparent.”

Their combined scents cloyed, and I couldn’t help wondering if humans subconsciously reacted to other scents though they didn’t have the sensitivity of smell to identify them.

“I will tell you about my interactions with Sascha Greyson. I will tell you how Herc came to die. I’ll tell you everything I’ve learned about Herc, about the woman I believed to be my mother, and about the man she loved, Murphy.” My gaze landed on the Freys who occupied a section of the front row. They’d given me permission to share Murphy’s past with the tribe tonight.

The stewards whispered.

Yep,they’d hear far more than they’d bargained for.

“First.” I gripped the mic. “The Thana family has let this tribe down recently. Both myself and Rhona. With my heightened senses, I can smell that some of you don’t know what to feel and that some pity what I’ve become. I can smell those of you who are angry and those of you who hate me.” I let my eyes linger on a few.

The whispers swelled.

They didn’t like that. No wonder. When Sascha mentioned cataloguing my scents, I’d shied away too. Realising we were open books was an uncomfortable feeling—but I’d meant what I said about refusing to conceal my nature.

I continued. “I mention my senses because, for a long time, we’ve guessed and theorised many things about the pack. Perhaps you voted me back in because you need me, but I will use my new knowledge of Luthers to help the tribe win Victratum.”

A slight hope tinged the air.

I freed the microphone. “In saying that, you need to understand there are things I must do as a Luther. You’ll often see me in wolf form. I’m the only red wolf in this area, and that’s how you’ll know it’s me. You may hear me howl sometimes. You may see my fangs and claws or a change in the colour of my eyes. Sometimes, my voice sounds rough and uneven. While these changes scared me greatly at first, the abilities I’ve gained have only strengthened my connection to this beautiful land.” I scanned the silent mass of stewards. “Seeing a wolf can be a confronting thing. Many of you fear or revile what I am. To be absolutely clear, that’s your opinion to hold in silence. Any open sign of it will result in me relinquishing the title of Head Steward and walking away. Your acceptance of my new nature is anabsolutecondition of my presence here. So to the forty-three stewards here who’d like nothing better than to see me hang, realign your priorities and place the wellbeing of this tribe where it should be—at the top. That’s not a suggestion.”

At the start, the stewards didn’t know what to think. Now theyreallydidn’t know what to think.

“Now, I’d like to take you back to the week after Ragna died. To the moment I uncovered her first lie, which led me here to where it all began.”

* * *

I walked to the training pavilion beside Wade.

Dawn trainings were an important social gathering that I’d neglected during my first stint as head steward. Gerry was on board with me again, and Rhona wasn’t here, but if my haters saw this as a rallying ground, I needed to stomp out their efforts without delay.

“How do you think the talk went?” I asked.

Wade hummed. “You gave everyone a lot to think about. Like, alot. They’ll need time. It may be worth keeping your door open for a few weeks. Put out a question box like teachers used in puberty class.” He pitched his voice high. “How do I use tampons?”

Grinning, I shook my head. “Good idea. You’re in charge. Set things up and send a message through our text service about it.”

“Cool. But do you know what I’ve been really, really super patient about?”

“Saving a house deposit?”

“What? No. Waiting to ask about you and Sascha! What the hell is happening? You’re here. The whole feeding us information while on pack lands too. He must have lost his shit.You’re here.”

“You said that one already.”

“Tell me everything.”

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