Page 157 of Wolf Roulette

“You want to what now?” Nathan asked.

I’d decided to broach the subject with my head team before I lost my nerve.

“We’re surrounded by supernatural species,” I repeated with false calm. “When we win Grids, under the current terms of Victratum, the pack must leave the valley within twenty-four hours. My mounting concern is that their exit would leave us open to invasion from demons, witches, or vampires looking to expand their territory.”

That’s what I might do if I heard a juicy patch of unclaimed land was free.

Pascal’s brows were nearly in her hairline. “What exactly do you suggest?”

“The obvious solution is a new agreement between pack and tribe. Luthers have abilities we don’t, and stewards have abilities they don’t. Our fight needs to be against those who could attack this land in the future. We should combine forces.”

Stanley frowned. “That’s well and good, but past truces have always failed.”

“That’s because we’ve always fought over this land. Every death on either side has been due to that dispute or Victratum. Two and a half centuries have proven we can inhabit the same space.”

“So…” Trixie trailed off.

Maybe this was a lot for a Thursday morning.

“The largest demon kingdom in the world wraps around half of this valley,” I told them. “There are likely tens of thousands of them. The vampires occupying Bluff City number upwards of fifteen thousand.”

Stanley spoke again, “Even if an alliance were possible, how are one thousand stewards and less than a thousand werewolves going to hold back so many? What if the demons, witches, and vampires are working together already?”

“I’m glad you asked. I happened to meet a vampire a while back.”

His jaw dropped.

I lifted a shoulder. “We had a lot in common. She was turned into a Vissimo, and we both went through sudden introductions to the supernatural world via mating processes. I didn’t know it at the time, but that woman is the mate of the crown prince of the Bluff City vampire clan. Through her, I was able to reach their leader, King Julius, to discuss the possibility of an alliance.”

“Vampires,” Nathan echoed.

I suppose this really was a lot for a Thursday.

Maybe any day.

I nodded. “They were interested and highly concerned to discover demon and witches were in the area. In return for the tribe and pack monitoring these races, they’d be willing to come to our aid if ever needed. As said, there are over fifteen thousand in their clan.”

“You want an alliance between the pack, tribe,andvampires?” Wade asked in the wake.

Was it a good sign that vampires worried them more than werewolves?

“As Stanley noted, our current numbers are a weakness. We need an ally.”

He blew out a breath. “Right.”

I looked at the head team. “As a leader, I see two sides who are wasting their time trying to beat each other, when in reality, we’ve lived with each other for hundreds of years. I fear the inability to see beyond our past will see us all dead.”

“The pack would be happy to remain on borrowed land if we form an alliance?” Pascal asked.

She’d seen what I hadn’t.

“I approached Sascha Greyson yesterday to apprise him of the situation. More than anything, his pack want a home. He believes the only way to convince his people to an alliance is to reach a land compromise that offers them some legal security.”

Nathan shook his head. “That’s what this game has been over the entire time.”

“Incorrect. The game has been over the right for the pack toownland. Sascha Greyson has proposed that land is placed in trust.”

“Outrageous,” Stanley boomed.

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