Page 22 of Wolf Roulette

I found the varying statuses fascinating. Every wolf had a different personality, but statuses displayed consistent strengths and weaknesses. Nothing shook Grim the gamma, but he contributed least in meetings between the pack and tribe. Mandy the delta came across as mostly easy-going but had a failure complex or possibly a massive, ambitious streak. Hairy the beta was level-headed and empathetic, but that made him want to please everyone and he could overthink things. Leroy’s smiles came easy, but I bet he struggled with the control aspect of alpha status a lot.

“Not sure I made many friends that night,” I murmured.

He finished his beer and disposed of the empty. “You’d be surprised how many Luthers respect power traditions. Some take issue because of what you were, but the rest saw you assert dominance over one of the strongest female wolves in our pack. Easily. That holds sway with them. Sascha is very proud.”

I’d caught that.

By refusing to eat after others, I’d taken a step toward the pack. I wanted to take more steps. Without delay.

Leroy swept away my empty. “I’ll meet you late tomorrow morning for the last training modules. Sorry about the rush on this. We usually spread training over a couple of weeks.”

The quicker I started work, the better. I wanted a distraction so badly.

Leroy consulted his watch. “Shit, I need to get going. The run to Sandstone takes a while.”

“I bet.” Bile surged up my throat as I followed him to the door.

He glanced at me after locking up. “Will it be strange not to be there?”

Strange? No. Unbearable? Yes.

The only thing worse would be to watch from the sidelines.

“It’s… an adjustment.” I borrowed Sascha’s word.

The tribe would be okay.

Rhona had this in the bag.

* * *

“Andie?”

I jolted at the soft voice.

“Sorry,” a petite Luther said. “I’m interrupting your thoughts.”

I faintly recognised her. It was the pup’s mother. “Not at all.”

I’d just finished speaking with Margaret Frey. She was too old to battle in the grid, and since my Luther secret came to light, I’d wanted to fill in the Frey’s on Murphy’s real fate. The only part I amended was Pascal’s involvement in his death. She was blackmailed into silence, and it wasn’t fair to lay blame at her door for Herc’s actions.

“How’s Axel?” I asked the woman.

Three times a day, a frantic search started for the pup. He was mischief.

As if hearing his name, Axel bounded from the grass and leaped onto the bench next to me.

“Hello, healthy boy,” I cooed. “Aren’t youbignow?”

He jumped to lick my face.

“Axel,” his mother scolded.

I scooped him up. He’d really grown. Pretty soon, he’d be too big to hold like this.

His mother smiled apologetically. “I’m Jemma. Mum of Axel. Mate of Credence.”

Credence.Didn’t ring a bell. “Nice to meet you. I’m Andie.”

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