Page 61 of Wolf Roulette

And waited.

Sascha hadn’t replied to my last message, which truly surprised me. I’d thought he’d come to the table once he understood the method behind my madness.

“Come on,” I muttered.

I read over my carefully constructed text again.

We need to talk.

I’m doing this for us, I swear.

Just give me the chance to explain how this will fix everything.

I waited for the message to show the usual delivered status. It didn’t.

Huh.Reception was fine.

I typed another text.

I wanted you to hear it from me.

The tribe asked me to resume head stewardship, and I accepted.

As head steward, I want you to know that you’re always welcome here.

Come home, Rhona.

Love, Andie.

I really did want her back and safe, but if she knew the head steward job was taken, she may extend her Bluff City visit by a few days too—which could make all the difference.

Clicking Send, I watched the space under the message.

Delivered.

I checked my message to Sascha again, but the delivery status still hadn’t changed. His phone battery must be dead.

Exhaling, I drew out my laptop and logged into the student portal. One good thing about two weeks on pack lands? I’d sent off my previous assignment and completed another. I only had one more for the semester. If I could scrap a pass on that, this degreewould be over.

Adding a bibliography to the end of the current assignment, I submitted it for better or worse. Then I settled in to watch a lecture on the strategic management of human resources. How fitting. In an hour, I’d address the tribe.

Three months ago, I’d been so nervous they wouldn’t accept me. Now, I just wanted to know if they’d accept me so I could get on with the job.

The lecture ended, and I shoved my laptop and half-ass notes in my bag.

Grr,the delivery status still hadn’t changed. Sascha would have plugged his phone by now—too many people relied on communication with him throughout the day.

I resent the message.

No change.

Bracing myself, I dialled his number. My insides flipped, and I shoved back from the desk to pace by the window.

“Sascha Greyson—”

I smiled widely. “Thanks for picking up.”

“—Leave a message.”

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