Page 68 of Wolf Roulette

“What do you want?”

“I’m a really good friend to you. I make sure to be a good friend because you’re in a great position and have the power to grant me access to things I want.”

My lips twitched. “Here I thought we were friends because of our mutual unattraction.”

“How can your personality be so good, but the packaging so bad? It’s like individually wrapping biodegradable coffee cups in unrecyclable plastic—just makes no sense.”

I laughed. “Thanks. What do you want? Spit it out.”

Wade yanked me behind a stack of dummies that I’d probably violated once or twice.

“Here’s the thing. You mentioned the council. Well, there’s this thing I’ve really,reallywanted to do for the longest time. Stupid Judy usually organises it, but you have no idea how dry and boring it is. The potential is huge, and it’s not being achieved. You know?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The Annual Deception Valley Ball,” he rushed.

Someone mentioned that a while back.

Wade took my hands. “Everyone comes—the pack too. This ball could be so much more, but—”

“Judy is stupid? Look, if Judy has organised it for years, she won’t appreciate me tearing the job away.”

Wade checked Gerry’s back was turned. “If I can convince her?”

The pack came to this thing?

Part of plan B included desensitising the tribe to Luther presence. This ball could help my agenda. Plus, denying earnest Wade anything was impossible.

“If Judy is okay with giving up the reins, then you can do it.”

“Yes!” Wade swept me into a hug. “You won’t regret—”

A whistle blew from less than a metre away, leaving my ears ringing.

Gerry glowered at us. “Burpies. Fifty.”

Ha!That was nothing.

He narrowed his eyes at my smile. “Three hundred for you.”

I groaned.Mothershitter.

11

I called again.

“Sascha Greyson. Leave a message.”Beep.

For at least the tenth time, I texted.

Help me understand what’s going through your head.

I want a life with you, Sascha.

At least Victratum meant that Sascha and I were thrown together all the time. Tomorrow, he’d come to the manor to announce the pack’s grid choice.

That felt so far away.

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