Page 76 of Wolf Roulette

I won’t.My trip over the falls with Wade and Cam showed me how easily submersion in water could panic wolves. Not so much of a big deal when the wolf expected it, but without preparation…

I followed Pascal up to the observation deck, and we watched the tribe work in terse silence.

Sascha would throw everything they had at this grid tonight. In an ideal world, they’d overcommit financially, and the tribe would still win, which would weaken the pack in future grids.

As for our strategy, I’d approved three new strategies.

Time dragged cruelly as I agonised over exactly when to make each move.

I had to nail this.

“Five minutes, Head Steward.” Pascal was furiously tapping on her tablet—as always. Who knew what she was doing on there? Probably playing Candy Crush.

I spoke into my walkie. “Big Red. Get in position. Over.”

Four versions of “Roger that,”chimed through. The team leaders confirmed completion of my order three minutes later.

The secondboomrent the air and my heart took off in a full gallop.

Luthers entered the grid from the beach we’d left, and my eyes tracked Sascha’s movements through the red water.

We couldn’t shoot the pack there at the risk of losing points for serious injury or death. We had to wait until they climbed to the first level. From there, we’d always relied on the steep ascension to the top level to win the grid.

Not this time.

The first pack members reached the cliffs, and I grinned as Leroy attempted to climb. He slipped and disappeared under the water’s surface. Luthers queued at the edges of the lake, waiting for those ahead of them to exit the water.

Hard to climb with environmentally friendly surface lubricant coated over the iron ore cliffs. We only had time to cover the areas where pack tended to ascend.

But it was working.

Hairy punched his claws into the cliff.

My grin widened as he slid downward.

There was a reason the pack used their hands to climb in this grid. Iron ore was soft. Our claws were too sharp and cut through the substance.

Sascha howled.

What’s that mean?I quickly asked.

They’re going up another way,Booker replied.That’s all I can get.

I clicked on my walkie. “Big Red. Prepare for Operation Open Day. Over.”

Grappling hooks exploded from a series of large guns. The hooks hurtled upward and embedded into the ore.

I studied the long ropes extending between the higher tiers and lake.

The hooks wouldn’t hold as well as in Sandstone, but the ropes would help the pack climb faster. Luckily, it was a move the head team anticipated.

Wolves grabbed onto the ropes and pulled themselves up. When the first Luthers cleared the first tier, my stewards opened fire. More pack members took to the ropes as others slowly ascended up the cliffs using their claws.

I waited a while longer before delivering another order. “Initiate Operation Open Day.”

Red balloons filled with wolfsbane rocketed down the ropes. Luthers at the front saw them coming and dropped onto the first two levels.

Wolfsbane exploded on those behind.

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