Page 47 of Wolf Roulette

The woman with the pixie cut rolled her eyes. “Kara, get over it. She won the challenge fair and square. If you have another issue, take it up with Andie. Don’t expect me to fall in line. You know we’re an even match.”

“Do you still have a problem with me, Kara?” I asked. When she lowered her gaze, I looked at the blonde. “What about you, Bailey?”

She jerked at my use of her name.

Yes, I use my ears.

“No problem,” Bailey grunted.

“Great to hear. Now, Mandy does have an issue with me. She believes that I’m unworthy of Sascha. She’s taken it upon herself to be his champion.”

The alpha women looked at Mandy, who, judging by her sour scent, certainly heard my words.

Evelyn growled low. “Mandy would do well to remember that it’s up to my son to prove his worth, not the other way around.”

Her voice was sharp, and the sour edge to Mandy’s scent ran to hide.

I gnawed at another rib. “Surely it’s up to both people to prove themselves. Both mates stand to lose the same if one says no.”

Evelyn smiled. “Logically, yes. Yet it is always the case that males worry incessantly about proving themselves worthier than any other partner the woman could choose. Nature drives them near madness with the urge, and that occurrence transcends mere logic, don’t you think? Which is why most wolves use nature’s wisdom as their guide in such things. For us, it is the male’s task to ensure the positive result of the mating call.”

My experience of nature’s wisdom to date told me it could go fuck itself.

A commotion at the door stole our attention.

At Axel’s growl, I rose to my feet. The pup was dragging something across the rugged floor with all his might.

Oh my god.

I bit back laughter and sat again.

“What’s he got?” Bailey asked.

A weakness for curiosity. “My saxophone.”

He stopped for three breaks before reaching me. He flopped over the case, panting hard.

“Axel,” I said solemnly. “That doesn’t belong to you.”

Did he drag it from the bungalow? Lifting up the case, I studied the underside. Caked in dirt.

Yes.

Yes, he did.

“Why did you bring it here?” I asked.

The pup whined.

“I can’t understand you. Could you tell me another way?”

He growled.

“Axel, I can smell that you’re frustrated, but don’t growl at me. Just try another way.”

The pup placed a paw on the case, and I obliged by opening it. I wish the other Luthers would start talking again.

He placed a paw on the mouthpiece.