Page 55 of Wolf Roulette

Ah.That made far more sense.“Is the pack obliged to renegotiate terms?”

“No.”

The results of the vote reflected the tribe’s desire to win. That was stronger than their hate for me apparently.

If Sascha refused to renegotiate the game contract, andI refused the mantle of head stewardship, the pack couldwin.

Grids could end in days.

I had to speak with Sascha. Wehadto figure this out.

Until then, I’d keep our options open. “The stewards won’t benefit from a leader they neither trust nor like.”

Stanley cut me off. “Your track record speaks for itself.”

“You’d like me to resume head stewardship like nothing happened?”

Roderick answered, “What we heard that day was a shock. To top off the mating call and the details of Herc’s death, you transformed into a wolf. Even those of us who’d spent ample time in your company were speechless for days. Don’t assume that stewards hate you for what happened or what you are. Personally, I feel like I let you down.”

I folded my arms. “Why?”

“You were thrown into this game, something you barely knew, at twenty-one. If you didn’t come to us about Herc and the rest, it’s because you didn’t trust us to support and guide you. For that, I believe the head team and tribe have a lot to answer for. We could have used what happened to our advantage far earlier if you’d felt safe to approach us.”

I released a pent-up breath. “I screwed up too. I let fear get the better of me and handled things badly.”

He crooked a smile. “Is there a good way to handle what you went through?”

Perhaps not, but if a re-do was possible, I’d change a few things.

“What do you say?” Pascal took her tablet back.

My heart hammered at the possibilities, but I had to stall for now.

I mean, what if I did say yes? The pack took me in when the tribe cast me aside—or at least did nothing to stop Rhona. They’d been shocked and confused, yes, but I was left alone and hurting during that time.

Sascha was there when they weren’t.

He’d always been there for me.

This is our chance,I hushed to my wolf.

Thiswas how the pack and tribe could have a future and how Sascha and I could have a happy future too. For the first time in weeks, I burned with conviction.

We had a direction.

I had a goal.

I saw the move Sascha and I had to make to end Victratum for good. Allowing the pack to believe I’d abandoned them wouldn’t be easy, but to protect them and secure their place in the valley alongside the tribe, I’d do it one hundred times over.

Sascha’s scent rose over the other listening pack members. His four scents had congealed. He’d put himself on the line for me time and again, and our argument had pushed him to the limit. It was my turn to put myself on the line for the life we could share.

First on the agenda—buy some time.

Then I had to re-open the uncomfortable conversation with Sascha. We could work together and finish this.

I regarded the head team. “I have conditions that you’ll need to meet. One of them is that if my sister returns to Deception Valley, she won’t return to head stewardship. Her actions have proved to me that she is not the best leader for the Ni Tiaki.”

Finally,Booker muttered.