Page 8 of Wolf Roulette
No. What’s the next move?
Sitting back, I sighed. Even when Ragna died, I’d had a house to clean and sell, then came the car and driving to Deception Valley. Becoming a steward, then head steward.
Now…
I’d always coveted the life of people without a care—how they flittered from place to place. When I’d dreamed of that life though, I’d chosen it. The head steward position wastakenfrom me. I still carried all the cares of that role but none of the power to do anything.
Entering tribal lands was a big fat no.
Leaving Deception Valley was a bigger fatter no.
I had to stay on pack lands, but the tribe were my people. Then there was what I felt for Sascha.
How did I make a single fucking move?What would you do?
Live in the forest and return to mate with Sascha Greyson at intervals.
I laughed despite my aching heart.You want to use Sascha for his body?
He has what I need for pups. We can accept the good part without any of the pack leader baggage.
She considered that baggage, not me, but I envied wolves’ clarity sometimes, if not their ruthlessness.
I riffled through the contents of box two. Several of the items were discarded capture-meet gifts. Fuzzy pyjamas, pine-scented candle, saxophone reeds, a sudoku book, and a yellow tulip he’d since preserved between two transparent boards.
My heart squeezed. He’d pressed the first flower he gave me. When he was stalking me against my will, but still.Adorable.
“What are you doing?
I jumped, inhaling thyme.“Mandy. I’m looking for clothes.”
“Are you sure? Because you’re really looking through boxes in Sascha’s wardrobe.”
Busted.I grabbed the Sudoku book and replaced the boxes on top of the column before swiping up my clothes.
Mandy blocked the exit
We were at the same eye level.
I smiled—that always freaked angry people out. “Can I help you?”
“You can leave.” She stood aside.
I deposited my finds on the bed.
Mandy smelled all kinds of sour. The thing about Luther senses… it was hard to keep feelings a secret. “For what it’s worth, I do wish that we hadn’t ended up on opposite sides.”
Mandy could have been a friend.
She crossed her arms. “I don’t care that you’re on the opposite side. You could hardly control that.”
“Would you like to tell me why you dislike me then? I have a busy day ahead.”
Her gaze shifted to the Sudoku book.
Bad joke?
Mandy balled her hands. “Sascha breaks his back to prove himself to you. He’s done so over and over again. What have you ever done to show himyou’reworthy?”