Page 87 of Wolf Roulette

“Why did they split away?” Tommy slammed back a shot.

“Here, baby girl.” Wade passed my gin cocktail.

I sipped and was rewarded by a burst of tart raspberry.Mmm.“Luthers have six different status of wolf. Five main ones. These statuses need to be balanced in a pack. The larger the pack, the harder it becomes. Half left with Sascha’s father, Alexei.”

“I’ve heard of him.” Basilia sipped at her drink. “This isn’t half bad. Want to work at my bar?”

“What bar?” Wade asked.

I smirked into my glass. He already knew and didn’t want to come across as a fanboy.

“Forbidden.” She crossed her legs. “The wolves ended up here, and there was drama with the tribe?”

“Essentially. The tribe discovered the newcomers transformed into wolves. Didn’t take it well. The main issue is that the pack want the security of owning their territory, and the tribe doesn’t recognise ownership of land at all. We’re only guardians of the valley.”

Basilia tilted her head. “Why don’t the wolves leave then?”

It was a common question on the steward’s lips, but I’d promised Sascha not to divulge the truth.

Wade took a seat next to me and gulped at his drink.

Whiskey. Ick.Maybe I could just lead Basilia around the truth. “What do you know of the other supernatural races around this valley and Bluff City?”

Her eyes narrowed. “There are others?”

“Demons and witches. You didn’t know?”

“That’s not common knowledge to our family,” she said slowly. “I specifically asked Kyros once, and he only mentioned werewolves. He wasn’t lying.”

“Interesting,” I murmured. “How is it possible you guys haven’t encountered them?”

She frowned. “Exactly. What interaction have you had with their kinds?”

“Before arriving here, the pack battled against the demons to the north. The pack barely escaped them to get here. Since then, a witch coven has set up to the south of this valley.”

Basilia stiffened. “Do you have any idea on their numbers?”

“The pack may know more. I’m told the demon kingdom is the largest in the world. Are you worried about them for some reason?”

“Just because we didn’t know they were there.”

Which was pretty odd. “Do you think they’re hiding from you guys on purpose?”

She leaned back. “If they are, that’s worrisome. This will interest King Julius greatly.”

Wade choked on his whisky.

Yeah,I hadn’t gotten around to telling him vampires had kings.

Something else occurred to me. “It may be a good idea for the pack and your people to keep in touch about the situation.” The last thing I wanted was to be blindsided by other supernatural races with everything that was going on.

Or in the future.

“Agreed. Maybe we should work something out as a precaution.” She finished her cocktail, and this time Tommy swiped up the empty, collecting mine on the way.

“Like an alliance?” That could open the door to negotiating an idea I’d had after our last phone call. Vampires could provide safe passage for the pack through Bluff City if the tribe won.

Basilia shrugged. “Tell me, you’re advocating for the pack’s safety, yet you’re the head steward of the enemy side. What’s your position in the game?”