2. The game

Chapter Two: 

Kaireen's Pov 

When I finally pulled up to Rhia's mansion, the sun had already set. The place sat at the end of a private drive, all modern glass and steel and expensive everything. Her family had money, the kind of money that made my former pack's wealth look modest, but Rhia never acted like it mattered. That's why I loved her.

I grabbed my bags from the backseat and headed toward the front door because the side entrance required a key I didn't have on me. The house was eerily quiet as I approached, which was weird given all the cars. Usually when Rhia's brother had people over, you could hear the noise from outside.

But there was nothing. Just silence and the sound of my footsteps on the stone walkway.

I reached for the door handle and it opened before I could touch it, it was unlocked which was strange too. Rhia was paranoid about security.

The moment I stepped inside the foyer, I knew something was wrong.

Three men appeared out of nowhere, surrounding me so fast I didn't have time to react. They were huge, built like walls, all wearing identical black suits and masks that covered the upper half of their faces. The masks were plain, black, emotionless.

My heart slammed against my ribs. My wolf jerked awake inside me, useless as always but at least alert now.

"What the hell—"

One of them moved closer and I stumbled back, my suitcase falling from my hand and hitting the marble floor with a loud thud. They flanked me on all sides like I was a thief who'd broken in, like I was a threat, and I couldn't breathe suddenly because this felt wrong, all of this felt so wrong.

"Drop your bag," one of them said. His voice was flat, mechanical. "Pick up a mask and join the initiation."

I almost laughed. The sound bubbled up in my throat, half hysteria, half disbelief. This had to be a joke. Some weird thing Rhia's brother was doing for his business event. Maybe it was one of those corporate team building exercises rich people did.

"I think there's been a mistake," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my hands were shaking. "I'm just here to see my friend. Rhiannon Cross? She lives here. She's expecting me."

"Ma'am, please do this before the game starts or you will be thrown out."

Game? What game?

"Look, I just drove four hours and I'm really tired and I just need to see Rhia—"

"The moment you step inside here, no one leaves." The guard on my left cut me off, and something in his tone made my blood run cold. "That's the instruction of the game."

This was insane. I looked around for cameras, for some sign that this was a prank, but the foyer was empty except for us. The lights were dimmed. Everything felt off.

"I'm not playing any game," I said, backing toward the door. "I'm just going to leave and I'll call Rhia and—"

They moved before I could finish. Two of them grabbed my bags, my suitcase, pulling them from my hands. The third blocked my path to the door, his massive frame making it clear I wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey! Those are my things—"

"Pick a mask." One of them gestured to a table I hadn't noticed before, set up against the wall. On it were dozens of masks in different colors, each one glowing faintly. Neon green, electric blue, blood red, stark white. "Choose one and put it on."

My phone. I needed my phone. I reached into my pocket, pulled it out with trembling fingers, and started to dial Rhia's number.

The phone was snatched from my hand so fast I barely saw it happen.

"Do not break the rules of the game if you do not want to get killed."

The words hit me like ice water. Killed? What the actual fuck was happening?

"This is crazy," I said, but my voice came out small, scared. "You can't just—this is kidnapping. This is—"

The guard holding my phone tilted his head, and even though I couldn't see his full face, I could feel him watching me.  They were all waiting, these three massive men in their masks and suits, and I was alone and exhausted, my invisible wolf wouldn't even help at this point even if I cried brimstone.

What had I gotten myself into? What the hell was this?

My eyes went back to the table of masks. This was stupid but what choice did I have? They had my bags, my phone, and they were blocking the exit, and something about the way that one guard had said killed made me think he wasn't joking.

I walked to the table on shaking legs, my mind racing. Rhia would explain this. There had to be an explanation. Her brother was weird, did weird rich people things, maybe this was just some elaborate entrance requirement for his event. Maybe once I got inside I'd find Rhia and she'd laugh and tell me it was all a misunderstanding.

I reached for one of the masks, my hand hovering over the colors. Green caught my eye, a neon green that almost hurt to look at. .

"Put it on," one of the guards instructed.

I did, my hands fumbling with the straps. The mask settled against my skin and suddenly my vision was tinted slightly green around the edges. I could see fine, but everything looked different. Sharper. More intense.

"This way."

A woman appeared from somewhere, dressed in a maid's uniform but also wearing a mask. Hers was silver. She gestured for me to follow her and I did because what else was I going to do? The guards watched me go, silent and still as statues.

What is Rhia's brother up to? What kind of event required masks and guards and secret passages?

We walked for what felt like forever but was probably only a minute or two. Then the corridor opened up and the maid stopped, gesturing ahead.

"Through there," she said, then turned and walked back the way we'd come, leaving me alone in front of a set of double doors.

I could hear something on the other side. Music maybe? Or voices? It was muffled, hard to make out.

I pushed the doors open and my breath stopped in my chest.