Chapter 3

Magnus leaned back on the couch, puzzled.

"Why haven't we heard anything yet?

"Knowing Carol, she should have sent someone to report back by now."

Felix sat with his legs crossed, like he couldn't care less.

"Our guys are right outside, and there's water in the cave. What could happen in one night?"

Magnus nodded and relaxed a little.

Luca wasn't so calm. His voice was tight.

"Lily scares easily. What if she really believes something happened to us?

"And my daughter's only three."

Felix waved it off.

"I assigned guards to watch the cave. If anything seems wrong, they'll go inside and check immediately.

"It's just a game. Nobody's actually going to get hurt."

Susie smiled and chimed in,

"Exactly. What could possibly happen?

"When they see you come back safe tomorrow, they'll be laughing and crying at the same time."

Luca relaxed, but a strange look flickered in Susie's eyes before she made an excuse to leave the living room.

I followed her. Garrett Reed, one of the pack's Omegas, was leading a male werewolf inside.

I recognized the other wolf. It was Colt, the warrior who'd come back covered in blood to bring us the news.

But now there wasn't a single scratch on him.

He looked completely at ease. He even took the time to straighten his collar.

"Susie, I passed along everything you told me. The guards at the cave have their orders.

"No matter what happens in there, nobody goes in to check.

"Just to be safe, I had them seal the entrance completely."

Susie smiled, pleased.

"Good."

She pulled a bag of money from inside her coat and tossed it to him.

"Here's your payment."

Colt caught it, weighed it in his hand, and gave her an even more ingratiating smile.

Garrett spoke up.

"The Alpha and both his sons are playing along with your game, Susie. The guards at the cave wouldn't dare disobey, would they?"

"Of course not."

Colt thumped his chest.

"They all know crossing Susie is a death sentence."

I hovered in midair, my fingers passing right through their faces.

I wanted to wrap my hands around their throats. I wanted to tear them apart.

But I couldn't do a thing.

All I could do was watch as they finished talking and went their separate ways.

Back in the living room, the conversation continued.

Luca kept pressing the point.

"The wolves Susie hired to play the enemy won't actually hurt them, right?"

Right as he said it, Susie pushed the door open and walked in.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Luca, what's that supposed to mean?"

Her voice trembled as she said,

"I just wanted to liven things up and bring everyone together.

"But now you... What kind of person do you think I am?"

Tears slid down her cheeks.

"If you're so worried, go end the game right now.

"I'm just an outsider anyway. What I say doesn't count."

Magnus frowned and turned to Luca, clearly annoyed.

"It's just a game. Why are you overthinking it?

"At worst, we'll give them a proper apology tomorrow."

Felix backed him up.

"Yeah. Lily's always so understanding. She won't hold it against us."

Luca lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Susie."

Only then did Susie smile through her tears.

Relieved, Luca sat back down.

Felix raised his glass.

"Anyway, Nora never holds anything against me."

"Your mom's stubborn," Magnus said.

He paused, and a smile crept onto his face.

"But she's soft-hearted. Tomorrow, I'll bring her favorite fried apples when I go see her.

"Then we'll all sit down to a nice family dinner. She won't be able to stay mad."

They clinked glasses, and laughter filled the living room.

I turned and drifted out of the house.

The night wind blew straight through me.

In the cave, 56 bodies were slowly going cold in the dark.

And the people in that living room were still dreaming about tomorrow's family dinner.