Wolf Roulette: Supernatural Battle Read online

  Wolf Roulette

  Supernatural Battle: Werewolf Dens

  Kelly St. Clare

  Wolf Roulette

  by Kelly St. Clare

  Copyright © January, 2021

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, media, and incidents are either products of the authors’ imagination, or are used fictitiously.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  Cover design by Covers by Christian

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment

  Contents

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Coming in 2021

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  Books By Kelly St. Clare

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  About the Author

  When Kelly is not reading or writing, she is lost in her latest reverie.

  Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to unravel this mystery and began writing.

  Her works include The Tainted Accords, Last Battle for Earth, Pirates of Felicity, Supernatural Battle, and The Darkest Drae.

  Kelly resides in New Zealand with her ginger-haired husband, a great group of friends, and whatever animals she can add to her horde.

  Join her newsletter tribe for sneak peeks, release news, and disjointed musings at kellystclare.com/free-gifts/

  1

  Nose to the ground, we loped through the forest. Fallen tree trunks, tangled vines, and sudden drops made up the rugged south side of Deception Valley.

  More to consider.

  More to adjust to.

  Perfect terrain for a wolf.

  Booker loosened her mental hold on our four legs, so I could take control. Our tongue lolled when I didn’t miss a beat.

  What are we going to do? she thought at me.

  I weaved between low branches. Hmm?

  My innocent tone didn’t fool her for a second.

  We have a problem. You still consider the tribe your pack.

  Rhona exiled me, Booker. I’m not part of the tribe anymore. Even if I wanted them to be my problem, they’re not.

  She answered after a beat. Pack is pack, Andie.

  A rock thudded on the ground ahead of us. We lowered to our belly, ears twitching for any sound. A growl erupted from behind, and there was only time to spin toward the menacing sound before a huge brown wolf exploded from the shrubs.

  Greyson pinned us to the forest floor and licked our muzzle. Got you again, beautiful wolf.

  We’re still recovering, Booker snarled back.

  Lie.

  Physically, we’d recovered from Rhona’s mistreatment in a day.

  Greyson freed us to circle the area and check for enemies. When he returned, the giant wolf lay mostly on top of us again.

  Busy day? I asked.

  Sascha always seems busy, but never really gets anything done.

  I grinned. Is that right?

  He has something to discuss with you. Shift.

  Ignoring Greyson’s lack of manners—wolves really didn’t possess them—I obeyed. When the cracks and pops of our shifts faded, I snuck a peek at the naked male beside me.

  Yummy.

  My scent tangled with Sascha’s, but I frowned. The river water part of his smell was churning. “What’s wrong?”

  Sascha hooked some of my dark auburn hair, letting the strands slide over his finger. “The pack has filed a formal complaint against the tribe.”

  My eyes narrowed. “About what?”

  “A steward attacked our marshal.” He met my gaze.

  His meaning clicked. My jaw dropped. “You’re making a formal complaint against me. Daniil attacked Rhona.”

  “Or was he responding to your aggression?”

  Oh, brother. “My Luther aggression.”

  “That makes no difference. You were part of the tribe at the time. Stabattse was called. There are penalties for an attack during that ceremony.”

  I shook my head. “That’s crazy.”

  Though if the situation were reversed, I’d probably use the same tactic to win penalty points in Grids. And my ex-head team would anticipate the pack’s move, even if I hadn’t. They’d prepare a counter-negotiation.

  I needed to butt out.

  Rhona was head steward now.

  “Have I hurt your feelings, little bird?” Sascha continued playing with my hair.

  Had he? “Not really. I just remembered who I am and who you are.”

  Told you. Booker’s voice rang in my head.

  Okay, okay. I still consider the tribe pack and it’s a problem.

  My sister treated me like shit recently, but the Ni Tiaki were so much more than Rhona’s actions. I’d met and connected with tonnes of stewards, Wade and Cameron included. Maybe expecting my loyalty to them to dwindle so soon after they exiled me was naïve.

  It would take longer.

  Sascha stiffened. “Who you were doesn’t mean anything, Andie. You’re part of this pack.”

  I lived with the pack. There was a difference. “The stewards are my people. That might change eventually, and if it does, I’ll let you know. Until then…”

  He released my hair and studied me. The corner of his mouth lifted after a brief pause. “You’re not the type of person to switch allegiances in a hurry. That was wishful thinking on my behalf. I just want you to feel at home here.”

  “You know I want that too. I’ll try.” I rested a hand on his bare chest.

  “That’s all I ask.” He brushed a thumb over my cheek. “Your tribe will come back with a complaint about Daniil’s attack on Wade.”

  That’s what I thought too. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “What?”

  “Soften the blow. I understand that you intend to win Victratum. I understand your responsibility to the pack.” The real issue was the loyalty and responsibility I felt for the opposing team. “Hey, maybe until things change, it’s best you don’t tell me anything to do with pack strategy.”

  His pine scent muted.

  He didn’t like my request. I didn’t really like it either, but if I was offered crucial pack information, I’d be torn between my bond with Sascha and my oath to the tribe.

  Best not to be in that position at all.

  “Noted,” Sascha said at last. “Let
me know if that changes.”

  The sooner, the better, in my opinion.

  I stared at the rustling canopy again. “How’s the pack doing after Daniil’s death?” The Luthers’ marshal had torn himself out of my lethal grip to end his misery.

  “They’re getting there.” Sascha blew out a breath. “Pascal’s explanation made things easier for my wolves in some ways and harder in others. For me too. I pity Daniil as much as I’d like to hurt him for what he did.”

  One guess why.

  Sascha and I were still in the midst of our mating call. Like me, he had to wonder what our eventual fate would be. Would we find each other worthy or unworthy?

  Perhaps the choice to mate seemed straightforward.

  Immortality or death.

  Immortality.

  Ability to have children or not.

  Children.

  Yet to meet someone and have such astronomical choices to make, seemingly overnight, wasn’t a simple thing. Nature preferred to offer stone-cold ultimatums, but reality didn’t work that way. Marriage and having kids were decisions people usually made over years or decades. And when a centuries-old game and werewolves were chucked into the mix, things got extra complicated.

  I bit my lip. “How are you so sure about me?”

  He moved closer.

  Don’t look at his junk, Andie.

  “I had advantages you didn’t back then.” Sascha smiled. “I watched and listened to your interactions with others and saw you were cunning and kind. The mating call made me want you, but when your pain became my pain, and your joy and laughter were mine too, I knew I loved you.”

  Love.

  My heart pounded.

  The last time I heard those words, I ditched the guy in minutes. This fear was different though. When Logan said the words, I feared reciprocating his sentiment. With Sascha, I feared how much I already felt.

  Admitting this to him always seemed sure to end in disaster—so many barriers had existed between us from the start. But now I was on pack lands with him. For good. That was one major barrier out of the way.

  Maybe—maybe—I could open up more.

  Sascha kissed my eyelids. “I love you, Andie Charise.”

  I looked at the man before me. What if I just went for it? Took the leap people always talked about.

  Here goes. “I’d really like to kiss you.”

  Sascha brushed his thumb under my eye and studied the tear I hadn’t noticed falling. I didn’t move when he focused on my face.

  “You’re crying.” Sascha’s breath caught as the scent of my fear saturated the air.

  He pressed his lips to my palm, then cupped my cheek. “Don’t be scared, little bird. Not with me.”

  “I’m not scared of you.” I trailed a finger over the expanse of his naked chest, enjoying his shiver.

  “Just of everything else?” His voice was unbearably soft.

  Another tear fell. Yes. Shrugging a shoulder, I brushed the tear away. Sascha caught my hand again and drew my wet finger into his mouth.

  I jerked as warmth pooled low in my stomach.

  He rolled to hover above me, and I gazed up at him.

  “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a very, very long time.” Sascha gripped the curve of my hip.

  Tell me about it. The thought of his lips touching mine plagued me night and day. We’d been intimate in other ways—maybe in ways people considered more physical, yet somehow this kiss meant more than all those moments.

  When I kiss you because no one else exists for me any longer, I want you to kiss me back just the same.

  For better or worse, no one else existed for me anymore. From here on out, I planned to embrace it—fear and all.

  Sascha sounded near physical pain. “Just so we’re clear, my answer on sex is the same.”

  Such a hold out. “Agreed.”

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  I strained upward as he bore down.

  Our lips touched.

  His weight drove us both to the ground. I moaned into his hot mouth at the soft feel of his full bottom lip.

  Firm.

  Confident.

  Oh my god!

  We rolled without breaking apart, and I straddled his lap, clutching his face to mine. Our tongues didn’t dance—they moved with a starved hunger that we could never fill.

  Air wasn’t necessary.

  Not when I could feel this. His groan vibrated through me.

  I needed more.

  So much more.

  We disconnected for a sliver of a second.

  White-hot fire slammed into my chest, catapulting me back. Ouch. That shit hadn’t happened since the touch meet. I choked as wave after wave of scalding heat slammed into me.

  Red blanketed my thoughts.

  No.

  We didn’t want this.

  Body shaking, I assumed the crouched position and raised my arms in the Cleopatra-like position. Sascha’s furious snarls rocketed across the space.

  Our eyes met.

  “Doore koh e baka,” I hissed.

  Like a bucket of water poured over my head, the heat broke. I toppled forward onto my hands and knees. Shit.

  Panting hard, I touched my lips. That was… incredible.

  Sascha walked to me and ran a hand down my back, taking care to brush over my ticklish spot.

  I sat back on my haunches.

  His eyes were as rounded as mine.

  “That was far better than any dream,” he breathed. “I’ve found a new obsession.”

  So had I.

  I rested a hand against his jaw and leaned in.

  We sighed as our lips touched.

  This couldn’t be real.

  “Feels so damn good,” he spoke into my mouth.

  Good was the understatement of the century. If I’d ever needed an occasion to use the word wondrous, this was it.

  The scent of our lust rose hard and fast.

  Sascha rested his forehead against my breasts. “Fuck.”

  My shoulders shook. “This will make things harder.”

  “It already has.”

  Yeah, something was jabbing me in the ass.

  Snorting, I climbed off him.

  His want seared across the distance. “Do you need any relief, mate?”

  As odd as the concept of sexual relief sounded, the partial heats I’d experienced in the past weren’t a joking matter. They were borderline painful in their intensity.

  I turned my focus inward. Huh. “I’m okay this time.”

  Sascha’s disappointment curled around me.

  I’d always reacted after the meets. Minor reactions at first, but they got stronger each time. I felt nothing now. “Is that weird?”

  “Our mating gifts have been off-balance from the start. I’m not worried.”

  I didn’t comment on the blatant concern rising from his skin. Instead, I hugged my knees to my chest. “What does doore koh e baka mean?”

  “I find you unworthy.”

  Well, that was freakin’ horrible.

  He bent a leg up, regarding me as if his erection wasn’t the elephant in the room. “What did you think it meant?”

  A really long no. “Never mind. Is it the Luther language?”

  He nodded. “No one really speaks it anymore. Purely ceremonial.”

  That was a shame. Something I loved about my tribe was how well our history was preserved. Not that I could speak any of the indigenous language, but the songs and stories crafted from it were beautiful.

  Sascha cleared his throat. “We should be able to mind-speak in two-legged form after the kiss meet. Let’s give it a try.”

  We could already mind-speak partially shifted or fully shifted. But those restrictions were inconvenient sometimes.

  “Come here then.” I crooked my finger.

  He latched onto my ankle and dragged me across the mossy grass.

  His voice was solemn. “I win.”

  My twitching lips ruined the effect of my gla
re. “I’ve never had to take so many showers in my life.”

  Sascha peered intently at me.

  “… Are you doing it?”

  He leaned closer. “Trying to.”

  Mind-speak was easy. The words just needed to be pushed in the other person’s direction.

  Join me in the shower? I thought at him.

  No reaction.

  “Nothing?” That’s all I did in four-legged form.

  I inhaled the spike in his concern.

  Still, Sascha was right. Our so-called mating gifts had never worked properly. They came in at random.

  Well, not exactly at random.

  They arrived whenever I’d accepted Sascha’s presence in my life a little more.

  So maybe this didn’t make sense. We were closer than ever. Or at least, I’d taken a huge step toward him. “Is there anything you’re worried about? With us?”

  “My feelings remain the same,” he answered. “And you, mate?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.”

  He interlaced his fingers with mine. “Then let’s put it behind us.”

  I frowned. “You don’t think it has to do with me being on pack lands, do you?”

  My wolf was a sigma after all.

  Are you okay about this? I asked her.

  For me, this is no different to interacting with the tribe. I’d prefer to be alone, of course.

  It wasn’t Booker either.

  Sascha tensed. “You don’t like living here?”

  That wasn’t the problem. “Moving here is the only big change I can think of.”

  “A lot has happened lately. Moving here is the least of those changes. This is probably nothing, little bird. Yeah?” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders.