Moon Claimed (Werewolf Dens #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,52

In Iron, we just held the grid. This was the first time I’d won one back. “Hey, have you seen Rhona?”

“Yeah, she was around just before.”

My chest loosened. I’d started to assume the worst.

Cameron grabbed my hand, spinning me. “The victor is here, everyone!”

A chorus of loud cheers rang out, and I grinned.

I did put in the work to bring in this win. The funnel idea was mine.

So I’d shifted into a wolf the last two nights. That didn’t mean I couldn’t claim this moment and this victory. I did all that work for these people.

I could enjoy this.

Cameron shoved and yanked until I clambered onto a seat. Giving up, I called to the room, “Your effort in Timber was nothing short of incredible. I’m so very proud of what we managed to do. You should all congratulate yourselves on reclaiming a grid. We’re back at three!”

Mostly, I was impressed some of the stewards seemed drunk already. Guess intense training and adrenaline would lower a person’s tolerance.

Wade wrapped an arm around Cameron and me. “How are my two favourite ladies?”

“Tired,” I said honestly.

What a fucking night.

“I thought you were resting up last night?” Cam leaned forward to look across Wade at me.

… About that. “Maybe I feel worse for getting more sleep.”

“Well, how about we relax tonight and have a drink before you go?”

I couldn’t think of anything worse than a drunk, newly shifted Luther set loose on the manor. “Just one can’t hurt.”

When they looked away, I’d chuck it.

Wade and I watched Cameron dance to the drinks table.

“Is she weirdly happy recently?” he murmured. “We haven’t hung out nearly as much.”

Perhaps she’d met someone. “She’ll tell us when she’s ready. The person she’s seeing may not be out or something.”

“And you? How are you really?”

I looked into his beautiful grey eyes. “I’ve decided to start the meets again.”

“Bit of whiplash never hurt anyone.”

I nudged him. “Shut up.”

“It’s the least he deserves. For what it’s worth. I think it’s the right choice.”

I rested my head against his shoulder. He smelled like salted caramel and the scent comforted me. “You’re worth a whole lot to me, opinions and all.”

“I support you.”

“Don’t ruin this.”

“You do you.”

Cameron returned to find us laughing. She crooked a brow. “Do I want to know?”

“We support you,” I told her solemnly.

Her smile faded. “What?”

What did I say? “Wade’s being crazy. Nothing.”

Spotting my head team, I untangled myself and approached them. “A win!” I said.

Roderick wasted no time clinking his glass against mine. Valerie was a beat behind the others as always, but Nathan surprised me with hearty cheers. His approval was like a beam of sunlight shining directly out of his ass.

But I’d take it.

“I didn’t think we’d get the Luthers in there.” He shook his head.

Stanley eyed him. “We know. We had to listen to you all week.”

I chuckled with the rest.

Nathan waved us to silence. “I was never happier to be proven wrong. We have the majority again.” He raised his glass to me. “To our innovative leader’s first turnover.”

He tossed his drink back.

Pride filled my chest, but I was careful to taper it. Happy emotions worked just as well as angry emotions when it came to shifting—though my wolf hadn’t uttered a peep since betraying me earlier.

Good riddance.

I’d been an idiot to trust her so quickly.

“Thank you all,” I said. “When Herc was murdered, you got me as a replacement. I know how that looked—me hardly here a month and with the barest understanding of Victratum. I appreciate you giving me time to prove myself. I can’t deny I’m relieved at the win, but it’s just the start. I won’t rest until the stewards have all five in their pocket.”

And what would that mean for over seven hundred and fifty trapped Luthers?

I forced the thought away. They were my enemy, and the tribe was here first. Only one could win, and I could only worry about so much.

I took a fake sip. “Has anyone seen Rhona?”

“In the spa last I saw,” Valerie piped up at last.

Her fruit smell took on a sour edge that took me by surprise. Wow, Valerie really didn’t like me. Well, I’d give her two weeks to fix her attitude, then the grace period was at an end and I’d find a replacement. Her grief over Herc’s death shouldn’t be redirected toward me. Even if I deserved it more than she knew.

Walking through the manor wasn’t a quick task. Everyone wanted to talk. Halfway there, I waved at the Freys,