Moon Claimed (Werewolf Dens #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,86

gave over control of my senses, following the others down a steep trail while clutching my massive tube.

No one is around, my wolf said after a beat.

My shoulders eased some. I’d clarify claimed territory next time I saw Sascha. He’d be so worried.

“Here’s a dry bag for your phone,” Cameron said.

No reception here either. I tucked the phone in and clipped the bag to my waterproof backpack.

Don’t get us too wet, my wolf glowered.

Yeah, yeah. I settled my pack on my front, kicking out until I entered the rapids ahead of Cameron. Better that we go first to search for danger.

“So tense, wench,” Wade called. “Relax. It’s only water. We’ve done this dozens of times and a school group came through yesterday afternoon.”

That did make me feel better.

“I thought we were drinking after tubing, King Wade.” I eyed the beer tin in his grip.

He took a sip, righting his cardboard crown with one hand. “I did hear you say that. I thought it was a hilarious joke.”

Cameron had a cider.

“Can we entice you to join?” she said.

I smiled. “Fine.”

I’d pour it out on the way. Sometimes, I couldn’t understand people my age. I wished relaxing and letting loose came easy, but the consequences of drinking in the water wouldn’t leave me alone.

Coast still clear? I checked in with her.

All clear. Sascha is on the move west, but not fast. Just into the human building bubble.

You mean town? I grinned.

“Something you’d like to share with the team?” Wade asked.

Nope. “What’s happening in your love life?”

He scowled. “Not enough.”

Conversation paused as we clung on through a series of rapids. I wiped water from my face after, shaking my much lighter cider tin. This would be easier than I thought.

“No one catching your eye?” Cam said to him.

“Everyone but Andie catches my eye.”

They laughed as I splashed him.

Wade overtook me so he led our queue. “I just find everyone here so limited. You know? I wonder sometimes if this is the right place for me to really thrive. But then, the game, I could never leave.”

My smile faded. “If the game didn’t exist, where would you go?”

He looked at the sky. “Bluff City. Maybe overseas. I’ve saved a good amount of money.”

It was easy to get caught up in my own woes. Other people were making sacrifices too.

I relaxed more, confident my wolf was on the job. “What about you, Cam? If the game didn’t exist, where would you be?”

“Right here.”

Huh. Surprising.

“I always thought you’d be the first to go.” Wade beat me to the punch.

“Things change.” She swished her hand in the water.

Wade changed the topic after a leaden silence, and I counted the number of drinks they’d consumed, unable to resist laughing as their antics and comments took on a wild edge.

“Another cider, Andie?” Cameron asked.

I took another, handing back my empty which she shoved in her pack. She squealed, encountering the waterproof speaker in her bag, and soon the music was pumping.

“Your taste in music is so much better than Wade’s,” I moaned, half my mind on Sascha’s location. We weren’t so far away from him now, and assuming he was at The Dens, the tube ride would end well before Wade and Cameron drowned secondary to intoxication.

Wade scoffed. “You were born in the wrong decade, baby girl. Your taste in music is old as shit.”

“Music is music,” I disagreed.

“You know what King Wade wants?” He cut me off. “You to serenade me on the saxophone. Dressed as Lisa Simpson.”

Not happening. I wouldn’t play ever again.

I shut my eyes. A calm lulled me as we floated downstream.

Maybe I could get used to this.

Water pounded, and I sat up, peering ahead.

“You might want to put your pack on properly.” Wade swung his behind and tightened the waist strap.

The pounding increased. “Why?”

Cameron was doing the same, tucking the radio and tins away.

My mouth dried as I hurried to do the same. “Where are we in relation to the start of town?”

“Just at the top of the cascade,” Wade chirped.

“We go down those?” I shrieked, searching for the closest land.

We were moving fast, and more importantly, the others seemed set on going over.

“You guys are crazy!”

Cameron tossed her hair back. “Bet neither of you stay on for all three drops. Amateurs.”

Oh my god.

We flew through the water, and I kicked faster to surge ahead of Wade. “You two are unbelievable.”

They roared with laughter, and my stomach lurched as my tube shot out into thin air.

I screamed, struggling to keep the tube right side