Page 1 of Wild Games

1

CAMILLE

I’m halfway to the Reynolds’s territory checkpoint when I first detect it, a whisper of something that shouldn’t be there. Most wolves would miss it entirely, but I’ve spent years training my senses to identify magical residue. This trace is faint but unmistakable. There’s an underlying sourness to the scent that makes my wolf stir uneasily.

Someone’s been using magic. The kind the Council prohibits.

A giddy thrill runs through me. I’ve been working on this case, a stolen magical artifact, probably sold on the black market, for six months.

This is the first concrete lead I’ve had, a report of magic being used to subvert the outcome of the Alpha Games.

I’m surprised anyone else was able to spot it.

I slow my SUV, rolling down the window to better analyze the scent. It’s several days’ old and carefully masked, which makes it all the more suspicious. Getting caught using it made me think this was amateur work, but now that I can see they attempted to cover it up, it seems they were not entirely careless.

Just not cautious enough.

My phone buzzes with a message from High Alpha Councilman Torres.

Remember, complete discretion. Observe only until we’ve identified the culprit. And keep an open mind, it may not be one of the competitors.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. This isn’t my first covert investigation, butthe Alpha Gamesare prestigious, a new spin on an old way of doing things, and a magical cheating scandal would put an end to using them as a means to appoint new alphas in the future.

No pressure then.

Most wolves are eager for change, wanting packs to be awarded on merit. Those with all the money and power are unsurprisingly less keen and desperate to keep handing down leadership by bloodline.

There are people on both sides willing to do whatever it takes to get their way.

A bridge appears as I round the bend. There’s no welcome sign, nothing to mark this out as a border, other than the guard with a clipboard who’s signing in new guests and issuing passes to those crossing on foot. Feeling eyes on me, my wolf stirs, alert but not alarmed. I scan the tree-line beyond the checkpoint but see nothing unusual. Probably just border patrol keeping an eye on arrivals.There’s no ramped-up security or other indication that they’re aware of anything unusual happening in their territory.

Good. The fewer people who know something is amiss, the better chance I have of catching whoever’s attempting to manipulate the games. Or shut them down completely.

If that’s really what they’re trying to do.

I park and step out, smoothing down my casual attire, looking every bit the curious wolf shifter coming to be entertained by the competition. Nothing about me screams council investigator, and combined with my young age, it’s rare anybody suspects a thing.

A high ponytail, a bright smile, and some lip gloss is enough to fool most people into thinking I’m another harmless she-wolf here to have some fun. I’m merely a young wolf who wants to come and witness the best of the best compete, and maybe, find their mate.

My fingers unconsciously find the delicate gold chain at my throat, hidden beneath my shirt. The moon charm is warm against my skin, a constant reminder of why I don’t long to find true love anymore. Not after Raven.

Five years ago, I stood there like a fool at his birthday party, watching, along with dozens of other wolves, as his eyes locked onto Jane’s from across the room, and he announced their upcoming mating, proclaiming her his future Luna.

Not me. Much to my humiliation.

So, no, I’m definitely not here looking for a mate.

But if I wasn’t sent here on a mission, chances are I would have tried to score a pass for the final anyway. At least this way, I get paid to be here.

“Welcome to Reynolds territory,” says the young female wolf manning the checkpoint. “Name and pack?”

“Camille Black. Fern River.”

She hesitates for a second, assessing my response, detecting no trace of deceit in my scent or demeanour, then nods. I’d heard Dean’s wolves are well trained. It appears the rumours are true.

“Dean mentioned he was expecting an important guest from your pack.” She scans me from head to toe, obviously trying tofigure out what about me makes me special in her alpha’s eyes. “I take it that’s you, Ms. Black.”

She smiles and hands me a lanyard with VIP in blocky gold letters on the front. “Access to all areas.”