Page 41 of Wild Games

“We’ll talk back at the packhouse.” I keep my expression neutral, revealing nothing.

The non-answer seems to make people more nervous than any concrete statement would. A cluster of competitors hovers near their doors, watching our progress with poorly hidden anxiety.

“Why are you searching the rooms?” one brave soul asks. “Wouldn’t the magical traces be at the incident sites?”

I give him a long look, just enough to make him shift uncomfortably.

“Magic leaves signatures in unexpected places long after the fact. Personal items, clothing, even bedding can hold traces if someone’s been practicing where they shouldn’t or has smuggled something enchanted in with their belongings.”

I shrug.

“Sometimes people can be contaminated unwittingly, if someone planted an item on them or they’ve been hanging out with the wrong person.”

The wolf pales and retreats to his room. Hopefully, if someone knows or suspects something, this will encourage them to come forward.

While we continue our search with theatrical thoroughness. I take samples from doorknobs, windowsills, even pillowcases. Callum asks loud questions about who has which room, how long they’ve been staying, and if anyone’s changed accommodations recently. By the time we finish, every competitor is on edge, wondering what we might have found. And where we’re going to ransack next.

I catch another glimpse of Jax as we move between buildings, silhouetted against the afternoon sky as he watches from the crest of a hill, just for a moment, before he disappears again.

18

CAMILLE

The afternoon drags on with more visible investigation of the private rooms reserved for alphas and VIP guests.

This activity ruffles a few more feathers, powerful people who don’t like to have their integrity called into question, but these are also the people with the most to lose if the Games become the norm for replacing alphas.

Luna Williams is indignant and storms off to find Zane, complaining loudly about this invasion of their privacy, while Alpha Williams eyes me with barely concealed disdain.

“Waste of time, if you ask me,” he mutters, rallying support among the other alphas who aren’t keen on being asked to leave their rooms while we search. “If she were any good at investigating, she’d have caught the perpetratorbeforehe put someone in the hospital.”

Ignoring the mutterings of discontent, I interview pack members who were present at various incidents, asking the same questions in different ways while taking copious notes. Some seem genuinely helpful, others obviously nervous, and afew almost hostile in their responses. All of it goes into my very obvious documentation.

By the time dinner approaches, the entire compound is buzzing with tension. Everyone knows I’m investigating, wondering what I’ve found, and watching everyone else with new suspicion.

Perfect.

The dining hall fills quickly for the evening meal. Raven raises an eyebrow as I walk in, occupying a spot at Zane’s side, special guests of Blake Steel’s apparently. He pulls back the chair beside him and gestures to it, a welcoming smile on his face.

RAVEN: I’m going to start thinking you’re avoiding me, Cammy

CAMILLE: Just working, Raven

I choose a seat at another table rather than sitting with the senior pack members, wanting to be more accessible to anyone who wants to approach me with information. The food is good but sits heavy in my stomach as I contemplate what comes next.

Eating slowly, pushing my food around my plate, I let conversations flow around me. Competitors discuss tomorrow’s finals in hushed tones, who’s the favourite, who’d make the best alpha, but there’s an undercurrent of fear now.

What if someone else gets hurt?

“Did you find anything?” The wolf beside me asks quietly. “I don’t want to watch it if someone else is going to get attacked.”

One of the males beside her rolls his eyes.

“What?” she continues. “I think they should call it off if they don’t know who’s responsible. It’s not worth someone dying over.”

Her companion scoffs. “And that’s why you’re not alpha material. Alphas would die for their packs.”

Embarrassed at the public rebuke and the giggles of those around the table, her cheeks pink, and she mumbles her point. “For good reason, yes. Not like this.”