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“She slept with wolves without fear, for the wolves knew a lion was among them.” — R.M. Drake

Gwen

“Oh lordy, the presenter was so creepy, I thought he’d never leave us alone.” Mia, the shyer of the two sisters, shivers.

“Don’t let it bother you. He was using classic brainwashing tactics.” Blake hugs the other woman and frowns. “It’s downright unethical. None of us agreed to this.”

Our pregnant guest of honor, Lilac, opens the refrigerator for a water bottle. “Well I, for one, am scared shitless. I had no idea we’re on the verge of extinction.” Originally from Maine, she still drops an occasional R, such as, pahk the cah in the garage.

“Honey, you’ve seen more trauma in one night than most of us experience in a lifetime.” Sam joins the ER doctor in the kitchen. Their embrace falls short because of the enormous baby bump.

While they laugh, Rose takes a paperback out of the provided plastic bag. “I can’t remember the last time I read a printed book. I had to borrow this one from Nonna.”

The half-naked man on the cover causes her sister to blush. “My grandmother hides her romances from Mom and Aunt Donna.”

Rose adds, “They’re afraid she’s going to give herself a heart attack from masturbating.”

Eager to change the subject, Mia pours potato chips into a bowl, then offers them to us. When she reaches her cousin, she asks, “So, Sam, did your snooping find anything of interest?”

Our resident detective strolls to the front window. Frowning, she lowers her voice to a whisper. “The security is way overkill. We’re talking guys in camos, automatic rifles, and cameras up the wazoo. If you put that together with the after-dinner speech, it’s safe to conclude we're in a survivalist camp.”

Lilac nods. “Slate suspected the same thing. He almost didn’t let me come.”

Rose moans. “Oh no. What about our two-hour full body massages?”

“And our mani-pedis?” When her sister joins in the whine-fest, my stomach churns.

“I’m really, really, sorry, you guys. I should never have dragged you all into this.” Wulf was right all along, but now, I’m more worried than ever.

Eyes still staring outside, Sam shrugs. “This place has over two hundred five-star reviews. I’m sure the spa is legit, and the amenities will be provided. Hold on, someone is coming.”

Opening the door, she curses at the note by her feet, then races after whoever left the message.

“What the?” I unfold the lined paper, bite my tongue, and pass it around.

The note reads, Careful what you say. They have eyes and ears everywhere. I know where Dolly is. Meet me behind the cafeteria by the dumpster.