“Very well,” Selene Frostveil announced lazily. “The wager begins.”
She tilted her head, smiling as if granting mercy.
“Kael Nightthorne, don’t say I left you no way out. We’ll play the one game you claim to know best—a Dominance Draw.”
Did I have a choice?
Every path before me had already been sealed by Selene Frostveil.
Silver-threaded restraints pinned me to the stone table. Only one hand was released—just enough for me to flip the bone-cards when ordered.
Selene lifted her goblet and addressed the sea-den with a languid wave of her fingers.
“Everyone here—when he loses, you’re free to enjoy that old she-wolf however you please. I’ll even distribute blood-coin and moonwine afterward.”
A thunderous roar of approval erupted.
The rogues’ eyes burned with feral hunger as they stared at my foster-dam, licking their lips like starving beasts.
Darian Frostveil sat beside the so-called Tidefang King, watching me with open provocation. The scar across his face glistened in the firelight—the mark I had carved into him years ago.
“Kael Nightthorne,” Darian sneered, “rules are simple. Every time you lose a round, we strip one piece of clothing from your foster-dam.”
He leaned closer, voice dripping with cruelty.
“Unless you want to beg?”
“Can we begin?” I interrupted coldly.
Ignoring him was the only way not to give him what he wanted.
Darian wasn’t here just to win. He wanted to break me, inch by inch—until fear replaced reason.
The dealer stepped forward and cast the first bones. Around us, every wolf placed their wagers—all on Darian and the Tidefang King.
Selene swirled her blood-wine, her scent thick with confidence.
When the bones were dealt, I lifted my freed hand and turned over my visible card—the Red Moon Seven.
Across from me, the Tidefang King revealed a Black Claw King, his expression filled with disdain.
“Careful, Kael Nightthorne,” he said mockingly.
The crowd laughed and applauded.
“My hand is higher,” Darian declared casually. “I wager your foster-dam’s second garment.”
I had no choice but to call.
But Selene raised her hand.
“Wait.”
For a brief, foolish second, I thought she had reconsidered.
Instead, she smiled wider.
“You don’t actually have chips left to wager, do you? I control your territory now—but not the tribute vaults you hoarded over the years.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“So if you want to continue, you’ll need to stake those reserves. Otherwise…”
She shrugged lightly. “We’ll just start tearing.”
My claws dug into my palm.
How meticulous. Using my foster-dam as leverage—forcing me to place everything on the table.
“I call,” I said hoarsely.
Laughter exploded around us.
The vault guardians were summoned. I recited the seal-chant to my hidden reserves. Only after confirmation was I allowed to continue.
Second draw.
I revealed a Black Claw Seven.
They revealed a Black Bloom Six.
“My hand,” I said calmly. “I wager her safety.”
Darian smirked, utterly unconcerned.
Third draw.
I turned over a Red Moon King.
They revealed a Black Claw King.
Darian pushed half the pile forward.
“I wager half your remaining wealth. You don’t get to refuse.”
My foster-dam sobbed helplessly.
“Kael… my child, stop. Let me go—”
“Mother,” I said softly. “It’s alright.”
Fourth draw.
I received a Black Bloom Seven.
They revealed a Red Moon King.
Darian lit a roll of bitterleaf and exhaled slowly.
“Still calling, Alpha?”
I stared at my paired Sevens and the hidden bone beneath my hand.
“I call.”
“Reveal.”
I had believed they couldn’t possibly hold three Kings.
I was wrong.
When the final bones were turned, my three Sevens were crushed beneath their three Kings.
The restraints cut into my flesh as I slumped back.
For the first time, despair outweighed pain.
