The Wolf stood frozen, rooted to the polished marble like a statue carved out of hesitation. Their thoughts ran wild, still tangled in the bastard billionaire's parting words. Every syllable had hit like a loaded gun. And through all the spinning noise in their head, one truth rang louder than the rest:
They needed to be a hunter.
Not the millionaire. Not this early.
The game would have levels—twisted, endless levels—and the moment you put yourself on a pedestal, you also painted yourself with a target. Staying a millionaire too long? That was a rookie mistake. That was exposure. That was death.
No. Better to prowl than to perch.
"I couldn't understand French for shit," the Japanese guy muttered—Ren, if they remembered right. Lucien had called him that during introductions. His tone was casual, but there was an edge beneath it, the kind that came from someone who didn't like being left out of the loop.
"He said, goodbye for now, children," Thalia translated, her voice clipped as she finally turned her attention back to the rest of her team—the four who made up the Lions.
Ren blinked at her. "You speak French?"
Thalia's lips curled into a wry, annoyed grimace. "We have French shoved down our throats starting in fifth grade in Greece. Elementary to high school. It's either French or German. And I wouldn't be able to speak German even if my life depended on it."
A blatant lie.
In truth, she could speak over a dozen languages fluently. Could switch dialects mid-sentence. Could mimic accents and regional speech patterns like she was born with them. But, like her name, her age, her soft curls and sun-kissed skin, it was all just part of the façade. A perfectly crafted persona, tailored for appearances. For charm. For deflection. And there was no better liar walking this marble floor than Thalia.
"Me too," Camden chimed in with a dry chuckle. "In Canada, it's not optional. Official bilingual country and all. You either learn French, or you risk not being able to communicate with, like, half the population. Government makes sure of it." He scowled briefly, the expression fading into the kind of practiced smile people wore when talking about home with a complicated kind of fondness.
Anastasia, the Russian girl with cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass, spoke next. "In Moscow, our school made us learn Russian, English, and German. It was hell." She tossed the last word like a brick, unapologetic, and unsentimental.
Ren shrugged. "In Japan, we're taught English, Chinese, and Korean. I dropped Korean last. It was the one I liked the least."
"I feel dumb now," Mateo chimed in with a sheepish laugh. He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks pink. "I only speak Spanish—Peruvian Spanish, and English."
Camden gave him a dismissive wave. "That's more than enough, dude. You're still bilingual. Some countries barely bother with anything outside their own language. Most native English speakers don't even try to learn a second one." He cut a pointed look around the room, then added, with a teasing lilt, "Like Americans."
Before anyone could reply, he turned to Thalia with a grin curling across his lips.
"Also, Thalia… I think you're about to get absolutely bombed with attention."
She blinked, momentarily confused. "Hm?"
As if summoned by that single syllable, the Italian Eagle strolled up, his smile dazzling and full of teeth. Alessandro. That was what the billionaire had called him. His stride was smooth, confident, with just the right balance of flirtation and menace.
"So, principessa greca," he purred. "Are you single?"
Thalia glanced sideways at her teammates, exchanged a half-smirk with Camden, then turned her full attention to the Italian with eyes like fire behind glass. "It would be both stupid and heartless to have someone waiting for me outside while I sign up for this circus."
"So that's a no, then?" The question came from the side—Elijah, the tall, sun-kissed Australian guy from the Serpents. His dark hair was windswept, his voice lined with mischief.
She side-eyed him slowly, arching a brow. "That's a no, indeed. But let me be clear: I'm not looking for commitment. Not in a place where anyone could come for my throat the second I blink. That would be spectacularly stupid." Her tone turned colder, razor-sharp. "I'm here for the money. Not for love."
"Oh, who said anything about love, Amīrah?" A new voice chimed in—this one velvety, accented with unmistakable Egyptian Arabic. The speaker was a stunning woman from the Bears, dark eyes smoldering with bold curiosity.
Before Thalia could muster a reply, Camden stepped in again, one hand lightly resting on her shoulder like a protective brother. "I think we should explore the rest of the place," he said smoothly, raising his voice just enough to carry.
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
Nearly everyone glared at him.
Thalia, unbothered, gave a slow nod. "Brilliant idea. Camden, right?"
He grinned. "You can call me Cam."
"Alright then, Cam," she said, her tone laced with playful authority. She hooked her arm through his with a graceful sweep, like they were stepping into a ballroom instead of walking out of a verbal trap. "Let's go see where we'll be having dinner."
The two of them strolled away, and within thirty seconds, footsteps echoed behind them. Ren jogged to catch up, then looped his arm through Thalia's free one in a fluid, casual motion.
"Olympus above, Thalia," he whispered dramatically. "Don't leave me back there. I thought they were going to murder me just for being a young and hot guy teaming up with you."
Thalia laughed, light and genuine this time. "I feel a forty eyes on my back. Are we being followed?"
"Still questioning that?" Anastasia snorted from a few steps behind. "Girl, you bewitched everybody in there."
"I guess staying low-profile isn't really an option now," Thalia muttered, half to herself.
Mateo laughed, catching up as well, his voice full of amusement. "The fact that you ever thought low-profile was gonna work is what shocks me most, kid." He shot her a wink. "But don't worry. We've got your back. Lions protect their own, yeah? You're our cub now."
Thalia gave them all a playful pout, dramatic and soft. "I knew I was in the right team."
They all blushed.
"Come on, let's enjoy the view while we can," Thalia muttered, eyes scanning the sprawling luxury before them. "Might as well take advantage of this fantasy before we end up in that billionaire bastard's crosshairs."
"Please tell me he gave you all the creeps too," Anastasia groaned.
"I was literally shivering," Ren said with a grimace. "That guy has to be a psychopath."
"More like a sociopath with a goddamn sadistic streak," Thalia snapped. "I felt dread crawl down my spine when he looked at me. Like he could see straight through my bones."
"I've got a gut feeling he's doing all this for his own twisted amusement," Camden muttered.