Chapter 61

The cards lay mercilessly exposed on the green felt—a Jack, Queen, and six for Lyra against the dealer's Jack and eight. Bust. Again. Her wolf whined pitifully inside her mind as reality crashed down around her. Lyra's blood ran cold as she stared at the cards, her enhanced senses picking up every detail—the slight smirk on the dealer's face, the shuffling sound of the cards being collected, the watchful eyes of the security personnel lingering nearby. Her wolf instincts screamed that she'd been cornered, trapped by a predator far more cunning than herself. While Lyra stood frozen between fight and flight responses, her tuxedoed challenger disappeared behind a roulette table. Neal Annable—known among pack circles as "The Roper"—was greeted by a sleek woman in designer attire. "Perfect execution," Jude murmured, patting his shoulder approvingly. As Beta to the casino operations, she appreciated efficiency. Neal preened under the praise. "She was pathetically easy," he replied with a smi