Rogue Wolf

Ch 45 celebration

Michael groaned audibly as I placed the cone shaped birthday hat on his head. I couldn't resist snapping the elastic strap under his chin. He hissed and threw me a look, but didn't complain. I think he understood that he and I were on dangerously thin ice right now.

Maximus had questioned the wisdom of relaxing so much that we ignored rank, so we compromised. Max kept his rank. For the rest, we'd play it by ear. I was sure if one night of lax behavior caused a ton of errors tomorrow, having "human nights" would go out the window.

"Just tell me there isn't some silly song now," Michael muttered.

"No, but I can improvise if you want," I grinned.

"No thanks!" was the emphatic answer.

I laughed, and some of the guards had little smiles reminiscent of laughter. I wondered if any of them had dared laugh at all the whole time they'd been here. Alpha didn't provide reasons to laugh.

"But you do get to go first for pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey," I told him.

I saw Max's brow furrow. "It isn't disrespectful, my lord. In this case, you will actually be going last. From what I understand, youngest goes first."

"You've never done this before?" Michael asked incredulously as Lone Wolf finished taping the paper donkey to the wall.

"Nah, never had a birthday party. My mom didn't want me to bring other kids over. I know the game is a little corny. You can blame it on Lone Wolf. He insisted on a few of the activities. I'm not the only one that's never had a proper birthday party, you know.  And you entering into the pack, it's kinda like a birthday. Day one of the rest of your life."

I regretted my choice of words the second I saw the look on Michael's face. He didn't want to be reminded that he might be stuck here for the rest of his life. He pasted a fake smile on, making the effort for me when he saw my apologetic shrug.

"All right then, let's do this. Where's the blindfold ...oh."

Lone Wolf had plopped a sack over Michael's head and commenced spinning him around, and none to gently either. Michael had to take a step to get his balance when Lone Wolf let go of him. The big man pointed Michael in the right general direction and gave him a little shove.

"Living vicariously?" I asked the big guy, wondering just who the game was for, anyway?

Lone Wolf just snorted. There were actually a few chuckles as Michael pinned his tail on the donkey's nose.

Since I had said youngest goes first, being interpreted as time in the pack, that meant me next. Lone Wolf was thorough in his spinning. I lifted the sack from my head to a small chorus of claps. I had hit high on the rump.

Even though I had complained about it being corny, I actually enjoyed watching everyone get spun about by Lone Wolf, cheering and jeering depending on how close everyone was to the mark. A few of the guards were getting in the spirit of it, applauding and making a few cat calls as more of them played. I was fascinated to learn the order they had all arrived.

The guard I had targeted earlier almost balked at playing, but a growl from Maximus had him submitting to the sack over his head. Lone Wolf played no favorites, spinning him the same as he did everyone else. His tail ended up by mine, but no closer to the mark than mine was.

Finally it was the two guards who worked together all the time and Maximus. I interrupted to ask about the two kid omegas.

"Do you mind if they play too, my lord? It's hard to picture them as prisoners. They had to be kids themselves when they were brought here. They aren't any older than the youngest guard. The choice is yours, my lord Alpha," I finished with my head bowed down respectfully.

I counted out the seconds in my head. At sixty-two Max finally decreed that they could play. I'd have to share that little trick with Michael later, so he'd have an idea of how long he'd have to wait. Save him from being nervous while he counted down future waiting times.

The omegas were both nervous and excited. The comments were muted as they made a respectable attempt, placing their tails in the middle of the donkey like most of the others.

Finally it was time for Maximus to get the sack put over his head. I couldn't help the little snort that came out of me. Was probably about time he had an idea of what it felt like to be grabbed, sacked, and made to feel disoriented, even if it was just this little bit.

Max ended up in front of the donkey, but didn't put his tail on right away. I heard him take a deep breath before he unerringly placed the tail almost exactly on the X. I groaned then laughed.

"And that's why he's our alpha," I said, shaking my head. "Who else thought to smell where everyone's hand had touched the wall? Good use of skills there too, my lord."

What else could I say? That tonight was supposed to be about being human and Max had cheated by using wolf skills? I had a feeling the guard that wanted to challenge me had done the same thing, going for my scent when he placed his tail.

"You said usually small children play this game?" Max asked.

"Usually, my lord," I answered.

"It is a good game," Max said thoughtfully as he eyed Michael's solitary tail on the donkey's face. "It provides a good chance to see how their memory and sense of balance is."

"Thank you, my lord, I'm glad you approve," I said as he went past me back to where he had been sitting. I shared a look with Michael when I caught his eye.

He gave me that little wry grin of his, along with the slightest shrug of his shoulder. It looked like he understood this celebration for him just might turn into a night of pointing out his failures when compared to the werewolves in the room.

And gee, was it my imagination or did our lord Maximus seem a little smug at winning while subtly rubbing Michael's nose in it about how Michael lost by a mile?