Target Round Table Novels & Stories

I needed a solution. Fast. Direct. Something that didn’t involve judges or endless paperwork. Later that night, as I searched for news updates, a headline caught my eye. Lone Wolf Gambling Tournament, Invitation List Revealed Rhett Voss and Eleanor Medici to Attend A flash of a childhood memory rose in my mind. Cards. Chips. A crowded hall filled with tension. Money moving faster than thought. I turned toward the doorway, where Taren leaned against the frame. “Taren,” I said. “Can I join the tournament?”

He turned slowly, taking in the rest of the menu with narrowed eyes. “We need to see how they’re structuring the round,” he said. “How many games. How many slots. Whether they’re trying to thin us fast or string us along.” As if in answer, the city obliged. Overhead, a schematic flared into being—an abstract map of the district, with different arenas highlighted in cycling colors. A scrolling list along the side showed game names, participant limits, and… “round value.” RED STREETS RUN – TEAM / 8–16 / ROUND VALUE: MEDIUM

As soon as we walked in the door some people stopped and stared at us. Louise didn’t seem to mind. We just took a step to the side so we weren’t blocking the entrance and look at our surroundings. There where around 15 long cherry tables throughout the room. One of them being placed at the very front and center for the Alpha, Luna, Beta and their families. Each one with delicately crafted high back chairs with Silver Moon pack inscribed on the back. There had be over 70 people in here right now. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at Louise.

I have a feeling that Dante might have let slip that I had talked to the Moon Goddess again but I do not know for sure. Amora is the last to walk through the door. The others have already met me at the table and had a seat while waiting for her. I created this table circular for our meetings. During formal events I tend to use a rectangular table but for times like this a circle table helps to stimulate conversation. "Thank you all for coming so quickly." I say once everybody has a seat. "So, are you finally going to tell us what has had you so happy and excited since yesterday?" Dante asks.

If one could build connections at these events, it could significantly boost one's career. Phoebe followed Miles into the room. Because this was a prominent event, the round table in the center was enormous. It was close to 20 feet in diameter and capable of seating up to 30 people. Nearly every seat was filled. For a moment, Phoebe couldn't even spot Ian. She did see Horace near the door, though. She didn't have time to look around anymore before following Miles to two empty seats. He sat beside Ian. Phoebe greeted the latter before looking ahead to see Gideon in a black suit. She froze.

I blinked, glancing at Violet, who merely raised a brow. Then, slowly, she smiled. "Well," she murmured, rising from her seat. "I suppose we'll find out soon enough." She walked away before I could respond, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. I took a breath, steadied myself. Then, with careful steps, I made my way to Carlisle’s table—where my place in his world was about to be tested once again. On the round table where he sat, there are currently four men—two from our company’s board of directors, and the other two are the business executives whom only know by their face and last names.

“Round tables, not long ones. Easier for conversation. Decorations—flowers on each table. Keep them simple, white and blue.” Calla raised a hand. “What about the head table? Where will the alphas sit?” I groaned. “Right. Of course. Head table front and center. Enzo in the middle. Atlas and Ash next to him. Then the visiting alphas. I’ll draft out the actual names later.” Kael leaned against a pillar, pretending to supervise while doing absolutely nothing. “You’re scary when you get bossy.” “I’ll be scarier if you don’t stop standing there like decoration,” I snapped.

“Zahra.” I look up. He and Jameson are seated in the centre of a long table, instructors at one end, Brant and his unit down one side, Tobias, Nicholas, and their team down the other. Every single one of them is huge, and with that table stretching the length of the room, the whole setup feels like a war council. There's an empty seat between Tobias and Nicholas. Nicholas stands and pulls out the chair for me. I walk over, aware of every single eye following me across the room. Perfect.

The tunnel ahead was pitch black, but my wolf sight needed no torch. At the end of the passage, a faint beam of light marked the opening. “I guess I was the last one?” I smirked, knowing full well how long they had waited. I blurred forward, reaching the chamber where the war table sat—a massive round structure with chairs circled around it. All eyes turned to me. “Look who finally decided to join us,” Storm said dryly. I rolled my eyes and took the seat at the head of the table. “Shall we begin?”