Wolves in the Same Den

The moment I held up the Queen card, the hall exploded into chaos.

“She’s mine.”

The words cracked like a whip across the room, spoken by the Ace of Diamonds. His polished shoes echoed against the marble as he closed the distance between us, each step deliberate, filled with confidence. His eyes burned with possession, sharp enough to make my knees weaken. “The Queen belongs with me. Wealth. Power. Security. No one else here can give her that.”

“Power, huh?” The Ace of Hearts gave a low laugh, stepping forward with a careless ease that contrasted with Diamonds’ arrogance. Blond hair fell across his forehead, his eyes glinting mischievously even as his tone dripped with venom. “You think she wants to be locked in a golden cage, Diamonds? Don’t make me laugh. The Queen wants someone who can make her live, not suffocate her. And that’s me.” He shot me a playful grin. “I’ll show you what it means to enjoy the game, sweetheart.”

“Enjoy?” The Ace of Spades’ voice sliced through the air, cold and merciless. His silver hair shimmered under the chandelier, his gaze sharp enough to cut. “This isn’t about enjoyment. This is about survival. And the Queen will not survive under your weakness.” He turned his head slightly, gray eyes pinning Hearts like a blade. “She doesn’t need your charm or your promises. She needs someone who can outthink every enemy, someone who sees every move before it’s made. That’s me. She’ll be mine because I’ll keep her alive.”

“Alive?” Hearts spat, his smile slipping. “She’ll die of boredom with you, Spades. You treat people like pawns, and pawns always get sacrificed.”

Spades’ lips curled in a faint smirk. “Better a pawn than a fool.”

The tension between them was so sharp I could almost hear it hum in the air. My heart pounded painfully in my chest as the two men stepped closer, both radiating danger.

“Stop.”

The Ace of Clubs’ voice was low but thunderous. He moved for the first time, his dark eyes flashing as he planted himself between them and me. His presence was a wall, protective and immovable. “You’re scaring her,” he growled, his hand curling into a fist. “If you keep treating her like some prize to be won, I’ll put you both on the ground.”

“Scaring her?” Diamonds scoffed, his smirk returning. He crossed his arms, his tailored suit shimmering as though mocking me. “She should be scared. Fear is the only thing that will keep her alive in The Deck.” His gaze flicked to me, cold and final. “If she can’t handle it, she’ll die. Simple as that.”

Before Clubs could respond, slow clapping echoed through the room.

The Joker.

He peeled himself off the wall where he had been leaning, his grin stretching wide, sharp as broken glass. His dark hair shadowed his face, but his eyes gleamed with chaotic delight. “Ah, look at the mighty Aces,” he drawled, spinning his card effortlessly between his fingers. “Snarling at each other like wolves over a bone. And all the while…” He tilted his head, eyes locking on mine. “…you’ve forgotten the truth.”

The room stilled.

“The Queen doesn’t belong to any of you,” Joker continued, voice dripping with amusement. He leaned closer, his grin widening as though he enjoyed my fear. “She belongs to the game. And the game…” His whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear. “…is cruel.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“What game?” I forced out, my voice barely steady.

Spades answered first, his tone like ice. “The Deck. A secret society where power is everything. The Queen’s role is to survive it.”

“And if I don’t?” My voice cracked, but I needed to know.

Diamonds’ smirk widened. “Then you die.”

The words slammed into me like a physical blow.

“You can’t be serious—”

“We’re dead serious,” Spades cut in sharply. His gaze pinned me like I was already on the board, already a piece in play. “Tomorrow, your first trial begins. Fail, and you won’t see another sunrise.”

My knees threatened to give out, but Clubs’ hand brushed against my arm, steadying me. His touch was protective, almost gentle, though his eyes burned with suppressed violence. “You don’t have to let them scare you,” he said quietly, his voice meant only for me. “You’re stronger than you think.”

Before I could answer, Hearts stepped forward, flashing that infuriating smile again. “Relax, darling. Trials aren’t all bad. Think of it as a dance. Follow the right steps, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll make it out with your crown still shining.”

I didn’t believe him for a second.

The room felt like it was closing in on me, each man’s voice crashing against the other’s.

“She needs guidance—” Spades snapped.

“She needs protection—” Clubs growled.

“She needs wealth and power—” Diamonds declared.

“She needs love, or she’ll lose her mind—” Hearts argued.

“She needs chaos,” Joker interrupted with a laugh. “Otherwise, what fun is the game?”

Their voices tangled, clashing like blades. My chest tightened, the Queen card trembling in my hand as though it, too, knew what was coming.

For a moment, I thought they’d draw their weapons right there in the hall. The air was thick with violence, with tension, with everything they weren’t saying out loud: each one wanted me, not just for the title of Queen, but for something more.

And me? I wanted to scream. To run. To throw the damn card in their faces and disappear.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

There was no running anymore.

The Queen had been chosen.

And she was me.

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